The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Akwa Ibom

  • Better days ahead for Akwa Ibom rural dwellers?

    Despite the widely celebrated uncommon transformation in Akwa Ibom State, about 80 per cent of the people still live in the rural areas. And in abject poverty. They lack infrastructure and other good things of life.

    The roads in the urban centre are smooth, but coarse in the rural areas.

    The Ministry of Rural Development says it is interested in making life more meaningful for the rural dwellers.

    During an inspection tour of the rural areas by the ministry, the first point of call was the Ikot Abia-Enyie in Nsit Atai Local Government Area  where a bridge measuring about 20 meters had been abandoned due to shortage of funds.

    The bridge is instrumental and strategic to the wellbeing and the development of the people because if completed it will connect several villages together with the help of a nearby river.

    The river, popularly called “Atang River”, is also useful. It is the main source of water to the people but not without its demerits. For instance, in the last one year, the river had claimed the lives of eight pupils.

    The chairman of the village council, Chief Etop Umanah, said the pupils drowned in the water following the downpour which led to the river overflowing its bank while returning from school.

    Atang River divides Ikot Abia-Enyie village into two; with all the facilities in the area – a health centre, a primary and a secondary school, located at the other side of the river.

    Umanah stated that it was the custom of the village to wait for the pupils and women at the bank of the river during the schools’ closing hours whenever there was downpour.

    He explained that it was unfortunate that before the men from the village could get to the river to rescue the pupils, the water had already carried them away.

    According to Umanah, the bodies of the pupils were recovered three days after.

    He revealed that in the preceding year three pupils and a pregnant woman died in the same river, noting that as the pupils tried to come back from school, the pregnant woman was trying to make her way back from the health centre.

    His words: “This village, Abia-Enyie lost eight children to Atang River this year as they were returning from school following a downpour which aided the river to overflow its bank. Last year, we lost three pupils and a pregnant woman in the same manner.

    “The village is one village; it is split by this river. All the facilities of this village – a health centre, a primary and a secondary school are all sited at the other side of the river. We cannot stop the children from going to school.”

    But speaking during the inspection of some facilities in the rural area, the State’s Commissioner of Rural Development, Mr. Ekong Sampson, told reporters that the Akwa Ibom State government was ready to end not only the pupils’ death, but all the deaths associated with Atang River.

    According to him, it pained the government to see Akwa Ibom children perishing in river as he assured the people that government would embark on remedial measures to end the carnage before work on the bridge was started and completed.

    He words: “That is why I have chosen to come here by myself. I am really touched by what I have seen. We will make every effort to ensure that infrastructure is brought to this community and to every other rural space in the state. And our approach is to go there and see things by ourselves in order to have a first-hand purview of their problems.

    “The state government is committed to transforming our rural space because we all come from villages. The state government is committed to recreating the villages; we are committed to making lives better for those who live in our villages. We shall give government an update about what we have seen here.”

    The representative of the company handling the bridge project, MT & G International Services Limited, Mrs. Tukubor Okpoyo, said the project has been running for three years.

    Even when there is still so much work to be done at the project site, Mrs. Okpoyo said the company had received 50 per cent funding and 90 per cent of work already completed.

    Her words: “I can only tell you we have the will and the expertise to complete this project. The issue of why it has not been completed is strictly an issue of funding. Unfortunately funding has been interrupted. We hope and we are looking forward to resuming project here as soon as we are funded.”

    To enhance the living condition of the people living in the rural area, the Ministry of rural development, according to Commissioner Sampson, has put forward a Rural Development Master Plan (RDMP) which if adopted would serve as a compass for sustainable rural development.

    The RDMP embodies five critical components, namely: rural electrification; rural water supply; rural security; rural road network and bailey bridges; and special rural development interventions.

    Part of the rural security network will be the rehabilitation of some collapsed police stations in the rural areas particularly police stations in Ikot Umiang in Mkpat Enin and the one in Ikot Okoro in Oruk Anam local government area.

    Also the Anwa Urua market in Oruk Anam is part of the initiative. The government plan to give it a face-lift so as to serve the rural dwellers better.

