The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Akwa Ibom

  • Emmanuel nominates 11 for Akwa Ibom Exco

    Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel has forwarded the names of 20 persons to the House of Assembly as commissioner-nominees and special advisers (SAs).

    The names were read during plenary on Friday on the floor of the Assembly by the Clerk, Mrs Mandu Umoren.

    Out of the 20, nine were members of the last State Executive Council (Exco), which the governor dissolved.

    The 11 others are freshmen.

    Those nominated as commissioners are: Paul Udofia, Ime Okon Ekpo, Dr Nse Essien, Prof. Eno Ikpe, Idorenyin Udo and Linus Nkan.

    Others are: Uduak Udoinyang, Charles Udo, Orman Esin, Dr Iniobong Essien, Dr Dominic Ukpong, Uwemedimoh Nwoko and Victor Antai.

    Other nominees are: Monday Uko, Dr Glory Edet, Udo Ekpenyong, Akan Okon and Ephraim Inyang.

    The governor submitted two names – Ekong Sampson and Ekemini Umoh – as Special Advisers.

    Speaker Onofiok Luke referred the list to the House Committee on Judiciary, Justice, Human Rights and Public Petitions for further legislative action.

    He directed the committee to report back to the Assembly within one week.

  • NDDC decries abandoned complex in Akwa Ibom

    NDDC decries abandoned complex in Akwa Ibom

    The Federal Government will not tolerate abandonment of projects meant for the development of the Niger Delta by contractors, Akwa Ibom State representative on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) board, Samuel Frank, has said.

    Frank, who spoke yesterday when he led other management personnel of the commission on an assessment of the NDDC office complex on Information Drive, IBB Avenue, Uyo, described as sad, unfortunate and unbelievable, the slow pace of work at the complex.

    He lamented that the contract, which was awarded to Messrs. Brett Nigeria Ltd in April 2012 at the cost of N421 million, with 15 per cent mobilisation fee paid, was at less than five per cent completion level in November 2016.

    Frank, also a commissioner, said it was surprising that four years after the contract was awarded, not even the soil had been excavated.

    He regretted that the delay led to over 150 per cent variation in the initial cost of the project.

    The commissioner directed the contractor to ensure that work begins on or before the second week of January with a maximum completion period of 18 months.

    He promised to draw the attention of the Managing Director/CEO and the NDDC board to the issues militating against the completion of the project, as well as ensure that the projects are backed with funding to the contractors.

    Frank said President Muhammadu Buhari had passion for the development of the Niger Delta, hence the need to ensure that impediments to the initiation, implementation and execution of life-touching projects in the region were addressed.

    He also visited a mini- stadium project undertaken by the NDDC at Ididep in Ibiono Local Government, which was awarded to Austramike Ltd in August 2012 at the cost of N298 million, but with only 30 per cent of the work done.

    The commissioner said although the initial plan was for the stadium to serve a federal polytechnic meant to be located in the area, its relocation to Ukana in Essien Udim Council notwithstanding, the project would still be completed by the NDDC to serve other schools in the locality and groom youths in sports.

    The other sites visited include the 16km erosion control/road project at Ididep awarded to United Dominion Company Ltd in 2011, the 10.125km Ididep-Ekpeyong-Ikot Etim Afaha Itiat road project awarded to Saaem Global Link Ltd in 2012 with a 71 per cent completion status, the 12.5km Oko Ita-Itu-Mbak Atai-Ikot Ntuen- Mkpeti-Oku Iboku road awarded in 2013 to Sami Nigeria Ltd, the Ididep-Ikot Edok-Ikot Obong-Use-Ikot Oku-Ididep Usuk-Ikot Ekwere road, among others.

  • Akwa Ibom community, Mobil bicker over projects

    Akwa Ibom community, Mobil bicker over projects

    The N1.2bn Special Community Assistance Projects in Esit Eket by Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN) Unlimited is generating tension due to the refusal of the firm to mobilise contractors for the third phase of its milestone plans, writes Kazeem Ibrahym

    Esit Esit Local Government Area, one of the host communities to Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN) Unlimited in Akwa Ibom State is in turmoil due to the firm’s lack of dedication to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) it signed with the community.

    The area, it was learnt, has been devastated by the effects of oil spill resulting from oil and gas exploration activities. As a result, Mobil was to commit the compensation cash of N1.2 billion into communitty development projects in the third phase of its milestone plans.

    Speaking to reporters in Uyo, the state capital, a community leader, Senator Etang Umoyo, decried Mobil’s lack of commitment to the MoU, saying that the firm has reneged in paying the contractors after greater percentage of the job had been done.

