The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Cross River Government

  • Gov Otu restores power supply to two LGAs after 11 years

    Gov Otu restores power supply to two LGAs after 11 years

    The Cross River government has restored power supply to two local council areas of Akpabuyo and Bakassi after 11 years of being disconnected from the national grid.

    The Darlington Edem, Coordinator of Think Cross River Initiative, made the disclosure on Thursday during a media tour of projects executed by the current administration.

    Edem alleged that the residents were disconnected from the national grid over the years due to non payment of electricity bills.

    According to him, the governor took the initiative after inauguration to enter an agreement with the Port-Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) that led to the restoration of power supply to the council areas.

    “Part of the agreement was the promise of regular and prompt settlement of bills, procurement of stolen and vandalised transformers as well as cables.

    “Indeed, this was one of the campaign promises by Governor Bassey Otu to the people of Akpabuyo and Bakassi that he will restore power supply to the areas.

    ” Meanwhile, the people have commended the governor for ending their years of suffering and economy hardship due to the absence of power supply for 11 years,” he said.

    The village head of Ikang community, Chief Antigha Cobham 1, said that in addition to restoration of economy activities, security in the two council areas had also improved as a result of restoration of electricity.

    “Before now, once it’s 5p.m, nobody goes outside and come into Bakassi. But this has changed and we are indeed grateful to the governor.

    Read Also: Archbishop Bassey hails Gov Otu for restoration of Cross River

    “The governor is doing a lot, even beyond Bakassi,” he said.

    The village head said that the only request the people of Bakassi demanded from the governor now is to see to the realisation of the Bakassi Deep Seaport.

    According to him, “this issue of Bakassi Deep Seaport project has been on for long, we want our sweet prince, Bassey Otu to see that this come to fruition this time. ”

    A hotelier in Bakassi, Mr Anthony Edem, described restoration of power supply to the area as a “restoration of our means of livelihood.”

    According to Edem, he spent an average of N300,000 weekly on diesel to run his hotel.

    “This has impacted hugely on my business and other businesses since the problem started.

    “We are happy that this issue of power supply have been corrected. We are grateful to the governor for restoring our source of livelihood,” he said.

    (NAN)

  • Viewing Center Tragedy: C/River to foot bills of hospitalised victims

    Viewing Center Tragedy: C/River to foot bills of hospitalised victims

    The Cross River Government said it would foot the medical bills of hospitalised victims of Thursday’s electrocution some football fans in Calabar.

    The Deputy Governor of the state, Prof. Ivara Esu, announced the gesture when he visited some of the victims at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) on Friday.

    In the incident, which occurred while the fans were watching a Europa Championship match between Manchester United and Anderlecth of Belgium, at a private viewing centre, some persons reportedly died and many injured.

    The viewing centre is pm at Nyagasang area of Atimbo in Calabar Municipal Council Area, and the tragedy occurred at about 9.30 p.m.

    Esu stated that seven persons died in the incident, which happened when electric cables from a high tension installation fell on the make-shift beer parlour used a viewing centres during football matches.

    He said that the dead were among 18 injured who were taken to the teaching hospital, adding that 10 of them were responding to treatment while one was in the intensive care unit.

    He described the incident as `painful’, but said that there had been misinformation about the casualty figure.

    According to him, from what I have been briefed by the hospital management, seven persons died here in UCTH.

    “Some persons said that some of the victims were taken to private hospitals and native homes for treatment, but what we can confirm from UCTH is that seven persons died out of the tragedy.

    “The government is going to take full responsibility for their treatment,’’ he said.

    The deputy governor said that the state would set up a commission of inquiry to ascertain the real cause of the problem.

    “The Commissioner for Lands and Housing has been mandated to investigate why the building was erected directly under the high tension.

    “ We are still trying to trace where the other victims were taken to; what we can account for now are those in UCTH,’’ he said.

    The Head of Emergency Response Team in UCTH, Prof. Ikpeme Ikpeme, told newsmen that the victims were in stable condition and responding to treatment.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some of the victims in the hospital sustained injuries on their legs, hands and head region.

    One of them, Mr Douglas Ibok, told NAN that the he went into the viewing centre at about the 80th minute of the match and immediately the explosion which was like a bomb occurred.

    “As soon as I stepped into the viewing centre, paid and sat down, I heard a very loud sound in form of a bomb.

    “As soon as the cable sparked, all the persons inside the viewing centre were unable to move or speak because of the electrocution. I only woke up to realize that I am in a hospital,’’ he said.

    Another victim, Mr Benedict Okon, said that the viewing centre had been his regular centre for watching foreign and local matches for a long time.

