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Tag: Akwa Ibom

  • Akwa Ibom beats Ebonyi, FCT, others to emerge cleanest state 

    Akwa Ibom beats Ebonyi, FCT, others to emerge cleanest state 

    Akwa Ibom State has beaten Ebonyi State, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja and the rest states to emerge Nigeria’s cleanest state for the sixth time with a cumulative score of 72 per cent. 

    The result was announced yesterday in Uyo, the state capital, following a survey conducted under the five years project review circus, tagged: ‘STONE Pro- Max 2023’.

    Akwa Ibom since the inauguration of the STONE project in 2018 has maintained first position, having won five times in a row.

    National Coordinator/Secretary, National Technical Study Group (NTSG) on Clean Up Nigeria, Prince Ene Baba Owoh, Jr., congratulated the government and people of Akwa Ibom State on emerging five times overall Cleanest State in Nigeria.

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    “For emerging the overall best performing state in the six years performance indicators and five times cleanest state in Nigeria under the six years project circus review period (2018-2023) tagged: ‘STONE Pro-Max 2023’, Akwa Ibom State will be conferred with the STONE 2023 Pro-Max 2018-2023 Cleanest State in Nigeria Green Crystal Award.

    “It is therefore our privilege to proudly invite the Chairman of Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency (AKSPEWMA), Obong Prince Ikim, to come forward and receive the Cleanest State in Nigeria Pro-max Green Crystal Awards certification in all the five performance indicators and the STONE Pro-max (2018-2023) five times Cleanest State in Nigeria, Green Crystal Award,” he said. 

    Owoh also announced Ebonyi and FCT to have closely followed Akwa Ibom in second and third positions with 50 and 47 per cent scores. 

    He encouraged stakeholders to engage in peer review mechanism by creating time to visit both best performing states/cities and the backward states/cities to gain more insight into what the top states are doing in order to improve on their performance ratings.

    the state government to continue to work to ensure a safe and secure environment through institutional framework that would support a safe environment. 

    The commissioner pledged government’s commitment to proper waste management, end to gas flaring and other practices that threaten the serenity of the environment. 

    Reacting to the awards, the Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency (AKSPEWMA), Prince Akpan Ikim, paid glowing tributes to former Governor Victor Attah for creating the agency by signing into law the Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency CAP 47 law 2000. 

    He acknowledged former Governor Godswill Akpabio, who built the receptacle maintenance and workshop at Itam, for proper waste disposal and management.

    “Then Udom Emmanuel came, and had that political will to constitute the board and gave us all the necessary support and we started winning the cleanest state award in 2018.

    “Then Governor Umo Eno, he has given us the necessary support. It is on record that he is the first governor that has joined us for environmental sanitation. 

    “He has given us a marching order to ensure the state remains the cleanest in Nigeria, ranging from the vegetation. There is what we call environmental sustainability. We are looking at recycling waste to wealth etc.

     ”So, we are working with the House of Assembly Committee on Environment for a law that has to be in tune with international best practices. The law has to be such that will encourage investors to come in. This is why we are also liaising with AKICORP so that anyone who has investment that has to do with waste will register with them,” he said. 

    He praised Clean Up Nigeria Initiative for recognising excellence and pledge to keep Akwa Ibom as a model clean state in Nigeria.

  • Culprit in spousal abuse arrested, to be charged to court, says A’Ibom gov

    Culprit in spousal abuse arrested, to be charged to court, says A’Ibom gov

    Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has condemned an act of spousal abuse captured in a viral video circulating on social media. 

    The video depicts a shocking act of violence inflicted by Ekere Ebong upon his wife.

    In response to the incident, the governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Ekerete Udoh, condemned any form of gender-based violence, emphasizing his government’s commitment to assisting the victim and ensuring justice is served as per the provisions of the law against Gender-Based Violence (GBV).

    Governor Eno also said the state government will extend support to the traumatized lady.

    Part of the statement read: “It is heartwarming to note that an order for the arrest of the culprit given last night has been successfully executed. Mr. Ebong, was arrested this morning and is currently in custody of the Police and would be charged to court soon. 

    “Government has zero-tolerance for gender-based violence and indeed any other form of violence.

    “We call on the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to also institute disciplinary measures to punish Mr. Ebong, whose conduct as a lawyer is against the values and ethics of the noble profession.

    “We wish to assure the public that Mr. Ebong’s outrageous and egregious display of violence is totally alien to our culture, and he will face the full wrath of the law.”

  • Akwa Ibom launches new security outfit

    Akwa Ibom launches new security outfit

    Akwa Ibom state government has launced its security outfit, Ibom Community Watch (ICW) to enhance security in rural areas and complement community policing.

    The outfit, which is line with the ARISE Agenda of the Governor Umo Eno administration, will work with government security agencies.

