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Tag: Akwa Ibom State

  • Ibeno condemn attempts to stall Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project

    Ibeno condemn attempts to stall Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project

    Natives of Ibeno local government area in Akwa Ibom State have condemned the alleged attempt by its Ekid neighbours to block the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.

    In a solidarity march yesterday, youths and elders of Ibeno said that they would resist any attempt to stop the project from passing through the disputed Stubb’s Creeks Forest land.

    The Ekid comprising Eket and Esit Eket local government areas had penultimate week published a caveat emptor warning against the use of the Stubb’s Creeks, claiming ownership of the area.

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    But the Ibeno people insisted that Stubb’s Creeks Forest is their ancestral heritage, hence the Ekid people cannot stop the Federal Government from building the coastal highway on it. They displayed placards with various inscriptions some of which read, “You cannot claim what you never owned”, “Build the Coastal Highway through Ibeno”, “Infrastructure brings prosperity”, and “Peace over false claims.”

    Others included, “Ibeno is the true Host of Stubb’s Creeks”, “Ibeno is investors-friendly”, “Landlords don’t make noise”, “Host status is not by proximity but by history”, among others.

    Spokesperson of Ibeno Elders Forum, Mr. Diamond Akpanika, a lawyer, who spoke with reporters said Ibeno people are solidly in support of the coastal road project and would resist any attempt to stalk it.

    “First of all you have seen the Ibeno people come out in white attires and white signifies peace. So we have come out to display the peaceful character and nature of every Ibeno person.

  • Family of teenager killed by soldier demand N500m compensation, jobs for siblings

    Family of teenager killed by soldier demand N500m compensation, jobs for siblings

    The family of a 13-year-old boy, Timothy Daniel Monday, allegedly killed by a soldier on January 1, 2026, in Ete, Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, has demanded N500 million compensation.

    The family also requested the construction of a befitting house and employment for all eight surviving siblings of the deceased.

    They said the compensation should be jointly paid by the Nigerian Army and Sterling Petrochemical and Fertilizer Limited, the company to which the soldier involved in the incident was attached before the New Year’s Day tragedy.

    Parents of the deceased, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel, made the demands during a meeting with representatives of the Army and the clan head of Ukpuum Ete, His Royal Highness Nsikan Udom.

    Timothy was reportedly shot dead at about 12:05 a.m. on January 1, 2026, after he confronted the soldier for allegedly attempting to sexually harass his 15-year-old sister, Miracle.

    The incident occurred as the children were returning from Mount Zion Full Gospel Church along Akongntekong Road, Ete.

    Speaking with The Nation, the boy’s mother, Mrs. Aniebiet Daniel, said she had given the Army and the company a two-week ultimatum to meet the family’s demands to enable the burial of her son.

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    She recounted that the children had attended a crossover service on December 31, 2025, and were on their way home shortly after the New Year celebrations when the incident occurred.

    According to her, the soldier, whom she alleged was under the influence of alcohol and drugs, attempted to sexually harass her daughters. She said her son intervened and was shot in the head, killing him instantly.

    She further alleged that the soldier had earlier struck her daughters with his gun, and that after the shooting, he assaulted them as they tried to retrieve their brother’s body, causing them to faint and be rushed to the hospital.

    “Before long, other soldiers arrived, firing shots into the air and releasing tear gas. As I speak, my son’s body is still with the Army,” she said.

  • 2027: APC group opposes alleged plan to impose candidates for A’Ibom Assembly seats

    2027: APC group opposes alleged plan to impose candidates for A’Ibom Assembly seats

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Media Network(APCMN) has opposed the alleged plan by some political leaders in the APC to impose candidates for the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly seats in the forthcoming election.

    The group was responding to a viral video in which the Speaker. Udeme Utong allegedly claimed that he would decide who gets the APC tickets for the 26 seats in the Assembly in 2027.

