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Tag: Cross River State

  • Teenager impregnated by own father gives birth

    A 13-year old girl who was impregnated by her father has given birth to a baby at the Benin Central Hospital.

    The teenager who was in primary six when her father put her in family way has been in protective custody of the Edo State government.

    She is the eldest daughter of her 42 years old father identified as Friday Moses.

    Her father, who was a commercial motorcyclist, started having sex with her since she was seven after the death of her mother.

    An Edo State Family Court had in October last year sentenced the man to 14 years imprisonment with hard labour without an option of fine.

    The father hails from Cross River State but live in Edo State.

    It was gathered that the teenager delivered last Saturday.

    Read Also: Man stones father to death

    In a chat with newsmen, she said she would like to continue with her education and become a medical doctor.

    She stated that as at the time she was impregnated by her father, she was yet to write her First School Leaving Certificate examination.

    The teenager said she would be happy if her education is supported by good spirited individuals.

    Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Philip Ugbodaga, said he has directed the management to cancel the medical bills of the teenager.

    Dr. Ugbodaga said the hospital was in collaboration with the Ministry if Women Affairs and Social Development to take proper care of the teenage mother and her baby.

    Ugbodaga noted that subsequent assistance for the victim would be based on situation that arose.

    Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Ms Magdalene Ohenhen, could not be reached for comments.

     

  • I’m running for the Senate on my achievements, says Ndoma-Egba

    The Senatorial candidate for the Central Senatorial District of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba SAN, says he would be running on his achievements and not promises.

    Addressing reporters in Ikom local government area after a round of campaigns, he said recorded a lot of achievements during the time he was in the Senate and would do more if returns.

    He said the feedback from the people during the campaign was favorable as the came out in large numbers to show support.

    The former Senate Leader expressed confidence that the APC would sweep the elections in the state.

    Read Also: Buhari’s achievements real, impactful – Minister

    He was also confident that President Muhammadu Buhari would win the elections in Cross River State.

    He said in the entire time the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was in power, the state had never had it so good in terms of appointments and recognition despite not supporting him at the polls.

    Ndoma-Egba, the immediate past chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) said under the PDP the state had lost Bakassi, as well as its oil wells among others.

    “Come Saturday, Cross Riverians would troop out enmasse to show appreciation to Buhari. He will win convincingly. Under PDP Cross River lost Bakassi, oil wells and many others. You can go on with the litany of losses. Cross Riverians are tired of these losses and need something new and APC offers this,” he said

    He urged the security agencies should live up their duties and also be to non-partisan.

    Ndoma-Egba expressed confidence in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct free and fair elections in Cross River State.

  • Nigeria can save 40 per cent running cost in parliamentary system, says reps

    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 Peoples 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.

    “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.

  • 2019: Cleric urges mothers to work towards peace, unity

    The Associate Senior Pastor of Spring House Church, Calabar, Dr Eve Mboso, has called on mothers to work towards peace and unity during the upcoming general elections in the country.

    Mboso, while addressing reporters in Calabar on the “Pray, Mom Pray!’ programme coming up in the Cross River State capital she urged mothers to make sure they rise up to vote their values and not just sit back and hope for a change.

    “Change would come when the mothers also rise up after they have prayed for the nation,” Mboso, the founder of the programme, said.

    She urged people to vote for peace and the right values during the elections, knowing that whatever they do today will have an impact on the nation tomorrow.

    She said the “Pray Mom Pray!” programme puts together events where mothers from all spheres of life gather to learn life skills and pray and also have business sessions, where the women are taught entrepreneurial skills and other skills necessary for all round growth.

    Mboso, also a Biochemistry lecturer in the University of Calabar, said the prgramme was founded in 2015 and has convened outreaches, workshops, seminars as well as undertaken community projects,

    She said this year’s edition of the  programme which comes up in February 9, would have Pastor Nike Adeyemi of Daystar Christian Centre, Lagos and Mrs Ibikun Awosika, First Female Chairman, First Bank Nigeria as speakers.

    “According to the demographic, the Nigerian population age range of 0-14 years is approximately 42.54 per cent. This statistic shows a considerable number of children that can be raised as our future leaders with values that will make them relevant to the society and nation at large.

