Category: Niger Delta

The Akwa Ibom State Government is set to inaugurate Etebi-Enwang road with a bridge measuring a total length of 1.15km in September.

Governor Udom Emmanuel gave this indication during an inspection of the ongoing Etebi-Enwang Bridge project in Mbo Local Government Area.

According to the Governor, the project, which is expected to connect communities in Mbo local government and Esit-Eket Local Government Area “will revive the socio-economic activities as well as bring succour to the people.”

Hinting of plans to establish a fabrication yard for Oil and Gas along the shoreline in the State, Emmanuel assured that the Etebi-Enwang Bridge project on completion will be strategic in opening up the vista of socio-economic activities in the State.

“Once you cross here you are in Cameroon, so you can imagine the economic impact this bridge will do because we are opening up the entire area.

“And you know we are planning a fabrication yard for Oil and Gas towards this shoreline, and without access road, that cannot be achieved,” he said.

He commended the contractor, AMITEC Construction Development Limited and Ministry of Works & Fire Service for showing commitment towards the completion of the project.

“This is going to be the fourth longest bridge in Nigeria and the contractor has given a commitment to make it ready for commissioning by 30th September,” he said.

Giving an overview of the project, the Managing Director, AMITEC Construction Development Limited, Aiman Saimua, thanked Governor Udom Emmanuel for his support and commitment towards the realization of the project, which was abandoned during the previous administration.”

“We started in 2018 and with the Governor’s kind support, financial involvement and commitment, we have managed to reach this level.

“The entire road has been completed, except this bridge and we have promised the governor that by the end of September this year, this bridge will be commissioned. When it is commissioned, it will be the fourth longest bridge in Nigeria with a total length of 1,150m long. It comprises 52 spans of 22.5m,” he said.

As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility, an oil company, Oriental Energy Resources has donated 1,000 bags of sanitary pads to girls in two secondary schools in Akwa Ibom State.

The benefiting schools, Ibesikpo Secondary Commercial school, Ibesikpo Asutan and Amayam Community Secondary school, Ikot Ekpene council areas received 650 and 350 bags respectively.

The gesture is aimed at providing sensitisation on menstrual hygiene and fighting the high rate of school dropouts due to period poverty among girls in junior secondary two and three in the country.

It was also to discourage the use of old rags and other harmful materials by girls during their menstrual period due to their inability to afford proper sanitary pads.

Speaking at the presentation of the items yesterday, the Managing Director of Oriental Energy Resources Ltd, Mr. Mustapha Indimi said that the initiative was in support of the Menstrual Hygiene Day which takes place May 28 every year.

Head Community and Government Relations Officer, Dr. Uwem Ite, who represented Indimi said that Oriental Energy Resources Ltd was worried at the cases of girls dropping out from school due to period poverty.

“There is no doubt that education is a human right. As such every child has a right to education and no girl should stay away from school due to period poverty.

“Period poverty is a situation where women and girls cannot afford proper menstrual hygiene products due to financial hardship. It is also viewed as inadequate access to menstrual tools and education which makes it difficult for students to safely manage their menstrual cycle.

“Our support for 2022 Menstrual Hygiene Day is also a contribution towards fighting period poverty, improving gender equality in education. These issues are all in line with Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs), 3, 4, 5 adopted by the United Nations in September 2015.

“It is pertinent to note here that the SDG 3 focuses on ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for everyone at all ages.

“Unfortunately, it is evident that if women and girls lack access to affordable, hygienic menstrual products, they often use old rags, cloths or other unhygienic materials. This can lead to reproductive tract infections and other health conditions”, he said.

Drector of Aniedi Etim Foundation, Miss Aniedi Etim said there was need to address the issue of period poverty among teenage girls in the society.

She said, ” Before I get to to say why we are here gathered this morning, I will like to first mention that i never knew that what my friends and i experienced back then in secondary school as teenage girls was called period poverty, not until some years later.

“So, my friends and i used to skip school during menstruation most of the time because we couldn’t afford menstrual products, and because we were afraid of getting stained and teased by boys and girls at school so we would rather stay home during menstruation because the discomfort that comes with having to make use of unhygienic materials during menstruation is indiscribable”.

The Coordinator Bola Ahmed Tinubu Support Vanguard (BATS-V) in Rivers State, Chief Tony Okocha, has congratulated Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his emergence as presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Okocha, who is also the chairman of Coordinators of the group in the South-south region, issued the felicitation in a statement on the overwhelming victory of Tinubu.

He described the APC presidential candidate as a visionary leader, a champion of democracy a detribalised leader and political investor whose investment has paid off and will yet pay.

He reiterated the group’s pledge to continue to uphold him in prayers and work hard for his victory in February, 2023.

