Governor Godswill Akpabio has emphasized that his government would lead the Niger Delta to the envisaged peace haven with strong and enduring foundation for sustainable development. The Governor made this known recently, while making his presentation at the Gulf of Guinea Energy Security Strategy/States Sustainable Development Strategy Seminar in Abuja, recently. According to the Governor who mentioned that the vision of his administration was to "transform Akwa Ibom State into a prosperous, highly educated, technologically driven, and ethnically harmonious state in Nigeria, with strategic policies and programmes to accomplish same," his government was already funding a Joint Task Force. This, he noted was to proactively avert security incidences. Governor Akpabio who was represented by his Deputy, Engr. Patrick Ekpotu, said, "For sustainable development to be possible, there must be sustainable peace." His government, he said, therefore strove to win peace in order to create the enabling environment and conditions for uninterrupted and sustainable development.

The State Government, he said has mounted intensive re-orientation and enlightenment program to change the mind set of citizens towards established public course, especially on the need to shun militancy, bunkering and other social vices. The result of this reorientation, he said was manifested in the peaceful and organized community reaction to the recent oil spill in Ibeno, which in the past would have generated restiveness and violent protests by youths. Apart from ensuring the physical security of the state, Chief Akpabio mentioned that his government is vigorously pursuing capacity building and training of the citizenry to develop their skills and make them employable in various industries. The state government, he said was already in partnership with SAIPEM to train 100 youths in Sea Welding.

Also, he intimated participants at the meeting that his government, aside commencing renovation and equipping of hospitals and Health Centres, had provided a kidney treatment centre with 17 Dialysis machines at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital. According to him, an international referral hospital would soon come on stream in Akwa Ibom State. The State Chief Executive also mentioned that 20 schools in each local government area (Primary and Secondary), would be completely renovated each year by his government, with sustainable provision for routine maintenance to avoid disrepair, as was inherited by his government. In the industrial sector, Chief Akpabio said while the process of revitalizing and privatizing of ailing but promising industries in the state was on going, the state government had entered into partnership with the Centrica Group to establish an LNG Plant in the state. This he said would generate about 20,000 employment opportunities when in operation.

Other key areas of intervention of the present administration in Akwa Ibom State, according to Governor Akpabio are the commencement of a Public Private Partnership in the development of a seaport at Ibaka; ongoing construction of over 308 km of roads, including Federal Government roads, to open up the entire state; and provision of potable water for the people.

Apart from providing Micro-Credit loans facilities to women, churches and other needy groups, Chief Akpabio said a Development Partners forum had been instituted in the state, where NDDC, Multi-national Corporations, the State Government and other stakeholders in the business of development converge to compare notes on their various activities. In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting which was attended by representatives of the governments of Nigeria, the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Netherlands, Norway and Switzerland; and development partners of USAID, DFID, UNDP, WB and the EU, note was taken of the positive developments in the Niger Delta. The partners agreed among others, to continue to support the Nigerian efforts to ensure maritime safety and security to eliminate oil theft, illegal bunkering and other criminal activities in the Niger Delta region. It was also agreed that there should be communication/information exchange between the Governments on the sources of illegal weapons.