The Akwa Ibom State Government has approved the creation of a Department of Occupational Safety within its public service, which will be overseen by a Permanent Secretary under the Office of the Head of Civil Service.
The approval was granted during the State Executive Council (EXCO) meeting on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, chaired by Governor Umo Eno. A statement issued on Thursday by the Commissioner for Information, Hon. Aniekan Umanah, also revealed that the council has directed Sterling Global to stop further encroachment and the closure of creeks in the state. This decision came in response to complaints from oil-bearing communities, particularly those within the company’s operational areas.
Following a review of various memos and deliberations, the Executive Council made the following key resolutions:
The council approved that the Office of the Secretary to the State Government will now oversee the Akwa Ibom State Infrastructure and Asset Management and Maintenance Agency, with the aim of improving the agency’s efficiency and effectiveness.
Based on a memo from the Head of Civil Service, the council approved the establishment of the Department of Occupational Safety in the state’s public service. This aligns with the governor’s earlier directive to recruit safety officers and implement Establishment Circular No. 1 of 2024 to align with the federal policy on the Occupational Safety Officers Cadre in the public sector.
The council instructed Sterling Global to restrict its operations to the original 1,000 hectares of land allocated to them, along with an additional 700-hectare buffer zone. The company has been ordered to halt any further encroachment or closure of creeks in the state.
The Ministry of Lands has been directed to assess the status of all previous land approvals to ensure compliance with legal requirements.
The statement concluded by reiterating the government’s commitment to enforcing regulations that protect public safety, uphold land use integrity, and safeguard the interests of affected communities.