    The commissioner noted that the government was committed to rebuilding the market so that it can serve as a source of employment for the teeming youths.

    Are the good times here? Time will tell.

  • Will PDP fulfill its promises in Akwa Ibom?

    Will PDP fulfill its promises in Akwa Ibom?

    After the opposition to his emergence as the governorship candidate of the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and his subsequent election as governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, an erstwhile banker, is faced with an uphill task of making good his campaign promise to industrialise the state and generate employment for youths. Correspondent UYOATTA ESHIET looks at the task ahead of the governor.

    FOLLOWING the pace of infrastructural and socio-economic development witnessed under former Governor Godswill Akpabio, one of the major campaign issues during the recent governorship election in Akwa Ibom State is the industrialisation of the state. Indeed, it was one of Governor Udom Emmanuel’s major campaign promises. But, as the new government settles into office, the popular question is: Can Emmanuel walk his industrialisation talk?

    A cross section of indigenes are optimistic; they believe Governor Emmanuel is on the right track in his bid to reposition the state from a near 100 per cent civil service status to an industrial hub in the Southsouth region. The Chairman of Standford Microfinance Bank Limited and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Idem Ultimate Limited, a Communications Company,  Mr. Unyime Idem, said Governor Emmanuel’s body language in the first one and a half months of his administration shows that he is on course.

    Idem said the state is lucky to be in the able hands of a technocrat and banker, who will deploy his vast contacts and language of communication within the financial world to draw investors to the state.

    The   Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the governor, Mr. Ekerete Udoh, said Emmanuel was working out the modalities to fulfill his main campaign promise. He said: “To this end, Emmanuel has constituted a technical committee for the realisation of the Ibom Deep Sea Port with a three-year deadline for completion. He has also constituted technical committees on agriculture and food sufficiency, foreign direct investments (FDI) and has appointed internationally-acclaimed experts into sensitive positions to drive the industrialisation programme. He has equally laid the foundation for a vehicle assembly plant in the state, in partnership with an Israeli company. The governor has also within the first one month in office visited the moribund Peacock Paint industry at Etinan with a view to resuscitating it.”

    A lawyer and public affairs analyst, Mr. Vincent Essien, noted that though the previous government had firmly established the state as a significant economic and political destination in Nigeria, the scenario that made that so is no longer there. He said: “The eight-year tenure of the former governor coincided with a tremendous leap in federally-distributed revenue accruable to the state. During that era, the state became the highest earner in the federation, earning a staggering $2 billion in the period 2011-2014 alone (discounting revenue earned from 2007-2011), in federally-collected revenue alone, discounting Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and income from other investments. The figure exceeds the annual budget of some African countries.”

    The impact of this huge inflow can be seen in massive investments in infrastructure such as roads and highways, the airport, two new luxury hotels, a magnificent stadium, the Tropicana Entertainment Project, the new Government House. But, ironically, not a single industrial project was contemplated in the whole eight years, despite the former governor’s promises to the people.

    Essien maintained that the much-touted ‘uncommon transformation’ of the immediate past Akpabio administration was driven by an expenditure profile that was clearly unsustainable, and probably generated a huge and yet undisclosed debt portfolio. Essien said indications are that monthly collectable revenue from the federation account will fall below N12 billion per month, compared to N20-22 billion per month during the last administration. This was augmented by N260 billion earned from the Excess Crude Account (ECA).

    For the state to move forward, indigenes are calling for very prudent management of its resources in the days ahead, because of the prospects of dwindling resources facing it. They are questioning the rationale behind the 20 commissioners recently cleared by the state House of Assembly and sworn into Office by Governor Emmanuel.

    They called for a database of the state’s human and material resources, to assist the government in socio-economic planning and development. The state also needs to gather near accurate data on her physical and material assets, especially land and other public immovable and movable assets. The goal is to grow internally-generated revenue (IGR) and de-emphasize the collection of monthly rent from the federation account.

    Essien noted that if reports that the monthly federal allocation that accrued to the state in April and May 2015 was below N10 billion are true, then its financial position must be approaching critical levels. Citizens have also called for an urgent pruning of the costs of governance, from the top to bottom, as well as the introduction of property taxes and a reform on the personal income tax system, to shore up the state’s revenue.