Okorcha said: “On behalf of the teeming membership of Bola Ahmed Tinubu Support Vanguard(BATS-V), Rivers and South~South region, I felicitate with you our amiable and visionary leader, a self~less Champion of democracy in Nigeria, Detribalised Political icon, the highest political investor in Nigeria’s Political landscape.

“A consummate hunter of talents Superb Manager of men and resources. Cynosure of excellence Unparalleled achiever, HE, Senator, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, (Asiwaju of Lagos, Jagaban of Borgu, Aare of Ondo, etc), on your deserving victory in the just concluded Presidential Primary Election of our Great Party, APC.”

The former Chief of Staff of the State Government House added: “We had no doubts in our minds, despite some intriguing undulations along the pathways, that you will emerge victorious in the APC presidential primary election.

“Your track records in the private and public sectors. Your sweet smelling aroma in philantropism and community spirit, doggedness to the cause of development, human relationship,among others, stand you out as a Leader that fits the bill to steer the ship of our great Party and navigate the waters, pitched against other Parties candidates for a General Election and emerge “Primus inter pares”.

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“We bask in the hope that your wide acceptability and clientele within the nooks and crannies of Nigeria and beyond, laced with the progressive world~views that you exude, are the needed tonics to turn around the fortunes of our great Country, Nigeria, for the best.

“We align with your philosophy of all~inclusiveness, togetherness and unity of purpose. We no less share in your vision for an eldorado for the Nigeria nation State in the months ahead.

“As a renowned achiever, we are confident that you will build upon and surpass the achievements of your predecessor when you mount the saddle as you surely will, by the Grace of God.

“You can take for granted, our resolve to ferociously and ceaselessly have you and the Nigeria of your dreams in prayers.”

Okocha hailed the foresight and commitment of Senator Magnus Abe and Amb. Dare Owotomobi to the activities of BATS-V in the State, region and the country at large.

“We dedicate a paragraph to thank one of your very resolute and ardent adherents, a grassroot mobiliser, Cicero of RIvers Politics and quintessential Gentleman, Distinguished Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, who provided us Leadership, lavishly sponsored our mobilisation activities and reassured us of light at the end of the tunnel even when it seemed uncertain, bleak and precarious.

“No less appreciation is to Amb Dare Owotomobi, PhD, Global Chairman of the BATS~V. He actually sparked up the light and rekindled hopes at every twist and turn.

“Your Excellency,. the indefatigable in~coming President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2023, against the risk of writing so long a letter, we resoundingly congratulate you and volunteer to be worthy vessels towards the achieving of our shared aspiration, namely, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria a better place for all Nigerians, the world and her citizens.”

The Government of Akwa Ibom has entered into a co-location and power production pact with African Delta Power Limited to add additional 366megawatts to the existing 191megawatts of the State-owned Ibom power plant.

However, the new deal shows that the aggregate maximum capacity of the gas turbine generator units is capable of producing up to 732 Megawatts although Ibom Power will need to apply to the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) for licence expansion to cover the expanded license.

Currently, the company has an on-grid license for 685MW.

The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Uko Udom signed the agreement on behalf of Akwa Ibom government.

The Board Chairman of Ibom Power, Engr. Etido Inyang and Secretary of the Company, Barr. Ime Asibong signed for Ibom Power; while Jeremiah Oluwaseun and Christabel Nwagum (CEO of African Delta and Secretary respectively) signed the agreement on behalf African Delta Power.

At the ceremony at the office of the Secretary to Akwa Ibom State Government and Chairman of the One-Stop Shop on Investment Committee, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, it was said the proposed power plant will be developed as part of the phase 2 of the IPP.

The SSG stated that the agreement was “not an MOU but rather it is a step further, which has transited the MOU phase”.

He said the proposed power project is under the ‘Power for All’ initiative of Governor Udom Emmanuel, which was inaugurated about two years ago by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.

Dr. Ekuwem urged the investors to follow up the agreement by living up to the letters as enshrined in the terms of the contract.

On the implementation of the project, the One-Stop Shop on Investment Committee Chairman urged the African Delta Power team to speed up the processes and abide by the roadmap agreed to by government for the project.

Speaking on the development, the Chairman of Ibom Power Company Limited, Engr. Etido Inyang, said the first phase of Ibom power is already operational with an installed capacity of 191megawatts.

He said Ibom Power has a license to generate 685megawatts of power which the proposed power plant will leverage on.

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Giving further insights, the Board Chairman said that the Company had received many bids from several investors that had shown firm interest to partner Ibom Power for its Phase 2 but African Delta Power has proven to be ‘outstanding’.

