Akwa Ibom Establishes Occupational Safety Department In Public Service

The Akwa Ibom State Government has approved the establishment of a Department of Occupational Safety within the public service, aimed at enhancing safety protocols across state operations.

The Akwa Ibom State Government has approved the creation of a new Department of Occupational Safety within the public service. This department will be headed by a Permanent Secretary, who will report to the Office of the Head of Civil Service.

The approval was made during a State Executive Council (EXCO) meeting on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, which was chaired by Governor Umo Eno.

A statement released by the Commissioner for Information, Hon. Aniekan Umanah, on Thursday, also revealed that the council directed Sterling Global to stop further encroachment and closure of creeks in the state. This decision came after complaints from oil-bearing communities, particularly those within the company’s area of operations.

The Executive Council, after reviewing various memos and discussions, made several resolutions. They decided that the Office of the Secretary to the State Government would now oversee the Akwa Ibom State Infrastructure and Asset Management and Maintenance Agency to improve its efficiency and operations.

Following a memo from the Head of Civil Service, the council also approved the establishment of the Department of Occupational Safety in the public service. This comes after the governor’s earlier directive for the recruitment of safety officers and the issuance of Establishment Circular No. 1 of 2024, which aims to implement the federal policy on Occupational Safety Officers in the public sector.

Additionally, the council instructed Sterling Global to limit its activities to the 1,000 hectares of land originally allocated to them, along with an additional 700-hectare buffer zone. The company was told to cease any further encroachment or closure of creeks in the state.

The council also ordered the Ministry of Lands to review the status of all previous approvals to ensure compliance with legal regulations. The statement emphasized the government’s commitment to enforcing measures that protect public safety, maintain land use integrity, and safeguard the interests of affected communities.
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