Sitting down close to the radio listening to the jingling of bells amidst the euphoria and the eloquence of the governor of Akwa Ibom State in the carefully crafted speech, I begin to ponder and ask myself some questions like why do infrastructure collapse in Nigeria? Once upon a time, this same euphoria greeted the commissioning of the Tinapa in Cross River State. Today, Tinapa has become a shadow of its envisaged self.
We were greeted with the same euphoria when the foundation stone for the first ever Science Park in Nigeria (oh, they said first ever in Africa) was laid in Akwa Ibom state, when governor Attah's tenure elapsed, it became an abandoned project. Truthfully, had it been the science Park was completed, it would have unlocked the innate ability of most technology savvy individuals to learn, to explore, to develop and to create.
To even think that the idea of the science Park was conceived when there was no android but just java and Symbian convince me with a scale of 90% that some world changing innovations would have been nurtured and developed in Nigeria.
One thing I would give the Akwa Ibom State government is that they have had successive administrations that have shown commitment in building infrastructure. His Excellency Akpabio (our amiable senator) proved to us that a state government can effect positive change and change people's perceptions. Akwa Ibom rose from being a little known state hidden by the image of its senior brother Cross River State, to a cynosure of all eyes in the present day Nigeria. What is Akwa Ibom State real lacking? Let's see.
1. Hospitality (le meridian and the 5 star in Ikot Ekpene as well as the one at Tropicana)
2. Entertainment (Ibom Tropicana entertainment centre)
3. Education (Ibom e-library)
4. Recreation/sports (Ibom International Stadium)
5. Healthcare (Ibom international specialist Hospital)
Talking about the Ibom Specialist Hospital, congratulations to the past and present administration for achieving this feat in this Era of abandonment of projects. Like the Le Meridien, it was a carry over course that has been passed. Today we are told that work would commence on Monday 30th November 2015 (I would go for the free medical check up) it is indeed a milestone. But then, milestones need to be sustained and I ask myself how long would the hospital operate? Would the Nigerian syndrome of abandonment of infrastructure and facilities takes its toll on this assets?
We, the people of Akwa Ibom are grateful for the subsidies we are enjoying on movies at the Tropicana Silverbird Galleria. But Healthcare is not entertainment, they are polls apart. World class, state of the art medical facilities need all the attention they can get to give out the results that are intended.
The economy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at this point in time needs money spinners. The Ibom Specialist Hospital should be able to live up to the expectations of opening up health tourism. Nigeria needs tourist to come and spend because their expenses contribute to our GDP.
Akwa Ibom State government should not use the hospital to push home any political propaganda. Whatsoever free health services to be offered in this state of the art medical facility should should not exceed 6 months. The government should be aware that they have expats to pay in foreign currency, they have modern facilities to maintain, they have local staff to employ and make comfortable, they have trainees to take care of. In lieu of this, the hospital should be allowed to run itself. Christmas does not last forever, it is seasonal.
In conclusion, I want to appeal to the state government to please complete or revisit the Ibom Science and Technology Park. This would positively position the state to be a hub and a melting pot for technology and Healthcare. Who knows, inventors that can change the world can be born in Akwa Ibom State.
God bless Akwa Ibom State.
God bless Nigeria