Nigeria, Nov. 21 -- There was a time Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, sparkled.

The water fountains at Ibom Plaza, Itam Flyover, and Aka Road near the Sacred Heart Catholic Parish, all in Uyo, were symbols of pride - glowing at night, reflecting a city once known for beauty and thoughtful planning. People visited to take pictures, relax, and enjoy the calm of a well-managed urban space.

Despite the oil-rich Akwa Ibom earning N1.1 trillion in 2024 - the highest in its history and the third-largest revenue among Nigerian states after Lagos (N2.36 trillion) and Delta (N1.38 trillion) - much of Uyo's infrastructure now lies abandoned.

The city is struggling, not because it lacks money, but because maintenance and public welfare appear to ...