    Okon, a motor mechanic, said “I am very happy that the state government has promised to pay our medical bills because it would have been difficult for me at this point.’’Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC), told NAN that the company had enlightened people that for safety, they should give tolerance of 5.5 metres away from the high tension cable while erecting structures.

    “The place in question has been isolated; light has been tripped off in that area with a view to ensure that the affected cable is replaced,’’ he said.

  • Cross River to partner South Africa on hotel institute

    Cross River to partner South Africa on hotel institute

    The Cross River Government says it is working with the North West Province of South Africa to establish an International Hotel Institute in Calabar.

    Gov. Ben Ayade said this on Tuesday while addressing a delegation from Mafikeng, North West Province of South Africa in Calabar.

    The governor said that the establishment of the institute would facilitate the development of the state’s tourism potentials.

    Ayade added that an action committee would be set up immediately to ensure that the institute became operational in five months before the Calabar Carnival.

    The governor commended the delegation, led by former Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa, Amb. Uche Ajulu-Okeke, for the partnership.

    “I am just taken aback by so much that the South African team could unfold in a short period of just about two days.

    “But I think we will be doing a disservice to this state if we do not also compel them to go to Obudu Cattle Ranch. You need to be at the Ranch.

    “I am quite excited at all your thoughts and concepts you shared; your fears and concerns about Nigeria have melted away just by your first visit to Nigeria and Calabar.

    “I am sure also that the more you stay, the more you fall in love with Cross River State,’’ he said.

    He thanked the team for carrying out an in-depth study and analysis of the areas visited and coming out with an elaborate and unambiguous technical report and recommendations.

    The leader of South African Technical Team, Uche Ajulu-Okeke, explained that the twin-city agreement was signed during Ayade’s visit to South Africa in February.

    During the tour, the team visited the Marina resort, agriculture sites and farms.

    The delegation was in the state for a three-day working visit as part of economic cooperation on areas of agriculture, tourism and establishment of an International Hotel Institute.

  • Cross River receives solar powered refrigerators from EU

    Cross River receives solar powered refrigerators from EU

    The Cross River Government has received 10 solar powered refrigerators from the European Union Support to Immunisation in Nigeria (EU-SIGN) for the storage of vaccines.

    Dr Betta Edu, the Director-General, State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, made the disclosure on Tuesday in an interview with journalists in Calabar.

    Edu said that the direct solar refrigerators would enhance immunisation and primary healthcare in the state, especially for storage of vaccines during power outages.

    She said that the refrigerators had been distributed to 10 local government areas across the three senatorial districts with a view to ensuring quality healthcare delivery.

    Edu said that the state was among the 23 states in the country that benefitted from the EU project.

    She said that Gov. Ben Ayade had flagged off the project in the state in November.

    “We are appealing to EU-SIGN to complete the earlier projects they started in the state, including renovation of the state Cold Store and repairs of the Chain Equipment.

    “We are happy that we have a governor who is so passionate about healthcare in the state, and in his magnanimity, he has approved a permanent site for the agency,’’ Edu said.

    She said that the governor had signed into law the State Health Insurance Scheme tagged: “Ayadecare’’ meant to make healthcare accessible and affordable for residents.

    She said that with the signing of the law, the state was on its way to achieving universal and quality healthcare that would strengthen primary healthcare delivery in the state.

  • C’River govt. working towards production of 500,000 tons of cocoa annually –Commissioner

    C’River govt. working towards production of 500,000 tons of cocoa annually –Commissioner

    The Cross River Government is working towards the actualisation of production of 500,000 metric tonnes of cocoa annually to boost the revenue profile of the state.

    The Commissioner of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Prof. Anthony Eneji, made the disclosure on Wednesday in Calabar while briefing newsmen on the activities of his Ministry.

    He said: “Cocoa is one of our gold mines; our joint goal is to expand cocoa production and achieve our target of 500,000 metric tonnes yearly.

    “We are really working on that; even if we meet half of this target (250,000 tonnes) it will take care of the projected revenue of the state annually.’’

    Also speaking, Mr Oscar Ofuka, Special Adviser to the governor on Cocoa Development, said that over 13,000 hectares of land had been allocated to farmers for the 2016 farming season at Cocoa estates in Ikom and Etung LGAs.

    He said that the government was committed to achieving a cocoa revolution in the state, adding that, the state has the potential to becoming the highest producer of cocoa in Nigeria.

    “We are doing everything possible to becoming the number one cocoa producing state in the country.

    “Our number two position is not acceptable to the government and the governor has directed that we work harder to becoming the highest cocoa producer in Nigeria, ‘’ he said.

    Ofuka warned those working against the government’s interest to desist from such act as the government was ready to invoke relevant laws against them.

    “We will prosecute all those working against the economic interest of the state, ‘’ he warned.