By Aniefiok Umoh
Dr. Iniobong Essien is the Honourable Commissioner for Environment and Mineral Resources, Akwa Ibom State. A seasoned medical practitioner who until his appointment into the State Executive Council was the Senior Special Assistant to former Governor Godswill Akpabio on Medical Matters.
Satisfied with his performance, the former Governor had recommended Dr. Essien to Governor Udom Emmanuel who later on found him fit to serve in his cabinet. Dr. Essien was thereafter deployed to serve as the state Commissioner for Environment and Mineral Resources, a ministry which is considered to be very crucial in the realization of the state government's industrialization policy.
There is no doubt that a conducive environment is considered as a major driver for industrialization, hence the appointment of Dr. Essien to oversee this crucial ministry by Governor Udom Emmanuel was generally applauded by many who are satisfied with the managerial capacity of the Commissioner. Under his watch, the state Ministry of Environment has so far initiated palliative measures to curb the effects of erosion menace in the state capital and other parts of the state.
As Commissioner for Environment and Mineral Resources, Dr. Essien has done his best to uphold the ministry's core mandate which is basically to protect, preserve and prepare the environment for the industrial revolution of the state which is the cardinal objective of the present administration under Deacon Udom Emmanuel. This may not have been possible but for the successful implementation of the various environment-friendly policies of the ministry.
Perhaps, one of the most outstanding achievements of Dr. Essien in the State Ministry of Environment is the sustenance of the state wide monthly sanitation exercise coupled with a proper waste management system. The ministry has equally taken bold steps to ensure that other environmental issues like the perennial flood situation in Uyo, the oil spill complains by members of oil producing communities and erosion menace in the state are properly addressed.
To achieve set goals, the Commissioner and other officials of the ministry have routinely embarked on inspection exercises to gully erosion sites, visits to affected communities in an event of oil spill, as well as the routine inspection exercises usually carried out during the monthly sanitation exercises in the state.
To tap from the nation's ecological fund, the ministry under Essien has attracted the attention of the federal government to ascertain the erosion menace in the state and there are indications that succour will soon come the way of the affected community members if the promises made by the state and federal government is to be relied upon.
While joining others to commend the effort of the hard working Commissioner for Environment and Mineral Resources, I wish to implore Dr. Iniobong Essien and his team of Directors to do more by enhancing the aesthetics of the state. This will surely make Akwa Ibom an Investor's Haven.
No comments:
Post a Comment