    The lawyer said it is imperative for the government to set up a single account into which all collectible revenue must be domiciled. He said it is unwholesome for several government agencies to be maintaining several accounts. He added: “Government must end the yearly junketing of all manner of people on state funds to the United States of America for the Akwa Ibom summit and to Jerusalem for Christian pilgrimage, as these constitute a waste of state funds.” He said government must reduce the number of aides and policemen attached to government officials, and their travel costs, and evolve pragmatic strategies to dis-entangle the state from the burden of retaining the executive jet.

    Essien also called for the establishment of an Akwa Ibom Diaspora Fund (AIDF), saying the state could leverage on the financial capacities of thousands of indigenes abroad who are keen to contribute to the development of the state. He said the state government must establish a special office for international cooperation to engage with multilateral and bilateral agencies that may wish to support its programmes. He equally called on the governor to consider the establishment of an Akwa Ibom State Reserve Fund backed by law. He said: “Imagine the benefits of saving just 10 per cent of the average state revenue between 2011 and 2015, this would have translated to over N120 billion today, minus interest and investment benefits.”

    Other stakeholders have called on the governor to embark on an audit of most on-going infrastructure projects, saying this will trim the state’s liabilities. They advised the governor to re-negotiate the terms and funding structure of such projects and explore the options of public, private sector partnership (PPP), particularly the Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) model of PPP or completely terminate the unviable projects. One of such stakeholders, who does not want to be named, said: “We need to evaluate the benefits of constructing a second runway at Uyo airport, which services barely eight commercial flights per day, when the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos, arguably the busiest airport in Africa, has managed on one runway with well over 200 flights a day. The Uyo stadium is a fantastic facility, but why do you spend big on an outdoor facility, which can only handle two sports — football and track and field.

    Stakeholders also want Emmanuel to investigate why the two billion dollars Federal Industrial investments in Akwa Ibom State (the Nigerian Newsprint Manufacturing Company, NNMC, Oku Iboku and the Aluminum Smelter Company, ALSCON) failed in spite of the fact that the two firms enjoy a near absolute monopoly. Thirty years on, the NNMC plant still lies comatose in Itu, enmeshed in a muddled BPE transaction. ALSCON is also embroiled in a tussle between the worst possible adversaries, the Russians and Americans. It is currently under International Arbitration between Russian company, RUSAL, and American firm, the BFIG group, following a Supreme Court ruling.

    The least the people of Akwa Ibom expect from the new government is to find a way to get involved in these processes. They believe that if the state government can get them to work, they will certainly earn premium benefits, including employment, taxes and growth in local business, calling on the governor to pull some strings behind the Federal Government.

    At the state level, close to 10 industries established under the Clement Isong administration lie abandoned. Governor Emmanuel has visited Peacock Paints and has promised to set up a committee to bring it back into operation. It used to be one of the highly rated paint brands in Nigeria. To bring Peacock Paints back on stream, Governor Emmanuel has been advised to engage with the local paint manufactures in the state and guarantee them supplier’s status. The same probably goes for Sunshine Batteries. At least, if government can assure investors that all public vehicles in the state would be powered by batteries from the plant, it will be a win-win situation for all the parties. Governor Emmanuel has also been enjoined to explore the possibility of working with emerging local vehicle assembly plants under the new auto policy.

    The state could also grow its economy by creating value, improving standards and infrastructure. For instance, stakeholders say a hub for the fish industry could be created at Oron. This includes providing ultra-modern fishing and ferry terminals with cold storage, developing a modern pier, reviving the museum, and developing fish-based cuisines that can attract tourists and develop water sports.

    Besides, border towns such as Ikot Ekpene and Ukanafun could be made to benefit from the proximity to the commercial towns of Aba and Ariaria in Abia State, as Asaba in Delta State is benefitting from its proximity to the commercial city of Onitsha in Anambra State.

    The new administration has also been advised to de-emphasise its grand or “uncommon” projects, because government is also about providing basic needs of the people, such as houses, schools, hospitals and a social infrastructure that allows the citizens to access them.