    The Director-General of the APCMN, Otuekong Iniobong John in a statement on Tuesday condemned the Speaker for allegedly making such claims, insisting that only a democratic process will produce the party’s candidates for the Assembly election.

    John in the statement said that if such undemocratic action is allowed to take place it would have foreclosed the chances of the foundation members and stakeholders of the party who have sacrificed so much for the APC in the state.

    The statement reads in parts: “The APC Media Network condemns the anti-democratic and provocative statement made in a video clip by the Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong, in which he claimed that the 26 APC House of Assembly tickets for the 2027 general election are “custodied” by him and that no aspirant can secure the party’s ticket without his endorsement.

    “The statement is deeply offensive to APC members across the state who have invested time, resources, and political capital in growing the party. It undermines the authority of the APC’s constitutional organs and creates the false impression that the party has been appropriated by personal ambition.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong has no constitutional or moral authority to determine APC candidacies or to “custody” party tickets. 

    “Such powers reside exclusively with the party, exercised through its duly constituted organs in accordance with its rules and the collective will of members. Any attempt to assume this role is a direct affront to internal democracy.

    “The Speaker must be reminded that the APC in Akwa Ibom State predates his defection. For years, committed party members laboured under difficult conditions to build, sustain, and defend the party. 

    “These loyal stakeholders deserve respect and recognition, not political marginalisation. Fairness and equity demand that those who kept the party alive are accorded a meaningful role and a fair opportunity to contest elective positions on the platform of the party”. 

    The APC group called on the Speaker to retract the statement in the video clip and offer an unreserved apology to the teeming APC members in the State who were rightly offended. 

    “A public recantation is necessary to ease tension and reaffirm respect for the party’s democratic values.

    “He should also take a cue from the exemplary conduct of Governor Umo Eno and the Senate President, Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio, GCON, who have consistently demonstrated topnotch maturity, humility, and an accommodating spirit in their leadership.

    “Their approach has fostered unity, inspired loyalty, and strengthened the APC across Akwa Ibom State. Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong would do well to emulate these qualities, placing the party and its collective interests above personal ambition, rather than projecting arrogance or attempting to intimidate party members.

    “This claim reflects a troubling disregard for internal party democracy and a fundamental misrepresentation of how political parties function in a constitutional system. APC tickets are neither personal assets nor instruments of patronage”

  • Chieftain: pray against nation’s enemies

    Chieftain: pray against nation’s enemies

    Prominent Peoples Democratic Party chieftain in Akwa Ibom State, Dr. Godswill Richman, has called on Nigerians to intensify prayers, warning that “negative spiritual forces” are working against Nigeria’s progress and stability.

    In a renewed spiritual declaration amid the country’s insecurity and governance challenges, Richman said his message was a spiritual mandate to restore peace, stability, and divine direction as we grapple with violence, economic strain, and unease.

    According to him, the nation is facing unseen spiritual battles that require collective intervention.

    He prayed against negative spirituality used by kidnappers, herdsmen, Boko Haram, ISWAP, bandits, or anyone working against the governmenT.

    Richman said he earlier issued a similar declaration through a church bulletin and a formal press statement, encouraging Nigerians, especially faith-based communities, to join in reciting the prayer daily.

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    He emphasised that spiritual unity was essential in breaking the cycle of violence and instability.

    According to him, only a national spiritual awakening can complement governmental efforts to address insecurity and social unrest.

    He described the ongoing challenges as a defining period for the nation, one that demands deep faith and community-wide spiritual action.

    Dr. Richman insist that Nigeria must embrace both divine intervention and civic responsibility to overcome what he referred to as the country’s season of crisis.

    He urged citizens not to lose hope, but to remain united and prayerful.

    He stressed that spiritual and communal commitment are necessary for national healing, stating that collective spiritual engagement is crucial to crossing over this season of crisis.

  • Akwa Ibom excited by second quarter budget performance

    Akwa Ibom excited by second quarter budget performance

    Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr Linus Nkan, has presented the 2025 Budget Implementation Second Quarter Report.

