Ukorebi Esien | February 9, 2026
CALABAR – Hon. Victor Abang, Member representing Ikom/Boki Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, has reaffirmed his commitment to accountable and people-centred representation with a mid-term constituency town hall meeting held on Monday, February 9, 2026, in Calabar.
The engagement, which brought together constituents from Ikom and Boki residing in Calabar, provided a platform for the lawmaker to present a comprehensive scorecard of his legislative activities, constituency projects, oversight functions, and interventions over the past two and a half years.
Addressing the gathering, Hon. Abang said the briefing was deliberately organized to bridge the gap that often exists between elected officials and the electorate after elections.
"Most people only see their representatives during elections. After that, you don't hear from them again. I decided to close that gap by coming back in between elections to tell you what we have done so far and to also listen to you," he said.
He stressed that the forum was also designed to enhance public understanding of how government and legislative processes work, noting that misinformation and criticism on social media often stem from limited knowledge of legislative responsibilities.
"People should ask questions when they don't understand what we are doing. This is why meetings like this are important, so we can explain our actions and be held accountable," Abang added.
Legislative Interventions and Motions
Highlighting his legislative contributions, Hon. Abang recalled that one of his earliest actions on the floor of the House was a motion to secure over 10,000 hectares of land in the Danare axis of Boki, following threats from cross-border aggressors. He said the motion led to the intervention of an ad-hoc committee of the House and helped safeguard the affected communities.
He also disclosed that he sponsored the bill for the establishment of a Federal Medical Centre in Boki, noting that the bill has passed the House of Representatives and is awaiting concurrence by the Senate.
According to him, the absence of a tertiary health facility in Boki has continued to expose residents to avoidable risks, as the nearest such hospitals are several hours away.
Other legislative initiatives highlighted include:
* A bill to establish the Okwangwo National Park as a full division to boost employment and ensure equitable allocation of resources.
* Motions addressing cross-border security threats, including the deployment of troops to safeguard communities and curb external incursions.
* A motion on recurring elephant invasions destroying farmlands and homes in parts of Boki, which he said has drawn national and international attention to the affected communities.
* Sponsorship of bills on labour reforms, tax enforcement mechanisms, agriculture and forestry funding, immigration services, and the proposed Federal University of Entrepreneurship Studies in Ikom.
Constituency Projects and Empowerment
Hon. Abang presented an extensive list of constituency projects and empowerment programmes executed across wards in Ikom and Boki, including the construction and renovation of classroom blocks, installation of solar-powered streetlights, grading of rural roads, provision of boreholes, and upgrading of health facilities.
He revealed that over 1,000 constituents have been enrolled as beneficiaries of the Federal Government's Conditional Cash Transfer Programme, while another 1,000 were captured under the Renewed Hope Nano Presidential Grant.
The lawmaker also disclosed that hundreds of youths, women, artisans, and persons with disabilities have benefitted from skills acquisition programmes, grants, agricultural inputs, and other empowerment initiatives facilitated through federal agencies such as NDE, ITF, NEMA, and NDDC.
Oversight and Global Engagements
Beyond constituency-level interventions, Hon. Abang highlighted his oversight roles and international engagements, including participation in the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meetings in Geneva, Switzerland, and other legislative delegations aimed at strengthening Nigeria's institutional capacity and global partnerships.
Call for Continued Engagement
The lawmaker assured constituents that more projects are captured in the 2025 budget and are at various stages of procurement and execution, stressing that some are awaiting commissioning while others will commence soon.
"We are not done yet. Representation is a continuous process, and I remain committed to deepening development across Ikom and Boki," he said.
Participants at the town hall commended the initiative, describing it as a rare demonstration of transparency and responsiveness, while also using the opportunity to raise questions and make suggestions on priority needs within the constituency.
The meeting concluded with a renewed call for sustained dialogue between elected officials and citizens as a means of strengthening democracy and effective representation.
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