  • Police arrest suspected murderer in Akwa Ibom

    Police arrest suspected murderer in Akwa Ibom

    A 32-year-old suspected murderer, Stephen Onona has been arrested by the Akwa Ibom State Police Command for killing his close friend, Daniel Solomon.

    Onona is from Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State.

    He graduated from Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State.

    According to the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Gabriel Achong, the suspect invited Solomon who worked for him as a professional barber to his house over a misunderstanding bothering on money less than N1m.

    Achong explained that as soon as they had discussed the issue, Solomon went to bed while Onona took up a machete and cut off Solomon’s head before cutting other parts of the body in pieces.

    The CP said: “After cutting off Solomon’s head, he removed his two arms and laps, put them into his bag and threw them somewhere. He put the remaining parts of the body in ‘Ghana Must Go’ and dumped them in the gutter. He put Solomon’s head in the dustbin and dumped it in the bush.

    “When I got the news on Tuesday morning that somebody was killed and thrown into a gutter, I swung into action. I did everything possible to get him arrested. I had to locate the owner of the house where the murderer lived.

    “We got the landlord and asked whom he gave the house to; and he disclosed the guy’s identity to us. And with the help of tracking device, we called the gentleman (Onona), and he told us that he was in Onitsha.

    “We tracked his number and in the evening on Tuesday, he was arrested in a street here in Uyo. He led the police to where he dumped all the body parts of Solomon. He has some friends and we used these friends number to get to him.”

    Onona admitted to committing the crime, saying he was provoked because Solomon could not tell him how he had spent the N750,000  he gave him to set up the barbing business.

    He said: “I am 32 years old and working here with Africana First Publisher. I am on the police net because of my boy, Bassey Solomon. He took my money, N750, 000 which I obtained from a bank for him to set up barbing business.”

    “The barbing saloon was at 55, Itu Road. I am angry with him to the extent of carrying machete and killing him.”

  • DSS probes alleged N2.5b bribe in Akwa Ibom

    THE Department of State Services (DSS) is probing an alleged N2.5 billion governorship election bribery scam in Akwa Ibom State involving some officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    It was learnt last night that the DSS interrogated some INEC officials from Akwa Ibom.

    The investigation followed a petition by the All Progressives Congress (APC) through its counsel, Mr. Victor Iyanam.

    A highly-placed source, who spoke in confidence, said: “We are already looking into a petition on alleged N2.5 billion scandal involving some top officials and workers of INEC in Akwa Ibom State during the governorship election.

    “In fact, the DSS has interacted with some INEC officials, including a top shot. We are also in receipt of photographs of some houses allegedly bought with the bribe sum.

    “After the comprehensive investigation, we will release the identities of those investigated.”

    It was learnt that some legal officers both in Abuja and Akwa Ibom might be questioned too by the security agency.

    “The affected legal officers have shown very scant regard for the orders of the Election Petitions Tribunal,” the source added.

    INEC’s Public Relations Officer in Akwa Ibom State Mr. David Edak could not be reached on phone to comment on the list of those quizzed by the DSS in Abuja.

    All calls made to his telephone line indicated that it was switched off.

    But a source in the INEC office, who pleaded anonymity , said a “top official was invited by the DSS following the petition by the APC that a former governor allegedly bribed the REC N2.5 billion to work against the APC during the governorship poll.

    The source said: “Yes, we learnt a top official was invited to explain the N2.5 billion bribery scandal allegedly given to him by the ex-governor. We even gathered that the top official spent close to two days at the DSS office answering questions.”

    In the petition, the APC claimed that the bribe was targeted at frustrating the petition of its governorship candidate, Umana Okon Umana.

    The petition reads in part: “It has, however unfortunately, come to our notice that the obstinacy of the top INEC official to carry out the tribunal’s orders or cooperate with our client to carry out the inspection owes principally to the fact that N2.5 billion was disbursed to him by a former governor prior to the general elections and the official now feels obliged to complete the corrupt process by doing everything possible to frustrate the governorship petition of the APC candidate, Umana Okon Umana.”

    The APC also expressed displeasure that INEC also mutilated some electoral materials.

    It added: “It is now obvious that the attitude of the INEC official stems from the irreparable damage he caused to be done to electoral materials in Akwa Ibom State.

