Senator Eteng Jonah Williams - 365 Days: The Journey So Far

Exactly one year ago, on June 13, 2023, Senator Eteng Jonah Williams was sworn in as the Senator, representing Cross River Central Senatorial District in the 10th National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

His victory did not come easy, as his journey was fraught with prolonged legal battles from the party primary election to the general election, orchestrated by political opponents, who were also interested in the senatorial seat. However, the Senator triumphed in all, to the glory of God.

Senator Eteng Williams came to the Senate with a background of 12 solid years of legislative experience in the Cross River State State House of Assembly, where he served as Speaker of the Ninth Assembly.

In the build-up to the inauguration of the 10th Senate, he was a front-liner in lobbying his colleagues and former Speakers of State Houses of Assembly for the emergence of Senator Godswill Akpabio as Senate President. 

When the senate committees were inaugurated, Senator Eteng Williams was appointed Chairman of a grade ‘A’ senate committee, even as a first timer.

POSITIONS: 

He is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream); Vice Chairman, Senate Services; Co-Chairman, Senate Ad hoc Committee on Investigation of Crude Oil Theft; Member, Senate Ad hoc Committee on Investigation of the Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) Projects of Nigerian Refineries.

He was also appointed member of the following key senate Committees: Appropriation, Marine, Transport, Gas, Poverty Alleviation, FCT Area Council, Donwstream Petroleum, Foreign Affairs, Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Sustainable Development Goals, Local & Foreign Debt, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Education, Basic and Secondary (UBEC), Federal Character, Inter-Government Affairs, Air Force, Army, Industries and Environment.

OVERSIGHTS

Senator Eteng Williams has been active in different oversights of the various standing and Ad-hoc committees. Some of which, include:

1.) Visit to Kaztec Engineering Limited’s oil and gas fabrication yard at Snake Island, Ilashe, Lagos State, ushering in the process of resuscitating the moribund $1 billion project.

2.) Visits to Warri, Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries to investigate the Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) Projects of Nigerian Refineries 

3.) Represented the President of the Senate at the Capacity Building Workshop organised by the Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG) and the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) held in Abuja.

4.) Represented the President of the Senate at the book launch event for Chief Edwin Clark's autobiography titled "BRUTALLY FRANK, Autobiography of a Foremost Nationalist." 

BILLS: 

A peep into his first year in the senate underscores his legislative competence. So far, he has presented three bills to the Senate, they include; 

1. Nuclear Safety Security and Safeguard Bill, 2023

2. Mineral and Mining Act(Amendment) Bill, 2023 

3. Chartered Institute of Petroleum and Gas Engineers of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2024

All the above bills have scaled through the first reading.

MOTIONS: 

At the National Assembly, Senator Eteng Williams is a strong voice on critical national issues as well as bringing to the floor issues affecting the good people of Cross River Central Senatorial District.

He has raised the following motions: 

1. Need for the Federal Government to support Citizens affected by the Communal Clashes between Ovonum and Ofatura communities in Cross River Central Senatorial District with Relief Packages 

2. Urgent need to curb illegal oil exploration in Nigeria 

3. Urgent need to make provisions for the security and protection of Internally Displaced Persons(IDPs) in Cross River Central Senatorial District.

4. Urgent need to address the near collapse of Technical and Vocational Education in Nigeria 

5. Urgent need for reform of Nigeria's Counterpart Fund Policy and Establishment of a National Counter Fund Account.

He is making his constituents proud with his impactful presence in the red chambers. He addresses profound issues with penetrating insight and charismatic energy. His impact goes beyond mere political rhetoric.

INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENTS

1.) Represented the Nigerian Senate and was keynote Speaker at the Miami International Roadshow for the 2024 licensing round hosted by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC)

This signaled the 10th Senate legislative support to increased investment in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry

2.) Attended the 2024 Offshore Technology Conference, OTC, in Houston, Texas, USA

3.) Attended the CERA Week in Houston, Texas, USA organised by S&P Global 

4.) Workshop on Implementation of Petroleum Industry Act for Members of Senate Committee of Petroleum Resources (Upstream), Kigali, Rwanda 

5.) Attended the 3rd edition of the Global Sustainability Summit and Awards at the House of Lords, Palace of Westminster, United Kingdom 

6.) Delegate at the UN Climate Summit, #COP28 in Dubai, UAE

AWARD/RECOGNITION 

Senator Eteng Jonah Williams received the Award of Recognition for Policy Maker in Oil and Gas Industry 2024 at the Nigerian Oil and Gas Forum and Awards Night held at International Conference Centre, Abuja.

