RismadarVoice Reporters
January 7, 2026
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has unveiled plans to transform the reclaimed Uyo Village road refuse dumpsite into a modern Government Residential Area (GRA), featuring a creative village, a housing estate aimed at reducing the housing deficit in the state.
The Governor disclosed this on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, while responding to questions from Government House correspondents after inspecting the reclaimed dumpsite, which spans over 100 hectares, alongside a formerly ravine-prone area that has now been sand-filled for future development.
According to him, the project underscores the power of vision and foresight in turning environmental challenges into opportunities for development.
“The truth is, with vision and foresight, we can do a lot. You won’t believe this was once a terrible refuse dump site. Today, we have reclaimed it all, over 100 hectares of land, to be used for housing, agriculture and more,” Governor Eno said.
He explained that the entire area has been reclaimed, properly mapped and fitted with appropriate water channels to support sustainable development.
The Governor further revealed that the ravine area will be transformed to accommodate Uyo GRA Phase I, comprising about 150 middle-class housing units, alongside a creative village, all interconnected by access roads.
He noted that the project is strategically designed to open up previously unusable land, address erosion challenges, create new development corridors for housing, agriculture and the creative industry, all within close proximity to the Uyo city centre.
“This project is about reclaiming valuable land close to the city centre and deliberately deploying it for the benefit of our people,” he stated.
Governor Eno explained that his visit was necessary to physically examine the road design, better appreciate the scope of work being executed by contractors, beyond the technical presentations earlier made in his office.
Expressing satisfaction with the progress recorded so far, he said the successful reclamation of the former dump site aligns with the government’s long-term urban development policy.
He again urged contractors handling government projects to ensure timely delivery, quality execution, noting that the Uyo Village Road Project would significantly address housing needs by providing middle-income housing and other strategic residential developments.
“We are committed to ensuring that every square metre of this reclaimed land serves the people of Akwa Ibom,” the Governor affirmed.
Speaking further, Governor Eno said ongoing infrastructure projects across the state are creating employment opportunities for youths and local workers. He encouraged young people to seize these opportunities and embrace hard work, stressing that deliberate infrastructural development remains a catalyst for economic growth.
He added that the ₦1.584 trillion 2026 budget reflects the scale of planned projects, urging citizens to engage with the budget, take advantage of its opportunities. The Governor expressed confidence that, with collective effort, Akwa Ibom State can attain development standards, comparable to global cities.
