The Nation Newspaper

Tag: CALABAR

  • 10 killed in Cross River communal conflict

    Ten youths were reportedly killed in renewed hostilities between Usumutong and Ediba communities both in Abi local government area of Cross River State at the weekend.

    It was gathered both communities have been in conflict for years over ownership a piece of land often leading to loss of lives and property.

    A resident of the area said yesterday, “On Friday, there was a burial at Usumutong. The Ediba people used the opportunity of the other people engaging in a burial to attack. The Ediba people knew that the Usumutong people because of the burial were unprepared for any attack.

    “They are still quarrelling over a piece of land. They are saying that the last time there was a conflict, the Usumutong people inflicted so much casualties on them, so they were looking for an opportunity to strike back and did so on Friday. It was a revenge attack.

    “The people of Usumutong who suffered the attack are planning a counterattack from what I am hearing because it is like tomorrow (Monday) is the market day of the Ediba people. 

    “It is actually is actually a sad situation because the two communities are brothers and sister. There is no difference between them and they are just killing themselves like that. It is just animalistic. In this age of civilisation, people are still doing such.”

    State Security Adviser, Mr Jude Ngaji, security agents have been drafted to the area and normalcy restored for the meantime. He said they will keep their eyes open to ensure another outbreak of violence does not occur.

    “The governor is very livid with this development because great efforts have been made to bring peace to the area. We had gotten respected leaders of both communities and plans were still on to ensure both communities co-exist peacefully. Then all of a sudden this happens.

    “There will no longer be any Mr Nice Guy in dealing with this problem. The big stick still will be employed this time to check the problem. The present administration will ensure that though the problem has been age long, it will end once and for all. We will ensure that every perpetrator of this crisis will be brought to book,” he said.

  • 2013 Eaglets beg Ayade for Calabar houses

    Three years after they conquered the world in the United Arab Emirate (UAE) , the Golden Eaglets class of 2013 have again begged the incumbent  Cross River State  Governor,  Ben Ayade  to redeem the pledge of houses made to officials and players of the national U-17 team.

    On Tuesday (November 8), it would be exactly three years after the Golden Eaglets massacred Mexico 3-0 in Abu Dhabi to lift the FIFA World Cup for the fourth time in the presence of immediate past governor of the state, Liyel Imoke.

    An impressed  Imoke later hosted the team on November 15, 2013 inside the state’s council chamber at the Governor’s office in Calabar where he magnanimously pledged houses for players and officials to be located within the state’s new housing estate scheme in Akpabuyo in Calabar.

    The amiable governor said then it was necessary to break away from the norm in order to give a befitting future to players and officials hence the state was duty-bound to reward the team with properties instead of monetary largess.

    “We want to partner and invest in you because we believe this kind of investment (house property) would yield better dividends in the future even if you no longer want anything to do with football,” Imoke told the victorious team in the presence of top officials of Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) and other state’s executives.

    ” It is three years now that we won the World Cup and the then Governor Imoke pledged all the 21 players and 10 officials houses as reward but it is unfortunate that we are yet to be given these houses despite several appeals,” stated coach Manu Garba.

    “It’s really painful that we don’t have our houses  even after three years and I wonder why they are yet to give us the houses promised by former  Governor Imoke ,” lamented Godwin Saviour who is now with Belgian club, Roeselare. We just have to keep begging our new governor and pray they give us these houses because we did the state and Nigeria proud in 2013,” added Godwin.

  • Calabar waterways secure – Chief of Naval Staff

    Calabar waterways secure – Chief of Naval Staff

    The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok- Ette Ekwe Ibas, has expressed satisfaction with the security of the Calabar Waterways.

    Ibas, who was in Calabar for the annual shore inspection of Naval formations, promised that the Navy will continue to ensure that it introduces measures to ensure the security of the maritime domain in the country.

    Ibas, conducted round by the Flag Officer Commanding of the Eastern Naval Command (FOC), Calabar, Rear Admiral James Oluwole, pointed out that there are over 6000 creeks in the Niger Delta of which they have identified 37 that are navigable that criminal elements use for their activities.

    Ibas also said the Navy has a healthy relationship with the civilian populace.

    “The relationship with the civilian populace is quite okay. In the past, we have had issues with some of our civilian relations and friends. We have tasked to ourselves that every one of us in a way has a civilian relative or friend. If your father is not a civilian then your mother, or brother, sister and so on. Ours is to protect all Nigerians and not to have issues with them and that is what we are preaching as we go around,”

    The CNS also dialogued with Officers and ratings of the Command during the inspection.

