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Tag: Cross River

  • 2019: Edem Duke ‘will work with all’ in Cross River

    A governorship aspirant on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River, Chief Edem Duke, has promised to work with non indigenes to develop the state, if elected governor in 2019.

    Speaking yesterday in Calabar when the Yoruba community in Cross River visited him, Duke lauded the ingenuity of the Yoruba, describing them as the engine room of Nigeria’s economy.

    He said there was hardly any sector without a Yoruba as front runner, and acknowledged their contributions to the development of the state.

    “I salute the Yoruba in Cross River for their hard work and peaceful nature. Since I was born and lived here in Calabar, I have never heard that the Yoruba community in Cross River had any problem with the natives.

    “If I become governor of this state through your vote, I am assuring you that I will work with you and other non indigenes to develop the state and take it to a higher level.

    “I will create an enabling environment so that you can carry out your daily routines without fear of molestation, ‘’ he said.

    The former Minister of Culture and Tourism restated his resolve to restore tourism potential in the state.

    “I will make sure that Cross River becomes the tourism hub of the sub Saharan Africa because we are endowed from the Northern hills of Obanliku to the southern waters of Bakassi and we have barely harnessed these potentials.

    “We will ensure that the business atmosphere, leisure and hospitality Cross River is known for is completely re-branded and brought back to life,” he said.

    The governorship aspirant said his aspiration was driven by a desire to reposition the state and turn around its fortunes, having seen that the state was not progressing.

    He acknowledged the strength of other aspirants, but noted that with his experience, he has all it takes to provide good governance to the people.

    Edem Duke hailed the Yoruba community for the visit and described it as a bold and unusual step.

    Speaking, leader of the delegation, Mr Ishmaila Osho, said they were proud to identify with the aspirant whose record was “commendable and enough to attract the desired progress to the state’’.

    Osho said the Yoruba community would support him because they believe he would use his position as governor to create an enabling environment for peace to reign and business to thrive.

  • 34,000 Cameroonian refugees in Cross River

    The Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) said yesterday that over 34,000 Cameroonians are  currently taking refuge in six local government areas of the state.

    The Director General of SEMA , Mr John Inaku, told  the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar that the inflow was a fallout  of the crisis in Cameroon over the demand for Ambazonia Republic by the Southern Cameroonians.

    The refugees are  in Obudu, Boki, Ikom, Etung, Akamkpa and Obanliku local government areas of the state.

    Inaku said about 21,000 of the  refugees   have been documented by the United Nations High Commission on Refugees and the National Commission for Refugees.

    “As an agency, we go into the interior areas that have not been accessed by these organisations and holistically, we have 34,000 of them already on ground,’’ he said.

  • Two men killed in Cross River, Ebonyi communal conflict

    Two unidentified young men from Ukelle community in Yala local government area of Cross River State were reportedly killed on Thursday morning by people suspected to be from Igbeagu community in Izzi local government area of Ebonyi State.

    This happening just a couple of days after the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazzau, visited both states to find lasting solutions problem between the two neigbouring communities.

    A resident of Ukelle who called The Nation on phone yesterday alleged that the two ill-fated young men were riding on a motorcycle at Izzi-Mfuma village, when youths suspected to be from Igbeagu ambushed them and shot them at close range killing them instantly.

    “This latest attack is unprovoked and we do know what to do anymore from stopping the Izzi people from killing us. Right now negotiations are on by all stakeholders, security agencies and even the government at the state and federal levels to resolve this problem, but it appears the people just love killing just for killing sake.

    “About three Sundays ago, while the deputy governor of Cross River State and that of Ebonyi were in a meeting to resolve the problem they were still attacking us. In fact while the meeting was ongoing they invaded some of our communities and killed three young men. One of them was beheaded and we don’t know where the head is till today. One Vincent Ojobo was the unfortunate young man that was beheaded. He was killed at Ijobolo 2 Village. The other two were killed in Ipollo Village.

    “As I speak with you Ukelle is a ghost town. The community has been deserted. Go to our villages like Ijibollo 1 and 2, Ogomogomo, Ogba, Ujama, Mfuma and Ipollo 1 and 2, they are like warzones. They have burnt down our houses. Our farmland and livestock have been destroyed. We can no longer go to our farms again for fear of our lives. The children are no longer going to school. In fact life has ground to a halt for us in this community.

