Tag: Akwa Ibom

•State backs coastal highway project

The Akwa Ibom State government has reaffirmed its lawful authority over the Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve.

It dismissed as false and misleading the recent claims by a group called the Ekid People’s Union, on the ownership of the land within the reserve.

The government also restated its full support for the Federal Government’s Coastal Highway project.

In a statement yesterday in Uyo, the state capital,by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Uko Essien Udom (SAN) the government said it was compelled to address the matter in the overriding public interest, despite the existence of a pending suit filed by the same group before a court of competent jurisdiction.

The government explained that the historic case of Ntiaro and Ikpak v. Ibok Etok Akpan and Edoho Ekid, decided by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in 1918, did not vest ownership of Stubbs Creek land in any ethnic group or community. Rather, the final judgment merely dismissed the claims before the court and granted title to no party.

According to the statement, any contrary interpretation being circulated in the public space amounts to a distortion of the judicial record and is misleading.

The government also explained that the Stubbs Creek land was subsequently lawfully constituted as a forest reserve by the Colonial Government of Nigeria under Forest Reserve Order Number 45 of 1930, with amendments in 1941, 1955, and 1962. Upon its reservation, principal rights over the land were forfeited to the government, which has since administered the area in accordance with applicable laws.

Reaffirming its constitutional mandate, the state government noted that by virtue of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and the Land Use Act, all land within Akwa Ibom State is vested in the governor to be held in trust for the use and common benefit of all Nigerians.

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Consequently, claims of absolute or exclusive ownership founded solely on ancestral or customary assertions are subject to existing law.

The government categorically denied allegations of fraud or misrepresentation in relation to the Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve or any investments within the area.

The government warned that it would take appropriate legal steps against individuals or groups engaged in the publication of false, misleading or defamatory information capable of undermining public confidence or discouraging investment and infrastructural development in the state.

In furtherance of national development objectives, the Akwa Ibom State government assured the Federal Government of its full cooperation, including the grant of unhindered access and Right of Way for the construction of the Coastal Highway through any part of the state.

The statement reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the rule of law and to the resolution of all disputes through due judicial process, while urging all parties to refrain from misleading the public and allow matters currently before the court.

The Akwa Ibom state government has allayed fears and anxieties over the new tax reforms of the federal government due for implementation from January next year.

Executive Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Revenue Service, Mr Okon Okon described such sentiments about the new tax reform as unfounded and political.

He said that new tax regime is designed to lift considerable burden of taxes off Nigerians, boasts economic activities and drive growth and development across the country 

Okon, a member of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms stated this while making a presentation on the implementation of the new tax regime with the organised private sector in the state held at the ICT-Recource Centre, office of the Account general in Uyo on Tuesday

He added, ”The new national tax reforms is design to lift considerable burden of taxes off Nigerians and bring respite , boost economic activities, and drive growth and development across the country. 

”The anxiety over the tax reforms is unfounded as it political as the new tax regime is designed to correct observable loopholes in the national tax system, check multiple taxation, and curtail the activities of non State actors.”‘

Okon appreciated the state Governor Umo Eno, for his support to the Revenue Board to carry out the ongoing sensitization and creation of awareness across critical stakeholders’ in the state 

He highlighted the implications and impact of the new reforms on the Local Government, States and the Federal Government, noting that in Akwa Ibom State there are 63 different taxes in the existing tax framework with the Federal Government collecting 17 different taxes, the state 25 and Local Government 21

He said however these have been reduced reduced to about 10 under the tax reforms, with clear clarifications and categorical limits placed on what would go to each tier of the government and where there was need for negotiations for equity and fairness. 

 The chairman, who is also the fellow/council member Chartered Institute of Taxation also dispelled the erroneous claim in some quarters that Nigerians would not access their bank accounts without Tax Identification card from January 1st 2026, describing it as false and incorrect 

He also emphasized that money in someone’s account is not taxable because it doesn’t not represent income. 

