Eteng Jones Williams one year in office; Achievements so far

Senator Eteng Jonah Williams was sworn in as the representative of the Cross River Central Senatorial District in the 10th National Assembly of Nigeria on June 13, 2023. Although he lost after protracted court fights, he has since accomplished a great deal in the legislative arena.

As Speaker of the Ninth Assembly in the Cross River State House of Assembly, Senator Williams brought twelve years of legislative experience to the Senate. Williams was appointed Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream) and currently holds several important committee positions, including Vice Chairman of Senate Services and Co-Chairman of the Ad hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft. Williams was a prominent figure in the lobbying efforts that resulted in Senator Godswill Akpabio\’s election as Senate President.

Williams has actively engaged in a number of committee oversights, which have included investigations into Turn Around Maintenance projects during trips to Kaztec Engineering Limited and many refineries. At a number of occasions, including the Independent Petroleum Producers Group workshop and the book launch for Chief Edwin Clark, he spoke on behalf of the Senate President.

The Nuclear Safety Security and Safeguard Bill, the Mineral and Mining Act (Amendment) Bill, and the Chartered Institute of Petroleum and Gas Engineers of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill are the three legislation he has introduced in the Senate. He has also presented a number of motions on matters ranging from the need for improvements in vocational education and national counterpart finance programs to conflicts amongst communities in Cross River Central.

At international gatherings, such as the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston and the Miami International Roadshow for the 2024 license bid rounds, Senator Williams has represented Nigeria. At the Nigerian Oil and Gas Forum, he received the Policy Maker in Oil and Gas Industry Award in recognition of his work.

Williams has over 3,000 clients to her credit through her facilitation of multiple empowerment initiatives. These consist of entrepreneurship education, raising awareness of domestic abuse, learning about the agroeconomy, and disbursing federal funding. Additionally, he has succeeded in getting constituents appointed to positions in a number of government agencies.

Senator Williams has awarded scholarships to law students and is set to launch a scholarship scheme for undergraduate and postgraduate students. His community interventions include donations to fire victims, grading of roads, and distribution of palliatives. Healthcare initiatives have included a six-day medical outreach benefiting over 10,000 constituents.

Williams is spearheading infrastructure projects such as the construction of solar-powered boreholes and the Light Up Central Project, which will install solar street lights across the senatorial district. He also commissioned a senatorial district constituency office to provide better access to his services.

Looking ahead, Senator Williams plans to implement the 2024 budget, which includes multiple projects aimed at improving roads, schools, hospitals, and providing various forms of training and empowerment.

In just one year, Senator Eteng Jonah Williams has significantly impacted the development of Cross River Central, demonstrating his commitment to the well-being of his constituents and setting a high standard for legislative effectiveness.