    According to him, children in the affected schools now receive lessons under trees as the contractors have abandoned the sites due to failure of Mobil to pay them.

    His words: “Mobil should respect the contract terms with the contractors so that they can return to sites in order not to jeopardise the existing mutual relationship with it.

    “We have no problem with Mobil. They had started some projects in the areas of repair of schools, roads and walls. Now, it is time for children to go back to school and those things are left unattended to. If you go to Esit Eket, you will see the children receiving their lessons under trees.

    “So, we insist that Mobil should meet their payment obligations with contractors so that they can go back to sites and finish those projects in order to create an environment conducive to teaching and learning.

    Some youths wrote a letter to one of the managers, pleading that they should come and do something about the situation. Unfortunately, this was misinterpreted.

    “The General Manager for Public Relations over-reacted and called on the Transition Chairman of Esit Eket Local Government Area to ask the youth to withdraw the letter and apologise to them. As far as I am concerned, that is going overboard which could generate crisis.”

    The Paramount Ruler of Esit Eket, Edidem Ubong Peter Assam 11, appealed to Mobil to mobilise the contractors to return to sites, revealing that pupils in the affected schools have threatened to relocate to his palace for their learning programmes.

    Assam, Chairman of the Council appealed to the youth to toe the line of peace and work harmoniously with MPN towards the actualisation of the community projects.

    Some of the schools visited by Niger Delta Report included Community Secondary School, Akpautong; Qua Iboe Church Primary School, Akpautong; Union Technical College, Ikpa and others in Esit Eket. Works were at advanced stages of completion.

    But the contractors said they would return to complete the project as soon as Mobil fulfils its agreement to release funds for the project.

    Meanwhile, teachers in the affected schools have lamented the deplorable state of education infrastructure, saying such environments were not conducive for the pupils, especially as the May/June West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) approaches.

    “Our pupils have been learning under harsh situations because of the non-completion of the facilities for the pupils to prepare well for their forthcoming examinations. The situation on ground is really affecting their studies. The doors are bad and as examinations are approaching, it is going to be difficult for the students”, Friday Akpan, Head of Motor Vehicle Department at the Union Technical College, Ikpa, lamented.

    Also, the Headmaster, Qua Iboe Church Primary School, AkpaUtong, Elder Edet Ekanem, said: “The students have no place to sit and learn.

    “Even my quarter as the headmaster is yet to be completed. If the headmaster’s quarter was ready, it will help me to supervise the students well and watch over the school premises very well instead of coming all the way from my village to the school every day.”

    Also, the Esit Eket Frontline Youths Movement (EEFYM) and Network Advancement Programme for Poverty and Disaster Risks Reduction, in their separate letters to Mobil, had accused the company of refusal to pay the balance of the said money and threatened with an ultimatum of seven days to be conditionally followed by protests by the community youths.

    But, in a letter by Mobil’s General Manager, Public and Government Affairs, Paul Arinze, and addressed to the Chairman, Esit Eket Local Government Area, Iniobong Robinson, the company said despite the present unpleasant business climate in the country, MPN had not reneged on the execution of the Special Community Assistance Projects in the respective communities of Ibeno, EEket, Esit Eket, Onna, Ikot Abasi, Mkpat Enin, Eastern Obolo and Mbo.

    The letter reads: “As you are aware, the delay in the commencement of project activities in Esit Eket, for the most part, was due to internal community disagreements and litigations. As soon as those issues were resolved; (though some fresh cases have again been filed in court), the process for the disbursement of the first milestone was effected, and payment subsequently made.

    “Upon the completion of the first milestone project activities and submission of satisfactory report by the project manager (I.F. Global Services Limited), the second milestone payment was also made. Based on the value of measured work as earlier communicated, the process for the disbursement of the third (half) milestone payment is ongoing.

    “In view of the above, and in compliance with the Resolutions signed by all the parties on December 19, 2013, the NNPC/MPN JV hereby demands an immediate withdrawal of the letters and the issuance of unreserved apologies by the two groups from Esit Eket Local Government Area, as an irreducible minimum condition for the continued execution of the SP II projects in Esit Eket LGA.”

  • Akwa Ibom community, Mobil bicker over projects

    The N1.2bn Special Community Assistance Projects in Esit Eket by Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN) Unlimited is generating tension due to the refusal of the firm to mobilise contractors for the third phase of its milestone plans, writes Kazeem Ibrahym

    Esit Esit Local Government Area, one of the host communities to Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN) Unlimited in Akwa Ibom State is in turmoil due to the firm’s lack of dedication to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) it signed with the community.