 ”There have been so much talk about Tax ID in the last one month, the turn out to register for Tax ID has been been unprecedented why? Because Nigerians have been misinformed that come 1st January 2026, they will not be able to access their account without Tax ID, this is not correct; it’s not true. 

”You will still have access to your account without your tax ID but you will have it definitely in the course of the year, but what Iam saying is that January 1st is not the deadline for tax ID. So go and tell your families, friends to relax”

Okon disclosed that the Joint Revenue Board has unveiled a website that can produce tax ID within a period of 20 seconds, adding that what they need to do is type in your NIN number and date of birth. 

According to him, ”The JTB has come up with a website that in 20 seconds, you can do a tax ID for yourself. All you need to do is your NIN number, once you type in your NIN and your date of birth, the ID card will come out. So if you don’t have you don’t need to rush, by January or so the website will be launched and if you go to the bank the bank will do it for you

”’Secondly, we are not taxing money in your account because money in your account does not represent income, in taxation we tax income

He appreciated the state Governor Umo Eno, for his support to the Revenue Board to carry out the ongoing sensitization and creation of awareness across critical stakeholders’ in the state

The Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Hon. Justice Ekaete F. Obot, has sworn in sixteen newly appointed notaries public.

The lawyers were recommended by the Chief Judge and subsequently approved by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun (GCON).

Those sworn in include: Iniobong Udo Uko Esq, Vivian Ijeoma Uzoma Esq, Benjamin Emmanuel Adams Esq, Emmanuel Amos Umana Esq, Ime Aquaowa Essien Esq, Edieke Paul Jumbo Esq, Isaac Tsado Oshoriame Ephraim Esq, and Samuel Akpadiagha Etuk Esq.

Others are Ndifreke Peter Udoh Esq, Akan Obotowo Esq, Sembenge Nse Ekanem Esq, Nsima Ndifreke Akpan Esq, Ifueko Ebi Ikinmwin Esq, Rotimi Omoniyi Oniyesan Esq, Ubong Edem Offiong Esq, and Lazarus Daniel Aniezi Esq. Marcellinus Marshal Udokang Esq was, however, absent.

After administering the oath prescribed in the Notaries Public Act 2023, Justice Obot reminded the new notaries of the weight of the responsibility they now carry. She charged them to exercise their duties faithfully, prepare contracts and instruments transparently, and refrain from diminishing any aspect of such documents without the knowledge and consent of the parties involved.

She further cautioned them against attesting to any act, contract, or instrument tainted by fraud or violence, emphasizing that they must always act uprightly and justly in accordance with the oath they had taken.

Shortly after the swearing-in ceremony, the Akwa Ibom State chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), comrade Elder Sunny James, accompanied by members of the State executive, paid a courtesy visit to the Chief Judge.

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Speaking on behalf of the union, the chairman commended Justice Obot for her dedication to improving workers’ welfare. He explained that the visit became necessary as the union sought her intervention in appealing to Governor Umo Eno on behalf of about 600 judiciary workers, those in other sectors, who have remained casual staff for over twenty years, earning a meagre fifteen thousand naira monthly. He described the situation as unacceptable, especially at a time when the State Government is set to recruit 4,000 new workers into the civil service.

The NLC appealed to Justice Obot to encourage the Governor to prioritize these long-serving casual workers in the recruitment process.

In her response, the Chief Judge expressed appreciation for the visit and for the union’s concern for workers’ welfare, particularly those in the Judiciary. She acknowledged the deplorable condition of the affected workers and disclosed that the Governor had already allocated about one thousand recruitment slots to the Judiciary.

She, however, noted that if the six hundred casual workers were absorbed first, only four hundred positions would be left. She expressed optimism that the Governor, whom she described as a listening leader, would heed her request for an additional one thousand slots, even though that number would still fall short of the Judiciary’s needs.

Justice Obot further explained that once the Judiciary Service Commission (JSC), which is constitutionally empowered to recruit judiciary staff, is fully constituted, it will commence its statutory duties. The NLC concluded the visit by describing the Chief Judge as “the Pillar of Workers in Akwa Ibom State.”