The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Akwa Ibom State

  • CAN to churches: Avoid holding service in uncompleted buildings

    CAN to churches: Avoid holding service in uncompleted buildings

    The national leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has commiserated with the people and government of Akwa Ibom State on the tragedy that occured inside the Reigners Bible Church, Uyo at the weekend which led to the death of several worshippers.

     CAN advised churches to avoid holding worship service inside a building under construction to avoid a repeat.

    In a statement signed by the General Secretary of the body, Rev Dr Musa Asake, lamented the disaster and tasked every Christian to identify with the victims through prayers, gifts and condolence visits.

    The statement reads: “We identify with the victims of the tragedy, we pray for their quick recovery as we are asking God to console and comfort all the bereaved. It is very unfortunate that the devil struck when the whole world is getting ready for the celebration of the Birth of the Saviour, Jesus Christ, who came to destroy the work of the devil.

     “We thank God that His Excellency, Governor Udom Emmanuel, who himself narrowly escaped with his life in the tragedy and we welcome his prompt intervention when he said the state government will hold an inquiry to investigate if anyone compromised building standards”.

     CAN recalled the tragedies of building collapses being experienced in the country and called on the relevant agencies to rise up to the building disasters with a view to putting a permanent solution into them.

    Asake said: “It is no more news that buildings often collapse in the country as a result of contractors using sub-standard materials coupled with lack of building approvals or a thorough supervision by the relevant agencies.

     “We call on the Society of Engineers and other relevant bodies to rise up to the menace of building with sub-standard materials in Nigeria which have led to demise of thousands of innocent people. Until severe sanctioned are met on those who are responsible, they may not be able to stop their satanic antics.”

     CAN appealed to Christians all over the world to join “us in praying for the victims and the bereaved of the disaster” also prayed for the leadership of the church for the grace to overcome the unfortunate incident.

     It said: “we also advise churches to discourage the idea of holding worship service inside a building under construction to avoid a repeat of the avoidable tragedy.”

  • Update: Many feared dead as church building collapses in Akwa Ibom

    Update: Many feared dead as church building collapses in Akwa Ibom

    Tragedy struck Saturday in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital when a church building belonging to Reigners Bible Church International, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, collapsed killing scores and wounded several others.

    According to an eyewitness, the incident occurred at around 11am during a special service: “Bishopric Enthronement”, to mark the ordination of its resident pastor, Akan Weeks.

    As at the time when the building collapsed, eyewitnesses say the church was filled to the brim and the incident occurred shortly after the offering session, a development that brought the event to an end.

    Governor Udom Emmanuel alongside some of his commissioners who were billed to attend the function were on their way when the building collapsed.

    When The Nation visited the scene, the governor was seen helping in the rescue operation as many worshippers were trapped under the debris as rescue team evacuate the dead and those that were injured.

    An eyewitness said: “This is a disaster. Why today? People have been rushed to hospital while many have been trapped under the structure.”

    Security agents comprising men of the Nigeria Police Force: Nigerian Army; Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC and officials of the Federal Road a Safety Corps, FRSC, were seen condoling off the area to save the lives of those they were injured.

    Also officials of the Red Cross were seen attending to some of the worshippers with minor injuries.

    When contacted, the FRSC’s Spokesman in the state, Mr. Godsgift Uwen, said officials of the commission were currently at the scene of incident.

    When asked the number of casualties resulting from the collapsed building, Uwen said he was not competent to speak on that but ordered Sunday Nation to get the reaction from the Police.

    He said: “I am not competent to give you information on this matter for now. I will advise you call the Police Public Relations officer.”

    Speaking on the development, the State’s Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Cordelia Nwawe, could not confirm the number of casualties.

    She said: “This is a very unfortunate incident. The governor is safe. A lot of the people are safe. People have been rushed to the hospital. By evening, we will be able to talk about the number of casualties. We are here to ensure that hoodlums do not take over the place.”

  • Kerosene explosion kills two, injure three in Akwa Ibom

    Kerosene explosion kills two, injure three in Akwa Ibom

    Kerosene explosion has killed two children and injured three others in Akwa Ibom State.

    According to an eyewitness, the incident occurred in Ikono Ibom Clan in Uyo Local Government Area of the state.

    One Mr. Nsikak Michael, a tricycle operator and father of three suffered severe burns from the kerosene explosion, which also resulted in the death of two of his children.

    According to Nsikak, who also operates a small poultry farm near his house in Ikot Enyingne Ikono, “I bought kerosene from a filling station along Idoro road as I closed from my Keke business.

