The Akwa Ibom State Government has approved the creation of a Department of Occupational Safety within its public service, which will be led by a Permanent Secretary under the Office of the Head of Civil Service.
The approval was granted during the State Executive Council meeting held on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, presided over by Governor Umo Eno.
In a statement released on Thursday by the Commissioner for Information, Hon. Aniekan Umanah, it was disclosed that the council also directed Sterling Global to cease further encroachment and closure of creeks within the state. The directive follows complaints from oil-bearing communities, particularly those within the company’s operational areas.
According to the statement, the Executive Council, after reviewing various memos and deliberations, made several key resolutions. One of these resolutions is that the Office of the Secretary to the State Government will now be responsible for overseeing the Akwa Ibom State Infrastructure and Asset Management and Maintenance Agency. This move is aimed at enhancing the agency’s operational efficiency and effectiveness.
Based on a memo presented by the Head of Civil Service, the council approved the establishment of the Department of Occupational Safety within the Akwa Ibom State Public Service. This development follows the governor’s directive to recruit safety officers and the issuance of Establishment Circular No.1 of 2024, aimed at domesticating the federal policy on Occupational Safety Officers Cadre in the state’s public sector.
Furthermore, the council directed Sterling Global to confine its operations to the 1,000 hectares of land originally allocated to the company, along with an additional 700-hectare buffer zone. The company was expressly instructed to desist from any further encroachment or creek closure in the state.
The council also mandated the Ministry of Lands to assess the status of all previous approvals granted to Sterling Global, ensuring that they comply with legal requirements.