    “We are begging the Government to come in urgently to protect. We are only always forced to defend ourselves, because we are not aggressors. But the Ebonyi people from time to time for no reason attack and kill our people indiscriminately. For how long will this continue?” the source who did not want to be named said.

    Cross River Acting Governor, Prof Ivara Esu, when he received Dambazzau in his office in Calabarexpressed frustration over the conflict, saying they were confused about how to go about the matter as all efforts to stem the problem has been futile.

    He was upset that meeting with their Ebonyi counterparts with service chiefs, traditional rulers, assembly members, the Director General of the National Boundary Commission, among other stakeholders from both communities to resolve the issue, the killing have still continued.

    He had said Cross River loves peace and in conflicts with neighbouring states, they are usually not the aggressors, but only try to defend themselves.

    Esu said state is bordered by Akwa Ibom, Abia, Ebonyi and Benue States which at one time or the other are in conflict with communities in the state over land.

    He begged the Federal Government and the NBC to do all that can be done to restore peace to the people of the state.

  • Ekiti, Cross River and narative of opposition victory

    The gubernatorial election in Ekiti State held on Saturday July 14, has gripped the attention of many stakeholders accross the country and Cross River State is not left out. The Chief Returning Officer of the election, Professor Idowu Olayinka, the vice chancellor of the University of Ibadan, announced the final results in the early hours of Sunday July 15.

    According to the announcement, Kayode Fayemi of the All Progressives Congress APC, secured 197,459 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Professor Olusola Eleka of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, who scored 178,121 votes.

    In some corners, it has been heard where opposition dreamers have attempted to draw similarities between Ekiti and Cross River as civil service states and the narative of opposition victory in the gubernatorial election in Cross River State in 2019.

    It is important to bring the few critical issues in this conversation to the fore to put things in perspective for the benefit of the simple minded. Beyond the definition of being a civil service state, both have nothing in common in the circumstance under consideration.

    Let’s begin with even the civil service state toga.

    It is not a secret that Cross River State is on its way out of the civil service state status as the administration of Ben Ayade is on a fast track of development through it’s massive agricultural and industrial investments in the state. The issue of salary payment which was a major determinant in Ekiti election outcome is the exact opposite in Cross River State. Indeed, Cross River State ranks as the first state in Nigeria when it comes to salary payment.

    Of course the governor has been nicknamed the “salary master” because of his prompt and timely payment of salaries in the state. Verily, he is deserving of the accolade as he often times pays workers salaries on the first day of the working month.

    Many in the opposition have often argued that this is no achievement but with the recent turn of events in Ekiti State, it is clear to many that payment of workers salaries is an important part of good governance and delivery of democratic dividends, because it is trite that a hungry man is an angry man.

    Ekiti State government under the leadership of Governor Ayodele Fayose, was owing workers salary in the state for up to seven months.

    This however is not perculiar to the state as some states even under the All Progressive Congress APC leadership are owing workers salaries; some for up to a year.

    Indeed Ayade must be doing magic to have maintained a clean slate despite being the lowest earning state in the country.

    If we also consider Ayade’s political disposition; his style of political leadership; it permeates the boundaries of political divisions and gives preference to development above political differences. This has been rightly christened “politics with ethics”. Right from his initial foray into politics from his successful stint in business, Professor Ayade has shown that he is a different breed of politician and his foray into politics is to use it as a platform for impact and contribute to the development of the nation.

    He thus relegated the medieval politics to the backwaters and had chosen instead to deliver leadership through relationship building and seek common grounds in vision actualization.

    Here, there is a great difference between him and many other politicians including Fayose of Ekiti State.

    This can be seen in the cordial relationship that exists between him and the president, though both of them belong to different political and ideological leanings. This made the president come to Cross River State twice in three years; something he has not done in any other state but two.

    This has left many in the oppostion in a state of confusion with some saying the governor is nursing the intention to decamp into the opposition party.

    How true could that be?

