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Tag: Akwa Ibom

Navy hands over 3 suspects, 759 bags of smuggled rice to Customs

At least 759 bags of rice smuggled into the country from Cameroon have been seized by tbe Nigerian Navy, Forward Operating Base, Ibaka, Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

The illegally imported bags of rice including the suspects, Yahaya Balaribe, 32, from Borno State; Godwin Owoyemi, 23 and Michael Aderemi, both from Igbokoda area of Ondo State have also been handed over to the Nigerian Customs Service.

Briefing reporters yesterday, the Commanding Officer, FOB, Navy Captain Yusuf Idris said the suspected smugglers were apprehended at high sea on Tuesday around 3am following a tip-off within the nation’s territorial waters.

His words, “On January 30, the men of the Forward Operating Base, Ibaka, acting on a tip-off, intercepted and seized a large wooden boat loaded with 759 bags of rice. We also arrested three suspected smugglers along with the items.

“In line with the harmonised standard operating procedures, the Nigerian Navy, today handover the suspects and the items to NCS for investigation and further necessary actions.

“The Nigerian Navy, FOB, warn the would-be smugglers and other maritime offenders like sea pirates, illegal oil bunkerers and their likes to keep away from Nigeria maritime environment as the current leadership of navy will hunt for them wherever they may be”.

The commanding officer, assured good and legitimate users of the sea of navy protection and assistance to carry out their legitimate businesses with a view to enhancing the economic prosperity of Nigeria

He advised the intended smugglers to stay out of Nigeria maritime environment, noting that the present leadership of the Nigeria Navy will hunt them wherever they may be.

Speaking also, the Comptroller, Eastern Marine Command, Nigeria Customs Service, Port Harcourt, Ajiya Masaya, said the fight against smuggling is a collective responsibility of every Nigerian to protect the country’s industries and also to safeguard the health of Nigerians from consuming toxic foreign goods.

According to him, smuggling is a sabotage to Nigeria’s economy, adding that any nation that allows smuggling cannot grow its economy. He thanked the navy for collaborating with customs to curtail the continued and spread of smuggling within the Nigeria maritime environment.

He said, “Fighting smuggling cannot be left only for Nigeria Customs Service. Everybody has a duty to stop or reduce the menace. Smuggling is a sabotage. It is a fact that any nation that allows smuggling cannot grow.

“As I said, fighting smugglers is not only for customs; everybody has a role to play. Please, as a member of the community, rice is still a contraband item; 2018 fiscal policy that recognises imported rice as a contraband good, is still in force.

“I am seriously giving you a note of warning about maritime business. There are so many ways of doing legitimate maritime business, not smuggling. Don’t say we are handicapped, other security agencies, especially the navy, are with us. Any time we ask them for assistance, they respond immediately. Smuggling is dangerous to a country’s survival and prosperity.”

One of the suspects, Balaribe, said he had been working on the boat since November 2017. He explained that as a worker in the boat, his duty was to upload and deliver the imported goods to their customers wherever they might be.

“I work on the boat. I have been working in the boat since November 2017. The bags of rice are from Cameroon. I don’t know that imported rice from other countries to Nigeria is a contraband item.

“We are never told; our work is to convey the goods to their destinations. Our duty is to bring the rice here, the owner of the consignment, that is one Mr. Ade, is supposed to come here and take his delivery for onward distribution to his customers. We have not heard from him since we arrived here,” he said.

January 31, 2018
Gov Emmanuel opens UNIUYO arts gallery in honour of mother in-law

Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom has commissioned an arts gallery in the University of Uyo ( UNIUYO ) in honour of his mother in-law, Late Professor (Mrs.) Stella Idiong.

Late Mrs. Idiong was the first female professor of Fine and Industrial Arts in the country, hence the building of the arts gallery by her family to showcase her works.

The gallery was built ten years after her death as a memorial, to also showcase her works and promote art in the institution.

Speaking at the Main campus of the University, Governor Emmanuel commended the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Enefiok Essien for allowing the sponsors of the gallery build the arts center in the school.

He promised to connect the gallery to the power source from the national grid.

He said, “I also want to thank you for the peace in the campus. Not all campuses are as peaceful as the UNIUYO. Whenever you see peace of this nature, it is leadership. Let me thank the members of this committee that put up the fine and international work here, the family, and everybody.

“I thank the University community for giving us the space, the Vice Chancellor, Senate and the entire governing council of this university for this honour done to a great woman, who touched lives, who meant so much to a lot of people who are living and can still bear testimony to the quality of life that she lived.