    It will provide security information information to security agencies, protect public facilities, help secure the state’s waterways, control crowd, market and traffic among others.

    Over 5,000 youths recruited from all the units in the state for Ibom Community Watch are to work in rural areas.

    Governor Eno, who inaugurated the outfit at the Uyo township stadium on Thursday, said Ibom Community Watch was not a replacement for the police and other security agencies.

    Eno, who equipped the ICW with communication equipment and vehicles including motorcycles, said the core vision of the outfit is to provide security at the grassroot level, provide intelligence for the mainstream security services and ensure that government facilities are not vandalized. 

    He said: “They are to work under very strick supervision and control of the main security agencies, especially the Police. Their jobs will be to provide security information, to help in crowd control, to help protect basic Government assets and ensure that there is peace in all the areas where they are located.

     “I would like to also say that not only are we creating jobs for these five thousand people, we are creating jobs for small business enterprises.

    “The uniforms you see here are made by Akwa Ibomites. All of the boots that these men are wearing are made by Akwa Ibomites and that is part of stimulating the economy, so that our people who have handwork will continue to do more things,” he stated. 

    “These splinter groups may not have really helped us as a State, and sometimes we have clashes among those groups.  It is better we put all of those groups together, train them, profile them and give them a permanent job and then move them off the streets so that they can be useful, not just to themselves, but also to the society.”

    He thanked the regular security agencies for providing required technical support and training of the initial 550 personnel to kick-start the outfit and affirmed that the next batch of training and recruitment will be targeted at creating a team of locals from the riverine areas to help in marine security, stressing that 30% of the total 5,000 personnel target for the Ibom Community Watch should be women.

    Earlier, Commissioner for Internal Security and Waterways, General  Koko Essien rtd. noted that the launch of the Community Watch was a culmination of the training and passing out of the first five hundred and fifty trainees from Uyo Local Government Area, explaining that the outfit will accomodate five thousand youths in the State recruited from the political units for equity and fairness.

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    On his part, the Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State Command, CP Olatoye Durosinmi, commended the initiative of the Umo Eno led- government in tackling security challenges, saying that the engagement of 5000 youths will not only ensure a significant reduction in criminality, but enhance policing especially with the spelt out rules of engagement.

    Also speaking, the State Coordinator of the Ibom Community Watch, Isantim Kenneth Okon, expressed delight with Governor Eno for his visionary leadership approach which has reduced security challenges to the barest minimum and taking thousands of youths out of the streets through the Community Watch  programme.

    He pledged unwavering commitment towards ensuring that the aim for which the programme was initiated is achieved by collaborating with the State Security agencies to ensure the Security, peace and harmony of the State.

    Highpoint of the launch was unveiling of operational vehicles for the Community Watch programme.

  • 1,200 residents benefit from health care support in Akwa Ibom

    1,200 residents benefit from health care support in Akwa Ibom

    OVER 1,200 residents of two rural communities in Akwa Ibom State have benefitted from a two-day medical outreach organised by Ibom Developers, for the underserved segment of the society.

    At the event, held between November 24 and 25, at Amazaba and Isiotoyo Community in Eastern Obolo Local Government and Ikot Akpan and Udo Community in Ikot Abasi Local Government, the residents, among them aged men, children and women were given free treatment for malaria, eye test, hypertension, diabetes and other health challenges.

    The residents lauded Ibom Developers for promoting access to quality health care through medical outreach programmes for the rural communities.

    They said: “These medical interventions have reduced, to the barest, incidence of communicable diseases and others which have continued to plague the people.”

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    The Village Head of Amazoba and Isitoyo Community, Chief Gogonte Nglass, said by providing accessible, highquality health care “for these communities, Ibom Developers has enhanced their quality of life and encouraged them to thrive.”

    He said prioritising health was essential for attaining a well-balanced life.

    The Village Head of Ikot Akpan Udo Community, Chief Oscar Abel Paul; Spokesperson for Ikot Akpan Udo Community, Elder John Obotowo; Chief Liaison Officer of Ikot Akpan Udo Community, Godwin Benson; Chief Liaison Officer of Amazaba and Isiotoyo Community, Mr. EtongAwaji Christopher John; and the National Base Manager, SPFL Okopedi, Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Aja Francis, who were at the event, commended Ibom Developers for the medical outreach.

  • Akwa Ibom councils get Dec 6 deadline to present budgets

    Akwa Ibom councils get Dec 6 deadline to present budgets

    Akwa Ibom State Government has urged the 31 local governments to work towards the passage of their 2024 budget on or before December 6, 2023.

    The Chairman of the Bilateral Committee and Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Frank Archibong, gave the directive on behalf of the state government during the plenary session to discuss and scrutinise local government budget for 2024 fiscal year, held yesterday in Uyo.