  • Ayade inaugurates 2016 Calabar Carnival

    Ayade inaugurates 2016 Calabar Carnival

    Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade yesterday inaugurated the 2016 dry run to signify the commencement of the 2016 annual Calabar Carnival.

    Ayade said the celebration marked the 12th anniversary of the carnival.

    The theme of the 2016 carnival is ‘Climate Change.’ The carnival is ‘the largest street party in Africa.’

    Ayade said the carnival had promoted talent and creativity, adding that it had united the people of Cross River and Nigeria.

    “Today, we are flagging off the 12th annual Calabar carnival, the largest street party ever; the greatest show in Africa.

    “We promise to make this year’s carnival the best and fun loving ever,’’ he said.

    Ayade lauded the efforts of the people of Cross River and the participants for coming out en mass for the dry run.

    He invited tourists from all over the world to visit Calabar to experience an exciting carnival.

    Chairman Calabar Carnival Commission Gabriel Onah, said the carnival had continued to grow from strength to strength with yearly innovations.

    “We are celebrating 12 years of Cross River carnival, 12 years of oneness and unity, 12 years in showcasing what we have and what we are’’, Onah said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that five carnival bands :Seagull, Master Blaster, Passion 4, Freedom and Bayside will participate.

    NAN also reports that the participants were beautifully dressed in different attires, while security was mounted in all the carnival routes.

    Dignitaries at the ceremony included Deputy Governor Ivara Esu, Speaker John Gaul-Lebo, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, among others

  • Corps member provides libraries for Calabar schools

    Corps member provides libraries for Calabar schools

    Staff and students of Government College and Estate Secondary School in Ikot Ansa in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, have expressed appreciation to a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member serving in the state for completely renovating their libraries, which were in decrepit conditions.

    The corps member, Miss Obianuju Anene, serving with General Electric, FZE in Calabar said she was moved to embark on the project in a bid to improve the educational system in her own way.

    She said: “A library is central to learning and plays a key role as a place for encouraging innovation, curiosity and problem solving. A library is a catalyst for literacy, and reading for teaching. A school library will make a difference to students’ understanding, achievement and also provide support for teaching learning throughout the schools. The library is a centre for engagement with all kinds of reading, access to information, knowledge building, deep thinking and even lively discussion. This project is my opportunity to reach out to over 500 students enabling them to study, become more knowledgeable and achieve their dreams.”

    Anene, who lamented a dearth of science book, called on public-spirited individuals and organisations to help donate more books to the schools.

    “There is always need for books. Reading is one of the ways to move this country forward. Students should adopt the reading culture, not just watching television or being on smartphones all the time. People may disrespect you but when they hear what comes out of you when you speak, they will respect you. Reading gives you in-depth knowledge, which you cannot get from watching the television,” she said.

    The project cost her approximately N700, 000, she said. For Government College, she provided eight shelves, 36 chairs, two librarian seats and tables, eight burglary proofs (window), three tables, one ceiling board and a paint job. For Estate Secondary School, she provided six shelves, 36 chairs, nines tables and a paint job.

    At the inauguration of the projects, the principals of Government College and Estate Secondary School, Mrs Regina Agaba and Mrs Felicia Atsu, expressed gratitude to the corps member for going out of her way to provide facilities for the school.

    Thy promised to manage the libraries and make sure they are effectively used.

    Commissioner for Education, Mr Godwin Etta, who was represented by the Director of Schools, Mrs Charity Ottoho, thanked Anene for her selflessness and prayed God to sustain your efforts. She urged that her efforts should be emulated by others.

    The State Coordinator of NYSC, Mrs Ifeoma Anidobi represented by the Head, Reward and Discipline, Mr Effa Columbus said corps member who leaves positive footprints would have good continue to follow him or her.

    ”Libraries are very important to the achievement of the set goals of the country. Urged the principals of the schools for proper management of the libraries. It is an important project and we should do all to encourage her,” he said.

    The NYSC Zonal Inspector, Calabar Zone, Mr Peter Aghantti, urged corps members to besides their main areas of primary responsilibity also look for ways to impact positively on the community they are staying in their service year.

    The Senior Project Manager, General Electric, FZE, Calabar, David Eichie, urged the students to use the libraries effectively, and the schools’ authorities to properly manage the libraries.

    He said: “If the students effectively use the libraries today, they will be grateful for it in the future. Empathy is one of the greatest attributes of a leader. Being able to feel what people around you are going through and impacting positively on them is what makes a good leader. I urge corps members to use the one year of service to add value to the lives of the people, wherever they find themselves.”