“In memory of the first ever female Professor of Fine and Industrial Arts in this country and the first ever female dean of the University of Uyo, Late Prof. Mrs Stella Idiong, I commission this Arts gallery to the glory of God the Father, and I pray this will serve as a resource centre for industrial arts, and people that will study here will make meaning into this country and into the continent at large.”

Also speaking, wife of the governor, Mrs. Martha Emmanuel, who is also a daughter of the late professor said the gallery was built to satisfy the longing of family member to immortalize the late Idiong, and promote the achievement of students in the University.

She described her mother as “an artist, a great teacher who distinguished herself in a seemingly male dominated career; who also exhibited discipline and love in her motherly role to us and a pillar of support to her husband despite her academic attainment”, and appealed that the gallery be maintained.

Continuing she said, “Today, on behalf of my siblings and family, we stand here to fulfill a longing in our hearts to immortalize our role model, our shining star, a one in a million mother by providing the University of Uyo the first of its kind Art gallery which I believe will support innovation, encourage exhibition by showcasing the achievement of students in the University.

“It is my hope that this gallery will facilitate collaboration between the teachers and students. By establishing this arts gallery, we have established an enabling environment for the development of painting, sculpture as well as developing the graduates of this department for social and economic gains”.

January 29, 2018
Akwa Ibom seals up two hospitals for malpractices

The Akwa Ibom Commissioner for Health, Dr. Dominic Ukpong, said on Friday that two hospitals had been sealed up for malpractices.

Ukpong made this known to newsmen in Eket.

“I have shut down two hospitals for malpractices. We inspected them and found that they do not conform to hospital standards.

“We have shut them down and we are not going to re-open them again.”

Ukpong refused to give the names of the hospitals but only said that one of them was owned by someone from a neighbouring state.

He added that the ministry had sacked one medical doctor for allegedly stealing beds while some health practitioners were also sanctioned for negligence in their duties.

“I caught some health workers either sleeping on duty or careless about their patients.

“Those who were negligent in their duties, I have moved them to my office.

“They cannot practice their profession again.”

Ukpong said that the ministry conducts regular checks to identify negligent health workers.

According to him, the state government has commenced the construction of a state-owned hospital at Itu-Mbang in Uyo which will be inaugurated by May 2018.

“We are constructing a state-owned hospital at Itu-Mbang; we don’t have a state-owned hospital in Uyo, the state capital.

The commissioner said that state government also planned to build quarters for doctors and house officers.

NAN

January 26, 2018
Life harder under APC – Gov Emmanuel

Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom state has lamented the worsening economic condition of Nigerians under the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Speaking yesterday in Uyo at the New Year Get-together ceremony of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ), the Governor said Nigerians fared better under the PDP than the APC government.

In fact, Emmanuel slammed those blaming the PDP for the country’s current predicament, adding that the high cost of food items, petrol, automobiles and the soaring exchange rate of the Naira to the Dollar are indicators that all is not well with Nigerians under the APC government.

“Everywhere you go people keep saying the PDP spoiled the country. When PDP governed Nigeria how much was a bag of rice? When PDP was in power how much was Toyota Corrolla? When PDP handed over power how much was a litre of petrol? When PDP handed over government how much was the exchange rate? Was it not between 186 to 188?

“I am standing here firm and sure that Nigerians now know the difference and they are eagerly waiting for PDP in 2019.

“Nigerians did not know or value what they had until they lost it ( PDP ). Nigerians now appreciate us much now. We can zero in on that and make a lot of impact. We shouldn’t play the defeatist approach”, Governor Emmanuel said.

He said that one of the ways to dislodge the APC in 2019 both at the state and federal levels was for party members to obtain the permanent voters card.

To this end, he directed party stakeholders occupying government positions to sensitize and mobilize party members in their wards to register and obtain their PVCs which which they can remove the APC government.

The Governor also hinted that political and traditional positions in the state would strictly be determined by the principle of zoning, adding that zoning makes election cheaper and eases tension.

“My intention is to make election cheap for us through zoning. I am happy that all of us have adhered to the principle of zoning.

“These days I get calls from communities when they want to select their village heads and they tell me they are adopting zoning. It makes life very easy”, he argued.

January 23, 2018
‘Akwa Ibom has benefited under Buhari’

Akwa Ibom State has benefited more in projects and federal appointments under the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, All Progressives Congress (APC) woman leader in the state, Dr. Usen Godwin Ikpe, has said.