    “Upon getting home, I decided to light up the lantern in my poultry farm to keep my birds warm but needed to top up the kerosene in the lamp as it was soon going off.

    “So I came out of the poultry farm just as my kids followed. As I attempted to light up the lantern there was a loud explosion with a big flame of fire which left me unconscious.”

    One of the two children died few hours after, while the other died the following day at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, UUTH, where they were rushed to treatments.

    The Chairman of Uyo Local Government Transition Committee, Mfon Ben and Wife, Bridget visited the victim Mr. Nsikak who lies critically ill at the Hospital as a mark of concern and love for the people.

     

  • Navy intercepts boats with adulterated diesel

    Navy intercepts boats with adulterated diesel

    Officers and men of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Jubilee in Ikot Abasi, Forward Operating Base, FOB Ibaka and Naval Out Post, NOP Ikuru, Akwa Ibom State, have intercepted two wooden Cotonou boats laden with 19, 200 litres of product suspected to be illegally refined Automative Gas Oil (AGO).

    Speaking during a briefing at NNS Jubilee base in Ikot Abasi, the Commander, Commodore Saidu Garba, said four hoodlums involved in illegal bunkering were arrested based on a tip off from good spirited members of the youth in Ataba community.

    The suspects are Solomon Ikpoko, 28, from Andoni Local Council, Rivers state; Iwoh Matthew, 39, from Andoni Local Council, Rivers state; Godspower Solomon, 29, from Andoni in Rivers state and Festus Bagbegha, 24, from Burutu in Delta state.

    According to the commander, the special patrol team of NOP Ikuru raided the creek around Ataba area which he said was notorious for sea robbery and in the process arrested three sea robbers who had been terrorizing and unleashing terror on innocent citizens and maritime commuters.

    He said: “The arrest took place after the three sea robbers had robbed four women in the creeks who were just returning from their daily trade activities by boat. The robbers collected monies and handsets from the victims.

    “In another development, a combined patrol team of NNS Jubilee and NOP Ikuru arrested four hoodlums involved in illegal oil bunkering. Two wooden Cotonou boats laden with 75 by 250 litres drums and 9 by 50 litres jerry cans of product suspected to be illegally refined Automative Gas Oil (AGO).

    “These hoodlums and criminals have been thoroughly investigated, profiled and would be handed over to the Nigeria Police for prosecution.”

    The Commander noted that the achievements were made possible through information sharing and cooperation between the Navy and the Ataba community.

    Commodore Garba also reiterated the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to enhancing community relations in the current effort to eliminate all forms of economic sabotage and crime in the maritime domain.

    He warned oil theft, illegal bunkering, pipeline vandals, sea robbers and other criminal activities within Akwa Ibom to desist from their nefarious activities and venture into productive businesses.

    One of the suspects, Godspower, who spoke with our correspondent, claimed that he was sent by one Blessing to help take delivery of the AGO.

    His words: “One woman Blessing asked me to help pick the AGO. I haven’t seen her since I was arrested. I feel bad about this. The problem is that there is so much hunger.”

  • 15 escape death as truck hit power cable in Aba

    No fewer than 15 persons, on Monday, escaped death at Opobo junction, Ogbor Hill, Aba, Abia state when a truck rammed into an overhead power line and crashed 3 poles which injured two tricycle riders and their passengers.

    The heavy duty truck with Registration number, Anambra, KD 869 GDD, was headed to Akwa Ibom state when it hit the overhead power line which led to heavy explosion and fire at the overhead cable crisscrossing the area. In the confusion, two tricycles were damaged while a driver, some passengers and passersby were severely injured by the crashed electric poles.

    The situation caused panic in the area as shop owners and motorists, some of who abandoned their vehicles, scampered to safety while others tried to rescue the injured persons.

    When The Nation visited the area, there was heavy traffic jam while people clustered in groups discussing the situation, even as some of the power cables lay on the road and top of the truck.

    A shop owner in the area who gave her name as Amara, said, “I was inside my shop when I heard a loud explosion. The truck while passing through the junction hit the overhead electric cable, there was fire and the poles were falling and people were running away. The electric pole hit this tricycle and injured the driver and passengers, Opobo junction is a very busy place. As at the time this incident happened, there was electric supply, there were not less than 100 people within this area including vehicles, but we thank God that no life was lost.

    “On several occasions, I have truck drivers and their conductors using wooden planks to raise the power cables before they pass through this junction. The authorities should act fast to raise the height of the cables to save lives and property.”

    Contacted on telephone, spokesman of the Abia State Police Command, Mr. Ogbonnaya Nta, who confirmed the incident, said the matter is being handled by the Ogbor Hill Police Division while the injured have been taken to the hospital.

