The multi-million Naira security villages built across the 31 Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom have continued to root away as and become a safe haven for miscreants.
The security villages, built by the Akwa Ibom for top security personnel and senior officials of the 31 Local Government Councils in the state, was to ease the burden of commuting from Uyo, the date capital, to such officials.
The estates made up of several detached bungalows with sporting and recreational facilities were meant to accommodate the Council Chairmen, Secretaries, Heads of Personnel and Heads of the different security agencies in each of the council headquarters.
But several years after it was established, this porpose was defeated; as the Local Government Chairmen live in the State capital and sometimes, go to work in their domains.
The rationale was to reduce rural – urban drift and also making the council chairmen live in their headquarters, to avail themselves of the challenges as well as meeting the needs of the people.
Members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of NUJ, who visited some of the estates reports that, while that of Uyo have been converted into an orphanage; that of Eket has been allocated to the Army for accommodation.
That of Ikot Ekpene have no council officials living in them, while others located in rural parts of the state have also been hampered by their remote location, making it unattractive to the senior council officials thereby becoming a hideout for criminals.
More than 99% of senior council officials live in the state capital, with a few of them outside Uyo living in their personal houses around the Council headquarters.
This situation has resulted in high level of absenteeism among the council officials, as many are not always available in their offices due to distance between the state capital and places of work.
Some commentators, frowned at this state of affairs as the absence of key council officials have impacted negatively on service delivery and worsens the already low morale and productivity of council staffers.
They have also argued that, the abandonment meant that millions of Naira spent in building the estates may have been wasted except for few of them that have been put into other usage.
But a few of them like the Chairman of Mkpat Enin Local Council, Mr Aniekpon Ekpo, who said he resides in his own security village, however said that logistics has made it expedient for them to also reside in Uyo, the state capital.
“As for me, I am living in the security village of my Local Government in Mk pat Enin but, sometimes, due to commitment and work exigency, I may be in Uyo probably on official engagement in the Ministries with the commissioners/permanent secretaries on things that concern my local government.” Ekpo stated.
The chairman, Ini LGA, Mr Israel Idaisin disclosed that, the estate in his domain have been leased to private school operators, as polytechnic in order to wash off criminal elements, who have wished to occupate the facility for unwholesome activities.
Meanwhile, Chairman, House of Assembly Committee of Local Government, Hon. Mark Esset recalled that the sixth Assembly had passed a resolution, mandating Local Government Councils Chiefs and other key officers to relocate to the security villages to be closer to the people.
While regretting that, council Chairmen have refused to abide by the resolution, Esset however disclosed there was plan by his committee to embark on a quarterly visit to councils to ascertain performance and state of security villages across the state, to check defaulters.
