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Tag: CALABAR

  • Why Eastern ports are not viable, by NPA boss

    The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Hajia Hadiza Bala Usman has given fresh insight on why the nation’s eastern port has remained unviable for business.

    The NPA has two ports including the Western port which comprises Apapa and Tincan Island ports while the Eastern port is made up of Calabar, Delta and Port Harcourt, respectively.

    Speaking in an interview with The Nation, the NPA boss said a number of factors may be responsible for the general lull in business at the Eastern port.

    Specifically, she said the challenge with the eastern port is the issue of draft limitation. “As you are aware, our Calabar Port has a draft limitation. Hitherto, I inherited a Joint Venture for the Calabar Channel Management Dredge and that was a big issue that we had to cancel. It’s an ongoing investigation about an unverifiable dredging works. So we have started another process. But it translated into huge volumes to the extent that we are looking at spending about N45-50billion on dredging of Calabar Port.”

    Pressed further, she said, “Delta is also one of our Eastern Ports, and it has a limited draft because of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPPC) Pipelines that have been buried in that location. So in the last year, at the end of 2018, we got approval to dredge the Escravos Bay, which permitted a depth of about 7.5metres that would enable vessels to that side. So we can go deeper than that because of the NNPC pipelines that are buried there. We are discussing with the NNPPC and I remember saying to the GMD that let us start the process of relocating the pipelines. It may not happen in a year or two years or five years but we must understand that that location requires deeper depth and start the process of relocating the pipelines.”

    The Port Harcourt Port, she declared, “is in a bad state. We have commissioned a condition survey. They have submitted a report which will determine the totality of investment into that Port Harcourt Port because it has reached its limits in terms of utilisation. So the conditional survey had provided what is required. So we need to literally build new kits, new infrastructure, in that place. And when we look at what is expected of the vessels type that would come globally now, do you want to invest in this kind of port now when you can invest in deep seaports to enable you now reach where you want to go. Onne Port is in a good state. We have the attendant draft required and it’s a port that usually has a lot of oil and gas cargo and transactions so every other activity there is available, they have a private container terminal that is operating there. So this is the summary of what the Eastern Port entails right now.”

    She was however quick to add that “One of the other things that I forgot to mention about the Eastern Port is charge on insurance cost. The vessels that are coming to the Eastern Port for example, have to have war insurance for coming into the place because there are lots of piracy and even besides insurance, they have to pay money for private security. That is one issue that is responsible for the unviability of the Eastern Port as it relates to the shipping industry.”

    • Full text of interview on pages 10 & 11

  • DSS arrests 59 commercial sex workers in Calabar

    Fifty-nine commercial sex workers have been arrested by the Department of State Security (DSS) in Calabar, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

    Mr. Ilupeju Adebayo, director of the DSS Command in Cross River, who disclosed this to reporters at the weekend in Calabar, said those arrested were picked up around 2:15am on Saturday.

    Those arrested, comprising 43 girls and 16 men, were picked up at the Peace Garden Hotel and Papsi Place, located on the Murtala Mohammed Highway, Calabar.

    Adebayo said there was a cartel responsible for luring the girls and making them to swear to an oath of secrecy.

    The oath involves a promise not to abscond no matter what or divulge information about the business.

    “We got an intelligence report and swung into action. We have been on the matter for months. We discovered that the girls are mostly underage, mostly between the ages of 13 and 19.

    “We also know that they were brought in by a cartel, deeply involved in the business of trafficking and using the girls as commercial sex workers.

    “The girls then bring returns to them at the beginning or close of the week, depending on their modus operandi.

    “We have made some arrests, including that of the owner of Papsi Place, a brothel that houses mostly underage girls who pay him N2,000 on week days and N4,000 at weekends as lodging fees.

    “They operate from the hotel, to clubs where we arrested them stark naked.

    “We have contacted the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), while investigations are ongoing until t

    Those involved in the illicit trade are arrested and charged to court,’’ he said.

    While speaking to journalists, Adaeze Abam, one of the 43 girls, said she was brought to Calabar from Rivers State under the guise of being given a sales girl job.