    This is just part of the quality and style of politics that the governor is disposed to. It is also not a secret that the All Progressives Congress in Cross River State has been in shambles since its inception.

    For more than four years, the party has been unable to resolve its internal crisis and as such has neither been able to grow nor position itself as a viable opposition, able to provide alternative leadership if there was need for any.

    In addition to this, now that the crisis at the national level of the party has given birth to the Reformed All Progressives Congress rAPC, we are yet to see how this will play out in Cross River State.

    The last but not the least issue I would like to consider are some of the landmark industries that Ayade is dotting the entire Cross River state with, something Ekiti cannot yet boast of.

    Some of the industries include the Rice Seeds and Seedlings Factory recently commissioned by President Mohammadu Buhari, when he visited the state, the Cross River Garment Factory, earlier commissioned by the Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo, the Calabar Pharmaceutical Company CALAPHARM, which is more than 90 percent completed.

    Others are the Cross  River garment factory which is 100 percent  completed, the independent power plant in Calabar Municipal, which is 90 percent completed, Toothpick Factory in Ekori, which has been completed and awaiting commissioning, the Instant Noodles Factory in Calabar which is under construction, the vitaminized rice mill in Ogoja, the Feedmill and Yellow Maize Farm in Obubra, the Banana Plantation with automated irriggation in Odukpani, the Poles, Piles and Pylon Factory in Akamkpa among many others. All these by a first term governor.

    The president has said that Governor Ayade has an eye for futuristic projects that are shifting the economic base of the state from oil rather than short term projects to get political gains.

    The president has also said that: “Ayade has become a reference point in our agricultural revolution project.”

    Who else can be a better second term campaign spokesman for the governor than the president, with all these quotable quotes?

    In fact, the opposition party needs a leader in the mould of Ayade, a leader who plays politics with ethics, to be able to get out of its intractable challenges. I wish them the best. However, wishes are not horses, if they were, beggers would ride.

    Still, wishes are not enough, for they cannot overcome the greed and base nature of some men which is at display.

  • Indian consortium to invest $100m in Cross River

    Consortium of Indian firms under the auspices of Associated Chambers of Commerce, Industries, Agriculture  and Mines (ASSOCHAM) has expressed its readiness to invest well over USD100 Million in se sectors of the Cross River State  economy.

    Speaking with journalists shortly after inspecting some projects executed by Governor Ben Ayade in Calabar, the group attributed its investment interest in the state to the conducive and friendly business environment the governor has entrenched.

    They expressed optimism that their partnership with the state government will create more jobs for the teeming youth as well as check restiveness.

    Rahul Mehndiratta, a representative of Avaada Concept, said: “We are bringing in about one hundred million United States dollars to invest in Cross River to build and evacuate two set of solar plants that will provide each local government headquarters in the state with 100 megawatt electricity to support the industrialisation initiative of the state.

    According to Mehndiratta, “Because of the critical role power plays in any economy, we are here to complement the effort of the state government in promoting industrialization by leveraging on the abundant resources to supply solar powered electricity to the state.”

    On his part, Ravi Kumar representative of Simba Group, manufacturers of tricycles, disclosed the decision of his firm to put up a training school in the state on repairs of tricycles.

    “We are putting up a training school in Calabar to train mechanics and drivers on how to drive their tricycles safely with the view to reducing the rate of accident.”

    He further hinted: “For the first phase, we are training and also empowering after training, 200 artisans that will be selected across the 18 local government areas with plans to expand for more people as we go on.”

    Also speaking, Engr. Nitin Mahajan Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, T & D Technologies (Nig) Limited, explained: “We are bringing in the technology for a large scale mechanised farming in the state to check food insecurity with 100 percent buy back from India and to put in place effective distribution network in the state that will grow agro business in the for wealth creation.”

    Responding,  Governor Ayade stated that “The good thing with their investment is that they are not coming as a people who are looking for purchase but they are here with a concept to invest, bringing in Indian equity to invest and reap in the process.”

    He added that “If our rice revolution initiative must be sustained, we need these kinds of partnership because I have implicit confidence in them and I am very excited with gratitude to the Indian High Commission for their role in making this a reality.

    “I must say that this is one of the investments that are coming due to my trips to India. Today they are here ready to bring in their money to grow our economy and better the lot of our citizenry.”

