By Lucy Daniel
In an era where urban planning is often undermined by unregulated development, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has made a bold, strategic move to reclaim control of the Tropicana layout in Uyo.
By revoking illegal land titles and reasserting the original master plan, Governor Eno is not merely restoring order, he is laying the groundwork for a major economic transformation through the establishment of the ARISE Shopping City.
At the heart of this initiative lies a clear vision: to establish Akwa Ibom as Nigeria’s premier tourism and investment destination, with the ARISE Shopping City as one of the major cornerstones of the vision.
The ARISE Shopping City, when completed, will not just be another mall; it will be an economic catalyst. Strategically nestled within a burgeoning tourism hub that includes the revitalized Ibom International Convention Centre and the 200-room Ibom International Hotel, this shopping complex is poised to become the commercial heartbeat of Akwa Ibom’s tourism economy.
The economic rationale is simple but powerful: commerce follows infrastructure. With a seamless blend of hospitality, retail, and recreational facilities, the ARISE Shopping City will create a self-sustaining tourism ecosystem that attracts domestic and international visitors. This integration will translate into a surge in economic activities, hospitality services, logistics, retail employment, entertainment, and even real estate creating thousands of jobs and stimulating local SMEs.
ARISE Shopping City represents more than a state project; it is an open invitation to global brands and investors. Governor Eno’s emphasis on attracting international retail brands speaks volumes about the aspirational quality of the development. For investors, this initiative signals stability, planning discipline, and a willingness to enforce regulatory standards, all prerequisites for sustainable foreign direct investment (FDI).
Akwa Ibom’s growing reputation for peace and excellent road infrastructure only strengthens the investment case. The ARISE Shopping City will sit within reach of the city airport, major highways, and hotels, offering accessibility that is often elusive in other parts of Nigeria. For brands looking to penetrate the sub-Saharan African market or expand within Nigeria, Uyo is suddenly a viable, attractive option.
Importantly, this development aligns squarely with Nigeria’s broader push toward economic diversification. In a country still tethered to oil revenues, state governments must find creative ways to grow internally generated revenue (IGR). Akwa Ibom’s tourism-driven development plan, with ARISE Shopping City at its commercial core, demonstrates an astute understanding of this imperative.
Once operational, the Shopping City is expected to significantly boost IGR through commercial taxes, land use charges, licensing, and the multiplier effects of increased economic activity. For a sub-national government, such internally-driven financial sustainability is a game-changer.
Governor Eno’s decisive action against encroachment in the Tropicana layout is more than a governance milestone, it’s a statement about the sanctity of planning and vision. Too often, long-term urban development is derailed by short-term political interests or unchecked informal settlements. By reversing this trend, Akwa Ibom is showcasing that visionary governance backed by political will can create thriving urban economies.
In the long run, this restoration of order ensures that the ARISE Shopping City and its sister projects are not stand alone ventures, but part of a meticulously planned urban ecosystem, cohesive, functional, and scalable.
ARISE Shopping City should not be viewed in isolation. It is a signal of a larger blueprint: one that blends tourism, infrastructure, culture, and commerce into a sustainable economic engine. The model being built in Akwa Ibom is replicable across Nigeria and beyond, a framework where tourism is not just cultural expression, but a structured economic sector.
In placing premium value on long-term vision, legality, infrastructure, and investment attraction, Governor Eno is offering a new kind of leadership: one that sees economic development not just as a goal, but as a carefully planned journey.
With the ARISE Shopping City, Akwa Ibom is not just building a mall, it is building momentum. It is creating a dynamic environment where investment thrives, tourism flourishes, and urban life is reimagined. In doing so, the State positions itself not only as a model for Nigeria but as a rising star on the African development map.
As the 12-month construction timeline unfolds, all eyes, national and international, should be on Uyo. What is emerging there is not merely infrastructure, but a vision realized, and an economy awakened.
Daniel, SA Media to the Governor writes from Uyo, Akwa Ibom State
providencemaga@yahoo.com.