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Tag: Akwa Ibom

  • FRSC secures 73 convictions in Akwa Ibom

    The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Akwa Ibom Sector Command, said it secured 73 convictions during the recently-concluded Eid-El- Kabir Special Patrol operations.
    The Sector Commander, Mr Sunday Oghenekaro, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Uyo on Sunday.
    Oghenekaro said that the special patrol, which commenced on August 17, recorded increased road users’ sensitisation in motor parks, markets, offices and places of worship.
    According to him, the sensitisation was aimed at creating awareness in reducing road traffic accidents.
    The sector commander added that the operation was executed by full mobile court, in collaboration with the Akwa Ibom Judiciary, to achieve results.
    He expressed displeasure that in spite of the sensitisation and enlightenment campaigns across the state, road users were yet to come to terms with road realities and obey traffic rules.
    “The outcome of the special patrol operations in the state shows that out of the 75 road offenders prosecuted, 73 were convicted and made to pay option of fines while two were discharged.
    “The traffic reality from the operations outcome is not representative of the command’s expectation of zero crash, zero fatality vision,” Oghenekaro said.
    The sector commander warned drivers against driving without due training, stressing that driving was a profession that should be handled by only trained personnel.
    He urged drivers to avoid driving mechanically deficient vehicles, drinking and driving, driving under fatigue or drug influence, adding that speeding was the major cause of road crashes in the country.
    He said, “I wish to advise road users to be more safety conscious, ensure traffic discipline and show value for life and its sanctity by strict obedience to traffic rules and regulations.”

    Read also: I am confident of picking PDP’s ticket – Makarfi

    The sector commander also said during the period under review, four road traffic crashes occurred which involved five vehicles and 26 persons.
    According to him, 11 casualties occurred during the crashes, adding that one was killed in the process.
    He cautioned drivers and other road users to use the roads with care, show consideration to other users, especially school children when they want to cross the road.
    He commanded the Akwa Ibom Government, Nigeria Optometrists Association and the media for their contributions to ensure safety on the roads.

  • Udom declares for second term

    Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom on Friday, declared his intention to seek re-election, saying his current performance would return him to the Government House.

    Emmanuel made the declaration in Uyo and said that his industrialisation efforts in the state was part of his major achievements since his inauguration in 2015.

    His achievements, according to him, include the conglomeration of industrial clusters, which houses toothpick, pencil, syringe, electric metres and coconut factories as well as Peacock Paint, fertilizer firms and many kilometres of roads.

    “No man is God. I submit myself for consideration to continue with the good work that I have done and I seek your support for my candidature as governor for second term,” he said.

    The governor urged the people to support his aspiration for second term for the sustenance of the tempo of good governance he had introduced in the state.

    He said that his predecessor left behind some uncompleted projects, including the Sheraton by Four Points Hotel at Ikot Ekpene and the Uyo – Ikot Ekpene road project.

    He said that his administration had been working hard to ensure the completion of the projects and others begun by the former administration.

    “Who said they had completed the Sheraton by Four Points Hotel?

    “It is only today that we are negotiating with Starwood Group for the retaining of the name, which some people surreptitiously put up on a building,” he said.

    Read Also: Akpabio is not God, he can’t stop me – Udom

    In a remark, the Speaker, Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, Mr Onofiok Luke, charged members and supporters of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state to work towards the party’s victory at the polls in 2019.

    Chairman of Emmanuel’s Re-election Committee and former military administrator of the state, Mr Idongesit Nkanga, also appeal to the people to support the governor for a second term.

    Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers in his solidarity message, assured Gov. Emmanuel that he would be returned based on track record of his quality works in the state in the last three years.

    He urged the people not to allow external influence to alter “the political arrangement ably directed by the PDP since 1999 in Akwa Ibom.’’