    Continuing Ayade said: “This is good news; indeed this is what has come with the advent of our rice seedling factory because the whole world has watched it and they are fully conscious of what we are doing here. Indians are rapidly going into the world in a fierce competition with China and the rate at which they are going with their sophistication and the reliability of their equipment, I see them as a group to partner with which is the reason they have come to the state.”

    On the power supply which has been a major bane to industrialisation in the country.

    “Obviously due to the huge investment that will be coming through the rice value chain and the ambitious commitment of the state to do over one million hectares of land for the cultivation of rice and additional twenty thousand hectares for the cultivation of yellow maize, it is obvious that we need partnerships, because these farms are located in stranded communities in the sense that there is no direct access to national grid, so, the connectivity and supply of power from the various Indian groups using photovoltaic cells, their instrumentality of solar power becomes very imperative and we are rooting for them,” he added.

  • $322m Abacha loot: Cash transfers to poor homes begin in July

    The Federal Government says it will commence disbursement of the recovered 322 million dollars Abacha loot through Conditional Cash Transfers (CCT) to 302,000 poor households in 19 states in July.

    Mr Tukur Rumar, of the National Cash Transfer Office (NTCO), said this at a roundtable on assets recovery organised by the Swiss Embassy on Thursday, in Abuja.

    The event was organised to intimate citizens and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on the efforts both nations were making on asset recovery after the Post-Global Forum on Assets Recovery (GFAR) held in Washington D.C. in Dec. 2017.

    At the forum, Nigeria made commendable commitments on beneficial ownership, tax transparency, asset recovery, transparency management of recovered funds and payments to victims of corruption.

    The states are: Niger, Kogi, Ekiti, Osun, Oyo, Kwara, Cross River, Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Benue, Taraba, Adamawa, Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, Plateau, Nasarrawa, Anambra and Internally Displaced Camps (IDPs) in Borno.

    According to Rumar, the benefiting households will receive N5,000 monthly and are derived from the National Social Register (NSR) that the 19 states are already on.

    He said the programme was designed to also train beneficiaries on livelihood skills, social skills and other programmes that would change their lives completely.

    Rumar, however, said that NCTO had been making payments to the 46,000 poor and vulnerable households across the 19 states since Dec. 2016, adding that the number had increased to 290,000.

    Mr Iorwa Apera, the National Coordinator, National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office (NASSCO), said 503,055 households were already on the NSR register from the 19 states, adding that by July, there would be a social register for all the states of the federation.

    He said that of the Abacha loot, about 302,000 poor homes across the 19 states would be mined by the NCTO to begin to receive the Abacha loot.

    Apera told the participants that the Federal Government would begin with those states, because they had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NASSCO to put in place certain infrastructure to empower the national register.

    “Some of the states delayed, but the other ones were quick enough to set up infrastructure that allowed us to start work there, but all the states are now on board as they have set up their state operating offices and donated office equipment to us.

    “As states come on board, we enroll and so they extend to the beneficiary register, and presently we are generating data in all the states now,’’ he said.

    Read Also: EFCC launches probe as $500m Abacha loot goes missing

    Mrs Linda Ekeator of the office of the Special Adviser to the President on Social Investment said the Abacha loot was invested in the social investment programme, because it was a programme that was already supported by the World Bank.

    She said that before the money was returned to Nigeria, there was an agreement with the Swiss government that it should be used for alleviating poverty and this was to be done with the supervision of the World Bank.

    The Swiss Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Eric Mayoraz said the 722 million dollars of the Abacha family money that was hidden in Switzerland was fully repatriated in 2005.

    He also said that the 322 million dollars that was repatriated in Dec. 2017, was money that was frozen by the Swiss Attorney-General, but was not domiciled in Switzerland, but in other countries, mainly Luxembourg.

    He, however, said measures had been put in place to ensure that Swiss banks were not used to hide stolen funds from other countries.

    “For possible new cases, the Swiss legislation has fundamentally changed.

    “The law in Switzerland does not allow bank secrecy anymore, and all banks and financial institutions have a due diligence duty to ask everyone coming with money where it is coming from.