    The quarter ended last month.

    Nkan reaffirmed the government’s resolve to remain open and accountable in the implementation of the N955 billion budget, with N300 billion allocated for recurrent expenditure and N655 billion for capital expenditure.

    He said the total recurrent expenditure for the second quarter was N47.7 billion, while the year-to-date recurrent expenditure performance stood at N113.4 billion. The capital expenditure’s performance was N45.8 billion, bringing the year-to-date figure to N179.8 billion.

    Nkan explained that the reported capital expenditure for the quarter excluded advance payment guarantees, funded Interim Payment Certificates (IPCs) awaiting drawdown, and service-wide emergencies. These items, he said, would reflect in future reports and push the values up.

    He said a supplementary budget, which captures provisions for projects and needs not listed in the 2025 fiscal estimate, would soon be sent to the House of Assembly for consideration.

    He said Governor Umo Eno had been prudent with the state’s finances, noting that the governor only embarks on projects after ensuring that the necessary funds are available.

    According to him, the administration has not resorted to borrowing to fund any project.

    He listed over 60 new projects initiated under the Eno administration, such as the State Security and Command Centre, Elderly Citizens Centre, 5,000-capacity Ibom Convention Centre, Ibom Hotels, Ibom Shopping Centre, Judiciary Village, Doctors’ Quarters, AKBC House, AKICorp Building, Itam Industrial Park, Ibom Hotels in Abuja, Ibom Model Farm, AkwaGIS building, and Aviation Village. He also mentioned the Ewet Luxury Garden, Mother and Child Hospital in Ibiono Ibom, Local Government Chairmen’s Lodge, ARISE Shopping Centre, Sports Academy in Eket, and CNG City Bus Initiative, among others.

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    Commissioner for Information, Mr Aniekan Umanah, described the presentation as a practical demonstration of Eno’s transparency mantra and a vital instrument for public accountability. He said the quarterly report reflected the administration’s resolve to manage public resources prudently and keep citizens informed.

    Umanah described the report as the best budget performance recorded in the state and arguably across the country, contrasting it with states where the 2024 budget is still being implemented alongside that of 2025. He praised Eno’s fiscal discipline, saying the administration has instituted mechanisms to track and account for every naira spent.

    State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr Amos Etuk, hailed Eno for upholding the principles of transparency and accountability.

    At the event were the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Akparawa James Edet; his Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning counterpart, Christopher Udoh; and some other top government officials.

  • Top 10 cleanest cities in Nigeria in 2025

    Top 10 cleanest cities in Nigeria in 2025

    Keeping a city clean is not just about looks, it helps protect people’s health and the environment. 

    In Nigeria, some cities are standing out for their hard work in staying clean and organized.

    These cities have improved how they handle trash, involve the community in keeping streets tidy, and run programs that care for the environment.

    Here is a list of the top 10 cleanest cities in Nigeria and what they are doing right:

    1. Uyo, Akwa Ibom State

    Uyo is often called Nigeria’s cleanest city. The government runs a program called Akwa Ibom Clean and Green to encourage recycling, proper waste disposal, and clean neighborhoods.

    2. Calabar, Cross River State

    Calabar is known for its beauty and neatness. Its Greening Cross River Project supports tree planting and eco-friendly waste management. The city also promotes clean tourism.

    3. Enugu, Enugu State

    Enugu is leading in recycling with programs that help people reuse waste instead of dumping it. They’ve also built modern facilities for handling garbage.

    4. Awka, Anambra State

    Awka encourages people to take care of their environment. Their Clean and Green Champions campaign gets residents involved in city cleanliness.

    5. Abakaliki, Ebonyi State

    Abakaliki uses a group called the Ebonyi Clean Team to keep the city clean. They also use high-quality equipment for managing waste.

    6. Asaba, Delta State

    Asaba has created several projects and rules to manage trash properly and make the city healthier for everyone.