  • Police kill four hoodlums linked to alleged attack on Akpabio’s residence

    The police in Akwa Ibom have killed four persons linked to Tuesday’s night alleged attack on the residence of former governor, Senator Godswill Akpabio at Ukana Ikot Ntuen in Essien Udim local government area.

    Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr. Adeyemi Ogunjemilusi in a press briefing at the weekend the hoodlums, robbed petrol attendants and customers at Golf Safrin filling station close to Senator Akpabio’s house, forcing security details of the Senator to immediately respond.

    The CP who explained that no one was hurt during the attack said the police had launched a manhunt leading to their subsequent killing by police operatives.

    However, luck ran out of them when the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in-charge of Ikot Ekpene, Benjamin Achebani, acting on a tip-off, led a massive operation where four of the hoodlums were shot dead and the ring leader, fatally wounded and captured alive.

    Displaying the remains of the criminals on Friday at the Ikot Akpanabia, Uyo, headquarters of the  Police, Ogunjemilusi, said the criminals were engaged in exchange of fire with the Police, around the banking area of Ikot Ekpene, after random shooting and stealing of shops along Aba Road.

    “At about 5:00PM (Thursday), five notorious armed robbers led by one Kingsley Peter, a.k.a., ‘Morale’, who is one of the gang leaders, using three motorcycles robbed some persons along Aba road by Ikot Osurua before proceeding to a banking area to disposes ATM customers and shop owners of cash.

    Read Also: Akpabio, Police differ over gun attack at senator’s home

    “The DPO, trailed and engaged the hoodlums in a fierce shootout, four of the armed robbers were shot dead, while one Akwaowo Daniel Umoren, was arrested with A-K 47 with 60 rounds of 7,62mm live ammunition”, he explained.

    The arrested leader of the gang, Akwaowo, 27, who hails from Ikot Ineme village in Essien Udim Local Government, admitted being part of the operation, saying “this the first time to participating in armed robbery activity”.

    He explained that the A-K 47 rifle he used in the operation was issued out to him by the Village Council, adding that “the village has its vigilance group and armoury since my village is at war with the neighboring community”.

    “The gun was given to me and other boys to protect and secure the women and other villagers harvesting palm fruits at the disputed palm fruits plantation”, he added.

    Speaking to Journalists, the DPO, who said he sustained injury in the operation, urged motorcyclists in Ikot Ekpene, to purge their ranks of criminal elements, warning that the ban placed on commercial motorcycle operations from 6:00PM will not be lifted

  • Akwa Ibom: Of an emerging industrialised state

    Dubai in the United Arab Emirate is today unarguably one of the world’s wonders and a testimony to what visionary leaders could do to lift the fortunes of their nations.   A complete desert, with no rain at all, all year round, Dubai is today a haven for tourists and businessmen from all over the world, all thanks to Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, who at a point in time chose to change the fortunes of his people. To accomplish his aim, he surrounded himself with the best and the brightest. In a book titled,  Rashid’s Legacy, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Maktoum described  Saeed thus: “ He ruled Dubai from 1958 to 1990, taking his city –state from a relative backwater and laying foundations for the 21st century.’’

    By the time Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed died, the United Nations observed a minute of silence in his honour. This was a leader that began his reign when the people he was ruling knew nothing about a body called the UN.  Truly, anyone that visits Dubai today would acknowledge that Sheikh Saeed worked hard for his people.  He was a leader to be proud of. He laid the foundation for wealth and abundance for his people. His pictures are everywhere in the city.  Truly, with the ultra-modern skyscrapers in Dubai, it would be hard to imagine that it was once a mud-walled city with people riding on camels and living in the desert.  No doubt, the story of Dubai is a pointer to what can be accomplished by great minds in any society.

    Back home in Nigeria, one of the governors trying to lay a solid foundation for industrialization of their states is Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State. Vice President, Prof. Osinbajo publicly acknowledged this during the inauguration of the needle factory in the state a few years back. Describing the syringe factory as a landmark project, not only for Akwa Ibom but also Nigeria, the Vice President who was visibly impressed by the governor’s foresight in attracting the project to the state had said: “You are one of the cleverest people I’ve ever come across.”