    The area, it was learnt, has been devastated by the effects of oil spill resulting from oil and gas exploration activities. As a result, Mobil was to commit the compensation cash of N1.2 billion into communitty development projects in the third phase of its milestone plans.

    Speaking to reporters in Uyo, the state capital, a community leader, Senator Etang Umoyo, decried Mobil’s lack of commitment to the MoU, saying that the firm has reneged in paying the contractors after greater percentage of the job had been done.

    According to him, children in the affected schools now receive lessons under trees as the contractors have abandoned the sites due to failure of Mobil to pay them.

    His words: “Mobil should respect the contract terms with the contractors so that they can return to sites in order not to jeopardise the existing mutual relationship with it.

    “We have no problem with Mobil. They had started some projects in the areas of repair of schools, roads and walls. Now, it is time for children to go back to school and those things are left unattended to. If you go to Esit Eket, you will see the children receiving their lessons under trees.

    “So, we insist that Mobil should meet their payment obligations with contractors so that they can go back to sites and finish those projects in order to create an environment conducive to teaching and learning.

    Some youths wrote a letter to one of the managers, pleading that they should come and do something about the situation. Unfortunately, this was misinterpreted.

    “The General Manager for Public Relations over-reacted and called on the Transition Chairman of Esit Eket Local Government Area to ask the youth to withdraw the letter and apologise to them. As far as I am concerned, that is going overboard which could generate crisis.”

    The Paramount Ruler of Esit Eket, Edidem Ubong Peter Assam 11, appealed to Mobil to mobilise the contractors to return to sites, revealing that pupils in the affected schools have threatened to relocate to his palace for their learning programmes.

    Assam, Chairman of the Council appealed to the youth to toe the line of peace and work harmoniously with MPN towards the actualisation of the community projects.

    Some of the schools visited by Niger Delta Report included Community Secondary School, Akpautong; Qua Iboe Church Primary School, Akpautong; Union Technical College, Ikpa and others in Esit Eket. Works were at advanced stages of completion.

    But the contractors said they would return to complete the project as soon as Mobil fulfils its agreement to release funds for the project.

    Meanwhile, teachers in the affected schools have lamented the deplorable state of education infrastructure, saying such environments were not conducive for the pupils, especially as the May/June West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) approaches.

    “Our pupils have been learning under harsh situations because of the non-completion of the facilities for the pupils to prepare well for their forthcoming examinations. The situation on ground is really affecting their studies. The doors are bad and as examinations are approaching, it is going to be difficult for the students”, Friday Akpan, Head of Motor Vehicle Department at the Union Technical College, Ikpa, lamented.

    Also, the Headmaster, Qua Iboe Church Primary School, AkpaUtong, Elder Edet Ekanem, said: “The students have no place to sit and learn.

    “Even my quarter as the headmaster is yet to be completed. If the headmaster’s quarter was ready, it will help me to supervise the students well and watch over the school premises very well instead of coming all the way from my village to the school every day.”

    Also, the Esit Eket Frontline Youths Movement (EEFYM) and Network Advancement Programme for Poverty and Disaster Risks Reduction, in their separate letters to Mobil, had accused the company of refusal to pay the balance of the said money and threatened with an ultimatum of seven days to be conditionally followed by protests by the community youths.

    But, in a letter by Mobil’s General Manager, Public and Government Affairs, Paul Arinze, and addressed to the Chairman, Esit Eket Local Government Area, Iniobong Robinson, the company said despite the present unpleasant business climate in the country, MPN had not reneged on the execution of the Special Community Assistance Projects in the respective communities of Ibeno, EEket, Esit Eket, Onna, Ikot Abasi, Mkpat Enin, Eastern Obolo and Mbo.

    The letter reads: “As you are aware, the delay in the commencement of project activities in Esit Eket, for the most part, was due to internal community disagreements and litigations. As soon as those issues were resolved; (though some fresh cases have again been filed in court), the process for the disbursement of the first milestone was effected, and payment subsequently made.

    “Upon the completion of the first milestone project activities and submission of satisfactory report by the project manager (I.F. Global Services Limited), the second milestone payment was also made. Based on the value of measured work as earlier communicated, the process for the disbursement of the third (half) milestone payment is ongoing.

    “In view of the above, and in compliance with the Resolutions signed by all the parties on December 19, 2013, the NNPC/MPN JV hereby demands an immediate withdrawal of the letters and the issuance of unreserved apologies by the two groups from Esit Eket Local Government Area, as an irreducible minimum condition for the continued execution of the SP II projects in Esit Eket LGA.”

