The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Akwa Ibom State

  • How Akpabio unleashed mayhem on us, by kinsmen

    Prince Ukpong Akpabio has recounted how his people in Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State were terrorised by Senator Godswill Akpabio during the March 9 elections. Prince Ukpong Akpabio, who is Senator Akpabio’s cousin, said they saw hell in the hands of Senator Akpabio and his supporters.

    A communiqué signed by the stakeholders and leaders, and read by Imo-owo Okpokpo, reads: “Essien Udim people condemn the electoral offenses and irregularities masterminded and perpetrated by Senator Godswill Akpabio and his cohorts, in which almost all the election process in the area was marred by unlawful militarisation, rigging and assault on officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    “The atrocities include carting away of electoral materials and kidnapping of INEC ad hoc workers, with military help, to the home of Ibanga Akpabio.

    “Senator Akpabio and his cohorts, apart from assaulting INEC workers, also beat and machete some PDP faithful to unconsciousness.”

    They maintained that in units where elections held, PDP won and they have their result sheets intact. According to them, any other result is fake and does not represent the people’s votes.

    The people rejected the published results so far released by INEC, and condemned the cancellation of results in nine wards in the council area.

    They admonished Senator Akpabio to desist from further advertising “his declining and dwindling political status through interviews as such will continue to deepen his failing image. “We have totally rejected by him as a people,” they said.

    But Senator Akpabio described them as political merchants and contractors hired to tarnish his image.

    Akpabio, who spoke through his media aide, Anietie Ekong, said: “”The people are hired political merchants and contractors who have been procured to denigrate Senator Godswill Akpabio to diminish him for a token. But it is a futile attempt.

    “The allegations are spurious, baseless and unfounded. They can gloat over the pyrrhic victory recorded by the PDP, but Akwa Ibom people know that never in the history of the state have we witnessed such heist and  electoral robbery aided by a compromised umpire like in the last election.

    The stolen mandate that they are celebrating today will be retrieved.”

  • A’Ibom Assembly passes budget of N672billion

    The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has passed the 2019 appropriation bill christened the budget of industrialization and poverty alleviation, into law. The 2019 budget for Akwa Ibom state has a total outlay of N672, 984,760,760.

    The House on Wednesday also passed into law the Akwa Ibom Youth Development Fund Bill.

    In his remarks after the passing into law of the budget, Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Onofiok Luke said the state’s 2019 budget was an economic transition proposal which will support the completion agenda of the Governor Udom Emmanuel administration.

    He said: “While this is the last budget that we have had the privilege to legislate upon as the 6th assembly, it stands as the pioneer economic blueprint for the proposed Completion Agenda of the next 4 years.

    “As a legislature, we have reviewed the key components of the appropriation law, weighing them against the policy objectives which leverage the short and long term development ambitions of government.

    He noted that “to meet salient socio-economic agenda of government, which includes infrastructural development, job creation, and revenue generation, the total budget size, was increased by a little over 2billion Naira to meet the expectations of stakeholders who considered the parameters for the 2019 proposals during the public hearing on the budget.”

    According to him, the inputs by the people during the public hearing inspired need-based augmentations especially in the Social Sector.

    “Our overall objective was to see to it that priority was given to areas of immediate importance to the people while we pursue the larger goal of full-scale industrialisation.

    “For instance, to further strengthen secondary education in the state, augmentation to the tune of 61.976 million Naira was made to the State Secondary Education Board. We made similar augmentation to the Akwa Ibom Universal Basic Education Board where specific provisions were made for the upgrade of library facilities with reading materials including newspapers, magazines and journals for our children. To strengthen local government administration, we augmented the initial 150 million Naira provision for Local Government Service Commission by 447million Naira. Under that provision, we included an extra subhead providing for the establishment and setting up of computer units and laboratories at the Local Government Service Commission and in all the 31 Local Government Areas in the state.”

    Read Also: Former reps defects to PDP in A’Ibom

    Also on Wednesday, the House ratified the Auditor General Report on the state Audited Account for 2017.

    In line with the provisions of Section 125 (5) (6) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, the state auditor general had submitted to the house the statement of account for the 2017 fiscal year. The House proceeded to ratify the report through the Public Accounts Committee.

    The Speaker noted in his remarks that having thoroughly considered the expenditures of government as captured in the report, the house has put a legislative seal on the state audited account for 2017.

    He noted that by the approval, the assembly has expressed the satisfaction of our various constituents with the fiscal health of this administration.

    He said that the House will be looking forward to auditing the state account for 2018 before the expiration of the assembly in June, 2019.