    Abam, however, said she ended up becoming a commercial sex worker.

    “I was brought to Calabar through a friend who told me that I would be given a job as a sales girl. She took me to a lady who I only know her name as Aunty Favour.

    “They took me to a brothel at Atamu Street, Calabar South, from where I used to attend night clubs.

  • Navy arrests vessel for diverting petroleum product

    Commander of the Nigeria Navy Ship (NNS) Victory in Calabar, Commodore Julius Nwagu, has handed over an 8, 000 metric tonne petroleum vessel, MT AYSU with IMO number 9014511, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly diverting petroleum products.

    Also handed over to the anti-graft agency were five suspects, who were arrested with the vessel.

    Nwagu, who addressed reporters on board the vessel along the Calabar Channel Monday said the vessel was to lift sludge from Warri refinery to a company in Port Harcourt, but it did not do so thereby contravening in the approval issued by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and the Naval headquarters.

    Nwagu said the vessel also had approval to load low power fuel oil (LFPO) off-shore Bonny and was supposed to discharge to a tank farm in Calabar but on arrival it was discovered after test by the DPR that the product off specification and therefore unacceptable as LPFO.

    The Commander said it was based on these that the Naval Headquarters directed that the Command should hand over the vessel to the EFCC.

    He also disclosed that there was 1, 500 MT of products in the vessel when it was arrested.

    Acting Zonal Head of EFCC, Uyo Zonal Office, Mr Alex Eba, said they would investigate and prosecute offenders appropriately.

    Nwagu, who will be handing over Command of NNS Victory on Wednesday, also said in the past one year they have completed 32 projects under their area of responsibility.

    Speaking at the commissioning of one of the projects, a sick bay at the NNS Victory Headquarters in Calabar, he said all these were achieved has solely from resources sent from the headquarters and also from internally generated revenue and there were no special funds for any of the projects.

    Nwagu said a year ago, he had started off with two operational boats, but would leaving 12 operational boats and four undergoing repairs in the Command.

    Read Also: Navy, others search for answer to piracy

    He said the successes were made possible through the cooperation of military and civilian staff if the command as well as a healthy synergy with sister security agencies.

    The Commander also handed over 190 bags of contraband foreign rice worth over 3 million naira and three suspects to the Nigeria Customs Service at the NNS Victory jetty.

    Flag Officer Commander (FOC) of the Eastern Naval Command (ENC), Rear Admiral David Adeniran, who commissioned the sick bay, lauded NNS Victory for the achievements, expressing delight that such were happening under his watch.

    He said the Navy would always ensure that the welfare of its personnel are adequately taken care of so they will be able to discharge their duties effectively.

  • Quackery: NMA shuts down illegal medical facility in C’ River

    The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Cross River has shut down a medical facility in Yala Local Government Area in its ongoing fight against quackery in medicine in the state.

    The NMA Chairman in the state, Dr Agam Ayuk, disclosed this on Wednesday in Calabar in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    He said that Divine Favour Clinic and Maternity in Ugaga village was shut after an inspection visit to the facility.

    Ayuk, who led members of the association, including the Secretary, Dr Ezoke Epoke on the inspection, told NAN that the association had received incessant complaints over medical quackery in the area.

    He said that when NMA stormed the facility, they met a lady, Mrs Rosemary Erimma-Okwoche, who claimed to be a Community Health Extension Worker (CHEW).

    Ayuk told NAN that Erimma-Okwoche was central to the running of the facility with an acclaimed medical doctor from Benue who was said to have been visiting the center periodically.

    “The attention of NMA was drawn to the illegal medical practices carried out by unqualified medical personnel in an unregistered private facility named Divine Favour Clinic and Maternity in Ugaga village in Yala Local Government.

    READ ALSO: End quackery in teaching, provost urges

    “The spot assessment of the facility revealed deplorable and substandard state of the center. Two poorly managed patients were seen, one of them with fresh surgical abdominal scars.

    “Further interrogation revealed a lady, Mrs Rosemary Erimma Okwoche, an acclaimed CHEW who is central to running of the facility with an acclaimed doctor from Benue State who is said to have been visiting the center periodically.

