Akwa United have been charged by the Akwa Ibom State government to secure promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) next season.

The Promise Keepers were relegated to the Nigeria National League (NNL) last season, but the government remains confident in their ability to bounce back. The directive was conveyed during a courtesy visit by the Commissioner of Sports, Elder Paul Bassey, to the team on Thursday.

Chairman of the club, Joseph Eno, expressed confidence in the players’ ability to grab the promotion ticket. “Akwa United is a big team in Nigeria, and we are determined to restore it to its rightful place by securing promotion to the Premier League at the end of the season,” Eno said.

He also confirmed that the 2025–26 NNL season has already commenced. Akwa United have recorded two wins from their opening two fixtures, signaling a strong start to the campaign.

This weekend, Paul Offor’s side will face Ekiti United at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, aiming to continue their winning streak and keep promotion hopes alive.