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THE TRAJECTORY OF SENATOR GODSWILL AKPABIO AT 62
By Rt Hon Eseme Eyiboh
Special Adviser, Media and Publicity and official Spokesperson to the President of the Senate
Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio’s foray into politics from his humble beginning as Commissioner in three key Ministries in Akwa Ibom state to the President of the 10th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is a narrative characterized by humility and tenacity. Akpabio’s leadership qualities became manifest when he served for two terms, as a Governor of Akwa Ibom state between 2007 and 2015.
During his tenure, Akpabio worked assiduously to transform the social and economic landscape of the state. Within this period, Akwa Ibom state witnessed unprecedented improvement in infrastructure development, healthcare delivery, capacity building and education that earned him the name, “Uncommon Transformer”.
Some of his remarkable achievements as the Governor of Akwa Ibom state included, Free and compulsory education, Free Medical/Healthcare to children, pregnant women and the Elderly, Construction of an International Airport that has today placed Akwa Ibom on the global Aviation map, building of roads and flyovers, payment of the 13th month salary to civil servants popularly called “Akpabiomber” and the provision of civil service buses which today are still conveying civil servants from their respective local government areas to the state capital.
Other legacy projects are the Ibom Multi-Specialist hospital in Uyo, a befitting government house, a five star hotel in Ikot Ekpene and an International Stadium in the state capital, fittingly named after him as the Godswill Akpabio International stadium.
Today, the stadium which is the only FIFA-approved stadium in Nigeria for international matches, hosts grade A matches involving the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
A few months ago, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) had directed Ghana to secure an alternative venue outside the country for the Matchday 3 and 4 ties involving the Black Stars of Ghana because the African Football Authority had declared all the stadia in Ghana not good enough to continue hosting CAF competitions.
Consequently, Ghana was already looking the way of the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium until the issue was sorted out.
Ghana had considered the Godswill Akpabio Stadium because of its topnotch facilities. Regardless of the aesthetic of the stadium and its facilities, Akwa Ibom State is a modern statement in development architecture and luxurious flora and fauna to complement the uncommon transformation legacies.
According to a one-time British Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli, “The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example.”
Senator Godswill Akpabio’s trajectory in engraving his name in gold and leaving legacies that sprawl the sands of time comes handy.
The imposing structure of the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo serves as a testament to the visionary leadership and enduring legacy of the former governor, now President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is a testament that the Uncommon Transformer School of politics of transformation and good governance is never a ruse.
It is indeed a study in the lexicon of democracy and its derivatives.The Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, in particular, has become an iconic symbol of his legacy, showcasing the state’s capacity to foster regional cooperation and promote sports tourism.
Akpabio has also left indelible marks in the sands of time as the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs. He completed many abandoned projects, despite the challenges of Covid- 19 pandemic and scarcity of funds. Some of the iconic projects he completed were the 20-year old abandoned 13 and 8- storey buildings at NDDC Headquarters.
It is on records that Akpabio took pro-active steps to address burning issues, including underdevelopment, corruption in the NDDC through forensic audit of the Commission, Ogoni clean-up, insecurity in the region, the East-west road, Foreign Direct Investment and engagement of Public-Private Participation to complete some projects through alternative sources of revenue.
Today, Senator Akpabio is the President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Executive Member of the International Parliamentary Union, deploying legislative and diplomatic enablement to help President Bola Ahmed Tinubu transform Nigeria through the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Happy Birthday to a Development Czar and Uncommon Transformer at 62.
President Bola Tinubu has assented to the 2026 Appropriation Bill, which provides for an aggregate expenditure of ₦68.32 trillion.
He also signed the bill extending the implementation period for the 2025 budget from March 31, 2026, to June 30, 2026.
This was announced on Friday in a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
The ₦68.32 trillion budget for this year earmarks ₦4.799 trillion for statutory transfers and ₦15.8 trillion for debt service.
It allocates ₦15.4 trillion to recurrent expenditure and ₦32.2 trillion to the Development Fund for Capital Expenditure.
“With capital expenditure accounting for about 50 per cent, the 2026 budget underscores the administration’s continued commitment to economic stability, national security, infrastructure development, and inclusive growth.
