Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has unveiled an ambitious plan to transform the reclaimed Uyo Village refuse dumpsite into a modern Government Residential Area (GRA), complete with a creative village and a housing estate, as part of efforts to reduce the state’s housing deficit and drive urban renewal.
Governor Eno disclosed this on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, while responding to questions from Government House correspondents shortly after inspecting the over 100-hectare reclaimed dumpsite and adjoining ravine-prone land that has been sand-filled for future development.
“The truth is, with vision and foresight, we can do a lot. You won’t believe this was once a terrible refuse dumpsite. Today, we have reclaimed over 100 hectares of land to be used for housing, agriculture and more,” the governor said.
He explained that the entire area has been fully reclaimed and properly mapped with functional drainage and water channels to support sustainable development. According to him, the ravine will be transformed to accommodate Uyo GRA Phase I, featuring about 150 middle-income housing units, alongside a creative village, with road spurs linking the developments.
Governor Eno noted that the project is strategically designed to open up previously unusable land, tackle erosion challenges and create new development corridors for housing, agriculture and the creative industry, all within 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 said.
The governor stated that his on-site visit was necessary to personally assess the road design and fully appreciate the scope of work being carried out by contractors, beyond earlier technical briefings received in his office.
Expressing satisfaction with the level of work done so far, Governor Eno said the reclaimed site aligns with the government’s long-term urban development policy, converting a former dumpsite into a viable residential and economic hub.
He urged contractors handling government projects to ensure timely delivery and high-quality execution, noting that the Uyo Village Road project would significantly address housing deficits through the provision of 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,” he assured.
Governor Eno also highlighted that ongoing infrastructural project across the state are creating employment opportunities for youths and local workers, urging young people to take advantage of the opportunities and embrace a culture of hard work.
He added that the 2026 budget of ₦1.584 trillion reflects the scale of planned developmental projects and encouraged citizens to engage with the budget and key into its opportunities, expressing confidence that Akwa Ibom can attain development standards comparable to global cities.
Members of the governor’s entourage during the inspection included the Executive Assistant/Chief Delivery Advisor, Mr. Aniefiok Johnson; the Commissioner for Works, Prof. Eno Ibanga; and other government functionaries.
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