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Tag: Akwa Ibom

  • 8,000 youths benefit from Akwa Ibom integrated farmers scheme

    The Akwa Ibom Government has said more than 8,000 youths in the state benefited from its sponsored Integrated Farmers Scheme (IFS).

    Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Godwin Afangideh, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Uyo that more than 80 per cent of the beneficiaries were trained in animal husbandry.

    The commissioner said the beneficiaries of the scheme were doing well in poultry, piggery, rearing of rabbits, grass cutters and snails.

    He said the scheme had contributed immensely to the supply of animal protein and creation of employment for the youth in the state.

    Afangideh said the state government planned to build a modern poultry farm and hatchery in the state.

    He said the hatchery would have the capacity to produce 540,000 day-old chicks monthly.

    The commissioner expressed regretted that all the day-old chicks sold in the state were brought from other states in Nigeria.

    He said more than 4,000 women were trained and empowered under the state Women Agro Entrepreneurship Development Programme (WAEDEP).

    Afangideh said 70 per cent of the beneficiaries of WAEDEP, which grants stood at N250,000 each, was also involved in animal husbandry.

    He said the rest were in crop production, processing and marketing of agro-based products.

    Afangideh said the state government was committed to making agriculture an attractive business venture.

    The IFS started in 2003.The programme was, however, re-invigorated by the current administration of Governor Godswill Akpabio in 2007 by increasing the beneficiaries’ grant from N300,000 to N500,000.

  • Akwa Ibom fishermen demand N250b compensation from oil firm

    Fishermen in Unyenge community, Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom, have demanded N250 billion compensation from an oil company, Universal Energy Resources Ltd. (UERL).

    The fishermen told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Mbo on Sunday that they made the demand under the aegis of Famous Fishing Organisation (FFO).

    The chairman of the organisation, Mr Johnson Harry, told NAN that the members were affected by the August 15 oil spill from the company’s oil field in Stubb Creek.

    According to him, the spill emptied about 2,000 barrels of crude into the Ede Akpa River in the area and has prevented them from fishing— their only source of their livelihood.

    He also said the oil company should pay adequate compensation to farmers in the community who were also affected by the oil spill.

    “The oil flowed to Ede Akpa River where we do our fishing activities and destroyed our fishing equipment and as a result, we can no longer fish in the river again,’’ he said.

    He said the oil spill also destroyed farmlands in the area, affecting the livelihood of 5,000 farmers in Unyenge community.

    Harry said the spill had caused untold hardship to the people of the area, and that some of their members had died of hunger and starvation, as a result.

    “We cannot farm, and according to international standard, if there is an oil spill, you have to wait for 10 years before you can start farming again,’’ Harry said.

    “The hazardous substances coming from the spilled crude has destroyed aquatic life, raffia palms and fishing nets.

    “Even the air we breath in the area have been affecting our health and we no longer go out for fishing,’’ he said.

    Harry urged UERL to clean up the affected lands and waters in the area, according to international standard.

    The Public Affairs Officer of the company, Mr Aniefiok Iwaudofia, confirmed the incident, saying the cause of the spill was equipment failure from a ruptured flange on the tank outlet.

    He, however, said that the quantity of crude spilled into the river was only about three barrels.

    “It is important to note that the spill was immediately and effectively contained within the Stubb Creek well pad.

    “The little that poured on the UERL acquired Right of Way (ROW) was scooped and the top soil excavated and back-filled with fresh sand,’’ he said.

    Iwaudofia assured the host community that the management would continue to engage in practice and processes designed to effectively manage the hazards of its operations.

     

  • Akwa Ibom 2015: Can Eket get it?

    Akwa Ibom 2015: Can Eket get it?

    Ahead of the 2015 governorship election in Akwa Ibom State, indigenes of Eket Senatorial District are agitating for powershift. Sunday Oguntola examines the prospects and obstacles against the project.

    For indigenes of Eket Senato-rial District in Akwa State, 2015 is a date with his tory. They believe the governorship race, which has attracted wide interests and ripples, offers the best opportunity for power shift. Since the state was created in 1987, no indigene of the zone has governed the oil-rich state. Yet, the zone has the highest concentration of oil wells.