    “Hence our vision is to raise mothers who will impact their generations through prayers.

    Read Also: Don’t trade God’s will for Nigeria, cleric warns

    “The programme has played host to great women like Pastor Sade Igbiaye, Pastor Stella Illegogie, Pastor Nomthi Odukoya, Rev Funke Adejumo, Mrs Olufunto Igun, Mrs Ayo Megbope amongst others,” she said.

    Mboso said this year’s edition would be divided into two sessions.

    “The first session would be taken by Pastor Nike Adeyemi of Daystar Christian Centre, Lagos. Pastor Nike will emphasize on how the woman can harness her spiritual status to create positive change in the nation and family. She shall lead the women of Cross River State to pray for peace in Nigeria especially regarding the forthcoming elections.

    “At the second session, Mrs Ibikun Awosika, will be speaking on Mindset Reengineering for Corporate Relevance. Within this module, Mrs Awosika, will be addressing the importance of corporate relevance and why the woman should take her place in nation building.

    “She shall conclude the session by praying wisdom for our national leaders especially at this election period. She shall also be praying for courage for the women to rise up to spiritual and national responsibilities.

    “PMP believes that the woman can positively impact the nation through a reengineered mindset, God’s Word and prayer,” she said.

    Mboso said over the years, the programme has been progressive and making impact in the nation particularly in Cross River State.

  • NPA provides succour for displaced Bakassi returnees

    For the displaced people of Bakassi in Cross River State, it was another moment of respite as the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), made donations of assorted food and household items to them at their primary school camp in Akwa Ikot Eyo Edem in Akpabuyo local government area.

    The NPA management also provided free medical services and drugs to the aged, women, children and others with different health challenges.

    The Managing Director of the NPA, Mrs Hadiza Bala Usman, who made the donation said the gesture was part of the NPA’s corporate social responsibility.

    The almost 2000 Bakassi returnees including women, children and the aged living in the dilapidated camp since 2013, since they were forcefully evicted from Cameroon following the judgement of the International Court of Justice that ceded Bakassi to Cameroon.

    Read Also: The thrills and frills of Bakassi IDP camp

    Usman, who was represented by the Manager of the Calabar Port,  Mrs Olufunmilayo Olotu, said they were moved by the dilapidated state of the camp, and promised that that the NPA will make the gesture to improving the lot needy in the state a regular one.

    Some of items donated included bags of rice and garri, tubers or of yam, noodles, vegetable oil, milk, salt among others.

    The leader of the camp, Chief Etim Okon Ene, who received the items was elated, and expressed gratitude for the donation.

    Okon Ene also expressed surprise that that the NPA responded swiftly to their appeal, despite the short notice.

    He requested for more assistance to his people, especially with the provision of farm tools and manures.

  • Cross River: ‘Why Owan-Enoh’s billboards were brought down’

    The Cross River State Signage and Advertisement Agency (CRISAA) says it took down the billboards of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator John Owan-Enoh, because of fines owed the agency.

    Director-General of the agency, Mr Stanley Nsemo, who addressed reporters in Calabar, said the billboards had also not been maintained in a long time, and may not be safe.

    Owan-Enoh had last week accused the state government of taking down his billboards and threatened that the APC would retaliate, and shortly thereafter had followed the destruction of billboards of candidates of the APC and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by unknown persons.

    Nsemo, however agreed that Owan-Enoh had paid the required fee of N2 million for registration for governorship aspirants.

    He said Owan-Enoh pasted paper posters, which had been banned by the government, during the primary elections, which attract a fine of N5 million.

    Nsemo said they were not out to witch-hunt anyone, but were just doing their job according to the law.

    He said they did not destroy any billboard, but took them done neatly. He said disclosed that three of Owan-Enoh’s billboards were taken down, one of them in Ogoja local government area.

    The DG said he had a lot of respect for Senator Owan-Enoh and also for democracy, adding that the agency would not dabble into politics.

    He said the various rules that regulate the outdoor sector in the state were not targeted at any political party, but the entire public, so that the aesthetics of the state would not be compromised and the state would retain its status as a clean, green and beautiful one.