Describing President Buhari as a detribalized leader and the father of the country, Dr. Ikpe, a member, University of Uyo Governing Council, dismissed the impression in certain quarters that the President’s appointments were sectional.

She expressed her appreciation to the President for the number of Akwa Ibom indigenes appointed into various boards and parastatals of the Federal Government. The woman leader also called on the people of Akwa Ibom to join other well-meaning Nigerians to re-elect Buhari for a second term in office come 2019.

Ikpe said: “Going by the recently released list of appointees into Federal Government boards, President Buhari has proven his critics wrong, in terms of tribalism and partisanship. When you look at the number of Akwa Ibom indigenes appointed into federal boards and other positions of responsibility, you would readily agree that President Buhari is a detribalized leader.

“He is the father of the new Nigeria, who believes that everyone should be given opportunity to be part of governance and administration at the federal level, irrespective of tribal or religious affiliation.

She added: “The distribution of appointments has so far shown that every facet of the country is being carried along in the scheme of things. In the case of my state (Akwa Ibom), it is unprecedented. No President of Nigeria has ever favoured the state this much.”

While commending Buhari for the successes recorded in the fight against insurgency and ensuring security of lives and property of citizens, the university don lashed out at critics of the President, saying: “I know, those who used to benefit from various forms of corruption are complaining today, because they can no longer loot the nation’s treasury as they used to.

“ But, today, every right-thinking Nigerian would see that His Excellency, President Buhari, has brought sanity into the nation’s governance. He has made Nigerians to see the need to be self-reliant which was lacking in the past. Today, everybody wants to be part of the emerging new Nigeria.

“President Buhari has brought respect, and has rekindled the hope of Nigeria attaining her rightful place in the comity of nations. He has stabilised the polity and improved the economy tremendously.”

January 23, 2018
Akwa Ibom sacks medical doctor for theft of beds

The Akwa Ibom Government says it has sacked Dr. Nwaopara A.U, a Consultant and Medical Superintendent, Psychiatric Hospital, Eket, for allegedly stealing six hospital beds and converting them to personal use.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Dominic Ukpong, made the disclosure while addressing the management and staff of the hospital in Eket on Friday.

He alleged that the doctor stole the beds in October last year and converted them to use in his private hospital in Marina area of Eket.

But Dr Nwaopara told our reporter that the matter was in court.

“We have terminated the appointment of the doctor who stole the beds in the psychiatric hospital and converted them to personal use.

“We will not condone such attitude from any doctor. I want to thank the management of the hospital for their cooperation during the investigations,” Ukpong said.

The commissioner, however, observed that the psychiatric hospital was one of the most neglected in the state.

He said that the hospital lacked facilities and lamented that its management failed to notify the health authorities in Akwa Ibom.

He said the hospital faced challenges, including inadequate space, lack of equipment, shortage of staff, zero subvention, and promised to tackle the challenges.

Ukpong however thanked the hospital management for its services to the state despite the challenges.

He reassured the management that the state government would equip the hospital very soon.

NAN

January 19, 2018
INEC Commissioner expresses concern over voters’ apathy at reruns

Dr Mohammed Lecky, the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) National Commissioner for Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Delta, has expressed worries over the low turnout of voters in recent elections across the country.

Lecky expressed the worries on Thursday in Calabar, after touring INEC facilities in Cross River.

He told journalists that the INEC was not comfortable with the low turnout of voters in the recently concluded reruns, especially that of Anambra.

He called on the electorate in Cross River to endeavor to vote at the 2019 general elections, adding “my major advice to them is to register and vote at elections.

“The present INEC has ensured continuous voter registration across the country. So this is an opportunity for every eligible voter in the state to register and be ready to vote.

“We are distressed that people are not coming out to vote as witnessed in the last rerun election in Anambra Central where we recorded just above nine per cent turnout.

“If we want change we must change through voting. We need to own the electoral process,” he said.

The national commissioner said INEC would meet some challenges it faced in the state, especially the inadequate infrastructure in the state capital and the local government areas.

Lecky said that the commission would make the working environment conducive for the workers and added, “we will also do our best to motivate the staff ahead of the elections.”

NAN

January 18, 2018
A’Ibom police nab 56 suspected kidnappers’ cultists within two weeks

The Akwa Ibom Police Command has arrested no fewer than 56 suspected kidnappers and cultists within the last two weeks of its operations aimed at ridding the state of violent crimes.

