Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State has distanced himself from the proposed withdrawal of $1 billion from the Excess Crude Account, ECA, by the Federal Government to tackle insurgency in the North East.
Speaking with Government House Correspondents shortly on arrival at the Ibom International Airport, Uyo, from official engagements, Governor Emmanuel said, like most governors, he was not present when the National Economic Council, NEC, meeting took the decision.
He regretted that the Federal Government had failed to provide such similar support to the Niger Delta states, despite the spate of militancy, kidnapping and other acts of insecurity in the region.
“We are not too comfortable with the decision to part with $1 billion as that is supposed to support development by state governments and local government areas,” he said.