From Joe Effiong, Uyo

Akwa Ibom State government has accused the Federal Government of adopting deliberate policies to frustrate its economic growth.

Speaker of the House of Assembly, Onofiok Luke who made this accusation while briefing newsmen recently, said the federal government, through its ministries, has not only refused giving approval for the take-off of some of the state industrial concerns, but had also hijacked some of the programmes of the state.

“Let me use this opportunity to say something which, probably many people have not said. The governor ran his campaign on the basis of industrialisation, and that agenda is realised. But, he is facing certain challenges. When you talk about industrialisation, it is not the state that will build the industries. The state only needs its equity participation.

“People sit down and talk about Ibaka (deep seaport); but they don’t know the details of Ibaka. You cannot talk about Ibaka when you don’t get the appropriate approval by the federal government. There has to be an enabling environment through the approvals; and you cannot establish a port if you don’t get the approval of the Federal Government. If the Federal Government does not give approvals for the establishment of such security concerns like navy, immigration and customs, you cannot establish a port.

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“The government went and spoke with the people from Israel; and they were ready to come and put a vehicle assembly plant; and about 10 containers had been lined up because it is just to come and install. at a point where that contract was negotiated, naira was about 200-250 per dollar. As at today, what is the exchange rate?

“So, we have challenges from the policy of the federal government. This is not to lay blames on the federal government; but to show in correct perspective, why we have not been able to move at the pace that the governor needed to move,” Luke said.

He said he needed to explain the challenges faced by the state so that the people would know and ask the right questions and to be patient with the government.

The speaker explained that the state government could have diversified into mechanised farming but lamented that the land tenure culture of the people does not permit the land owners to surrender it to the state government for such agricultural purpose.

He asked the federal government to allow the exchange rate to be determined by demand and supply market forces instead of the current regulation, which he feared could raise the dollar to N1000 each.