    Chairman of Syringe and Needle Manufacturers Association of Nigeria  (SNMAN) and Managing Director, JSM Company Limited, Zubeyir Gulabi,, would echo the same sentiment in a newspaper article:” Africa is blessed with lots of wealthy people, well educated and knowledgeable individuals scattered all over the world.  One of the examples of these great leaders is Udom. When you are discussing with him, he discusses with you as a technocrat. He gives you the figures, not just support; he shares your problem with you. And this is the greatest encouragement we need to invest everything we have in Akwa Ibom.’’

    The N15billion Jubilee Syringe Company in Onna Local Government area of the state is the largest syringe manufacturing company on the entire African continent according to experts. It is expected to produce 700,000 syringes daily and over 350 million syringes yearly.

    Apart from what Nigeria as a whole stands to gain from such huge project, syringe business is a major commerce across the world. Disposable syringes are the most consumed medical services in the world and according to Transparency Market Research, the global disposable syringe market is expected to reach $7.5billion (N2.6trillion) in 2022.  Jubilee Syringe Manufacturing Company hopes to take 500 Nigerian youths off the congested labour market, with further commitment to grow the numbers. Investments in the syringe industry alone, according to Gulabi, can boost the nation’s economy by about 50 per cent, if the Federal Government implements the medical devices industry policy meant to enhance the sector.

    Although the initiative is a 100 per cent privately driven investment, investors have said Akwa Ibom State has what it takes to attract investment to the country.  Apart from the encouragement from the state government, investors said the state is the safest place in the country in terms of security. While it might look far away from the market, the good policies of the government are giving investors the confidence to see it as the best location to do business.

    Beyond the needle factory, the government has encouraged the setting up of more industries in the state in order to open up the state for inflow of Foreign Direct Investments and create more jobs for the people.  For example, the Toothpick and Pencil factories in the state are currently producing over 15,000kg toothpick and 20,000 pencils in every eight hours of production shift. By so doing, the state government has created direct employment for many youths and businesses for many others who indirectly benefit from the industries. These include bamboo suppliers, newspapers suppliers, gums distributors and diesel suppliers.

    There is also the metering project described as Africa’s first ever electric metering industry, located in ONNA Local Government Area of the state, established to reduce the metering gaps in the electricity distribution sub sector. Just recently, the Managing Director of 4Power Consortium Limited, Matthew Edevbie said that the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company will soon distribute 150,000 meters to its existing consumers – this made possible under the governor’s metering project initiative.

    Also, to the governor’s credit, an agreement was signed with a foreign firm to revive the abandoned Ibom Science project started in 2006 by former Governor Victor Attah later abandoned by previous regime. 

    The governor a few months back signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with SERGE Capital Investment to resuscitate the moribund multi-billion project in the state.

    Back to the UAE example, despite having huge crude oil deposits, the country is investing heavily in clean alternative energy sources. It is doing so with the understanding that the world would soon shift from dependence on crude to alternative energy sources. The country is making early preparations for the post oil era. At a government summit in Dubai in 2015, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, His Highness, Shaikh Mohammad said by the time the last barrel of oil is lifted from the country, the citizens would celebrate because government must have invested in the right sectors. This is what it takes to be a visionary leader.  If the rate at which Emmanuel is focusing on industrializing the state is sustained in the next five years, the state would have something to point to as sources of revenue besides oil.

     

    • Ibe writes from Lagos.

  • Insecurity: INEC moves voter registration in Ukanafun to Uyo

    Following incessant cases of killings and kidnapping the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has moved the voter registration exercise from Ukanafun local government area to Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.

    INEC announced its decision to temporarily move the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration exercise (CVR) to its headquarters in Uyo,  the state capital following the unresolved security situation in the area.