    But the people of Uyo are also interested in the slot. Therefore, in 2015, the battle is between Uyo and Eket.

    The first civilian governor, the late Obong Akpan Isemin, won the race on the platform of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC) in 1991. He was from the Uyo senatorial district. But he did not last as the military took over power in 1993.

    In 1999, Obong Victor Attah, also from the Uyo Senatorial District, mounted the saddle. He served for two terms and handed over to the incumbent, Godswill Akpabio, who is the first governor from Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District.

    The strict adherence to zoning in the state since its creation, though unwritten, spurred the indigenes of Eket district to believe it is their turn. They believe that power shift will be in the interest of fairness and equity, since they supported former occupants of the office from other districts.

     

    The case for zoning

     

    Eket’s leading lights have been campaigning for zoning of the governorship slot. They argue that it will give them a sense of belonging and engender peaceful coexistence. They allude to the observance of zoning in nearly all the states of the federation, especially at the national level.

    To the pioneer Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr Bassey Essien, the agitation is not far-fetched because, in his view, the Eket district has been marginalised and neglected for decades. He said: “If the people of Eket senatorial district keep mute, sit down and expect power to return to them without struggling for it, it won’t happen.”

    Anny Asikpo, a Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) senatorial aspirant in the 2011 elections, is an indigene of Ikot Ekpene in Ikot Ekpene senatorial district. But he supports the campaign for Eket district to produce the next governor. The former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain said: “As far as I am concerned and as far as honest and sincere people of Akwa Ibom state are concerned, the issue of zoning of the governorship seat to Eket Senatorial district in 2015 should not be a matter of debate, since what is good for the goose is also good for the gander.”

    Former Minister of Science and Technology Prof. Ita Ewa also believes it is the turn of Eket to produce the governor. He said: “The state is divided into three geo-political zones and, if the other two have taken their turns, then, the turn of Eket senatorial district in 2015 cannot be compromised.”

    He justified the position of the zone, especially in the face of the poor environmental conditions faced by the people while their natural wealth is being destroyed by the activities of multinational oil companies.

    Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) (Southsouth) Chief Edet Nkpubre said: ‘’In politics, you don’t sit down and somebody bring the position of governor to your doorsteps. The people of Uyo will tell you whatever they want to justify their inclusion in the governorship race.

    “They will tell you there was no zoning because they are interested in the race. they will tell you they don’t believe in zoning now.  But for people who believe it is their right, it is their responsibility to justify their own claims to it.”

    He warned that depriving the zone of the governorship slot in 2015 could have grave consequences. ‘‘When you don’t do what is right, you are not going to bring peace and harmony for the state to develop,” Nkpubre said.

    According to him, “injustice will bring disharmony”. “When you do what is right to meet everybody’s expectation, then, there will be peace for the state to develop. There will be harmony among various ethnic groups making up Akwa Ibom state. It is the turn of Eket Senatorial District to produce the next governor.”

    Speaking at a one-day summit in Washington DC on the theme “Preparing leadership for the unity of Akwa Ibom state”, Senator Etang Umoye, said: “the 2015 gubernatorial election will be a big battle”.

    Governor Godswill Akpabio has come out publicly to declare support for the bid of Eket senatorial district to produce his successor. Akpabio is believed to have transformed the state, since he came to the office in 2007.

    Boisterous and daring, he rides on the crest of huge achievements, making him the indisputable power broker in the state. His free education policy and building of infrastructure, such as underground drainage, an electronic library, a brand new four-star hotel, a new Government House and offices, impressive road network across Uyo, the state capital, have consolidated his grip on the power structure.

    But All Progressive Congress (APC) chieftains, led by Senator John Akpanudoedehe, are ready to challenge Akpabio to a duel. To them, the state has not got the best in terms of amenities because it is a rich state.

    It is widely believed that whoever Akpabio supports will get the PDP ticket. Addressing the paramount rulers, the governor said: “I am committed to ensuring that Eket senatorial district takes over the governorship seat in 2015 for the peace and unity of the state.”

    The governor has said that he will hand over to a PDP successor. But, to the APC, this is wishful thinking.