The allocations reflect a strategic balance between statutory obligations, debt servicing, recurrent expenditure, and capital investments critical to driving productivity and improving the quality of life for Nigerians,” the statement read in part.
The President also has assented to the Appropriation (Repeal and Enactment) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which extends the implementation period of the capital component of the 2025 Appropriation Act from March 31, 2026, to June 30, 2026.
The extension, the statement revealed, would ensure the full and effective utilisation of appropriated funds, particularly for critical infrastructure and development projects that are at advanced stages of implementation across the country.
It will enable ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to consolidate ongoing works, enhance project completion rates, and maximise value for public expenditure. With the 2026 Appropriation Act coming into force on April 1, the Federal Government will commence full implementation in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda,” it added.
Additionally, President Tinubu directed MDAs to ensure disciplined, transparent, and efficient utilisation of allocated resources, with a strong emphasis on value for money and timely project delivery.
He commended the National Assembly for its diligence, cooperation, and patriotism in expeditiously considering and passing the budget.
The President reaffirmed the importance of sustained collaboration between the executive and legislative arms of government in advancing national development objectives.
Tinubu also assured Nigerians of his administration’s resolve to deepen fiscal reforms, enhance revenue generation, and prioritise investments that will stimulate economic growth, create jobs, and strengthen social protection mechanisms.
The budget is also expected to be partly financed through external borrowing, following the approval of a foreign loan plan exceeding $21 billion to bridge the fiscal gap.
₦9.85trn Increase
The 2026 budget represents an increase of ₦9.85 trillion over the initial proposal of ₦58.47 trillion that Tinubu submitted to the National Assembly, and ₦13.33 trillion higher than the 2025 budget.
The President had while presenting the 2025 budget proposal before federal lawmakers in December 2025, pegged the capital expenditure at ₦26.08 trillion and the crude oil benchmark at US$64.85 per barrel.
He disclosed that the expected total revenue was ₦34.33 trillion; ₦15.52 trillion for debt servicing.
The proposal was anchored on a crude oil production of 1.84 million barrels per day, and an exchange rate of ₦1,400 to the US Dollar for the 2026 fiscal year.
Amid the growing concerns over insecurity across the country, Tinubu said his administration would “invest in security with clear accountability for outcomes—because security spending must deliver security results”.
“We will take decisive steps to strengthen agricultural markets. Food security is national security.
“The 2026 budget prioritises input financing and mechanisation; irrigation and climate‑resilient agriculture; storage and processing; and agro‑value chains,” he told the National Assembly members.
Nigeria’s budgets in recent years have come under fire with experts critcising the poor implementation and release of funds for the execution of important national projects.
But the Tinubu administration said that the 2026 national budget was well-planned to solidify the gains of its reform agenda.
“Our ‘Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity’ is critical. It is a commitment to double down on what is working, to solidify gains, and to ensure that the shared prosperity we speak of becomes a lived reality for more Nigerians, faster,” Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said in a statement.
Popular sports broadcast journalist with Classic FM 97.3, Temisan Okomi, has died.
A journalist with News Central, Olawale Adigun, confirmed his death in a statement shared on X on Friday.
He wrote on X, “The worst way to go into the weekend is hearing about Temisan Okomi’s passing. I’m so gutted and, at the same time, terrified. This man meant so much to me.”
Recall that news of his death has since stirred reactions on X, with colleagues and fans expressing shock and grief.
The late journalist had worked with Lagos Television, HiTV, and other prominent media organizations in Nigeria.
His last post on X was on April 14, 2026, when he wrote, “The Champions League is hard, man.”
Ibrahim Abdulkarim, a political associate of ex-governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, has claimed that the former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has agreed to deputize the Obi in the 2027 presidential race.
He spoke during an interview on Trust TV, said the Obidients and the Kwankwassiyya Movements are already aligning towards Obi/Kwankwaso ticket.
Asked if Obi and Kwankwaso had struck a deal, Abdulkarim said “yes, I can categorically tell you that they have agreed”.
We all know that. Both the Obidients and the Kwankwassiyya Movements are aware of the agreement”.
Recall that Kwankwaso recently decamped from the New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP to the African Democratic Congress, ADC.
His move stirred suspicion that the two political gladiators may have agreed to run for the 2027 presidency on a single ticket.
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