JOB PLACEMENTS/APPOINTMENTS:

Senator Eteng Jonah Williams has facilitated appointments, employment and admissions for eligible constituents. Notable beneficiaries include: 

1. Bernard Inah - Senior Legislative Aide to the Senate President( Petroleum Upstream)

2. Hon. Usang Eteng Mbang - Senior Legislative Aide to Deputy Senate President 

3. Gabriel Ojie Otu - Senior Legislative Aide to Deputy Senate President 

4. Nigerian Police Academy, Wudil, Kano State - Ibor Divine-Oyoke Omori  

5. Nigerian Airforce Direct Short Service - Peace Igri Ofem 

6. Nigerian Army- Moses Omini, Godwin Christopher 

7.. Nigerian Police - Abam Ubi Michael, Ojong Ojong Ojong, Ibiang Bassey Precious, Ben Igbor Ruth

8..Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) - Enangha Enyi (NYSC)

9. National Hospital, Abuja - Samuel Egu (NYSC), Gods Favour Ojisi (NYSC) 

EMPOWERMENT/HUMAN CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS 

Senator Eteng Williams has brought back the lost glory of the Central Senatorial District, showcasing his selfless dedication to empowerment and human capacity development.

In one year, over 3,000 constituents have benefitted from these intervention programmes, which have alleviated the pains and boosted the economy of many households, families, and communities in the district. 

Programmes facilitated include: 

1.) 3 Days Training of Women and Youths in Entrepreneurship Skills - 200 participants 

2.) 3 Days Training of Youths in Capacity Building and Sensitization on Domestic Violence - 200 participants 

3.) 3 Days Training of Artisans in Agro Economy as a Tool for Self-Reliance - 200 participants

4.) Payment of 30,000 Naira Grant to 600 Trainees, totaling the sum N18,000,000 (eighteen million naira) disbursed. 

The beneficiaries were drawn from the 66 wards in the Six local government areas of the Central Senatorial District (Abi, Yakurr, Obubra, Ikom, Etung, and Boki). 

5.) He has nominated 40 youths from Cross River Central for a 1-month vocational skills training in the oil and gas sector facilitated by the Petroleum Development Trust Fund (PTDF). At the end of the training, it is expected that all trainees will be empowered with employability skills in the oil and gas sector and starter packs to earn a living. 

6.) Facilitated Federal Government Presidential Grant of N50,000 to 1,200 constituents of Cross River Central Senatorial District, totaling N60 million Naira disbursed 

7.) Facilitated the inclusion of over 200 people in Cross River Central Senatorial District into the National Social Register for the conditional cash transfer scheme under the federal government's social welfare program.

8.) Payment of N50,000 monthly stipend to all APC chapter Chairmen in Cross River Central Senatorial District 

9.) In addition, In one year, he has donated cars to constituents and given financial support to many families worth over N100 million Naira 

The icing on the cake of Senator William’s landmark one year in office is, perhaps, what he is doing on a daily basis, doling out cash to support the welfare of his constituents.

EDUCATIONAL PROJECTS 

Senator Eteng Williams has hit the bull’s eye with the following education intervention programmes; 

1.) Awarded Scholarship grant of 200 thousand Naira each to 21 indigent Students of Cross River Central Senatorial District at the Nigeria Law Schools, March 2024 

2.) Set to unveil the Senator Eteng Jonah Williams Scholarship Scheme for Undergraduate and Postgraduate Students - This scholarship scheme will sponsor selected students from Cross River Central Senatorial District in Federal/State universities for a full scholarship throughout their duration of study. High-flying Postgraduate students will receive overseas scholarships to study in the UK, Germany, or France. 