    “That does not mean that there are no illegal or stolen assets now in Switzerland, but then there is another instrument I signed myself with the Nigerian Ministry of Justice and Switzerland two years ago on mutual legal assistance and this is for new cases.

    “Now, this agreement with our own Ministry of Justice and Nigeria is that there will be direct communication and exchange on mutual legal request and we are really collaborating with EFCC and other agencies in Nigeria,’’ Mayoraz.

    The Executive Director, ANEEJ, Rev. David Ugolor, said for Nigerian citizens to not keep spreading rumours about the whereabouts of recovered loots, the government must be transparent in all the processes.

    He also said that CSOs should be given access to the social register to enable it monitor properly whether or not the beneficiaries received what was due to them.

  • Cross River reference point of agric policy, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday described Cross River State as a reference point in the agriculture revolution of his administration.

    He spoke in Calabar while inaugurating the state seedlings and seed multiplication factory.

    The President said the project was in line with his administration’s zero oil economic roadmap.

    He said: “When we assumed the rein of leadership our administration launched a zero-oil economic roadmap as a way of making our country less dependent on oil, while encouraging investments in other sectors of the economy, particularly agriculture.

    “I am happy that Governor Ayade keyed into that policy and has today become the reference point in our agricultural revolution effort.”

    He added: “The factory, said to be the first in Africa, is an automated plant with a capacity to produce high-yielding vitaminised and disease-resistant rice seedlings which will improve rice yield from the current national average of three to four tons per hectare to about nine to 10 tons per hectare, thus helping to ensure rice sufficiency in the country and doing away with import and saving foreign exchange for Nigeria.”

    He said besides creating employment opportunities, the rice factory will be a veritable platform for income generation for the state.

    He directed federal agencies to cooperate with the state mandating “the Central Bank of Nigeria, through its Anchor Borrower’s Programme, to partner with Cross River in the area of supply of seedlings to our farmers.”

    “It is therefore, my hope and expectation that other states that are yet to fully take advantage of the zero-oil economic roadmap of the Federal Government will take a cue from Cross River State,” Buhari said.

    Ayade said the state was aware of the President’s focus which inspired the decision to invest in agro-allied industries including cocoa processing industry, banana Plantation, soya bean, calapharm, Instant noodles, rice mill, among others.

    “These are all products of your discussion with me each time I have to meet with you and therefore, everything Cross River gives me and the entire people of Cross River credit,” Ayade said.

    The governor called for a standing ovation for the President, saying: “I say so because we have five million hectares of paddy soil in Nigeria, unfortunately, less than 1.7 million hectares of that used to be cultivated; but since you came in with your aggressive programme on rice, the amount of cultivable land has grown to three million hectares and it is rising.

    “We needed to change and bring agriculture into a digital age and nexux. It is against that background that Cross River State under my watch and based on your advice,  we focused on automated rice seed and seedling factory.

    “We are just not stopping at providing seeds and seedlings, we have gone further to also set up the first vitaminised rice plant.”

    The President was accompanied by Governors Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi). Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia); Akwa Ibom Deputy Governor Moses Okon, Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita; Niger Delta Affairs Minister Usani Usani and Transportation Minister Rotimi Amarachi.

  • Buhari commissions Rice Seedling Factory in Calabar

    President Muhammadu Buhari, Tuesday, commissioned the Cross River State seedlings and seed multiplication factory in Calabar which he described as people-oriented project.

    The President said the project was in line with his administration’s zero oil economic roadmap with Cross River Governor, Senator Ben Ayade becoming a reference point in that vision.

    His words: “When we assumed the rein of leadership of our dear country, our administration launched a zero-oil economic roadmap as a way of making our country less dependent on oil, while encouraging investments in other sectors of the economy, particularly agriculture.

    “I am happy that Governor Ayade keyed into that policy and has today become the reference point in our agricultural revolution effort.”

    While emphasising the significance of the event, President Buhari said: “That we are gathered here today is no doubt a determination woven through to precision and a glowing testament to the fact that the policy is working.”

    The President who lauded Ayade for the giant stride and for keying into his agricultural policy,  further noted that the factory spoke loudly about his administration’s strides in agriculture, adding that it’s capacity to produce high yield and disease resistant seeds, will aid in job creation and earn revenue for the state.

