Akwa Ibom State Governor Pastor Umo Eno yesterday ordered mandatory payment of Tenements Rates by all those living in Estates and high brow areas of the State, Peak Newspaper reports
But in a Sharp reaction, most of the citizens have reacted against the directive, citing the government’s lack luster attitude in developing the Estates as their reasons.
Eno gave the order while speaking at a Special Interdenominational Thanksgiving Service Sunday January 4, 2026 at the International Worship Center to usher in the new year in Uyo the State Capital
According to him, ” Beginning from 1st of January, you will pay your tenements rates.”
“All of you living in Ewet Housing Estate, all of you living in Shelter Afrique and all of you living in fine areas of the State will pay your tenements rates.”
“We are coming, and you will pay, when we lock you outside, all these big men, you will pay.”
“Don’t wait for them to come and ask you, go and pay and paste your receipt like NEPA bill.”
“We will not charge you for previous years, but for these year you will pay.”
But given the paucity of infrastructural facilities in some of the Estates, some political bigwigs even in the government have already said they will not comply.
Most of the Estates, like the Federal Housing Estate in the Uyo, respondents told Peak Newspaper cannot boast of any government facilities .
A high profile politician who conducted the newspaper around the Estate said we have no street lights, while others have no accessible roads.
Other Estates in the Uyo metropolis had many more other complaints.
In the Estate housing the current Deputy Governor’s private residence Peak newspaper was told, ‘ Until the government has given us good roads, then will the rate agents succeed.
‘showed us any good road network by the government and then follow me to my house and get the money, otherwise will I swim in this water logged area to come and pay tenements. Indeed, but not for the intervention of NDDC, you will not find people here
Those kicking against the tenements rates payments, although mostly on grounds of anonymity for fear of being victimized are saying while NDDC has used their Estates to play cheap politics doing shoddy work, Governor Eno unlike Udom is only interested in their votes for his second term instead of providing infrastructural facilities to the Estate considering the fact that they are the ones who normally go back to their units to mobilise votes for him
In Eniong/Ewet Housing Extension Estate, a resident confronted Peak Newspaper, “I was of the view Tenements Rates was solely handled by local Councils like in other states not the Ministry of Lands”