    The commissioner, who spoke through the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Ini Ikie, advised council chairmen to double efforts for timely conclusion of all budget cycles, to facilitate implementation for the good of the people.

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    The Director General, Akwa Ibom Fiscal Responsibility Board, Mr Victor Edet, enjoined councils whose capital components were lower than their recurrent components, to reflect on their projections by restructuring their capital estimates.

    The local government councils of Ibesikpo-Asutan, Essien Udim, Obot Akara,Ukanafun, Ini, Itu, Mkpat Enin and Eastern Obolo took turns to defend their budgets and were represented by the heads of service, directors of finance and directors of Budget, Planning, Research and Statistics (BPRS).

  • Youths threaten to shut down oil operations

    Youths threaten to shut down oil operations

    Youths of Mbo in Akwa Ibom State have threatened to shut down oil operations over alleged flouting of local content guideline of the Nigerian Content Act.

    They made the threat at the weekend during a meeting held at Enwang.

    The National Youth President of Mbo Local Government, Mr Edward Abia Moses, alleged that Oriental Energy Resources had refused to implement the Local Content Act relating to employment, contract award, among others.

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    He said the company had not lived up to its responsibility despite reaching some resolutions to implement the demands of youths within two weeks.

    He called on the company to honour the resolution by complying with all that was contained therein, warning that failure to do so would leave the youths with no other option but to disrupt oil operations of the company in the area.

    He said the resolution was signed in the office of the Nigerian Content and Monitoring Board, adding that the Ministry of Environment and the paramount ruler of the area were aware of the arrangement.

    Youths of Mbo staged a peaceful protest against failure of the company to comply with the guideline, which led to the meeting with the company.

  • Traditional stool crisis: Akwa Ibom govt, monarchs opt for out-of-court settlement

    Traditional stool crisis: Akwa Ibom govt, monarchs opt for out-of-court settlement

    The crisis over the amended Traditional Rulers Law, Cap 155, Laws of the Akwa Ibom State, 2022 may soon be settled.

    The new law, which made Oku Ibom Ibibio the lifetime President-General of the Traditional Rulers Council, raised opposition from Annang, Oro and Oro traditional rulers.

    The aggrieved monarchs had taken the state government to court seeking reversal of the law.

    But yesterday all the parties in the suit expressed desire to settle their differences out of court.

    The parties include the defendants: the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Akwa Ibom State Government, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Speaker, House of Assembly, the Attorney General of Akwa Ibom State and Ntennyin Solomon Etuk, the paramount ruler of Nsit Ubium Local Government.

    The plaintiffs are: all paramount rulers of Annang extraction, paramount rulers of Urueffong Oruko; Okobo; Mbo; Eastern Obolo, Ibeno and those of Oron and Udung Uko local governments, who were joined in the suit at yesterday’s proceedings.

    At the hearing of the case, counsel for the plaintiffs, Ekpenyong Ntekim, a former Attorney General of Akwa Ibom State leading Jumbo Udom and five others made an oral application to the court for leave to explore settlement out of court and for a short adjournment for parties to report settlement.

    Ntekim said his application was premised on the desire of parties to restore and maintain peace in the state.

    But the Attorney General of the State and Commissioner for Justice, Uko Udom, SAN, represented by the Director of Civil Litigation, Bassey Ekanem, was not satisfied with the oral application.

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    Although he confirmed that the state Attorney General and the former Attorney General, Ntekim, met with Governor Umo Eno to broker a way forward for a peaceful resolution of the dispute, he, however, argued that the plaintiffs ought to have made a written application in line with the terms of settlement.

    The objection of the Attorney General’s representative was overruled by the court, citing the case of Habib Bank PLC and Lodigiani Nigeria Ltd reported in 2010, where the Court of Appeal said trial courts have a duty to encourage parties to settle disputes out of court.

    The trial judge, Justice Archibong, said one thing that stood out from counsel arguments was their desire for peace and settlement of the dispute and that the form or manner of application should not be a stumbling block.

    Counsel for the plaintiffs, Ekpenyong Ntekim and Uyobong Jumbo Udom, speaking with reporters, expressed optimism that given the positive disposition of the state government, the dispute would be resolved soon. 

    They expressed their gratitude to the court for granting the parties leave to explore settlement out of court.

  • Akwa Ibom govt to update social register

    Akwa Ibom govt to update social register

    Akwa Ibom State Government says it will upgrade its social register to enable it have accurate records of vulnerable persons.

    Governor Umo Eno, who made the disclosure at the weekend during the Government House monthly prayer service, said the aim was allow indigent persons access social programmes of the government.

    He urged government functionaries, community and religious leaders to assist the government in providing information to update the register.

    Eno said government intended to adopt the register for its intervention programmes, and warned against politicising it.

    “For the record, the National Social Register (NSR) is an information system that supports the outreach, intake, registration and determination of potentially eligible persons to benefit from social programmes.