     

  • Party inaugurates leadership in Calabar

    The National Chairman of Young Democratic Party (YDP), Arc. Nya-Etok Ezekiel, has inaugurated the executive council of the Cross River State Chapter to ran its affairs till its national congress.

    Ezekiel said the party which began its registration process in December 2013 received its certificate of approval from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in January 2016.

    He said the establishment of the party was borne out of the conviction and struggle of a new class of passionate young patriotic Nigerians who believed in the possibility of a new Nigeria.

    “The party cardinal objectives will be centered on its principle of corporate governance and has come to stay in order to establish a new Nigeria of unprecedented progress, fulfilled dreams and aspirations. The era of youths are leaders of tomorrow is gone. We want to field the youth in the next general elections, we have fielded one in Edo State gubernatorial race.

    “The People Democratic Party has lost the vision and we determined in producing the next Cross River State governor,” he said.

    The National Deputy Women Leader, Haijiah Binta Suleiman, said the women are not left out in the party.

    She said women have a prime position in the party, and encouraged more women to join the party.

    Those inaugurated included the State Party Chairman, Castro Emma; Deputy Vice Chairman, Engr. Charles Ironba; Vice Chairman South, Abendnego Okon; Vice Chairman North, Dominic Fred; Vice Chairman Central, Hilary Ntufam; Secretary General, Okanga Ogbu among others.

    The new State Chairman, Castro Ezama, said the team has come on board with determination, courage, discipline and commitment.

  • Southsouth women farmers brainstorm to improve welfare in Calabar

    THE Small Scale Women Farmers Organisation of Nigeria (SWOFON) met in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, to rub minds on how to improve their farming skills.

    Facilitated by Action Aid International, the women farmers sought means to improve their capacity to understand and push for improvement.

    National Secretary of Small Scale Women Farmers Organisation of Nigeria Mrs Ejim Lovely in Nnenna said: “We are in Calabar to sensitise the rural women farmers in Calabar and to make them have an interface and synergy with their duty bearers so that they would know that they can relate with the top authorities who have what they need to do their farm activities.

    “We are targeting to get as much as we can, rural women farmers in the agricultural sector for them to come out of their shackles to know they are important and needed in this country. 80 per cent of the workforce is women, so we want to bring them out of their shackles to let them know where they belong. We also to make the country sufficient in having what to eat because our major problem now is food. We want to flood our markets with what we produce, so we would not have any need to go outside before we eat. Again we need to make our youths understand that this phase of adults will one day go and it would only be left with them. So let us go into agriculture as the only best alternative and try to propagate the new policy about the agricultural development of this country. So that we all together will make it happen. Oil is fast going down. Agriculture is the target, so let us do it.”

    On challenges they face as small-scale women farmers, Nnena said, they include access to land, funds and government policies.

    “Land is a major challenge. Funds is another. Again government policies is a challenge because they do not call us to sit when they are deciding. So we feel that when they are making these policies, we should be involved because it is us they are talking about. Also when the policies are made, in the process of implementation they should let us know and call us into it, because it is what itches you that you know how best to scratch.”

    The chairperson of SWOFON coordinating committee in the state, Maria Ekanem AyiUkpayang, also said: “The purpose for this forum is to bring all small scale women farmers of Nigeria in the south-south region of Nigeria to x-ray what has been done by SWOFEON committees, get to know ourselves and then forge the way forward. We want to get engaged with government, particularly in the agricultural sector and make government really aware of small-scale women farmers.”

    International Manager for Public Financing for Agriculture, Action Aid, Ms. Constance Okeke, said, they were focused on building capapcities for small women farmers across Africa.

    “We are building them to understand policy processes especially in terms of budget. The idea is basically aimed at supporting the women farmers to understand how a policy is designed and how the policy processes run in terms of finances of agriculture in their different countries.”

    A representative of the State Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs Justina Ulafor,  promised the state would continue to support women farmers.

  • Ayade to legalize hawking in Cross River

    Ayade to legalize hawking in Cross River

    The Cross River State governor, Prof Ben Ayade, has sent a Hawkers’ Right Bill to the State House of Assembly in a bid to legalize hawking in the state.

    Ayade, in an interaction with reporters in his office in Calabar said it is insensitive for a government to ban hawking without any alternative.

    According to him, such amounted to the infringement of the right of the hawker.