    There are unconfirmed reports that Akpabio sacked the erstwhile Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Umana Okon Umana, to pave the way for the emergence of an anointed candidate from the Eket district.

    There are rumbles around government circles that Akpabio’s support for Eket and the sack of Umana have effectively put paid to the ambition of his aides outside the zone to contest the governorship. Umana, many believe, was sacked for nursing a governorship ambition. The former SSG from Uyo senatorial district, which has the highest population in the state, is wealthy and influential.

    His critics say it would be absolutely impossible for Akpabio to teleguide a governor like Umana, considering his immense wealth and independent mind. The governor moved against the former SSG to clip his wings and clear the coast for a candidate from Eket. Who that candidate will be, for now, remains Akpabio’s joker.

  • Gunmen abduct monarch in Akwa Ibom

    The paramount ruler of Esit Eket, His Royal Majesty, Edidem Ubong Peter Assam, was yesterday kidnapped by unknown gunmen, who stormed his palace about 2am.

    The gunmen, who were about seven, stormed the palace and shot into the air. They dragged Assam out of his bedroom into an unidentified car and drove to Unyeghe in Mbo Local Government Area, where he was picked up by a speedboat and taken to the Oron high sea.

    An eyewitness said although no casualty was recorded during the operation, people sustained injuries when scampering for safety.

    “The gunmen surrounded the chief’s compound and shot into the air. One of the gunshots sounded like a bomb. I thought it was a war. My daughter and I ran into the bush. She sustained injuries when running. We saw them drag the chief like a goat. I thought they came to kill him. But they put him in a waiting car and sped off to Unyighe in Oron. The police arrived when they had left,” Mrs. Ime Akpe, a mother of three, told this reporter.

    The Esit Eket Police Divisional Officer was not available for comment, as he was said to have travelled to Uyo for police weekly briefing.

    But a senior police officer, who gave his name as Inspector Ogar, said he got distress calls from sources about 2am yesterday, but before they arrived the scene, the kidnappers had escaped with the monarch.

    “There were a lot of calls from different quarters informing us of the operation of the kidnappers, but before we could mobilise our men from Uquo to Akpa Utong, they had fled the scene with the chief. We will send our men to comb the community in search of the abducted monarch,” Orga said.

  • Council gives free eye surgery to residents

    Council gives free eye surgery to residents

    The Obot Akara Local Government of Akwa Ibom State said it had sponsored eye treatment and surgery for 100 inresidents of the area.

    The council Chirman, Mr Idongesit Ntekpere, said this while addressing newsmen on his achievements in the last one year at Nto Edino, the council headquarters.

    Ntekpere said the council, within the period, came tops among the 31 local government areas of the state in the UNICEF assessment on Water, Sanitation and Health (WASH) programme.

    He said that 100 youths were trained on skills acquisition while 48 entrepreneurs were empowered in the area.

    Ntekpere said over 140 motorcycles had been acquired by the council and distributed to residents to ease transportation within the area.

    He added that the council constructed the traditional ruler’s chambers at the secretariat and built a civic centre at Urua Offiongettor community.

    He said 27 rural feeder roads had been graded during the period under review, explaining that 29 adult education centres were resuscitated to boost mass literacy in the council area.

    The chairman attributed the council’s achievements to commitment and hard work of the staff.

    “As a boundary local government with its peculiarity and under-development, we knew the implication of lack of commitment.

    “We employed careful and strategic planning in our development programme,” Ntekpere said.

  • Owners of abandoned vehicles in Uyo get one-week ultimatum

    The Uyo Capital City Development Authority has warned owners of abandoned vehicles parked on the streets of Uyo to remove same.

    The Chairman of UCCDA, Ignatius Edet, spoke in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.

    Edet, a former Speaker of the House of Assembly, said the Authority would no longer tolerate owners of abandoned vehicles who use the streets of Uyo and its environs as dumping grounds.

    The chairman explained that owners of such vehicles have been given one week to remove such, saying at the expiration of the deadline, the UCCDA would remove such abandoned vehicles.

    He reiterated his earlier call on the public to do away with make shift containers, attachments, shanty shops and all other forms of illegal structures within the UCCDA.