    This is contained in a press statement signed by Mr. Anthony Patta, Head of voter education and publicity on behalf of the Resident Electoral Commissioner and made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Uyo, the state capital.

    According to the statement the commission which said the decision would ensure that qualified persons were not disenfranchised, expressed regret all inconveniences the development may cause the people of the affected community.

    INEC, therefore, appealed to the stakeholders to ensure that they mobilize their people to come and register and also collect their Permanent Voter Cards.

    Read Also: INEC right on Rivers by-election

    It reads, “Whereas independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) Akwa Ibom state is delighted over the release of its kidnapped staff by the joint operation of the Military, DSS, and Police, it  is still concerned about the security situation in Ukanafun LGA, which is not only a challenge, but has slowed down the scale of the Continuous Voter Registration, exercise.

    “In order not to disenfranchise qualified prospective registrants, the commission has decided to temporarily move the CVR exercise in Ukanafun LGA to the INEC state headquarters, Udo Udoma Avenue, Uyo.

    Accordingly, INEC hereby request the stakeholders in the communities in the local government area to mobilize the people to come register and also collect their Permanent Voter Cards.

    “INEC further pleads with stakeholders to continuously work with the security agencies so that normalcy is restored in the local government area to allow the commission deliver on it’s mandate of conducting free, fair and credible elections “

  • Emmanuel not a mistake – Senator Okon

    A former senator representing Uyo Senatorial District, Senator Anietie Okon has said that the emergence of Mr. Udom Emmanuel as governor of Akwa Ibom state in 2015 was not a mistake.

    Okon was obviously responding to a statement credited to Senator Godswill Akpabio who at the weekend while addressing youths at the Ikot Ekpene stadium said Emmanuel was a mistake he made in 2015.

    But speaking on Monday at a grand endorsement rally in honour of Governor Udom Emmanuel and his wife, Martha by the people of Eket Senatorial District at the Onna Township Stadium, the PDP chieftain described Akpabio as a coward.

    He questioned Akpabio’s Annang ancestry, adding that Annang speaking people of the state are reputed for courage and resilience, qualities which the former governor does not possess.

    Okon said a man of Udom Emmanuel’s worth and integrity would never have come about by chance, but a divine gift from God to the state.

    “We don’t know where they brought Akpabio from, he is a coward! I was very angry yesterday when I heard Akpabio call Udom Emmanuel a mistake, God cannot be mistaken. That is the last insult the people of Akwa Ibom State would take from a man of such antecedence”.

    Read Also: ‘Emmanuel not planning to defect to APC’

    He declared that the people of Uyo Senatorial District had long concluded the debates surrounding the 2019 elections as they consider Emmanuel’s reelection as the fastest gateway to return power to Uyo in 2013.

    Also addressing the rally, the Senator representing Uyo Senatorial District, Bassey Albert Akpan said Udom Emmanuel has united Akwa Ibom than ever before, hence the need to encourage him to continue his divine mission of uniting the state.

    He admitted that though Emmanuel may have been brought by someone, just like the biblical Moses who was to bring the Israelites out of Egypt, God ordained a Joshua to take to people to the promised land, he therefore declared Udom Emmanuel that Joshua.

    “Your Excellency, you have united Akwa Ibom more than ever before. Never in the history of this state have we been this united, wherever this is coming from, may God sustain it for us. God will continue to upturn things until his will is accomplished. You are our divine choice and there is nothing any man can do”. He assured.

  • Policeman killed as JTF rescues INEC worker, eight others in Akwa Ibom

    A police sergeant has been confirmed killed in Akwa Ibom State in an operation to rid Etim Ekpo and Ukanafun local government areas of militants.

    Hoodlums in both local government areas had allegedly been causing deaths and destruction of property estimated at millions of naira in the last one year.

    Police Commissioner Adeyemi Ogunjemilusi, who spoke on the killing at the weekend, said: “We lost one sergeant in the operation and recovered some rifles, including police and military uniforms, charms and other materials.”