  • Suspected Ghanaian trafficker nabbed in Edo

    A Ghanian (names withheld) who was returning five trafficked girls to their communities in Akwa Ibom State has been nabbed in Benin City.

    The suspected trafficker was nabbed by security agents in a hotel at Oluku where he lodged with the girls.

    After refusing to talk for some minutes, he later opened up that the girls were taken to Burkina Faso by his wife for them to work in a restaurant.

    He said the girls were instead made to hustle or what he termed ‘ashawo work’.

    His words, “My wife took the girls to Burkina Faso for them to work at a restaurant but converted them to hustle.”

    The trafficked girls said they slept with between 10 and 14 men daily and that they made N30, 000 which was collected by their madam.

    One of them said she was made to swear not to tell her relatives that she was made to engage in prostitution.

    She said the madam told them that her husband would give them money in Nigeria but that her husband gave them N11, 500 for transportation.

    “After working money which covered the transport she spent to take us to Burkina Faso, she decided to send us to Nigeria.”

    The sixth victim was said to have died and buried in Burkina Faso.

    When contacted for comments, spokesman for the Edo State Police Command, Theodore Okafor confirmed the arrest and said investigations were still on.

  • NDV announces presence in Akwa Ibom

    NDV announces presence in Akwa Ibom

    …claims responsibility for attack on NNPC gas Pipelines

    …vows to shut down major oil platforms, flowlines

     

    A new Militant Group, Niger Delta Volunteers, NDV, yesterday announced its presence in Akwa Ibom State.

    The group in a statement signed by its spokesman, Commander Ekpo Ekpo, claimed responsibility for last week’s attack on gas pipeline belonging to NNPC/NGC supplying gas to ALSCON, Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State.

    The pipeline was attacked last Thursday but the Akwa Ibom State Government and the State’s Commissioner of Police, Murtala Mani claimed it was a leakage.

    NDV said its professionals attacked the pipeline at exactly 11:45am last Thursday to welcome President Muhammadu Buhari who was due in the country that same day.

    The group said the ongoing dialogue between the Federal Government and the Niger Delta militants should be extended to Akwa Ibom state otherwise it would shut down some major platforms and flowlines in the state.

    They also vowed to move after some ‘selfish’ Paramount Rulers in the State who connive with oil companies to ‘siphon’ money meant for community development.

    NDV said it would soon unveil its website, twitter and facebook account.

    The statement from the group reads: “We the Niger Delta Volunteers has condemn the recent claim by Akwa Ibom State government that the attack on NNPC gas line was leakage.

    “The gas pipeline belonging to NNPC/NGC supplying gas to ALSCON, Ikot Abasi, was attacked by our professional at exactly 11:45am on Thursday 16th June, 2016 as a welcome to the Mr. President which was due in the country that Thursday to record our grievances and announce the presence of the Niger Delta Volunteers in Akwa Ibom state to fight injustice, marginalization and oppression for the common people.

    “It is very sad that the Governor we work and deliver can deceive the whole world that the attack was leakage even the community around that axis can testify that it was explosion and not leakage as claim.

    “It is not surprise because the government is full of deceit and we urge the state government and his entire cabinet to deliver dividend of democracy to the people than deceiving them.

    “We are so shock that Akwa Ibom State government crying that there is money to pay salary can pay over seven pages on The Nation newspaper of Monday June 20, 2016 from pages 33 – 39 which worth millions of naira just to deceive the whole country on project not in existence.

    “We demand that the ongoing dialogue between the Federal Government and the Niger Delta militants should be extended to Akwa Ibom state otherwise we would shut down some major platforms and flowlines in our state.

    “Very soon we will move after some selfish Paramount Rulers in the State who connive with oil companies to siphon money meant for community development, enough is enough.

    “Soon we will unveil our website, twitter and facebook.”

    Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, Murtala Mani, had told some newsmen that the rumored bomb attack was not a militant attack.

    But a highly placed source at the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Jubilee in Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed the attack on the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipeline.

    The source said: “Yes there was an attack on the pipeline. The pipeline is between Akwa Ibom and Rivers states boundary along Ikot Abasi – Port Harcourt road.

    “Right now engineers from NNPC, Port Harcourt are there working on the pipelines. Our officers and other security agencies are also there too.”

    But the Police boss said what happened was a technical problem and that some engineers from Port Harcourt, Rivers state were currently working to rectify the leakage of gas from the pipeline.

    CP Mani said that the Akwa Ibom state was safe from the activities of the militant group.

    Also, the Akwa Ibom State Government had debunked rumours of pipeline bombing in Ikot Osute, Oruk Anam local government area, even as it calls for calm among citizens who may have been troubled by the purported development.