    His words, “I have just sent the Hawkers’ Right Bill to the House of Assembly, to provide a right for hawking. You cannot tell a man not to sell his goods because he does not have money to rent a store. And you tell the man not to steal? Just provide a regulatory framework; there should be reflective outfits, there should be a minimum age of 18 to hawk, you will have a time frame when you come out so that you don’t constitute nuisance. But to prohibit hawking is to tell a man I don’t want to give you food, and I don’t want you to steal. It is unfair. They have right to seek and determine how they chose to live within the ambits of the law.

    “Cross River would the first state that would officially recognize hawking. The core mandate of a leader should be the social security of his people. If a man choses to hawk, if you are government that is sensitive and understands the real principle and objective of the law, then you will know that the hawker has a right. Governance is about how you protect the weakest in the society and that is why even with the way things are, Cross River is still doing tax exemption for the poor.”

    The governor also said the expansion of his new government by engaging about 800 appointees was deliberate to ensure many people were empowered financially.

    He announced that he was going to announce 300 more appointees next week.

    Ayade said he would rather spend four years paying salaries to reduce hunger and quit as governor than spend money on projects and politicians.

    The governor also said the Presidential System adopted from America was not the best in running the country.

     

  • Chinese firm to establish multi-million dollar feed mill in Calabar

    Chinese firm to establish multi-million dollar feed mill in Calabar

    A Chinese firm, Wuhan Longfecund Agricultural Development Company Ltd., is set to establish a feed mill and maize farm in Cross River State.

    Chairman of the Company Yongsheng Cao stated this during a visit to Governor Ben Ayade at the Government House in Calabar.

     Cao said: “I am happy to be in Calabar and indeed, Nigeria, to set up a feedmill and a maize farm. Cross River State and China share same topography and land fit for such production.”

     Explaining that Wuhan province has the largest farm and a major maize grower in China, the Chairman maintained that “my preference will be on sweet corn as it is going to work well here.”

    He applauded the relationship between Cross River and China, pointing out that he would invest $8million in the project.

    Governor Ayade who urged the Chinese firm to swing into action with the establishment of a maize farm said: “Cross River State is expanding the horizon in agriculture and taking a leap into agricultural phase to ensure a leading direction,” adding that, “we don’t come in as traditional farmers but industrial standard and as the benchmark.”

    The governor explained that as government, “we must focus on maize because other than producing feeds, one of the particular species we are going to grow here which is sweet corn, is to provide Gluck syrup.”

    According to Ayade: “what you will see here is a true reproduction of the true history of the natural wealth that Nigeria has in agriculture as we are going to have maize for export, sweet corn for salads, Gluck syrup for our industries and the feed mills to produce feeds for our poultry and other related products.”

     Affirming that parts of Akamkpa, Uyanga, Obubra and Yala were suitable areas for maize farming based on soil studies earlier conducted, Ayade reasoned that “the partnership between Cross River State government and the maize centre in China will provide the state with a first class knowledge, first class technology, first class farming and first class mill as all sweet corns used in our salads were imported.”

    The governor said the state has over 21,000 square kilometers of land, enjoined the firm managers to move to field immediately as Cross Riverians expect to see the outcome of their harvest after six months..

  • SPAR opens Calabar store

    SPAR opens Calabar store

    SPAR, an Indian brand hypermarket, has unveiled an outlet in Calabar, the Cross River State capital. This brings to 10, the number of SPAR stores in the country.

    A former Minister of Tourism, Mr. Edem Duke, congratulated the promoters of the brand on investing in Cross River and for enhancing development in the state.

    According to the brand’s spokesperson, Mr. John Goldsmith, “SPAR is the hypermarket for all Nigerians, irrespective of socio-economic differences. Our outlets are carefully controlled to offer the most competitive prices on fast moving consumer goods and other items required to make life comfortable’’.

    With over 5000 sq. metres in retail space, SPAR Calabar, is the largest of its outlet in the country. The hypermarket  boasts of over 34,000 sq. metres of retail space in the country.  The new hypermarket, like other outlets, offers an array of products, ranging from grocery, bakery, butchery, fruits and vegetables, hot meals, wine and spirits, fast-moving consumer goods, consumer electronics, large and small home appliances, mobile phones, laptops and tablets, perfumes, watches and jewellery.

    SPAR, franchised by Artee Group’s Park and Shop for operations, is  located in Victoria Island, Lekki, Maryland Ikeja, MMA2, Abuja Wuse II, Port Harcourt and Calabar.

    In celebration of the Calabar inauguration, SPAR is offering all its shoppers an opportunity to win gifts. On any purchase of N2,500 ranging from electronic devices to edible goods.