    Read Also: Ayade unveils theme for Carnival Calabar 2018

    “The factory, said to be the first in Africa, is an automated plant with a capacity to produce high yielding vitaminized and disease resistant rice seedlings,” Buhari said.

    On the impact of the seedlings factory on the economy, the President said: “Seedlings from this factory will improve rice yield from the current national average of 3 to 4 tons per hectare to about 9 to 10 tons per hectare, thus helping to ensure rice sufficiency in the country and doing away with import and saving foreign exchange for Nigeria.

    “Besides creating employment opportunities for the unemployed, I have no doubt that this rice factory will also be a veritable platform for income generation for Cross River.”

    Continuing, he said: “I am further told that the factory has the capacity to meet both foreign and domestic demands. This will go a long way in placing Nigeria on the global rice production map.”

    He directed relevant federal parastatals to partner with the state even as he hoped that the factory, alongside other agro-based industries being built by the state will inspire other leaders to key into his vision of ensuring food security for the country. “I therefore, enjoin relevant Federal Government Agencies such as the Ministry of Agriculture and the Central Bank of Nigeria, through its anchor borrower’s programme, to partner with Cross River in the area of supply of seedlings to our farmers.

    “With Governor Ayade’s other investments in agriculture such as the ongoing construction of an ultramodern rice mill in Ogoja, the cotton farm in Yala, the cocoa processing plant in Ikom and the Banana plantation in Odukpani, the feed mill and yellow maize farm in Obubra as well as the ultramodern poultry farm for export of frozen chicken amongst others, it is clear that Cross River has found a pathway to decouple itself from over reliance on federal allocation.

    “It is evident also that by conceiving projects such as this, Governor Ayade has a keen eye for tomorrow; focusing on projects that are building a new economic base for the state rather than projects with short term benefits for the purpose of making cheap political gains.

    “It is therefore, my hope and expectation that other states that are yet to fully take advantage of the zero-oil economic roadmap of the federal government will take a cue from Cross River State.

    “Once again, I commend Governor Ayade for this laudable initiative as our country makes steady and assured progress towards self-sufficiency in food production.”

    In his address, Governor Ayade said the state was aware of the President’s focus which inspired the decision to invest in agro-allied industries which include the cocoa processing industry, banana Plantation, soya bean, calapharm, Instant noodles, rice mill, among others.

    “These are all products of your discussion with me each time I have to meet with you and therefore, everything Cross River gives me and the entire people of Cross River credit,” Ayade said.

    Ayade subsequently called for a  standing ovation for the President,  a directive which he explained: “I say so because we have five million hectares of paddy soil in Nigeria, unfortunately, less than 1.7 million hectares of that used to be cultivated; but since you came in with your aggressive program on rice, the amount of cultivable land has grown to three million hectares and it is rising.

    He disclosed that the country used to spend about NGN460 billion importing rice and an additional NGN60 billion in December, which according to him, “has come down dramatically and saved the pressure on the naira, courtesy of your innovative thinking.”

    The governor posited that with the population statistics, Nigeria faces a “humongous challenge that can lead to absolute social disorder if you don’t take a deliberate step to ensure that we improve on the rice demand and rice supply chain.

    “It was against this background that we realise that we needed to do something very specific on rice cultivation.”

    Justifying the Modernization of rice production, Ayade argued that the old way of preserving rice seeds was outdated and counterproductive as the yield was always low, hence the need to go scientific in seed multiplication and preservation which made it “unacceptable for people to go into farming.”

    “We needed to change and bring agriculture into a digital age and nexux. It is against that background that Cross River State under my watch and based on your advice,  we focused on automated rice seed and seedling factory,” he said, adding: “We are just not stopping at providing seeds and seedlings, we have gone further to also set up the first vitaminised rice plant.”

    In a bid to bring optimal value for the rice produced, the governor said it will also serve as a raw material for the instant noodles factory being set up by the state government.

    On the challenges of financing the projects, Ayade said: “There is a new concept which is not just doing business with other people’s money, the new concept in Cross River now is called intellectual money. It is that intellectual money we have adopted to bring all these to reality.”

