Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has set September 2026 as the target date for the commissioning of the ARISE Palm Resort, underscoring his administration’s commitment to expanding the state’s tourism economy.
Governor Eno announced the target while speaking with Government House correspondents after inspecting the resort project along Dominic Utuk Avenue in Uyo. He expressed confidence that the pace of work had placed the landmark facility on course for completion within schedule.
The Governor said the project forms part of strategic investments aimed at creating jobs, attracting private investment, and positioning Akwa Ibom as a leading leisure and investment destination in Nigeria.
He urged the contractors to maintain the current pace of work, insisting that the rainy season must not delay the project’s completion.
“I believe we can do this in September. We have two months to tidy up, and the rains should not be an excuse,” Governor Eno said.
He stressed that beyond completing the project, the administration had developed a long-term sustainability framework to ensure the facility remains functional and commercially viable after commissioning.
According to the Governor, “Government has already developed sustainability mechanisms for all major projects under the ARISE Agenda.”
Governor Eno noted that many public assets across Africa lose value because maintenance is often neglected after inauguration. He assured residents that the ARISE Palm Resort would be professionally managed to preserve its quality, economic value and competitiveness within Nigeria’s hospitality industry.
Managing Director of Bulletin Construction Company, Chief Faysal Harb, assured the Governor that preparations had entered the final phase, revealing that operators would begin taking over completed facilities from August.
He disclosed that the resort’s apartments and restaurants were nearing completion, paving the way for operational readiness ahead of the official commissioning.
The project’s Destination Marketing Manager, Mrs Stella Fubara, said commercial preparations had progressed alongside construction, with engagements already underway with operators, vendors and prospective employees to ensure a seamless transition from project delivery to full operations.
Developed on a reclaimed 73-hectare gully site, the ARISE Palm Resort is expected to serve as a major catalyst for tourism, hospitality and investment, while creating employment opportunities and stimulating growth across related sectors of the state’s economy.
The project forms part of the Akwa Ibom State Government’s broader ARISE Agenda, which prioritises infrastructure development, economic diversification and sustainable investment as drivers of inclusive growth.
With construction entering its final phase and operational and destination marketing activities gathering pace, the resort is expected to redefine tourism in the state and strengthen Akwa Ibom’s position as a preferred destination for business, leisure and international investment.
The inspection underscored the administration’s resolve to closely monitor strategic projects and ensure that infrastructure investments translate into measurable economic and social benefits for the people.