    He said the police action followed the alleged refusal of the hoodlums to heed the offer of amnesty extended to them by Governor Udom Emmanuel.

    Ogunjemilusi said the police rescued Otobong Sylvester Ukpong, a worker at the Ukanafun area office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as well as eight others, including seven women.

    The abductors reportedly got the victims at Ikot Inyang Abia community in Ukanafun.

    Ukpong was said to have been abducted on June 5, blindfolded and taken by two gunmen on motorcycles into a bush in Ikot Akpan Ayara in Ukanafun Local Government Area.

    It was learnt that the kidnap victims were fed with garri and soup, beans and rice.

    Ukpong said: “There is no farming activity around the bush we were kept. The abductors erected a canopy in the bush and always cooked the meal there and served us. Throughout my stay for about two months, I was not allowed to talk to anyone. That is why I find it difficult to talk because my throat is not clear.

    “They (abductors) only removed the veils from our eyes in the night when we could not understand the geography of the area. I have not taken my bath, shaved or trimmed my hair since I was taken. This is the only cloth that I put on since I was captured.

    “Each time the kidnappers left for operation, they ensured that two heavily armed men were left to guard the den. But on August 18, when the Joint Task Force (JTF) stormed the place, the one who guarded the camp got the signal and went to see what was coming.

    “Before he could compose himself, the soldier had fired first and the militants went flat on the ground. He used his charms and amulets and disappeared before the JTF came to rescue us.”

    The Chairman of Ukanafun Local Government Area, Mr. Nnamso Idiong and his Etim Ekpo counterpart, Mr. Udeme Eduo, who identified the freed captives, hailed the JTF operatives for restoring peace to the troubled areas.

    Idiong said the seven rescued women were abducted from his village, Ikot Inyang Abia, by the gang leader identified simply by his operational name, ‘Englishman’.

    He said: “The wife of ‘Englishman’ was arrested by the police because of the activities of her elusive husband. But ‘Englishman’ called me on phone and accused me of ordering the police to arrest his wife, who is still being detained at the police headquarters.

    “Following the arrest of his wife, which I knew nothing about, ‘Englishman’ said he was going to kidnap 25 women from my community and would only free them when his wife has been released by the police.

    “To make good his threat, he came into the village and captured these seven women and told me this set of women was the first instalment.”

    The council chairman regretted that his efforts to broker peace with the leaders of the hoodlums, in line with the state government’s plans, had been unsuccessful.

    Idiong said: “Even one of them called me that they would be ready for the peace meeting but when we were all ready for them, they refused to turn up.”

  • Akwa Ibom church leaders re-endorse Udom

    Church leaders in Akwa Ibom State have reaffirmed their support for the reelection of Governor Udom Emmanuel.

    The governor, according to them , deserves a second term because he has performed creditably well in delivering dividends of democracy.

    In a communiqué at the end of an emergency meeting last Wednesday to review political developments in the state, the church leaders under the platform of Akwa Ibom Spiritual Fathers of Faith Forum maintained they would support the governor to lead the state for another four years.

    The eight-point communiqué jointly signed by Prelate Emeritus of Methodist Church Nigeria, Dr. Sunday Mbang and Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Akwa Ibom chapter, Rev Dr Ndueso Ekwere, noted that a subsisting zoning arrangement that produced the last two predecessors since the return of democratic rule favours the reelection of Emmanuel.

    They urged all Christians in the state to work for the re-election of the governor, a deacon in the Qua Iboe Church (QIC).

    They said: “The entire Christians in Akwa Ibom State must rise up in support of the re-election bid of His Excellency, Governor Udom Emmanuel who himself is a practicing Christian, whose emergence as the governor of Akwa Ibom in 2015 has brought peace, transparency, accountability and even distribution of development projects across the state.