    “There is a social register. It is active and it is recognised by the World Bank. We have over a million people from every local government, ward and unit. It’s done on household basis and it’s for the poorest of the poor.

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    “This week we will be updating that register. All our PAs in the wards will be helping us. We all have work to do, so I ask that we please show interest.

    “All our pastors, our fathers come from a place, show some interests in that social register. It will help us. This is what we want to be using as a state to help our people,” the governor said.

    He appealed to stakeholders to ensure registration was done devoid of political colouration, stressing that village heads, community leaders and stakeholders should concerned themselves with ensuring that no one, who could not be traced to any household, was enlisted under their community slot.

    “I like to emphasise that this is not another political jamboree. Let’s make sure it’s for everyone who belongs to that category, whether they voted for us or not. If we bring those divisions now, it won’t help us.

    “So the stakeholders, please just check to make sure they don’t put the names and bank accounts of people that are not from your village,” he said.

    Speaking further on the criteria for inclusion or delimitation on the social register, he said: “I don’t expect my name or any of your names to be on the social register. Please don’t do it. It is meant for people we can reach with very little things to support them.

    ‘Please don’t politicise everything. It is not a PDP register. It is a social register for ‘Akwa Ibomites’. So long as that person is from there and you understand that the person is on that cadre, please put their names.

    “It is not also for civil servants. We know those ones already,” the governor added.

  • Governor promises paymentof bursary to Akwa Ibom students

    Governor promises paymentof bursary to Akwa Ibom students

    Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno has promised to pay bursary to students of the state origin studying in tertiary institutions in the country.

    Eno, who made the pledge in Uyo yesterday during a round-table meeting with student leaders from clusters in the students’ community, urged them to shun anti-social behaviours.

    Represented by his Personal Assistant on Students Affairs, Wisdom Offong, the governor said as future leaders, they must strive to live above board in readiness to impact positively on the society.

    According to him, “the software applications to be deployed in the execution of Geographic Information Systems (AKWAGIS) payment of bursary awards to undergraduates are ready and the process of ensuring that every student is carried along is ongoing. This is done to ensure transparency and accountability in the process”.

    He advised students to live exemplary lives and serve as role models for their much younger ones, while being conscious of their environment, stressing that any suspicious movement should be reported to security agencies.

    The President, National Association of Akwa Ibom State students (NAAKISS) Worldwide Ubong Ekwere, had on behalf of members passed a vote of confidence in the governor for his fatherly disposition towards students in the state. 

    He assured the governor of the determination of the students to support his administration and appealed for quick payment of bursary to students from the state in higher institutions.

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    Ekwere said: “We are passing a vote of confidence in Governor Eno for the bursary payment, N100million educational intervention funds for students living with disabilities, being the first of its kind, the building of model primary schools across the state, timely payment of WAEC fees for secondary school pupils and many more, just in a few months in office.” 

    Addressing reporters after the meeting, Offong said the meeting was a strategic engagement with the aim of discussing pressing issues bothering the student community and possible ways to chart a better course for the community.

    He added: “The processes and progress so far made as regards the payment of bursary as approved by Governor Eno were explained; the contributions, suggestions and observations of the leaders in attendance were noted. Students were assured of a speedy response to the yearnings of the community.”

    The meeting, which ended with a dialogue with students expressing their views on issues relating to their activities, was attended by student leaders like the National Financial Secretary of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Ibiangake Asuquo and others.

  • Monarchs reject suit withdrawal against Akwa Ibom govt 

    Monarchs reject suit withdrawal against Akwa Ibom govt 

    Thirteen paramount rulers have rejected withdrawal of the suit they instituted against Akwa Ibom State Government over the controversial Traditional Rulers Law.

    On October 17, Governor Umo Eno met royal fathers and asked them to withdraw the matter from court for settlement.

    Addressing a news conference in Uyo yesterday, one of the lead counsel for the plaintiffs (paramount rulers), Jumbo Udom, said the plaintiffs would not accept full withdrawal of the case from court.

    He said the defendants (Akwa Ibom Government) sought outright withdrawal of the case from the court and the motion did not go down well with the plaintiffs.

    He said the motion of leave of the court sought by his clients to explore peaceful settlement was enough for the defendants to accept.

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    The plaintiff’s counsel accused the counsel for the defendant, the state Attorney General, Uko Udom (SAN), “of vehemently opposing plaintiffs’ application for leave to settle the matter and for adjournment sine die.”

    “Udom insisted that the only condition for settlement is outright withdrawal of the case; otherwise, the defendants are prepared for the case to proceed.”

    According to him, the defendants’ counsel insisted that ‘‘if plaintiffs do not accept the condition to withdraw, the matter should proceed for further hearing.”

    He stressed that the matter would be statute-barred after three months if the governor employed delaying tactics in resolving the thorny issue.