    7. Benin City, Edo State

    Benin City teaches people how to properly dispose of waste. These lessons are shared in both the city and nearby towns.

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    8. Jos, Plateau State

    Jos is known for its natural beauty and works hard to keep its environment clean through local cleanup efforts.

    9. Abuja, Federal Capital Territory

    As Nigeria’s capital, Abuja makes cleanliness a top priority. The city’s leaders focus on sanitation to keep it clean and ready for important guests.

    10. Ilesa, Osun State

    Ilesa is praised for its neat layout and tidy streets. Even in the past, it was known as one of the cleanest towns in Nigeria.

  • ‘A’Ibom will benefit more if Eno defects to APC’

    ‘A’Ibom will benefit more if Eno defects to APC’

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Vincent Essien has said Akwa Ibom State will benefit more than ever before if Governor Umo Eno defects to the ruling party.

    Essien, a legal practitioner, has averred that apart from the fact that Akwa Ibom will be more connected to the state, the governor’s defection to APC will attract quantum human and infrastructural development to the state.

    “Knowing Governor Umo Eno, and watching his determined focus on elevating the status and development of the state, any  decision he makes will not be driven by mere political considerations,” he said.

    “Just within two years, the governor has in addition to infrastructure and human development, changed the political demographic status of the State into one big political entity devoid of party colouration, something that has never happened since the creation of Akwa Ibom State”. 

    “His open declaration of support for President Bola Tinubu is unprecedented and a clear political masterstroke that will attract massive Federal government presence and development to the State,” he maintained.

    He cited the passionate manner in which the Governor advocated and secured commitment for the reconstruction of the long stalled Calabar-Itu Federal Highway, the collaboration to secure the start of the Coastal High Way from Calabar through Oron in Akwa ibom and the renewed push for the actualization of the Ibom Deep Sea port and many other projects as accelerated benefits that will occur to the State. 

    Essien commended the Governor for his synergy with the Senate President Godswill Akpabio which has also created a unique political energy that can only benefit the state.

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    “He should continue to upscale his emphasis on social responsibility of government through his care initiatives across health care,  social security and agricultural investment. 

    “We are all partners in the goal of elevating Akwa ibom state to the pinnacle of all verifiable indices of development,” Essien assured.

    The Eket-born politician called on the Governor to continue in his direction and focus, and prove those who were always confident that he would be more than equal to the enormous responsibility of his executive calling right.

    He further called on Eno to crown his performance by leaving an indelible mark in his adopted home city of Eket, by siting a major project in the city, before the end of his first term.

  • Ekpo performs Ibesikpo CNG Plant groundbreaking

    Ekpo performs Ibesikpo CNG Plant groundbreaking

    Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, on Friday, performed the groundbreaking ceremony for Guelph Gas Limited’s Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Mother Station in Ibesikpo, Akwa Ibom State, reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to a cleaner and more equitable energy future.

    According to a statement by his spokesperson, Louis Ibah, the Minister described CNG as a cleaner alternative to conventional fuels, noting its potential to significantly cut carbon emissions and enhance environmental health.

    Ekpo commended Guelph Gas Limited for investing in the project, calling it a sign of growing investor confidence in Nigeria’s gas industry. 

    He also highlighted the government’s efforts in creating a supportive climate for private sector involvement as key to unlocking the sector’s full potential.

    Ekpo assured that the Ministry of Petroleum Resources (Gas) will provide necessary support to ensure the project’s success and similar initiatives across the country. These efforts aim to significantly boost the country’s income earnings, stimulate economic growth, and generate vast employment opportunities for Nigerian youths.

    The Minister also ommended Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, for supporting investments that drive economic growth and create employment opportunities for citizens.

    “As someone who hails from this great state, I have seen firsthand the dedication of our people to development and innovation,” Ekpo said. “With its strategic location, resource wealth, and commitment to development, the state is positioned to be a key hub in Nigeria’s gas revolution,” he said.