    Also, in line with the assembly’s commitment to youth development, it passed into law the Akwa Ibom Youth Development Fund Bill during Wednesday’s plenary.

    The bill which was proposed by youth groups including the Youth Alive Foundation, and has Hon. Emmanuel Ekpenyong as lead-sponsor, is seeking the implementation of a sustainable youth policy framework in the state. It “proposes the establishment of the Akwa Ibom Youth Development Fund which ultimate aim is to create jobs and evolve greater opportunities for our teeming youths”, the Speaker said.

    He commended the Youth Alive Foundation and other youth organizations for proposing the bill while urging Akwa Ibom people to take similar advantage of the legislature to propose laws that can positively affect the generality of Akwa Ibom people.

    The House, before the end of plenary, congratulated the governor on his second term election and thanked Akwa Ibom people for the peaceful balloting experience in the just concluded general election.

  • INEC declares Emmanuel winner of A’Ibom governorship election

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Governor Udom Emmanuel of the Peoples Democratic Party, winner of the governorship election in Akwa Ibom state.
    Emmanuel polled a total of 519,712 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Obong Nsima Ekere of the All Progressives Congress who polled a total of 171,978 votes.
    Collation officer for Akwa Ibom state in the governorship election and vice chancellor of the University of Benin, Professor Osateri Orumasese announced the result of the governorship election.

    Read also: INEC declares Sokoto guber election inconclusive

    Agents of political parties had earlier signed the result except the agent of the APC, Archbishop Sam Akpan who rejected the result and walked out of the collation centre.
    The delay in the release of the final results of the governorship election was caused by the late arrival of results from Essien Udim.

  • Breaking: Ballot box snatcher shot dead in Ukanafun

    Soldiers monitoring the conduct of election in Ukanafun have killed a young man as he made away with ballot box at a polling unit in Ikot Udo Ossiom village, Ukanafun council of Akwa Ibom state.

    The incident occurred few hours ago throw the area into mourning.

    An eyewitness told our correspondent that the young man had attempted to snatch the ballot in the morning immediately it arrived from INEC but was prevented by soldiers guiding the polling unit.

    Read also: ‘Why I’m still voting at age 90’

    Continuing, Mrs. Elijah said the victim reinforced and returned to the unit to snatch the ballot the second time.

    Irked by such effrontery, the soldier opened fire and shot him dead.

    However, the corpse was still lying at the scene of the incident at the time of filing this report.

  • Udom’s campaign coordinator hails exercise

    The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Works and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) campaign coordinator in Onna Local Government, Mr. Ephraim Inyang, said the tension that enveloped the state on the eve of the governorship and House of Assembly elections and the threat of military intimidation is restricted to the social media, as the exercise has been cordial and peaceful so far.
    Inyang who spoke to reporters at his polling unit in Ikot Ebere, Oniong West, commended security agencies, electoral officials and the people for the manner they have acquitted themselves so far.
    He said the military has been patrolling and not getting close to the polling units, just as the police are not interfering with the exercise.
    He said: “The tension that enveloped the state on the eve of this election is restricted to the social media.
    “People are out in their numbers to vote, because they have realised the need to come  and exercise their civic duties.
    “If what I have observed in Onna is replicated across the state, then the election could be considered as free and fair.”

  • Security operatives apprehend ballot box snatchers in Eket

    Security operatives have apprehended two men in possession of a ballot box along Iko Nkwo street in Eket local government area of Akwa Ibom state.

    The suspected ballot box snatchers were riding on a motor bike when they were trailed and arrested.

    The suspects were promptly ferried to the Divisional Police station along Eket-Oron road.

  • Emmanuel hails INEC, voters

    After casting his vote at about 9.15am, Governor Udom Emmanuel has given kudos to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the people of Akwa Ibom State for coming out early to cast their votes.

    He said there is an improvement in the organization of the exercise, compared with the one that took place two weeks ago.

    The governor said judging from what he observed in his own unit, that everything has gone on well so far.

    He said he will give a more detailed assessment by midday, after he must have received reports about how the exercise is proceeding elsewhere in the state.

    He said the process of accreditation and authentication has been smooth based on his assessment.

     

  • Tension as hoodlums set ablaze INEC office in Akwa Ibom

    Suspected hoodlums on Thursday night set fire to an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Akwa Ibom State ahead of today’s governorship and state assembly elections.

    Burnt was the INEC office  in Ibesikpo Asuntan local government area of Akwa Ibom State.

    Some electoral materials, including card readers, were destroyed in the incident.

    But the  ballot papers are intact,according to the  Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Mike Igini.