    “The lady was apprehended by the police and the facility closed down indefinitely,’’ he said.

    The chairman advised members of the public on the need to seek medical care from qualified medical personnel in duly registered private and public health institutions.

    He warned those involved in the illegal practices to desist from the act or face the wrath of the law.

    The NMA chairman further called on the state Ministry of Health to rise to the challenge of curbing medical quackery in the state, adding that Cross River should not be a haven for such illegality.

    Ayuk commended the swift response of the police and the ministry during the inspection tour, and reiterated the need for partnership with relevant stakeholders to stem the menace.

  • Cross River: APC alleges killing of members

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State has alleged the killing of several of its members, who refused to be compromised, during the Governorship and State House of Assembly elections by agents of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) led state government.

    The party, which made the accusation in a statement by its acting chairman, Sir John Ochala, rejected the results of the election, which saw the PDP emerge winners.

    The statement, made available to The Nation in Calabar read, “The All Progressives Congress Cross River State hereby informs the General Public that we dissociate ourselves from this rape of democracy in the name of Governorship and State House of Assembly  Elections.

    We are all witnesses to the day light robbery of our collective will and mandate, led by the PDP state government in active connivance with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security operatives.

    Despite the very responsible manner in which our teeming party faithful and supporters went about their civic responsibility, the PDP in desperation to perpetuate their evil agenda killed several of our members who refused to compromise and resisted the vote stuffing carried out by the PDP.

    READ ALSO: Confusion over judgment on Cross River APC

    “We call on all APC members and well-wishers to remain calm and go about their lawful duties without let or hindrance while the party leadership explores all avenues within legal limits to correct this aberration.”

    Also addressing reporters in Calabar, the governorship candidate of the Young Democratic Party (YDP), Emmanuel Undie, rejected the results saying there were no elections in the state.

    Undie accused the security agencies and INEC of colluding with agents of the PDP to rig the elections.

    He vowed to pursue all constitutional means to ensure the exercise is cancelled.

    “There were no elections in Cross River State. It was not free and fair, a lot of people were disenfranchised and there was no safety and security for the people. I personally saw SUVs filled with thugs with automatic weapons moving freely with government number plate numbers.

    “We witnessed carting away materials by thugs, multiple thumb printing. There were also swapping of result sheets; hence whatever happened in the field was an exercise in futility. People only went out to waste their time. The police, supposed to protect law abiding citizens, were aiding thugs against the citizens. The results were cooked up,” he alleged.

  • From death trap to express way

    MR Chioba Okeke works in Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State. But he lives in Calabar, the state capital. He now spends about 30 minutes to get to work from home everyday and this quite excited him.

    However, that was not the case before now.  He used to spend hours making the same trip. He described his experience then simply as a nightmare.

    Mr Okeke’s story tallies with those of thousands of other commuters who ply the Calabar-Ikom-Ogoja Highway that had been a death trap, being in a state of disrepair for years until the  Federal Government intervened and began to rehabilitate the almost 350-kilometer stretch.

    The state has two major federal highways: the Calabar-Odukpani-Ikot Ekpene and the Calabar-Ikom-Ogoja roads. The former is the shortest to other south-south and south-east states, while the latter, which connects almost all the local governments in the state in one long stretch, leads to the northern part of the country.

    The Calabar-Odukpani-Ikot Ekpene Road received attention in 2016 when the Federal Government, through the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), carried out intervention works on the road to ameliorate the plight of commuters.

    The Calabar-Ikom-Ogoja highway, constructed in the 70s, however, remained in a state of complete disrepair until the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola(SAN), visited the state in 2017 to inspect that road following the people’s outcry. The minister  had promised that funds would be released to carry out intervention works at critical sections of the road as well as rehabilitation works where necessary.

    In need of urgent attention at the time was the Pamol axis of the highway,  the only road leading in and out of the state capital, where a deep gully had threatened to cut the road in two, endangering the lives of road users.