3.) Additionally, he has paid school fees for hundreds of students from Central Senatorial District in various Tertiary institutions across the country. 

COMMUNITY INTERVENTION PROJECTS 

Distinguished Senator Eteng Williams has continued to show his humane side with the following community interventions: 

1.) Donation of relief materials to Ikom fire victims that affected 48 rooms and apartments along Crown Model School, Obudu Road, Ikom Local Government Area. 

2.) Distributed over N10 million Naira cash and 2 Trailer loads of Rice to 1,056 polling units in Cross River Central Senatorial District in the spirit of the festive season last December. 

3.) Distributed palliatives and cash gift to persons living with disabilities to ease the economic burden  

4.) Facilitated the grading of Mkpani - Agoi road in Yakurr Local Government Area

5.) Donated N1 Million Naira to support the Ekori Community Civic Centre Project 

HEALTHCARE INTERVENTION PROJECTS 

Only last month, a six-day medical outreach was carried out across the Central Senatorial District, during which constituents were diagnosed and treated if a wide range of illnesses.

The unprecedented medical outreach had over 10,000 beneficiaries, out of which 1,028 were children, and 235 surgeries ranging from Hernia, Appendicitis, Lipoma, and Ganglion Cyst were carried out. 

Other prominent features of the outreach included free drugs, kidney function tests, liver function tests, lipid profile blood sugar checks, blood pressure checks, typhoid tests, malaria tests, hepatitis screening, RVD Screening, and Health Education.

CONSTITUENCY PROJECTS 

Cross River Central Senatorial District has hitherto suffered stunted development, lack of basic amenities, and a quite disturbing lack of steady electricity supply, thereby leading to avoidable criminal activities, unemployment, and youth restiveness in the area. 

All these are having a positive turnaround as projects with a direct impact to the livelihood of the people are being initiated. 

Some of these include;

1.) The Construction of Solar Powered Boreholes in selected communities across Cross River Central Senatorial District (Ediba-Abi, Ijom-Ugep, Assiga New Town-Yakurr, Aduma-Mkpani, Afaben-Mkpani, Ababene-Obubra, Ololumo-Ikom, Boje-Boki, Bendeghe Ikim-Etung, amongst others

- To be flagged off in few weeks. 

2.) The Light Up Central Project - This will see the installation of over 1,000 solar street lights to light up all the LGAs in Central Senatorial District. The first phase of the project has commenced with installation beginning from communities in Yakurr LGA and in a few weeks, will extend to other communities in Abi, Obubra, Ikom, Boki, and Etung Local Government Areas in Cross River Central Senatorial District.

3.) Recently, the Senatorial District Constituency Office was commissioned at No. 1 Okim Osabor Street, Four Corners, Ikom Local Government Area, Cross River State. This is geared towards bringing the dividends of democracy closer to the constituents as well as providing direct access to the Senator and his office, without the burden of going to Abuja.

SPORTS DEVELOPMENT:

As a lover of sports, Distinguished Senator Eteng Williams is set to unveil the Governor’s Cup Football competition for primary and secondary schools across the state,to boost grassroots football and to also support the Senator Otu administration in sports development. At the end of the competition, talents will be identified for sponsorship into football academies. 

AGRO INTERVENTION:

Senator Eteng Williams has facilitated the delivery of Two trailer loads of fertilizers to be distributed to farmers in Cross River Central Senatorial District.

This is the first phase of a broader strategy to ensure sustainable agricultural practices in the district.

2024 BUDGET IN VIEW 

Senator Eteng Jonah Williams will soon commence the implementation of this first budget in office, the 2024 budget that captured several constituency projections, such as construction of roads, schools, hospitals, renovations, skills acquisition centres, empowerment, supplies, installations, training, and education.

Indeed, Distinguished Senator Eteng Williams, is in a hurry to aid the development of Cross River Central Senatorial District. In this race against time, he has put the Senatorial district on a trajectory to recover lost grounds, while doing his utmost to positively impact the every day lives of his constituents. He can only do more with the support and prayers of his great constituents.