“Their technical partners have been supportive and we have seen the turbines that are coming in. We have seen that they have evidence of funding that will be deployed in the installation of these turbines and they are going to commence groundbreaking within the first week of June,” he stated.

The Managing Director of Ibom Power, Engr. Meyen Etukudo expressed satisfaction over the deal and described it as ‘mutually rewarding’ with great prospects for the future.

The Phase 2 of Ibom Power, according to him, will ensure the company continues to break more frontiers.

On how the project will be implemented within the stipulated nine months period, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of African Delta Power, Jeremiah Oluwaseun said most of the turbines and the systems have been prefabricated so they are ready to be deployed with their foreign technical partners from the United States.

Oluwaseun, who led his team consisting of the GM-Operations, Kelechi Samuel Anyamele; GM-Admin, Christabel Nwagum and the CLO, Etim Ayara, said that Akwa Ibom was selected for the project because the State had the prerequisites for the project.

Former Sokoto Commissioner for Finance Hon. Abdussamad Dasuki has urged Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) delegates to vote for Sokoto Governor Aminu Tambuwal at the presidential primary on May 28 and 29.

Dasuki said Tambuwal had not only demonstrated ample possession of the qualities Nigeria needed in a President at this time in its history, he had also shown that he had capacity to win the presidency for the party.

Speaking with newsmen after emerging as PDP candidate for Kebbe Tambuwal Federal Constituency, Dasuki said: “Governor Tambuwal has demonstrated the character and will Nigeria needs in a president, especially at this time when the country is in dire need of a unifier and transformational leader.”

Dasuki also recalled the recent claim by Senator Dino Melaye that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, had an assured 11 million votes, which he scored in the 2019 presidential election won by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Dasuki said that was the lowest vote recorded by any PDP presidential candidate since 1999.

“That claim of Atiku having 11 votes in his pouch is bogus and misleading. The truth is that when compared to the winning votes of past presidents, it clearly showed that Atiku lowered the standard record by past PDP presidential candidates.

“For instance, in 1999, Obasanjo beat Falae with 18 million to 11 million votes; 2003, Obasanjo defeated Buhari with 24 million to 12 million votes; 2007, Yar’Adua defeated Buhari with 24 million to six million votes; and 2011, Jonathan beat Buhari by 22 million to 12 million votes.

“Also in 2015, Jonathan scored 12 million votes compared to Buhari’s 15milion votes. Even at that, the worst electoral performance by any PDP presidential candidate before 2019 was better than the vote recorded by Atiku. This is a minus for his political record and shouldn’t be used as a political point by his campaigners.”

Dasuki recalled that when Atiku flew the flag of the defunct Action Congress (AC) in 2007, he recorded a paltry 2 million votes compared to PDP Yar’Adua’s 24 million votes.

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He said unlike Atiku, Tambuwal had always won all the elections he contested irrespective of political party.

Dasuki further noted: “In his campaign, Tambuwal has diligently engaged the subject of restructuring, devolution of power and true federalism in general.

“This is the fundamental change the country needs now that the current political structure is failing at an alarming rate, and we all can see it. He has engaged this subject quite studiously, even when many of the aspirants are stylishly avoiding it.

“This is beyond mere stump speaking, plenty of which we have seen in recent times,” he said, adding, Tambuwal has shown capacity through his political antecedents, “and we can take his promise of change seriously because he has demonstrated overtime that he has the capacity and will to fulfil his promises.”

According to him: “Perhaps, this is why Tambuwal has been on a winning streak since he started to participate in elections.”
Tracing the political experiences of the PDP presidential hopeful, Dasuki said integrity and political sagacity were distinct features in Tambuwal’s record.

“His ascension to Speaker of the House of Representatives happened on the basis of bipartisan support by the ruling party and the opposition, and his tenure as Speaker marked a turning point in the history of legislative relationships in the country,” Dasuki said, adding that he helped restore cordiality between the two chambers, which has been sustained till today.

“That trend continued in his state, when as governor in 2019 he was able to run a very successful government with an opposition House of Assembly and Speaker, proving doomsayers wrong.

“This is uncommon political sagacity, which I think Tambuwal would take even further if he emerges president of this country”.

All Progressives Congress (APC) delegates in Akwa Ibom at the weekend pledged to vote for former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi at the party’s presidential primary.

At a meeting with the delegates and leaders of the APC in Uyo, former Governor of the old Cross River State (present day Akwa Ibom and Cross River States), Donald Etiebet, who spoke on behalf of the delegates, said Akwa Ibom will deliver a hundred percent votes to Amaechi at the primary election.

Etiebet said: “The caliber of persons in your entourage goes to prove that you are hundred per cent accepted throughout this country. On behalf of all the delegates of Akwa Ibom State, we are going to return a hundred percent untainted votes to you. You can go home and be assured of that.”