    “This press conference is because of the issues of violence and issues surrounding billboards in the state. Needless to say we are intrigued that something that is a policy that has been announced over time in fact as far back as 2017 has been politicized. This is a rule that we have carried not just to the political sector, but we also use in the business sector as well to stop the reckless proliferation of paper posters in the state. You will agree with me that there is a massive improvement in the sanity of the outdoor sector during this campaign period. In the past by now, all these walls would have been filled with paper posters.

    Read Also: Owan-Enoh: Ayade has nothing to campaign for

    “There have been threats from various angles on my persona and my office. The issue we have at hand is the issue of the fines and regulations. We set rules in place. Those rules started in 2017 and they were supposed to help protect and guide political campaigns and their supporters on how best they can advertise and use the outdoor sector. Our preserve has always been that, yes you can brand, but before you brand there are certain things you need to do. This was not targeted at the political campaign but at the general public, so you cannot say that we created this law because we wanted to target any political party,” he said.

    He said the Agency is determined to work in the best interest of all as enshrined in CRISSAA Law No. 8, of 2011 and that all law abiding citizens, businesses, and organizations operating within the state should be rest assured that we are poised to serve them without fear or favour.

    Nsemo said the Agency is empowered by law to monitor and enforce all outdoor advertisements with respect to its responsibilities, including but not limited to controlling of all outdoor structures to be used for signage and advertisements; issue licenses and permits for the construction and placement of outdoor structures for signage and advertisements in any part of the state; protect the environment from potential adverse impact from visual blights; organize the procedure to regulate the ownership and operation of outdoor structures for the purpose of signage or advertisements under specific regulations as contained in the law; reject, revoke or modify permit if found to be in violation of any of the provisions of the law or the conditions for its grants; and monitor and inspect through its monitoring unit any outdoor structure and verify its compliance with the law.

     

  • Calabar gets first rain in 2019

    Calabar, the Cross River State capital, witnessed its first rain of 2019 on Monday.

    The rain which started at about 1.30am fell steadily for almost two hours.

    A resident of the city, Emmanuel, said that this indicates blessings for the people of the state.

    Read Also: Eight killed in Calabar New Year accident

    In his words:  “As you may know, Calabar is a town known for the rains and this one coming quite early indicates there would be blessings for us this year. It may sound funny, but I personally went out to walk in the rain to receive the blessings directly. We hope this year is a better one for all of us.”

     

  • ‘Ayade can’t stand opposition’

    CROSS River State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senator John Owan-Enoh has accused Governor Ben Ayade of lying about the government’s policies and programmes.

    At a news conference in Calabar, Owan-Enoh said the government could not withstand opposition and was doing everything to stifle it.

    He said: “This is an administration that lies about everything. It is not the kind of thing that we are looking forward to. The government needs to be changed. This administration doesn’t know Cross River; it is not interested in Cross River and its future, and we need to change it.

    “This administration cannot stand competition because of how woefully it has performed. It tries to pose as a friend of President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja but back home, it is fighting opposition and doing things that are unspeakable.

    “People ask me where my billboards are; my billboards are not here in Calabar, particularly because this administration cannot stand seeing them; the government pulled them down.

    “Officials of the campaign organisation are getting intimidating calls every day. We are in a civil society and it is important this administration understands so. It needs to know that the election will be competitive; it will be keenly contested. We have candidates for every state constituency, federal constituency, and the senatorial district and the governorship candidate.

    “I appeal to every Cross Riverian, those at home and in the diaspora that the 2019 governorship election will be a very consequential election. Let everyone get involved. Better days are possible again. None of the two previously civilian administration won on the altar of ethnicity; they won on the basis of their credentials and what they were expected to do and they delivered in Cross River.

    “Cross River is in an unusual situation and requires an unusual response. Two thousand and nineteen is not about the north, central or south districts of the state; it is about Cross River and about who has the blueprint to deliver, who can be trusted, who can take us to the next level, and who can change the narrative of the state.

    “We are in an era where government needs to create the enabling environment for industrialists, for the private sector to invest. The government has no business going about building industries; that is the best way to go about stealing state resources.

    “The government has no business building industries in 2019; any government that does so wants to encourage corruption. It wants to put hands in the public till; that is what it is.

