Frank Inyang
When Hon Chief Iyadim Amboni Iyadim stepped into office as the Chairman of Bakassi LGA, he had a tall dream and political will based on a determined foundation to move the area from near obscurity to prominence as well as an amiable position as the destination for reference and preference
His first approach was to give the local government council Secretariat a befitting facelift and a conducive working environment worthy of high tastes. Tall grass encroaching adjoining roads were cut a proper landscaping was put in place to enable a good breath By the time he was celebrating his first 100 Days in Office.
Bakassi LGA witnessed a landmark transformation. Both the Administrative Office and Legislative Chamber were renovated to meet the demands of modern working standards
A catalog of achievements within the 100 days on September 9,2020 included Rescue of Major Public Infrastructure from Wild Grasses (Welcome to Bakassi, The Civic Center,Ekpiri Ikang Primary School , The Cenotaph, The Council Secretariat, etc) Renovation of the main Secretariat Unveiling of the Chairman’s digital officeRenovation of the Legislative ChambersRehabilitation of 67kva power generating set in the councilDigitalization of Council:
Website Email address Facebook Handle Twitter Handle Instagram YouTube Channel Wi-Fi CCTV camerasCreation of Post Office Mail Bag PMBEstablishment of Marriage RegistryThe water point with its accessories was reactivated and put to use
This remarkable feat was acknowled by the Bakassi Local Government Area Traditional Rulers led by its Chairman, HRM Etinyin Dr Etim Okon Edet , who is also the Chairman of the State’s Traditional Rulers Council, as he was conferred with the honorary traditional chieftaincy title of UTUENIKANG BAKASSI ( TORCH OF BAKASSI)
Immediately after the celebration of first 100 days in office,the council proposed a Ward Tour which a planning committee headed by the Vice Chairman Hon Etieka Mrs Lawrencia Ita was constituted. The proposed tour was to enable both the Executive and Legislators visit the 10 Wards of Bakassi, appreciate the electorate , feel their pulse, and hear from them their preferred projects in their respective wards. Though this novel idea was put on hold due to EndSARS riot, the idea is not dead as a rethink is in the pipeline
The PAPYRUS MAGAZINE in its Local Government Awards ( PAMLOGA) commended Iyadim for ” Adding Value To Local Government Governance in 2020 as such he was presented with an award as The Best Performing Local Government Council Chairman In The Niger Delta Region.
According to Hon Chief ( Mrs) Doofan Abu-Awmall , the Project Initiator of the magazine ,” People think that local government is not supposed to be developed as urban cities , so it is a rare blessing for a Local Government Area as Bakassi to have an innovative boss who is willing and ready to expose his people to urban life”
The monumental record as captured was reduced to rubbles during the October 24,2020 ENDSARS destruction of public and private property in area as history made was erased within a twinkle of an eye as everything and anything within sight was destroyed.
This and other security related vices have thrown in a spanner into the wheel of progress as the tempo of work has been reduced though while celebrating his first one year in office, the Chairman restated his resolve and determination to move the area to an enviable height.
Prior to the turbulent time, the council in collaboration with female medical doctors. in the state was working on modalities to upgrade facilities at selected health centres by providing accommodation for visiting medical personnel to ensure effective and efficient health care services
In the course of curbing restiveness in the area, the Chairman had explored avenues of getting unemployed youths of the area engaged in one vocation or trade. Contacts were made with the National Directorate of Employment NDE Zonal Director , Mr Edem Duke to see how youths could key into its training, agriculture, women program, skill acquisition, environment and landscaping programs
The Border Communities Development Agency BCDA under the Presidency handed its Skills and Vocational Center to the council which the Chairman assured to put to proper use thereby taking the the youths off the streets
Two days to the October 24 riots, the Chairman had an audience with National Association of Nigerian Students ( NANS) and Youth Parliament representatives from Bakassi respectively and he assured them of commitment to carry youth along in his administration as a youth friendly local government council chairmen.
The Chairman also contacted the Special Adviser to the governor on Agricultural Research, Mr Tony Bassey on how the arable land of the area could turned into a food basket bearing its size and aquatic potential with the view of boosting food security and Internally Generated Revenue of the area
Bakassi is strategically located as an international border town with heavy maritime and vehicular movements and as such modalities are been worked out to ensure the area has a befitting market to promote trade and commerce and a standard motor park with up to date facilities including
The Bakassi Struggle which the Chairman has consistently hammered that it is a federal government responsibility to make its contributions felt will now be attended to with the recent defection of the the state governor, Senator Ben Ayade, including the 18 local government council chairmen from PDP to APC.
According to the Chairman while speaking on Bakassi Struggle, ” this is a federal government project and now that we are no longer in opposition but in the center, the issue will be speedily attended to”.