    Edet cautioned the residents to desist from using government’s right of way to display their wares.

    He also warned those using tipping laterites on water channels, moulding blocks and converting the streets of Uyo to mechanic workshops to desist from such.

    The former Speaker was conferred with an award of exemplary leadership by the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN).

    The award, according to a statement from his office, was presented to him by the National President, Abdullahi Abdulmajeed, at a ceremony at the UK Bello Centre, Minna, Niger State.

    Edet, who was a former youth leader in Akwa Ibom, thanked the (NYCN) for the honour.

    He dedicated the award to Governor Godswill Akpabio for his leadership role and uncommon transformation in the state.

  • Akwa Ibom indigenes sweep computer quiz competition

    Three Akwa Ibom indigenes have been honoured by the State Government for winning the 2013 Olatunji Odegbami National Information Technology Quiz Competition for All Tertiary Institutions.

    They emerge first, second, and third in the competition. The students are Emmanuel Essiet; Ebenezer Ekere and Aniebet Emmanuel.

    Essiet is a 200L Computer Science student at University of Uyo, Ekere is 100L Computer Science Student at Akwa Ibom State University while Emmanuel, the only female winner is in Higher National Diploma 2 (HND2) at Uyo City Polytechnic.

    The 11th edition of the quiz competition was held in Osogbo, the Osun State capital with the theme and has “e-Government and National Security” as its theme.

    Presenting the cash prizes to the winners through a member representing Nsit Ubium State Constituency, Onofiok Luke, the Special

    Assistant to the Governor on Student Matters, Ini Ememobong, said the 2012 competition in Uyo, has had Akwa Ibom indigenes emerging first and third position in the quiz competition.

    Ememobong, a former President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, (NANS), stated that the results had justified the efforts of Governor Godswill Akpabio in developing the youths through free and compulsory education in the state.

    His words: “At the Le Meridien Hotel in 2012, we saw something that God did for the state by making sure that the efforts of the governor in developing the youths in the state through free and compulsory education is not in vain.

    “In that competition when we had other universities in Nigeria, including the first generation universities, Akwa Ibom clinched the first and third position through a student from the University of Uyo and the other from the IMFI Academy, also in Uyo.

    “We encouraged them and took them to Osun State from July 24 to 26 for the 11thInternational Conference of the Olatunji Odegbami National Information Technology Quiz Competition for All Tertiary Institutions in the Federation.

    “In Osun State, of all the higher institutions that competed: in the first and second round of the competition, all students from other universities were knocked out. The competition was only left with students from institutions in Akwa Ibom State.”

    In his speech, Essiet, who came first, said it was his determination not to let down the state that made him excel in Osun competition.

    He said: “I did not sleep throughout the night. When we entered the competition, I knew almost all the questions the quiz masters asked.”

    He explained that after the competition the first, second, and the third place winners were rewarded with laptops (first and 2nd position) and two printers – one for the first place winner and the other for the third place winner.

     

     

     

  • 45 ex-militants graduate in Akwa Ibom

    Forty-five repentant militants trained in Disaster Management and Industrial Safety through the Amnesty Office have graduated from the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) in Oron, Akwa Ibom State.

    Addressing the graduating students, the Rector of the Academy, Joshua Okpo, urged the ex-militants to be good ambassador of the Academy.

    Okpo also warned the former warlords to desist from any act that could jeopardise the stability of the country.

    He said, “Those of you here today are extremely lucky and I think you are aware that out there, there are so many of your colleagues still waiting for this kind of opportunity.

    “So, as you are going into the world, you should shun any act of criminality, such as bunkering, kidnapping and restiveness and be useful to yourself, the community and the country at large.

    “A school like Maritime Academy is intended to mould your character. The training you have acquired should portray you as civilised citizens so that you can earn a decent living.”

    Okpo assured the amnesty office of the academy’s preparedness to continue to support the Federal Government in the training of the ex-militants, and called for more support, especially in the area of student accommodation.

    He thanked President Goodluck Jonathan for his magnanimity and the coordinator of the programme for the opportunity given the ex-militants who, he noted, were well behaved throughout the duration of the training.