    The situation had been a terrible one, as a yawning chasm had taken up the entire road, forcing vehicles to precariously use one lane of the road; even the side of the road which vehicles were forced to use had been eroded  and was in a collapsible state.

    Commuters had expressed strong fears that with the onset of rains and heavy traffic, especially with heavy-duty cement and petroleum trucks plying the road,  tragedy was imminent if nothing was done urgently.

    Also worrisome for commuters and residents was that the road was the only one leading in and out of the state capital. Hence if the road had collapsed, besides the imminent loss of lives, Calabar would be completely cut off from other parts of the country.

    This was the part of the road that had been giving Okeke and other commuters nightmares any time they were going to work.      However, their exhilaration knew no bounds when the Federal Government intervened and began to fix the road. They expressed gratitude to the government  for making life easier for road users and saving lives.

    “Sometimes we used to spend hours on this particular spot, but not too long, the Federal Government intervened and as you can see, things are back to normal. It now takes just 30 minutes to get to Akamkpa. I want to thank the Federal Ministry of Power Works and Housing for a job well done. We are all happy. You can see that things are gradually getting back to shape.

    “This place we are standing here, there used to be a very big gully by the side; it had been there for years. It gradually ate into the road and almost half of the road was gone before the intervention,” Okeke said.

    At the Iwuru, Akamkpa local government area section of the road, where rehabilitation has been completed, a commercial motorcyclist, Patrick Sylvanus, also expressed joy over the development.

    “The road was very bad but now, we are enjoying it  because they have worked on it. Before now, we were not able to pass through here because the place was very bad, but now, we thank God that the government has come to give us a better place to pass. We are very happy with the government. It has also helped our business in this area a lot. Also, we used to record a lot of accidents here because of the bad road. There was an accident that happened at this spot involving a tanker. It caught fire and  killed a lot of people here because of the bad road. We thank God, it is now fine,” Sylvanus said.

    Mr.Odey Joseph from Ogoja said he travels home more often now from Calabar as the condition of the road, though not perfect, has greatly improved.

    “I used to spend up to 10 to 12 hours anytime I wanted to travel from Calabar to my home town. Because of this, I was always reluctant to go home, even when it was important for me to do so. But now even though the work on the road is still going on, I can make it home in four to five hours. For this I am grateful,” Joseph said.

    In Ugep local government well known for the sale of garri, the women in the area, where a rehabilitated portion of the road passes through, expressed gratitude, saying their sales had improved.

    One of them, who gave her name simply as Nnanke, said because of the smooth road, more people now come to buy their products from other local government areas and even neighbouring states.

    “Before now, it was just people  passing through that used to patronise us. But now that the road is good, people actually come here directly to buy our garri. We are happy for this,” she said.

    The Federal Controller of Works, Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing in Cross River State, Engr.Bassey Nsentip, said the ministry was working on the rehabilitation of about 250 kilometers of the road.

    The road, which is the nerve of the state, runs 330 kilometers from Calabar in the southern part of the state up to Ogoja Local Government Area in the northern part,terminating at Gakem at the Benue State border.

    Nsentip said three different contractors are handling the rehabilitation of the road and the quality of the job was good. According to him, areas rehabilitated would last for over 20 years.

    He said the idea was that by the time government is done with the road, travellers would have a smooth ride all the way from Calabar, at one end of the state and to Ogoja, at the other end.

    Read also: Saving Cross River’s homeless children

    In January this year, Fashola flagged off the rehabilitation of the 73-kilometer Odukpani Junction-Ikot Okopra-Akpet 1 section of the Calabar-Ikom-Ogoja road in Biase local government area.     The minister said the project, which cost about N14 billion, is a demonstration of the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to bridge the infrastructural gap in the country, geared towards providing the much needed stimulants for economic growth and ease of doing business. The project is expected to be completed in 24 months.

    “This project is a 73-kilometer single carriage way. It links the industrial town of Akamkpa to Biase Yakurr road, hence its frequent  use by industrialists around the area, which led to its deterioration. The shoulders of the road have been completely eroded, while the entire alignment is riddled with alligator cracks, as well as characterised by potholes,” the minister, who was represented by the Minister of State in the Ministry, Mustapha Baba Shehuri, said.