    “The greatest achievement of this administration which it talks about every day is the garment factory, but I challenge it to come clean on the true ownership of the factory, how much was spent to build it, and three and a half years later, how much the factory has generated for the state.

    “This administration spends time on window dressing; it cannot get anything right. I would run an administration that would be sincere. I believe in what I am doing. When Liyel Imoke handed over to Ayade in 2015, Cross River was the 11th largest economy in Nigeria. The latest statistics show that we are at 36. We are at rock bottom as a state. How bad can it get before people take action to change the course of their lives? The 2019 election is about the future of Cross River.”

    Owan-Enoh called on aggrieved party members to work together to oust the government in the state.

     

  • Traditional rulers resolve to check communal clashes in Cross River

    Traditional rulers in Odukpani local government area of Cross River State have resolved to stop incessant communal and boundary clashes among them.

    This followed a meeting of all traditional rulers in the area convened by the Paramount Ruler of the Local government, Etinyin Otu Asuquo Otu Mesembe VI to address the various issues in the area.

    Addressing the traditional rulers, Etinyin Asuquo Otu Mesembe regretted that there had been destruction of lives and property in the area in recent times and wondered why brothers should take up arms against themselves because of boundary disputes.

    The Paramount Ruler stated that the area had been noted for peace for decades and warned that any traditional ruler who could not control youths in his domain would be sanctioned.

    The Royal father observed that due to the crisis in some communities in the area, many people had been rendered homeless.

    Read Also: Cross River community gets N7.8m solar powered borehole

    Etinyin Mesembe said if the situation was not brought under control, it would affect the forthcoming general elections in the area.

    He warned against using youths to foment trouble before, during and after the election.

    He said the state governor had decided to withdraw certificate of recognition from any traditional ruler who allows his domain to be used as war group.

    The state Commissioner for Finance, Mr Asuquo  Ekpenyong who represented governor Ben Ayade on the occasion commended the traditional rulers for coming together to find solution to problems in the area.

    The Commissioner stated that the state government was concerned about the bloody communal clashes, which had claimed the lives of innocent people in the area.

    Different traditional rulers who spoke stressed the need for peaceful coexistence and supported the decision for all traditional rulers in warring communities to take traditional oaths to stop clashes among them.

  • C/River lauded for $3m commitment to water, sanitation

    The Cross River State government has been commended for its commitment on an annual $3 million investment in the water, sanitation and hygiene sector.

    In a communiqué at the end of the State’s WASH Steering Committee one-day advocacy meeting with the media, government and development partners to review the status of Water and Sanitation Hygiene, in Calabar, the state government was also urged to commence practical modalities for the implementation of the pledge, which was made at the Mandela 100 Global Citizen Festival in Johannesburg, South Africa.

    The programmes under review at the meeting were the EU/UNICEF-WSSSP II, the Global Sanitation Funded-RUSHPIN Programme; USAID and Coca Cola Foundation; Water and Development Alliance (WADA) project; and the UKAid sanitation project with United Purpose

    The communiqué signed by the Commissioner, Ministry of Water Resources, Ntufam Gabe Oji, and 12 others read in part, however observed that there are key outstanding gaps requiring urgent government attention in the four major water and sanitation programmes in the state that are coming to an end in 2019: the EU/UNICEF-WSSSP II, the Global Sanitation Funded-RUSHPIN Programme, USAID and Coca Cola Foundation; Water and Development Alliance (WADA) project, and the UKAid sanitation project with United Purpose.

    The meeting also called on the state government to release and make available agreed operational counterpart funds to the EU-UNICEF programmes and Global Sanitation Fund-RUSHPIN programmes.

    They noted that there are future investment opportunities for Cross River State in view of the State of Emergency for the WASH sector declared by the Federal Government and the 30 billion naira WASH fund.

    The participants applauded the state for being successful in having three out of Nigeria’s five Open Defecation Free (ODF) areas, and called on the state government to scale up the successful models of sanitation applied in the three ODF local governments’ areas of Obanliku, Yakurr and Bekwarra.

    They also agreed that it is pertinent to have a comprehensive brief on the state of water supply and sanitation presented to the state governor and his executive council.