  • Gunmen kidnap Akwa Ibom politician

    Unidentified gunmen have kidnapped a prominent politician and businessman, Mr Amaete Akpan Ntuk from Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that Ntuk was abducted with his wife around 7pm on Saturday, on his way home from Ibom International Airport.

    NAN also gathered that the incident occurred at a village in Mkpat Enin Local Government area, near Ikot Abasi.

    It was learnt that they were returning home after attending the inauguration of the new Managing Director of the Niger-Delta Development Commission NDDC, Obong Nsima Ekere in Abuja on Friday.

    The Police Public Relations Officer in Akwa Ibom ASP Cordelia Nwawe, confirmed the kidnapping, adding that investigation on the incident has commenced.

    Ntuk was a former Chairman of Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of the State in 1990, under the National Republican Convention.

  • Akwa Ibom to partner investors

    Akwa Ibom State government has said it will partner investors in building a harbour worth $6 billion, to serve as logistics and supplies centre for oil and gas activities.

    The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Petroleum Matters to Governor Udom Emmanuel, Obong Essien Esema, who spoke yesterday in Ikot Abasi Local Government after inspecting sites for the proposed harbour,

    said three investors had indicated interest to build a world-class harbour.

    He said the harbour would have logistics and supplies centre with jetties for oil and gas operations, waiting lounge, warehouses, offices and helipad.

    Esema lamented that ExxonMobil and its subsidiary companies operating in the state were being serviced from far away Onne in Rivers State because of the absence of logistics centres.

    The governor’s aide, who inspected undeveloped jetties in Eket, Ibeno and Ikot Abasi councils, said the maritime potential of the state had not been tapped.

    His words: “Governor Emmanuel is interested in this project. It is viable. I came with officials from the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to see how the state can enjoy the agency’s operations here.”

    Esema, whose office also oversees Akwa Ibom State Local Content Compliance Monitoring Committee, said building a harbour would boost employment of indigenes and yield revenue to the government.

    He said: “This harbour will boost employment of our people in the seafaring and stevedoring business at the port.”

    The Chief Maritime Labour Officer at NIMASA, Mr. Lawal Abdullahi, said the state had no registered and recognised jetty.

    He noted that NIMASA was aware that there were persons operating illegal jetties.

    Abdullahi said: “The state has potential and a lot of untapped maritime resources. NIMASA is interested in expanding its operational office here. Today’s visit is an eye opener. We have seen the illegality going on here and the revenue leakages.”

    He promised that the agency would liaise with the government to make maritime operations viable.

    The German operator of Anchor Marine Services in Ikot Abasi Local Government, Mr. Wolfgang Hems, said the state had enough potential to float viable jetties.

    Hems, the general manager of Anchor Marine Services, said the distance from Ikot Abasi to oil platforms offshore was only 18 nautical miles.

    He said it was costly and risky to run logistics from Onne in Rivers State, which was 80 nautical miles from the oil platform offshore.

  • Akwa Ibom commends FG over cocoa production

    … Renews call for N140bn refund

    The Akwa Ibom State Government has commended the Federal Government for granting approval for the Central Bank to introduce the Anchor Borrowers Scheme to assist farmers in the country.

    The state governor, Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, said the scheme had assisted the state in the commencement of cocoa production and other agricultural projects.

    Emmanuel, who spoke to Government House Correspondents at Ibom International Airport, said the state was poised to key into the agricultural programmes of the Federal Government to ensure wealth creation and food sufficiency in the country.

    “We should thank President Muhammadu Buhari who has given approval for the Central Bank to fund the Anchor Borrowers Scheme which the states have benefitted,” he said.

    He also said the power sector was in dire need of attention. “There is the need to intervene, especially in the area of transmission. States like ours are able to generate, but cannot transmit. It’s a problem,” the governor said even as he renewed the state’s appeal to the Federal Government to refund the N140 billion it had spent on repair of federal roads in the state.

    He said the refund was necessary to help the state government to add value to its infrastructure consolidation programme now that the dry season was at hand.

    He added that he would appreciate if the Federal Government would reimburse at “least 50 percent of this amount to the state.”

  • Akwa Ibom medical students in UNICAL seek grant payment

    National Association of Akwa Ibom Medical Students (NAAKIMS) of the University of Calabar (UNICAL), have appealed to Governor Udom Emmanuel to pay their grants.

    At the inauguration of the new executive council of the body, its President, Comrade John Emmanuel, said medical students had been denied their medical grants for five years.