    “Most electoral materials in Akwa Ibom State were deliberately destroyed; water was deliberately poured into the bags of materials while some were kept under the rain, contrary to the established practice of keeping the materials in envelopes according to their polling units

    “We attach samples of electoral materials deliberately mutilated or otherwise destroyed by the corrupt and irresponsible orders of the INEC official. Could this be allowed to be business as usual, especially for the change we desire as a nation?”

    “The conduct of the INEC top official; absolutely criminal in content, reckless in execution and done with impunity is not only a breach of public trust, but would have catastrophic consequences if allowed to go unpunished to serve as a deterrent. It is a shame that notwithstanding the large-scale fraud perpetuated by the PDP in Akwa Ibom State, agents of the party and the government in power are still bent on doing more damage to our collective psyche and stand in the way of justice.”

  • Akwa Ibom farmers plant five million crops

    Akwa Ibom farmers plant five million crops

    Akwa Ibom State farmers have begun the planting of over five million crops to feed major agro-allied industries across the state.

    They said the planting was part of their contributions to the Udom Emmanuel administration.

    The farmers, under the aegis of Organised Farmers Support Network (OFSN), an affiliate of Ibom Continuous Transformation Movement (ICTM), said arrangements had been concluded for the planting of 5,000,000 dwarf hybrid plantain and banana suckers and 3,100,000 dwarf hybrid oil palm suckers.

    In a statement in Uyo, the state capital, by its Director-General, Prince Ekpuk Jumbo Akpan-unang; Secretary-General, Obong Awai I. Awai and Media Director, Apostle Kingsley Bassey Offiong, the farmers said they would also plant cassava, pineapples, citrus and other fruits.

    The farmers said they were targeting 300 per cent increase in poultry production as raw materials for the production of egg powder.

    Akpan-unang said the farmers would delve into fish farming, adding that those interested in farming should contribute to the growth of the agricultural sector.

    The frontline farmer said OFSN intended to create wealth for over 500,000 farmers in Akwa Ibom State and support the governor’s agricultural and food sufficiency agenda.

    He described Udom as a farmer-friendly governor for proposing to send farmers to Israel for agricultural training.

    Akpan-unang hailed Udom for appointing an agriculturist as Commissioner for Agriculture and setting up a Technical Committee on Agriculture and Food Sufficiency.

    The farmer urged the governor to ensure that only genuine farmers are selected for the training.

    He said: “Nevertheless, we sincerely advise non-farmers not to redirect farmers’ incentive to other sectors as their lack of active passion for farming and endurance during gestation will hamper the needed productivity.”

  • Eight die mysteriously in Akwa Ibom river

    Eight people died mysterious in a river at Ikot Abia-Enyie in Nsit Atai Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, it was learnt yesterday.

    The Nation gathered that eight pupils, who were returning from school in Ikot Abia-Enyie in Nsit Atai Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, drowned in the Atang River.

    Atang River divides Ikot Abia-Enyie village into two; with all the facilities in the area – a health centre, a primary and a secondary school, located on the other side of the river.

    Besides the eight pupils, a pregnant woman was also said to have died in the river. The pregnant woman, it was learnt, was trying to make her way back from the health centre.

    Chairman of the village council Chief Etop Umanah, who conducted reporters round the area, said the pupils drowned following the downpour which led to the river overflowing its bank.

    Umanah said it was the custom to wait for the pupils and women at the bank of the river during the schools’ closing hours whenever there was downpour.

    He explained that it was unfortunate that before the men from the village could get to the river to rescue the pupils, the water had carried them away.

    According to Umanah, the bodies of the pupils were recovered three days after.

    He added that in the preceding year three pupils and a pregnant woman died in the same river, noting that as the pupils tried to come back from school, the pregnant woman was trying to make her way back from the health centre.

    His words: “This village, Abia-Enyie lost eight children to Atang River this year as they were returning from school following a downpour which aided the river to overflow its bank. Last year, we lost three pupils and a pregnant woman in the same manner.

    “The village is one village; it is split by this river. All the facilities of this village – a health centre, a primary and a secondary school are all situated at the other side of the river. We cannot stop the children from going to school.”