    Reacting to the rumours after a visit to the site, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Aniekan Umanah said: “there is no iota of truth in the claims making rounds in the social media”, stating that what happened was an eruption occasioned by leakage in the old pipeline of the Nigerian Gas Company, NGC, which traversed the area.

    “No pipeline has been bombed in Akwa Ibom State those peddling such rumours are ignorant of the true situation in the affected area.

    “As at Thursday morning, when security operatives and officials of the State government visited Ikot Osute, the state Ministry of Environment, NGC personnel and other gas companies operating the area were on site, working round the clock to ensure safety in the area.”

    Mr. Umanah enjoined Akwa Ibom people and indeed Nigerians to remain calm and go about their businesses as government was committed to protecting lives and property of all citizens in the State.

    He assured that security agents have cordoned off the area to forestall against any eventuality

  • Akwa Ibom govt holds second round immunization

    Parents and care givers in Akwa Ibom State have been advised to bring out their children and wards from 0-59 months of age for immunization during the Second Round National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs).

    The programme scheduled to last for four days started on March 19 and will end on March 22, 2016.

    The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Dominic Ukpong gave the advice in his office while speaking on the forth coming Second Round National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs).

    Dr. Ukpong also enjoined parents to allow visiting health workers moving from house to house to administer two drops of oral polio vaccine to children from 0-59 months of age irrespective of their immunization status. According to the commissioner, children will be immunized against polio myelitis, measles, hepatitis, diphtheria, tetanus and yellow fever.

    The immunization exercise will be held in all health facilities and immunization centres.

    Immunization is free, safe and has no adverse effect on the child.

    Rather, repeated dozes boost the child’s immunity, the Commissioner stated.

    Consequently, parents are encouraged to avail themselves of the opportunity and receive all the interventions available during this period.

     

  • Tension in Akwa Ibom as Supreme Court delivers judgment Wednesday

    Tension in Akwa Ibom as Supreme Court delivers judgment Wednesday

    There was anxiety yesterday in the political camps of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State ahead of tomorrow’s Supreme Court verdict on the governorship election appeal between Governor Udom Emmanuel of the PDP and Umana Umana of the APC.

    The Supreme Court fixed tomorrow for hearing in the appeal. Based on the current trend with appeal cases in other states, the apex court is expected to deliver judgement on the same day.

    Already, members of both parties have taken to the social media to express diverse opinions on what the outcome of the verdict could be.

    Those in the PDP are hoping that the verdict would not be different from what the Supreme Court justices delivered in the case between Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and APC’s Dakuku Peterside, which upheld Wike’s election.

    But those in APC hoped Umana would defeat Emmanuel, based on the facts and evidence before the court.

    It was learnt that the state’s Local Government and Chieftaincy Commissioner had started mobilising former political office holders ahead of the possible outcome of the verdict.

    Some text messages forwarded to the former chairmen was obtained by our reporter. One of them reads: “Chair, pls attend an urgent meeting with the Commissioner for Local Government, Victor Antai, as follows: Date February 1, 2016; Time – 1pm; Venue: Ministry of Local Government, Uyo. Please, come with all former caretaker/transition chairmen in your local government who are still members of the PDP. Thanks.”

    The agenda of the meeting, it was learnt, would dwell on the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal pending before the Supreme Court, whose verdict would be delivered tomorrow.

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  • ‘How industrialisation can succeed in A\Ibom’

    The business community in Akwa Ibom State has expressed readiness to partner the state government towards effective implementation of key policies and programmes on industrialisation.

    Speaking in an interview in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, the President, Building Materials Association (BMA), Uyo branch, Elder Ubong Bassey Obot, expressed hope that Governor Udom Emmanuel’s industrialisation policy would work if the right steps were taken.

    Obot, who doubles as the Managing Director, UBOTEX Nigeria Limited, said the business community in the state has been galvanised to create the enabling environment for the policy to thrive.

    The businessman, who said plans have been concluded for Alhaji Aliko Dangote to fully invest in Akwa Ibom, said the entry of Dangote Group into the state has brought in its wake some market dividends, including the drop in the prices of cements from N1,700 to N1,500 per bag.

    Towards a smooth industrial take-off in the State, Elder Obot advised the governor to work with seasoned entrepreneurs with a view to achieving success in the industrialisation drive.

    On his business trips abroad to woo investors, Obot urged the governor to always travel on such trips with seasoned businessmen instead of politicians, explaining that the contributions of entrepreneurs would go a long way to aid the development of industrial culture and entrepreneurial spirit in the state.