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    Managing Director of Guelph Gas Limited, Emmanuel Bassey, thanked President Bola Tinubu for supporting initiatives and policies like the Gas to Prosperity and Decade of Gas. 

    These policies have encouraged companies like Guelph Gas Limited to invest in the gas sector as Nigeria seeks to become a gas-powered economy. Bassey also thanked Ekpo for his support in bringing the CNG project to fruition.

    The three million standard cubic feet per day CNG mother station project in Ibesikpo, Akwa Ibom State, aims to supply natural gas via CNG to commercial and industrial customers in the South-South and South-Eastern parts of the country not currently connected to the country’s gas pipeline network.

    Bassey said the company was wrapping up it’s pre-development phase and had received the License to Establish, License to Construct, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approval, building approval, and the Head of Terms, and also expect to sign the Gas Sales Agreement (GSA) before the end of the month, with offtake agreements already in place.

    He promised to deliver the project on schedule and to specification and assured the host community that they would not be left out in terms of social corporate responsibility while seeking their support and cooperation.

  • A’Ibom has no dispute with Cross River state over 76 oil wells – Eno

    A’Ibom has no dispute with Cross River state over 76 oil wells – Eno

    Akwa Ibom state has no dispute with Cross River State over the ownership of 76 oil wells, Governor Umo Eno has said.

    Speaking on Saturday during the monthly prayer meeting at the Government House Chapel, Eno stated that the Supreme Court had twice ruled in favor of Akwa Ibom, declaring Cross River a non-littoral State.

    The governor, who was responding to rumours that the state was in another contention over the oil wells, urged citizens not to engage in a matter that has been legally settled.

    Eno also emphasised the importance of respecting past and present leaders for their contributions to the State’s development.

    In a veiled reference to the N700billion corruption case against the immediate past governor of the state, Udom Emmanuel, he condemned external influences attempting to discredit Akwa Ibom leaders without factual evidence.

    “It is difficult to understand how individuals who are not from Akwa Ibom seek to run down our leaders on baseless allegations.

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    “As governor, I can confidently say that I have seen no evidence supporting such false accusations against our past leaders,” he said.

    The governor also urged contractors and business owners to take advantage of the newly launched state procurement portal, which provides transparent access to government contracts.

    He announced that over 400 jobs are currently available through the portal and encouraged qualified individuals to register.

    He said, “We have several projects, including the construction of the Aviation Village, Commissioners’ Quarters, Legislators’ Quarters, and Judges’ Quarters. We will not award multiple projects to one person. These contracts will be given to qualified Akwa Ibom people who are duly registered on the portal.”

    He reiterated his commitment to fairness in contract awards, stressing that opportunities should be based on merit rather than personal connections.

    “We must build a state where people can bid for and secure government jobs without knowing anyone in power,” Eno stated.

  • Court jails another professor for election fraud

    Court jails another professor for election fraud

    A State High Court in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, yesterday, sentenced Professor Ignatius Uduk to three years in prison for perjury and publishing false election results.

    Uduk, a professor of Human Kinetics at the University of Uyo, was prosecuted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on charges of perjury and announcing and publishing false results during the 2019 general elections in Essien Udim State Constituency, where he served as the returning officer.

    His conviction and sentencing came four years after his colleague, Peter Ogban, a professor of Soil Science at the University of Calabar, was jailed for three years for a similar offence.

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    Ogban, who has served his sentence, was the INEC Returning Officer for the Akwa Ibom Northwest Senatorial District election in 2019 in which Godswill Akpabio, now the Senate President, was defeated by Christopher Ekpenyong, a former deputy governor of Akwa Ibom.

    Ekpenyong was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the poll, while Akpabio was the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate. Ogban was convicted and jailed for falsifying the election result to help Akpabio in the election, but the Senate president has repeatedly disowned the professor.

    A former INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Akwa Ibom, Mike Igini, initiated both suits and secured Ogban’s conviction before his (Igini) retirement from INEC in 2022 after serving his last five years as REC in the state.