    He said: “In the wee hours this morning, I got a call that one of the areas offices had been gutted by fire, or rather, fire was ongoing there, So we had to call the fire service and the DPO around that area.

    “So they all moved in there, and responded, and they were able to evacuate the entire ballot papers that had been delivered to the local government intact. But because the storeroom behind the building is very close to the fence, obviously we saw some footprints because of the rain yesterday , so it was very clear where they came in through to do the sabotage.

    “So, what were destroyed there were just card readers, the registered voters list and ballot boxes. So that is what happened. But the good news is because the entire ballot papers are intact, so what we are trying to do is basically trying to mop up our card readers as I speak to you, from the entire polling unit. You know, we have already recovered from our reserves, we have already got that.

    “So what we are contending with, which is not a problem really, is the voting point, and within the neighbouring state, even Abuja has called to provide some of the card readers. We have taken care of that.

    “Then the entire register that has been burnt, we have reproduced the register 30 minutes ago. They are ready. Beyond that, we are good to go. There is just one local government area out of 31 local government areas.

    “So we are good to go, the configuration of the card reader is currently ongoing, and I am very sure that before 5:00, we are done.”

    He hailed residents who raced to the scene to help put out the fire.Igini said they did a good job

    His words:”In fact, I must commend the first responders for the good job because that would have been an issue, but I can confirm to Nigerians and Akwa Ibomites that all the ballot papers are intact.

    The State  Police Command  said it was investigating the incident.

    The command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Odiko MacDon said:”The Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Kaoje, is aware of the incident and has detailed senior police operatives to investigate the incident.

    “We are investigating to ascertain whether it is a clear case of arson, and when the investigations are completed, we will let the people know .”

    He said the findings would be made public while anyone  found culpable will be made to face the law no matter how highly placed.

    The command spokesman said security had been beefed up around all INEC offices

    Meanwhile, Mr Igini yesterday said that the burning of its Local Government Area Office in the state would not stop Saturday’s polls.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that hoodlums set fire to the INEC office in Ibesikpo/Asutan local government area of Akwa Ibom.

    Reacting to the incident, Igini said that the  heinous act would not deter the commission from carrying out its duties, as most of the sensitive materials for the conduct of the elections were still intact.

    The REC, who went on the spot assessment of the incident, said: “there is no going back on the March 9 elections in Akwa Ibom.

    “Election will hold as scheduled, no matter the plot.”

    He revealed that some card readers, electricity generators, computers and other office equipment were burnt.

    Narrating how the incident occurred, INEC Director of Public Affairs in the state, Mr Don Etukudoh, said the fire started at about 3:00 a.m on Friday.

    According to him, an explosive device was thrown into the building which ripped the roof open and substantial damage done to the wall with several card readers burnt.

    “From our findings, the place was attacked with explosives because we noticed huge damage done to the walls and the roof completely shattered.

    “We have been able to order several cards readers from the neighbouring states and we are presently configuring them in readiness for the elections,”  he said.

    The Electoral Officer (EO) for Ibesikpo/Asutan, Mr Victor Inyang, said that the polls would go on as planned because no ballot paper was destroyed by the fire.

    “They thought the election materials were kept in the store,” he added.

    The incident, he reiterated, would not deter the conduct of the polls in all the 177 polling units in Ibesikpo Asutan as other sensitive and non-sensitive materials other than the card readers were not affected by the inferno.

    The fire was extinguished by men of the state fire service.

  • 44 parties pass vote on confidence on REC Igini

    Forty four political parties have vouched for the integrity of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Akwa Ibom state, Mr. Mike Igini.

    The parties under the aegis of Inter-party Advisory Council (IPAC) also passed a vote confidence on Igini saying they will swim and sink with Igini despite attempts to remove him as Akwa Ibom REC.

    In a statement by IPAC’s legal adviser, Mr. Mfon Peters, the 44 political parties alleged that several attempts were made to lure the REC against the will of the people during the presidential and senatorial elections but he “chose his integrity instead”.

    IPAC applauded what it described an unbending noble character displayed by Igini in the face of intimidation and fat offers which they said played out in Ikot Ekpene.

    “We have noticed that after the Presidential and National Assembly elections in our State, the ‘Igini Must Go’ assemblage which had receded has been rekindled. The reason is not far- fetched.

    “We applaud the unbending noble character of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mike Igini, in the test offered by the scenario that played out at Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District elections.

    “Despite monetary inducement, connection, influence and power play, Igini was uncompromising.

    Read Also: How to protect ballot box, by Igini

    “He insisted that only the valid votes cast at the polling units and collated by the designated officers will count.

    “This did not go down well with some political gladiators who hitherto thought that what money cannot do, more money can do.”