    He said: “We are making a legitimate demand to the government of Akwa Ibom State to look into payment of medical grants to students. The sixth year students have only been paid once. This means the remaining five classes have never been beneficiaries.”

    He stressed the numerous challenges students face, especially in  financing their medical training, but with which such grant has been of help.

    “Such finances would help in offsetting expenses, such as school fees, accommodation, books, and feeding,” he said.

  • Police smash ‘baby factory’ in Akwa Ibom

    Police smash ‘baby factory’ in Akwa Ibom

    •11 suspected traffickers arrested

    The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested a 42-year old woman, Comfort Edem, and 10 others for allegedly running an illegal maternity home (baby-making factory) and selling babies. Addressing reporters yesterday in Uyo, the state capital, Police Commissioner Murtala Mani said its Anti-Kidnapping Unit smashed the syndicate. The police chief said Edem was arrested on October 13, following intelligence report that she was running an illegal maternity home for selling children.

    Mani, who spoke through the command’s spokesperson Cordelia Nwawe, an assistant superintendent of Police (ASP), added that the suspects sold each baby for N450,000.

    He said: “Information at our disposal led to the interception of a syndicate, which trafficks babies in Akwa Ibom Stat. On October 13, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit in the state arrested a woman for running an illegal maternity home.

    “She specialises in making teenage expectant mothers sell their babies. Once the babies are born, they are sold and trafficked out of the state. We have intercepted her; she is here in front of you.

    “…The girls had reliably informed us that this is not the first time they had sold their babies for N450,000.”

    The police also paraded another syndicate for allegedly selling children for N500,000. Mani said the police had rescued a two-month-old girl who was sold to a woman in Rivers State.

    The police chief said the command also arrested a native doctor on June 13 for allegedly killing his 14-year-old lover’s son.

    He added that the suspect also fed the dogs with the boy’s arms and buried the other parts.

    Mani said: “When information got to the police about the killing, we moved quickly. But before we got there, he had exhumed the body. We met him while he was doing it …at the particular point. We were able to get the skull of the 14-year-old lad from him.

    “Having conducted an autopsy on the boy’s body, the police deposited it in the mortuary. The man has confessed to the crime and he has been charged to court.”

    Edem denied running an illegal maternity home for trafficking in children.

    The mother of the rescued baby, Comfort Effiong, 23, from Ikot Akpantuk in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area, said she sold her baby for N400,000.

    Effiong said: “I sold my baby because I did not have help from anybody. I did not see the man who impregnated me.”

    Anieyo Inyang, 58, an osteopath, also from Ikot Akpantuk, said he was arrested because the mother of the child accused him of complicity in the sale of the baby.

    Inyang, who runs Anieyo Family Clinic, said he directed Effiong to his sister who linked her up to the baby buyer.

     

  • Akwa Ibom teacher is best for 2016

    Akwa Ibom teacher is best for 2016

    A teacher from Special Education Centre for Exceptional Children, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Imoh Essien, has emerged the 2016 Maltina teacher of the year at the grand finale in Lagos at the weekend.

    For the feat, Essien was rewarded with N1million in addition to N500, 000 he received as state champion from Akwa Ibom.

    He will also get N1million for five years, a training programme abroad and a block of six classrooms for his school.

    Essien, a teacher of Computer, Basic Sciences and Physical Education, disclosed that he draws his teaching inspiration from his fun-loving personality with which he is able to help children with special needs.

    He added that a strong emotional and mental stability is vital to positively impact children with special needs, a job he has done for twelve years.

    An English teacher from Borno State, Mohammed Lawan, who was the first runner-up last year, repeated the feat in 2016.

    Ogwu Patrick from Government Day Secondary School, Adankolo, Lokoja, Kogi State, emerged second runner-up.

    Managing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc., Nicolaas Vervelde, explained the firm operates with the philosophy of “winning with Nigeria” and has championed causes that add value to the society since its inception in 1946.

    He stressed: “Everywhere in the world, teachers play a vital role in sustainable national development by training, coaching and modeling which is critical to determining the quality of education”.

    He informed that the company recently handed over a twin 3-bedroom staff residence to Federal Government Girls College, Onitsha, in honour of 2015 winner, Mrs. Roseline Obi.

    Minister of State for Education, Prof. Anthony Anwukah, commended the initiative and described it as laudable.

    He advised teachers to invest in themselves to raise their standard, adding that the ministry looks forward to signing the Memorandum of Understanding with Nigerian Breweries on the Maltina teacher of the year initiative.