President Goodluck Jonathan has called on other states in the country to emulate Akwa Ibom State.

President Jonathan, who made the call at the official commissioning of Federal Prison, Ikot Ekpene, said: “I want states in the country to emulate Akwa Ibom and partner the Federal Government to succeed in transforming Nigeria to ensure she becomes the 20th most developed country in the world by 2020.”

Jonathan, who was represented by his Vice, Mr. Namadi Sambo, described the prison as the first correction centre in Nigeria and charged the Comptroller-General of Prisons to make  proper use of facilities in the centre.

He thanked Akwa Ibom State Government for building the edifice and for evolving efforts aimed at providing good governance in the state.

The President said: “I have seen other good projects such as Akwa Ibom International Airport, on-going maintenance, repairs and overhaul, the first in West Africa and dual carriageway.”

The Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs was   represented by Alhaji Abubakar Saidu at the commissioning.
, said the project was executed by the Akpabio administration, adding that modern prison was part of the Federal Government’s reform programmes to improve the living standards of the prisoners.

Saidu said that it was one of the 47 prisons embarked upon by the Alhaji Shehu Shagari administration, noting that Jonathan administration was planning to gradually decommission the colonial prisons inherited by Nigerians.

He called on other states in the country with colonial prisons to emulate Akwa Ibom by constructing befitting ones to help in reforming prisoners.

In another development, President Jonathan,  who also commissioned section 11 of the Federal Ikot Oku Ikono- Ekim Itam Road assured the Governor of the Federal Government’s support and co-operation.

Jonathan who promised to reciprocate the gesture commended Governor Akpabio for embarking on a high quality road project.