    “When completed, the road will greatly reduce vehicle operation maintenance cost, improve travel time, reduce accidents as well as loss of lives and property. It will also enhance the socio-economic wellbeing of the people along the corridor, generate employment opportunities for both skilled and unskilled labour and assist in the fight against crime,” he said.

  • ‘Atiku will get 90 percent votes in Cross River’

    The Coordinator of the Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign in Cross River State, Mr Chris Agara has expressed confidence that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) would score not less than 90 per cent of votes in the presidential elections in the state.

    Mr Agara in an interaction with reporters in Calabar, that were carrying out an aggressive campaign down to the grassroots to mobilize support for Atiku in the elections.

    “We are looking forward to having a minimum of 90 per cent votes for the PDP in Cross River State. There is no arrogance in it. It is just so. We go right down to the polling units to mobilize and let the people know the difference between PDP and the Federal Government and for them to come out in their numbers and vote that day and vote the PDP and change the government of the day. Cross River is a PDP state and nobody can take away.

    “One of the problem we have in the country is unemployment. Atiku came to Cross River and said he is going to support the deep seaport and the construction of the superhighway. That alone would generate not just thousands but millions of job opportunities. The youths are wiling to work, only that the opportunities are not there. So if the youths are properly engaged their lives would change and the economy would go round. Trade and commerce would definitely thrive. The multiplier effects cannot be quantified. That is what we would be telling the people.

    “Atiku’s thrust is to empower the youths, human capital development and restructuring the country. Everybody should be allowed to grow according to their own abilities and capacities. Not to stifle people and not allow them to move because you want others to catch up with them.

    “Whoever wants to lead should have pedigree. He should have tried something on his own and developed it. You need a lot to start a transaction and grow that transaction to success because you would gone through a lot in terms of financial discipline, personal discipline, emotional stability, and foresightedness to grow. If the man in Adamawa is the single largest employer of labour in Adamawa, then you can imagine what such a person can do if given the opportunity to run the country,” Agara said.

  • FRSC warns personnel against identifying with political parties

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has warned its personnel against identifying with any political party or interests and adhere strictly to the assignments given to them by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in conjunction with other security agencies

    Corps Marshall Boboye Oyeyemi who gave the warning in Calabar, said that the  FRSC’s participation in the  2019 General  Elections will involve certifying all the vehicles to be used for  conveying  all the  election  materials  and  personnel.

    Speaking during a one-day capacity building programme on election duties organized by the Cross River State Sector Command held in Calabar, the Corps Marshall said officers of the FRSC must apply due diligence  and  integrity the organization is known for.

    The  FRSC boss, represented by Mr Henry Benamasia, said in ensuring  that  FRSC diligently carries out the responsibilities  entrusted to it  by the INEC in the  conduct of the elections, members of the  Corps have in the past few months been involved in various activities  to  prepare them well for the tasks ahead.

    “Let me  reiterate that  we have no excuse to give Nigerians for leaving any gap that could  undermine  the  process  in the  course of  performing  this  national assignment  as INEC  and the  entire  nation  expect  much  from us. In fact,  we cannot  afford to  disappoint  the government and  people  of Nigeria  at this  period of  national  expectations,” he said.

    Read Also: Austrian firms partner FRSC on drivers’ training

    He said the FRSC has a responsibility  in ensuring  that  it  works  assiduously  with  relevant  stakeholders to ensure that whatever security threats that  could  hamper  smooth  conduct  of  the  elections are  nipped in the  bud through  adequate  measures.

    “Hence, this  capacity development  programme today is most  relevant and  desirable  for  all participating staff of  the  Corps in the  election duties to be aware of the  challenges and work hard to overcome  them,” he said.

    State Sector Commander, FRSC, Mr Chidiebere Nkwonta charged officers and men  of the Corps to maintain the integrity the of organization which earned the trust of INEC.

    In attendance at the event were representatives of the Cross River State Commissioner of Police, Director of the Department of State Services as well as the Director, Vehicle  Inspection Office(VIO), Engineer  Paul Bepeh.