    In his goodwill message, the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Kingsley Kuku, who was represented by Tawari Kester, said the Federal Government has so far trained over 10,000 ex-militants to ensure that life returned to the Niger Delta.

    He said the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan focuses on the holistic empowerment of youths to make them self reliant and contribute their quota to the progress of the country.

    Kuku, who praised the rector for advancing the progress of the ex-militants through the training, warned the youth to stop restiveness in the region and channel their energy on things that will benefit them, the nation and their families.

  • Seven Akwa Ibom medical students get scholarship

    Seven Akwa Ibom medical students get scholarship

    Seven Akwa Ibom State indigenes studying Medicine and Surgery in various universities have been awarded year 2013 Isabella Medical Scholars Fund (IMSF) scholarship.

    The students, who are from Ukanafun, Ikot Ekpene and Essien Udim Local Government Areas, smiled home with N250, 000 each in recognition of their outstanding performance.

    The yearly IMSF scholarship award is used to honour of late Dr. Isabella Samuel Inyang, the co-founder of the foundation and the wife of a retired Director with Oil giant Shell Nigeria.

    Speaking during the presentation of cheque to the deserving students, the Chairman, the Samuel and Isabella Foundation, Samuel Inyang said the awardees were the best and brightest undergraduates similar to what Isabella was in her time.

    Inyang said: “For us in the foundation, this occasion is another milestone to actualise one of our programmes and thereby continue to immortalise a great Lady and Co-founder of the Foundation, Dr. Isabella Samuel Inyang.

    “She believed in the very moving words of the anthem “Passing the Torch” of Queen’s College, Lagos, her alma mater. She had always wanted to pass on “the thoughts, the skills, the learning…brightly burning… such that not even death can make it dim.

    “We see these awardees as pillars of their generation and the assurance of our Nation for a brighter future. We salute their academic prowess. We urge you to persevere to end of your studies so that you may be able to offer the highest standard of service in medical field anywhere in the world.”

    In her remarks, the State Commissioner for Education Prof. (Mrs.) Atim Antai urged the beneficiaries of the award to make maximum use of the opportunity and work hard to justify the award.

    Prof. (Mrs.) Antai explained that apart from the initiatives from private individuals, state government is also giving medical students in various universities grants of N200, 000 each per session.

    Her words: “The Ministry of Education is proud of the awardees who were products of our public secondary schools and beneficiaries of the free and compulsory education programme. It is my wish that other students will emulate the high academic performance of these awardees.”

     

     

  • ExxonMobil, FRSC take safety campaign to Akwa Ibom

    The Pan-Nigeria road safety campaign, a partnership between ExxonMobil and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has been launched in Akwa Ibom State. The campaign is part of a series of road safety programmes to tackle accidents.

    The year-long campaign, which was launched in Abuja by the Corps Marshall and Chief Executive of FRSC, Osita Chidoka, focuses on three critical areas: seat belt usage, speed reduction and use of phone while driving.

    At the flag-off in Eket, the Manager, Logistics, Mobil Producing Nigeria, Capt. Femi Olaiya, said ExxonMobil is partnering with FRSC on the campaign to promote attitudinal change among road users in Nigeria.

    Olaiya said the national road safety initiative reflects the level of priority which ExxonMobil accords safety in all its locations of operation.

    “This campaign demonstrates our commitment to safety and support for Nigeria’s aspiration for accident-free roads,” he said.

    He enjoined drivers to ensure usage of seat belts, avoid over speeding and use of mobile phones while driving.

    FRSC Deputy Corps Marshall Mr Yomi Olukoju, said road crashes have been a source of concern not only in Nigeria but most developing countries and in the next few years, road crashes may be the third highest killer of mankind.

    Olukoju while narrating various chilling stories of how road accidents affected his loved ones, said road crashes do not just happen but are caused and therefore preventable.

    “This campaign is a national reawakening to address the challenge of poor attitude to road usage which has resulted in several avoidable accidents,” he said.

    Unit Coordinator of FRSC, Eket, Mr Effiok Udouwem, attributed 85 per cent of causes of road accidents to human factor while environmental and mechanical factors contributed five per cent and 10 per cent respectively.