At a meeting with the Council of Traditional Rulers of Akwa Ibom State, Amaechi assured that he will change the fortunes of Nigeria and Nigerians if he is elected President.

He gave the traditional rulers reasons why he is the best person to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari and urged them to convince their subjects who are delegates in the APC to vote for him at the primary.

“I am very qualified and very experienced, more experienced than all of them that are running (other presidential aspirants). Trust me, I have the capacity and the knowledge to overcome the challenges of insecurity. I have the capacity to understand that you cannot solve insecurity if you don’t solve economic problems, so we must address the two.

“I’m here to request that you ask your subjects that are in APC who are delegates to the Primaries on the 29th of May to please vote for me. I will change the fortunes of Nigeria, and that is an assurance I give to you. And I will be accountable to you as our leaders and accountable to Nigerians.

“When you vote for me and I become the President of Nigeria, I will meet with the National Assembly to see how we can amend the constitution to add the Traditional Rulers in the Constitution, so that they can have the responsibility of helping us to administer the rural areas, checking insecurity and making life better for our people.”

Responding, the President General of the Akwa Ibom State Traditional Ruling Council, His Eminence, Ntenyin Solomon Etuk, said Nigeria needs a leader in the caliber of the former Transportation Minister.

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He said: “Nigeria needs someone that knows the job, how to lead. Somebody that might have passed through mentorship, and knows the problem of this country. And I want to believe you know our challenges. I strongly believe, on behalf of the Traditional Council that you will not let us down. When you become the President of this country come 2023, please don’t forget us.”

“I know, with your capacity, you’ll be able to give us direction. Teach us how to fish, guide us to where our children will become independent. Turning around to see a personality of Lt Gen Buratai, it gives me great joy to see him here. All is not lost, because he fought gallantly against the insurgency in this country. I can see other very important people in your midst who are leading in their different spheres. I know they will advice you properly on the things to do for the betterment of Nigeria. Nigeria first, building bridges of love, unity and peace.

“We want a leader, we want a President that knows the problem of this country. And we will give you all the required support. When you call us, we’ll be there to assist you.

“This country needs a leader that is very humane, that will touch our hearts. If you lead with the fear of God, God will show you the way, and I believe strongly that you will lead with the fear of God, because leadership is not child’s play. Leadership requires people that are resilient. You were Governor, Minister and the rest, but the Presidency, when you are there, I know you’ll know how to administer. I can see how agile you are, and when you get there I know you’ll be kicking even better than how you are today.

“We pray for you, we say go. May the Almighty God who knows the beginning to the end be with you, guide you aright, show you the way to go and there won’t be any pitfall. You’ll move, you’ll succeed and you’ll become the President come 2023. I have made that pronouncement, don’t take it for granted,” Etuk said.

He acknowledged Amaechi’s idea to constitutionally make the role of traditional rulers inclusive, and thanked the former Minister for his assurance, saying “If we are included in the Constitution of this country like you said, it will be well defined, how we should go. But meanwhile, we are doing what we are supposed to do, and we’ll continue to do it.”

A People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant Mohammed Hayatu-deen has said that even as a military Head of State, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, brought about many policy reforms that transformed the nation.

He said this when he paid a courtesy visit to Obasanjo in his country home in Otta, Ogun State on Thursday.

He said he was grateful to the former leader for playing host to him and his entourage.

He said also as civilian President, Obadanjo proved his leadership qualities.

“I come here recognising the full ramification of your works. Despite your professional calling as a military Head of State, you brought many policy reforms to our country, refineries and road infrastructure between 1976 and1979.

” Under your watch as civilian President, the PDP that was formed in 1999, has undergone a lot of transformation,” Hayatu-deen said.

He said Obasanjo carried out reforms in telecommunications, transportation and many other areas.

Hayatu-deen said he had three major reasons why he wanted to become president.

He said the society was decomposing very fast, there was major social security problem and he was motivated to do the best because he had seen better days as a Nigerian.

Obasanjo thanked the delegation and said he was receiving them as a friend.

“I also thank you for the remarks you have made. Some people say that human memory is short. Maybe they are right because some of the mistakes we are making we won’t if memory was not short,” Obasanjo said.

He agreed with Hayatu-deen this period is not like any other period in Nigeria.

“I can’t find any better words to describe the situation we find ourselves, than the words you have used- decomposing and dissolving. It is agonising,” the former President said.

Obasanjo said the nation needed four things: knowledge, vision, passion and innovation.

“We can’t do the same thing we have done in the past that did not pay us. We have to innovate and restragetise

“I know we can put all insecurity behind us within a space of years. That we haven’t done this is by the choice of our leaders,” Obasanjo said.