    Speaking during the inspection of some facilities in the rural area, Commissioner of Rural Development Mr. Ekong Sampson told reporters that the Akwa Ibom State government was ready to end  the deaths associated with Atang River.

  • Akwa Ibom governor’s wife gives joy to leprosy patients

    Akwa Ibom governor’s wife gives joy to leprosy patients

    In a bid to have a first-hand knowledge of the state of affairs of the hospital and also feel the pulse of the patients, the wife of Akwa Ibom State Governor Mrs. Martha Udom Emmanuel  recently visited the Qua Iboe Church Leprosy Hospital, Ekpene Obom in Etinan Local Government Area. She donated several food items and toiletries to inmates of the hospital.

    The governor’s wife said she came to identify with the inmates because God appreciates it when the affluent in the society visits and donates to the needy. She added that because  they have been confined to the health institution because of their plight, it was pertinent they do not give up on themselves because God has not given up on them either.

    Mrs. Emmanuel urged the inmates not to be dejected by their plight but rather be prayerful and cultivate the ‘I can do spirit’. She promised that government would also look at measures to empower some of them who have undergone rehabilitation in order to be re-integrated into the society. She thanked the staff and management of the hospital for their continued services, praying that their labour of love to the needy would not be forgotten. The first lady also promised to be visiting them more often.

    The Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Archibong Afia, said they were thrilled to receive her. He congratulated the governor’s wife for her husband’s emergence as winner of teh last election, praying that God would grant the First Family the grace to stay focused.

    Dr. Afia informed the governor’s wife that the hospital, established about 80 years ago, was administered under a tripartite arrangement between Qua Iboe Church Nigeria, Akwa Ibom State government and the Leprosy Mission, noting that it was quite unfortunate when the Leprosy Mission withdrew their staff and services in 2010 due to world economic meltdown. The CMD added that since then it had been difficult with the hospital.

    He also highlighted various challenges facing the hospital to include dilapidated buildings, patients’ feeding, rehabilitation of patients, tarring of access road, water reticulation, security fencing and the absorption of some mission staff into the civil service.

    The CMD called on the government to help solve these problems.

    An inmate of the hospital, Mrs. Offiong Bassey, who doubles as the President, Joint Association of Persons Living with Disabilities, Akwa Ibom chapter, thanked the governor’s wife for the visit, adding that her coming had given a sigh of relief to them. She bemoaned their lack of inclusion in the scheme of things in government, advocating that they should also be considered for positions.

    Similarly, Mrs. Emmanuel visited the Goodnews Gospel Village Community, Abak where she donated cash, food items and toiletries to the home for their upkeep. She appreciated the founder of the home and wife, Arch. Bishop and Apostle Elijah Mboho for their love and vision for the less privileged in the society, saying that what they had achieved over the years was a no mean feat. She also took time to admonish the children of the home to be of good conduct and respect their elders adding that they have what it takes to become successful in life.

    Apostle Mboho thanked the first lady for her support and donations towards the home, pointing out that they were answers to prayers. she prayed for her success and bountiful rewards. Apostle Mboho said the home, which has produced many graduates, had recorded many signs and wonders .

    Commissioner of Information Mr. Aniekan Umanah, who is an indigene of the area, appreciated the governor’s wife for visiting the home, adding that since time immemorial, the home had been doing a great job. He also thanked the founder for his consistent running of the home, praying that God would sustain him.

    There children sang and danced  to the admiration of all.

    On the governor’s wife’s entourage was  Commissioner for Women Affairs Dr. Glory Edet, her health counterpart, Dr. Dominic Ukpong as well as Science and Technology, Dr. Elizabeth Obot. Others were legislator’s wives, chairmen of board and parastatal and other government female dignitaries.

  • Seadogs donates drugs to orphanage in Akwa Ibom

    The National Association of Seadogs (NAS), Eket chapter has donated drugs to the Nation Children’s Centre at Ikot Ibiok in Eket Local Government area of Akwa Ibom.

    Donating the drugs on behalf of the association, Dr. Kalu Anyan, said the gesture was part of measures to improve the healthcare and wellbeing of the less-privileged children in the state.

