Uyo — AKWA Ibom State said it has so far spent more than N81 billion in building the gas project in Esit Eket Local Government Area.

Governor Godswill Akpabio, who stated this when a 30-member team from the Lagos State House of Assembly led by the Deputy Speaker, Kolawole Taiwo, interacted with him during a breakfast meeting at Governor's Lodge, Uyo.

Akpabio said that his government was trying to domesticate gas production for use by Ibom Independent Power Project (IPP).

'Akwa Ibom State is a traditionally civil service state. Only government can jump- start the economy. My vision is to bring international conferences to the state.'

Akpabio noted that the underlying tone in getting to an office was service, saying: 'As participants in democracy, there's no way I would not have received you. I want you to criticise whatever you are seeing in this state.

We are trying to give hope to the people and deepen democracy. Democracy can only survive if you give hope to it.'

The Governor who was flanked by Chris Ubah, a PDP chieftain added: 'Nigeria is doing well because other states in the nation are performing. In our enclave, we must endeavour to give peace and development a chance.'

He encouraged the legislators to learn things from the Peer Review Mechanism practised by Akwa Ibom government, particularly in the areas of public utilities like pipe jacking system, e-library and free education, among others.