    The assemblage of political parties further alleged those seeking transfer of Igini have so far created spurious stories and blatant lies against the REC in a bid to discredit the just concluded election which was adjudged by their respective Units Agents and International Observers as credible and transparent.

    They called on the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof Mahmood Yakubu to discountenance the renewal of calls for the redeployment of Igini, stressing they were are ill-intentioned and in absolute bad faith.

  • Can state-owned airlines develop airport hubs?

    Is there any relationship between airlines and the development of airports into hubs? Last week’s acquisition of some Bombardier airplanes by the Akwa Ibom State  Government for its airline-Ibom Air- has triggered a debate on  what prospects the carrier holds in developing the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo, into a regional hub for flight services and aircraft repairs in West and Central Africa, writes KELVIN OSA OKUNBOR.

    Across the globe a huge debate is growing on the role of airlines in developing some airports into regional hubs. Whether such carriers are publicly or privately owned has not detracted from their place in delivering effective airport hubs.

    Across some regions, some airlines including British Airways, Emirates,  Qatar Airways, Lufthansa German Airlines, and KLM, have assisted in  developing effective hubs around London Heathrow in the United Kingdom Dubai and Doha in the Middle East as well as Frankfurt and Schiphol Airport in Europe.

    Africa is yet to develop effective airport hubs compared to other regions. Efforts by Nigerian carriers to develop strong hubs in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano and Enugu is yet to achieve the desired results.

    To close this gap, some state governments that have built airports in their domain are making frantic efforts to keep the terminals busy.

    This, some experts say,  drove  the Akwa Ibom State Government a few years ago  to set up Ibom Air to drive the development of the Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo, the state capital.

    The drive, experts say, is in line with advocacy by international aviation bodies  including International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Airports Council International (ACI), which continue to push for  the complementarity of airlines and airports in  developing  the global air transport industry.

    What precisely is an airport hub?

    Airline hubs or hub airports, according to IATA Director-General/Chief Executive Officer, Alexander De Juniac,  are used by one or more airlines to concentrate passenger traffic and flights at a given airport.

    According to  Juniac , they  serve as transfer or stop-over points to get passengers to their final destination. They  are  part of the hub-and-spoke system in global aviation.

    According to the global Centre for Aviation (CAPA), the world’s top 20 international airports by  2025 will mostly reflect hub connectivity expansion.

    According to the centre, there are  various factors that influence the evolution of airports. He listed them to include overall air travel growth and economic expansion, which has  larger impact on traffic at such airports.

    Besides, the centre said the geographical positioning constitutes an  important determinant of an airport hub’s effectiveness.

    A case for Akwa Ibom Air

    To underscore the relationship between airlines and development of airport hub, the Akwa Ibom State Government about two weeks ago took delivery of three Bombardier jets for the state’s carrier christened  Ibom Air.

    Akwa Ibom is the the first state in the country to launch commercial airline business.

    The state’s aim, its Governor Udom Emmanuel said, is to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs for the airline.

    This, he said,  would  enhance acquisition of improved skills for the people of the state who would benefit from aeronautical training  for pilots, engineers, cabin crew and others.

    Emmanuel said two of the Bombardier CRJ 900 series aircraft from Canada  arrived the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo about two  week ago ahead  of Ibom Air take off.

    The third aircraft in the fleet: CRJ 900 Series, the governor said, would arrive  in a few months.

    He said Ibom Air will operate routes that would give preference to Akwa Ibom people.

    Emmanuel said the   government would launch soon one of the best  airport terminal buildings in the country.

    According to him, the state government will  focus  on the development of the state economy through intermodal transportation comprising:  air  water and road.

    He said: “So far, the government has constructed over 1,000 kilometres of roads across the state while plan to construct the most digital seaport, the Ibom deep seaport, is ongoing.

    ”The launching of Ibom Air is a monumental achievement in Akwa Ibom State and indeed Africa. The journey to achieve Ibom Airline started in 2016 and it has become  a reality. This is the only state in Nigeria that runs and operates an international airport. We are the only state that runs a category two runway.”

    Emmanuel said the airline’s opening was a monumental achievement of his administration, saying the  six- year-old seater aircraft constitute the most modern in the fleet  of the Canadian aircraft maker.

    He said Akwa Ibom is the only state in the country that runs its airport and airline as a business.

    Bombardier CRJ 900 Series’ arrival at Uyo Airport

    About a fortnight  ago, two 90–seater Bombardier CRJ 900 Series aircraft were unveiled by the Senate President,  Bukola Saraki at the Victor Attah International Stadium, Uyo.