    The drugs donated include malaria drugs, de-worming expeller, single worm expeller, fully equipped First Aid Box.

    Other items donated included three cartons of Honeywell noodles, cartoons of fruit juice, rolls of toilet papers, among others.

    “The programme is reaching out to the less privilege, in this case since the drive for this year had been maternal and child health, we felt we could use one opportunity to achieve two things, by reaching out to the less privilege children and helping to control this common disease among them in order to improve their health and wellbeing,’’ he said.

    He said the outreach programme under the medical charity of the Association was targeting disease that is common and responsible for mortality and morbidity among the populace.

    “We are out to help some of those we consider as less privileged people in the society.

    “Today we single out malaria treatment for children because that is a big challenge, and infestation by worm is the outreach programme focus today,’’ Anyan said.

    According to him, 80 per cent of outpatient consultations are due to malaria in Nigeria. “From the statistics that we have, malaria is the leading cause of death especially in young children and pregnant mothers”.

    He noted that the average Nigerian adult treat malaria not less than three to four times in a year, saying that malaria had contributed to economic lost of the country.

    Also speaking, Mr Benjamin Robbert, President of the Association, Eket branch, promised to check the less privileged children quarterly.

    He said NAS would be a partner to the orphanage centre.

    Receiving the items, Miss Dianabasi Akanimoh, Chief Executive Officer of the centre, expressed gratitude to the Association while urging other members of the society to emulate NAS.

    She said the orphanage home was four years and the centre had 37 children, adding that the centre was funded by some groups of people in the state.

    She said 80 per cent of the children in the centre had been stigmatised by either the parents or society.

    She added that the centre provides shelter, feeding, health care and vocational skills to stigmatised children in the state.

    Akanimoh said the orphanage centre is faith-based organisation committed to save life and bring safety to learning environment of children in the state.

  • ‘Akwa Ibom not owing salaries’

    Akwa Ibom State Government has said it is not owing its workers.

    This is contrary to reports that its workers, including teachers, are being owed since 2012.

    Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, addressed reporters yesterday in Uyo, the state capital.

    Umanah said: “For the umpteenth time, I wish to state that Akwa Ibom State Government is not owing any worker, not even teachers, as wrongly peddled by enemies of this government.”

    He said official records showed that “the only outstanding salary is that of July 2015, which is not yet due, pending the receipt of July allocations from the Federation Account”.

    Also, Emmanuel has authorised the immediate dissolution of the state’s boards.

    A two-paragraph statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ekerete Udoh, confirmed the order.

    The statement reads: “Governor Emmanuel has authorised the immediate dissolution of all boards in the state.

    “The governor appreciates the service the former board members gave to the state and wishes them the best in their future endeavours.”

  • ExxonMobil sacks 190 in Akwa Ibom

    ExxonMobil sacks 190 in Akwa Ibom

    • Sacked staff urge FG, state’s intervention

    Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN), the operator of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation MPN/NNPC Joint Venture in Akwa Ibom State, has sacked about 150 contract staff and 40 drivers from its employ.

    Some of the victims, who spoke with the newsmen in Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom yesterday, said that the development had devastated them.

    They lamented incessant sacking of workers in Akwa Ibom State by the oil giant company.

    A driver affected by the sack, Mr Frank Etebong, said that ExxonMobil had paid their entitlements, but complained that the sacking of workers in the company was getting out of control.

    “Working with ExxonMobil is like holding your heart in your hand because you can be fired at any time.

    “If government does not take urgent step to check the incessant sacking of Nigerians in ExxonMobil, one day the oil giant company will disengage all our people in the company,’’ he lamented.

    Etebong, who would not disclose how much he was paid, said that the money was not enough to start a good business.

    He explained that there are two set of drivers in the company, namely service contract workers and contract workers.

    He appealed to the state government to come to the aid of the sacked workers, saying that the situation had devastated their members.

    Another Victim, Mr Martins Usendia, said there was no justification for the sack of the workers, lamenting that the benefit given by Mobil could not feed him for four months.

    He called on the Federal Government to intervene, saying that the “incessant dismissal of workers had an adverse effect on the economy.’’