    “All Christians in Akwa Ibom State have covenanted themselves to ensure that Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel is voted to complete his second term of eight years in office just as Obong Victor Attah and Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio were supported to complete two terms in office.”

  • NIM charges leaders to evolve with change

    Gives award of life membership

     

    Leaders have been charged to be more creative, innovative and pioneering, in order to succeed in the market today. They have also been admonished to evolve with change in the environment; otherwise, their businesses will die out.

    This was the submission of Comodore Abimbola Ayuba, FNIM at the 2018 Awards and Fellows Day Luncheon of the Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered), held at the City Hall, Lagos on Thursday.

    In his lecture titled “Leadership and the changing paradigms: Confronting the Dynamics of Change”, Ayuba recognized the impact of social media on leadership saying that “The new millennium witnessed significant increases in internet accessibility, which ignited an enthusiastic uptake of networking services such as Twitter and Facebook. By 2015, there were over 13 million active social media accounts in Nigeria (a 20% increase from the previous year) and by early 2016, Facebook alone had over 15 million active accounts in Nigeria.

    “Leaders in business, governance and management in general would need to accept the reality that social media is here to stay and the fact that its impact may make or mar their leadership. Furthermore, the digital information age has brought about opportunities to break barriers imposed by law, regulations and artificial boundaries.

    Speaking to leaders, Ayuba advised them to pool together in growing the economy. Giving a clue, he said “Creation of industrial parks such as recently done in Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa States are stimulants for future economic growth. Digital villages need to be established while local entrepreneurs would need to be encouraged.

    Read Also: NIM seeks strong institutions for economic growth

    “Organizations need creative, innovative and pioneering leaders to stay ahead in the race. Such leaders must have insight to anticipate what could happen at any given time and understand subtitles of the marketplace.

    The NIM gave awards of life members to six members. They include Engr. Muiz Olawumi Oseni FNIM, Mr. Emmanuel Funso Abolarinwa, FNIM, and Pastor Dr. (Mrs.) Comfort Ikeola Akinola, FNIM

    Others are Mr. Babasola Gabriel Onolaja, FNIM, Mr. Francis Ebima Agho, FNIM and Mrs. Grace Oluremi Omotosho, FNIM.

    Speaking on criteria to become a fellow in the NIM, President and Chairman of Council, Nigeria Institute of Management, NIM, Professor Olukunle Iyanda, FNIM highlighted that the candidate “must be a full member of the institute for at least ten years, must also be a financial member, and must have contributed to the institution, and he/she must be of good conduct, not charged in any court”.

    Reacting to his award on being a life member of the NIM, Mr. Emmanuel Funso Abolarinwa, FNIM advised young ones to “be focused, dedicated to their job and remain hardworkiong, as that is what brought me up to this level that I have attained.”

  • One dead as hoodlums attack passenger bus in Akwa Ibom

    One person has been confirmed dead while three others were injured in an attack on a passenger bus by suspected militants in Akwa Ibom State.

    The Nation gathered that the incident occurred yesterday at Ikot Mkporikpo portion of the Abak-Iwukem Road in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area.

    Some communities in Etim Ekpo and Ukanafun have been under siege for over a year.

    Scores of people have report6edly died and property estimated at millions of naira destroyed.

    Police spokesman Odiko Macdon Ogbeche, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the police were making efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice.

    The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in-charge of Etim Ekpo, Chairman Dore, said: “The militants shot sporadically at the bus when the driver refused to stop after it was flagged down by the hoodlums.”

    Another bus, which ran into the scene, reportedly veered off the road, crashed into a building and caught fire.

    Dore said occupants of the bus, said to belong to the Akwa Ibom Transport Company (AKTC), bled profusely “because the driver refused to stop and drop the affected passengers at a nearby health centre for treatment”.

    He added: “One of the injured died on the way because the driver was afraid and refused to stop after the shooting. He insisted on reaching safety in Aba before discharging the injured for treatment. But along the road, one died before reaching the hospital in Aba.”