  • ‘Nigeria can save 40 per cent running cost in parliamentary system’

    Member representing Akamkpa/Biase Federal Constituency of Cross River State in the House of Representatives, Daniel Asuquo, has called for the parliamentary system of government for Nigeria.

    The two-term lawmaker from Akamkpa local government area, who is seeking a return to the House on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), told reporters in Calabar that the presidential system currently in place was not appropriate for the country and also encourages a lot of waste in expenditure.

    The lawmaker said up to 40 per cent of the running cost of government can be saved if it was a parliamentary system.

    “In fact I am one of those that think that the presidential system we are running is not good for Nigeria. We should go back to the parliamentary system. There are too many gains we can get from this. One, the cost of running government would be less. Two, the corruption would be reduced and the issues about conflict of sovereignty or power play between the three tiers of government would be respected. Right now as it is, the executive is trying to overlord the judiciary and legislature, which is not supposed to be so. The executive is now playing the big brother. So anything the executive does is not wrong, but any little wrongs of the judiciary or legislature is being amplified as if that is where the problem is.

    Read Also: Neither presidential nor parliamentary

    “The greater waste in government is in the executive. I am a member of the appropriation committee. We appropriate. We oversight. So we know the huge waste in our budget is in the executive. I give you an example. Every year if you look at the budgets recurrent expenditure which has overheads and all that, you see repetition of the same things year in year out, and you go on oversight and you don’t see any of those things being done. So you also see a retinue of appointees that people don’t even need. So if we go to a parliamentary system, you as a Minster is coming from the parliament. There are statutory staff that parliamentarians have, four or five for the senate. It is statutory, you don’t add anything. But in the executive a Minster can have up to 30 staff. Governors can have up to 200 or 1000.

    “In fact we would save 40 per cent of expenditure on recurrent and overhead. Running cost of government is very expensive in the presidential system.”

    Asuquo also stressed the need for the country to be restructured.

    “We should extend the discourse of Nigeria being looked at as a marriage that we need to amend. Restructuring is the only fair thing that can happen. Few days ago they discovered oil in Bauchi to be precise. The president was there to commission the first drilling. It was oil in commercial quantity. Nigeria in due course, you will see that that discussion people are running away from, they will have to face it.

    “They are running away from it because they had used the military era properly in designating constituencies that put them in advantage in the National Assembly. There is no equity even in that National Assembly. I grew up in the north, so I know those areas. If we talk about fairness, even in the distribution of the national wealth, I think it is lopsided. So now that the north has started to produce oil, the discussion is going to be very interesting,” Asuquo said.

     

  • Ayade presents ‘spiritual’ N1.04 trillion budget estimate

    Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade on Wednesday presented the 2019 budget estimate of N1, 043, 967, 000, 000 christened “Quabalistic Densification.

    Presenting the budget to the House of Assembly in Calabar, Ayade said it was a budget of deep vision to deliver a prosperity agenda under the catalysis of minimal money, intellect and the third force, which is spiritual under God the father.

    According to him, it is densification of all spiritual force to drive a combo of intellectual and monetary forces for actuation of the migration of Cross River State from Third World to First World.

    He said the budget would drive the industrialisation agenda of his administration.

    According to him, the budget was designed to enhance the realisation of at least one industrial project in each local government area of the state with a view to create wealth and move the people from poverty line.

    “The 2019 budget of N1.043 trillion is meant to shift Cross River from third world to first world.

    Read Also: My performance, my strength for re-election – Ayade

    “The budget will also deal with the issue of active industrialization in each local government area in the state.

    ”It is a budget of deep vision meant to deliver a prosperity agenda under the catalysis of minimal money and intellect.

    “The 2019 budget will witness the actualization of products from the industries established with the 2018 budget.

    “The budget has been designed with special focus on infrastructure and we have allocated 30 per cent of the budget for that,’’ he said.

    The governor said the performance of the 2018 budget of N1.3trillion was 74 per cent.

    He said the 2019 budget would be driven to create more jobs for the youths.

    He urged the House to give the budget speedy consideration and passage.