Parading the suspects yesterday at the state police headquarters, Ikot Akpan Abia, Uyo, the State Police Commissioner (CP), Adeyemi Ogunjemilusi said the arrest of the suspects was part of his war against criminals in the state.

CP Ogunjemilusi, who said some of suspects include armed robbers, cultists and kidnappers, disclosed that some of them have already been charged to court while others are still being investigated.

He said seven locally made pistols and two cut-to-size guns with six cartridges recovered. Also two cut-to-size locally made pump action with four rounds of cartridges recovered.

The Commissioner further said that two locally made single-barrel and two locally double barrel pistols with eleven cartridges have also been recovered.

“Six vehicles including Toyota 4 runner jeep, Toyota Matrix, three Toyota Camry, Hyundai Kia, Highlander (2003) model and assorted items used by cultists have also been recovered”, he said.

Ogunjemilusi said since assumption of office on January 3, 2018, he studied the security architecture of the state and reposition it for effective service delivery.

He disclosed that the State Police Command has commenced a full implementation of community based policing in the state.

This, he said, aimed at strengthening the confidence in the Police for a better working relationship with members of the public “in a more friendly and accountable manner”.

With the number of suspected criminals arrested so far, the Police boss noted that “strategies put in place in ensuring that crime rates in the State are brought to the barest minimum are yielding results.

He lauded the government and people of the State for the support to the Police and security agencies towards reducing crime to barest minimum.

January 18, 2018
Akwa Ibom produces over two million pencils

Akwa Ibom State produces over two million quality pencils for the nation and neighbouring countries, Special Adviser to the Governor on Technical Matters and Due Process Ufot Ebong has said.

The aide, who addressed reporters at the weekend, said over two million pencils had been sold.

He said Nigerians do not know that the high quality pencils and toothpicks are produced through Akwa Ibom Enterprises and Scheme (AKEES) factories because they are not branded.

“I have testimonials to prove that people love the product. Your children, wards and relations may be using AKEES pencils without knowing they are manufactured in Akwa Ibom State.

“We have sold more than two million pencils. Nigerians are buying the pencils without knowing they are produced in the country because of the sleeves. Only one sleeve of the 150 sleeves we ordered had AKEES written on it,” Ebong said.

He said machines for the proposed plastic factory had arrived and would soon be installed, for production to begin next month.

“We will produce plastics and other allied products, such as basins, spoons, forks, plates, paint buckets and others.

“We have learnt our lessons. Our products will henceforth have the inscription, AKEES, because Akwa Ibom people are passionate about their products.

“Our fear was that people would not like to buy our products because of the mentality of Nigerians to prefer foreign goods.”

The aide said the National Council of Arts had certified the pencils as very good.

January 15, 2018
Three robbery suspects killed in Akwa Ibom

The police in Akwa Ibom State have killed three robbery suspects.

The suspects, The Nation learnt, specialised in robbing students and residents of the University of Uyo (UNIUYO), around Ikpa Road, Idak Okpo and adjoining areas, within Uyo.

They died in a gun duel with policemen from the Special Anti-Robbery (SARS) Unit, Ikot Akpanabia.

The criminals had dispossessed their victims, mostly students of laptops, phones, cash and valuables.

An eyewitness suffered several machete cuts from the hoodlums and is at an undisclosed hospital.

Unconfirmed sources said the robbers, about 20, invaded the area, about 2 am, and robbed students and residents.

“I was caught in the web, but could do nothing to escape the rampaging hoodlums, who cordoned off the area”, he said.

It was learnt that a Police Quick Response Unit stationed at the traffic light point by the University gate, few metres to the scene, did not respond.

The hoodlums robbed and raped for about two hours – between 2 am and 4:15 am.

According to Akpan Imoh, who claimed he was dispossessed of his laptop and phone, a ‘Good Samaritan’ called SARS.

The robbers fled through the bush into the university’s ravine.

It was gathered that the criminals attacked as soon as they sighted the operatives, who and chased them into the ravine.

Imo Essien, a local vigilante, said sporadic shooting into the ravine, led to the death of the robbers.

Police spokesman Odiko Macdon, a deputy superintendent (DSP), said the criminals abandoned a locally-made pistol, several stolen items, including phones and laptops.

He said: “I am aware of the incident, one person has been arrested, and investigation is on to track down the perpetrators.”

He appealed to residents to cooperate with the police by volunteering information on suspicious characters around their neighbourhood.

January 15, 2018