    Saraki praised Akwa Ibom State Government for establishing the carrier, which he said, would jumpstart aviation, tourism and allied sectors in the state.

    He said:  ”Today is to celebrate leadership and to say that a good thing can come out of Nigeria. Today, we celebrate the audacity of hope and a man who has a dream for his people that has been realised.”

    Saraki said Ibom Air’s opening is an indication  that the government in the state is always thinking of how to make life  better for its people.

    This, he said,  would bring investment to the state.

    He said: “When you have a man from the private sector that understands what it takes to bring in investment into a state.

    ”Millions of youths are looking for jobs.The government, on its own, cannot provide those jobs. It is the government that can facilitate an environment for investment that will bring hope for our people. That is what Emmanuel is doing here.”

    Project initiator’s comment

    The state former governor, who  initiated the airport project, Obong Victor Attah, lauded the governor for completing the project he started, adding that he was happy that the governor was running the state as a business.

    ”I thank God that we have  Udom Emmanuel, who has deemed it necessary to carry on the project we started years ago. I was accused of running the government as a business but I am happy that Udom Emmanuel is running the government as a business. Today, we have in front of us the beginning of something that will bring economic development to the state,” he said.

    Other Interventions/MRO

    The Chairman, Ibom Air, Idongesit Nkanga, said with the launch of the aircraft, the governor had shocked critics with his managerial prowess.

    The airline, he said, will boost  the Maintenance Repair Overhaul (MRO) facility in the region, adding that there is no stopping the visionary and industrial initiative of Emmanuel.

    The Technical Consultant of Ibom Air, Mfon Udom, who gave credit to Emmanuel, said the governor started the project three years ago, noting that successful airlines have been run by governments.

    He revealed that the third aircraft would arrive soon.

    He said three other CRJ 900 Series aircraft would arrive  in 2020 and 2021.

    ”The project commenced about three years ago and has been made possible by the governor. He came up with the drive and we carried it out. Ibom Air is one of the vehicles to drive Akwa Ibom and the state will benefit immensely from this.

    “Two airplanes  have  already arrived  and another airplane will arrive in August.

    “Three other  aircraft will join in 2020 and  2021.The plan is for Ibom Air to be a regional airline.  Ibom Air will fly three frequencies a day from Uyo to Lagos, morning, afternoon, evening.

    ”The policy of Ibom Air is to fly when our customers want to fly and not when it wants to fly. All successful airlines in the world are government-owned. British Airways is still supported by the government.

    ”The government has taken the right steps. Ibom Air will employ 300 people but 3,000 people will be involved in Ibom Air at one time or the other; excellent mangers have been selected,” he stated.

    Benefits of Airport as MRO facility

    Besides the airline, the airport will also serve as an MRO for West and Central Africa.

    African Aviation Chief Executive Officer Nick Fadugba said the MRO facility in Uyo will be useful to the continent.

    He said the facility will become useful in the absence of aircraft repair centres in Africa, arguing that the African  aircraft MRO market is worth over US$2.4 billion.

    He said, unfortunately, the  goldmine has remained untapped over the years in most parts of Africa.

    Fadugba said to achieve success in MRO business, such a facility should  have  a sound  business plan and competent management to drive the process.

    Fadugba said one of the benefits of African MROs, including the Victor Attah International Airport, is the creation of a competitive pricing for African operators.

    Fadugba  said when the MRO facility at the Akwa Ibom International Airport, Uyo, comes on stream, it will benefit the airlines that take their aircraft  overseas at prohibitive cost.

    “I was filled with optimism when Akwa Ibom started the hangar. It has been lying there for many years. And that is about $100 million invested in an empty hangar. Why haven’t Nigerian airlines come together? There is a hangar right there. Why don’t they come together and get that hangar up and running? I am very sure Akwa Ibom State government will welcome Nigerian airlines.

    “The government needs to get a company to put a business plan together for the  facility.

    So, they need the right business plan, the right management and investment to make it work. I believe that facility can be profitable and viable. When I look at Akwa Ibom State, it is a tremendous source of jobs for the state and the youth. I really urge the state government to pursue that project and make it viable,” Fadugba said.

    He stated that the geographical location of the facility or airport is not a problem saying: “It is a couple of hour’s flight.”

    “Nigerian airlines are ferrying their aircraft to Europe for maintenance. Why can’t they ferry it to Akwa Ibom? What is the difference?

    “If you have a facility there that can produce the job, I know the cost of labour will be much cheaper than in Europe. I believe that the project is far-sighted.

    “The facility can also serve the West African market. You can imagine people ferrying their aircraft from West Africa to Akwa Ibom.”