    Soliciting the support of the President, Ayade added that “We have done all we can, we can only pass it to the father of the country. This is your property, this is your product, this is a product of your intellectual acumen.”

    The president, accompanied by the governors of Kebbi, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu, his Abia state counterpart, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu; deputy governor of Akwa Ibon State, Elder Moses Okon, the head of civil service of the federation, Mrs. Winnifred Oyo-Ita; Niger Delta Affairs minister, Mr. Usani Usani and his Transport counterpart, Rotimi Amarachi,  among others,  were then led on a tour of the complex by Governor Ayade amidst cheers from the large  crowd that poured out  to witness the historic occasion.

  • 7000 displaced in Ebonyi/Cross River boundary crisis’ – Official

    Over 7000 Igbeagu Izzi indigenes of Izzi local government area of Ebonyi State have so far been displaced following clashes between Izzi people and their Ukele, Cross River State neighbours .

    Also 1500 houses had been allegedlly destroyed in the area by millitia groups from the area.

    Chairman of Izzi LGA, Hon. Paul Nwogha stated this on Monday while briefing the Ebonyi State Deputy Governor, Kelechi Igwe on the crisis.

    Meanwhile so many displaced Izzi peesons were seen on Abakaliki-Ogoja highway trekking with their belongings to Abakaliki capital to seek refuge.

    The crisis between the two border communities had reignited last week leading to loss of lives and counter accusations by the two states governments over which side that started the attack.

    The Deputy Governor was on an assessment visit to the troubled area and also addeessed the displaced persons at Ndi- Akparata Nwenyi village in Igbeagu community in Izzi LGA where some of them had taken refuge.

    Mr Igwe directed the Cantonment Commander, Lt. Sa’aad Sadiq to immediately deploy more troops to the troubled zone to ensure the safety of both Ebonyians in Izzi and foreigners travelling along the Abakaliki-Ogoja trans Sahara highway.

    While appealing to Izzi people to maintain peace and order, Mr Igwe assured them that the State government would not fold its arm and watch Ebonyi people slaughtered.

    He further condemned the killing of human beings in the crisia which according to him remains sacred and should be held in high esteem by all and sundry irrespective of the issues at stake.

    The Deputy Governor’s convoy along with other security personnel including the Army, police and DSS took a ride along the Abakaliki-Ogoja trans Sahara highway to access the level of carnages meted out on Izzi people by the Cross River militia group.

    Chairman of Izzi LGA, Hon. Paul Nwogha who lamented over the level destruction in all the affected villages in Izzi community noted that most of the villages had been deserted as some of the displaced persons were still in dire need of refuge and relief materials.

    He appreciated the State government for coming to the aid of Izzi people adding that what is needed now is a holistic and sincere approach to the matter by both sides of the divide.

    According to him, no human beings or goat or chicken is seen within the affected community as everybody had ran away for safety.

    The Commander, Nwakgu Military Cantonment, Lt. Col. Sa’aad Sadiq stated that more troops had been deployed from Cross River and Abakaliki to quell the crisis.

    He called on the people of Izzi to cooperate with the peace process by attending security meetings intended to bring an end to the crisis.

    The Cantonment Commander assured the Izzi people of their safety as the military was working round the clock to bring lasting peace in both affected LGAs of Ebonyi and Cross River States.

    At time of filing this report, the Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Dr. Kelechi Igwe entered a security meeting with stakeholders of Izzi LGA and security personnel on how to peacefully resolve the inter communal clash between Ebonyi and Cross river States. Ends

  • Cross River ready for Buhari’s second visit, says Ayade

    Cross Rover State Governor Ben Ayade said yesterday all is ready for President Muhammadu Buhari’s second visit to the state within three years.

    The Prsident is expected in Calabar tomorrow to inaugurate the multi-billion naira automated rice seeds and seedlings factory in Calabar. It is reputed to be the first in Africa.

    .The governor said: “We are perfectly in order. This is home coming for Mr President and as far as I am concerned, Cross River is ready to receive him. We are going to him a perfect reception.”

    He described the visit as an indication of the President’s love for the state and a stamp of approval for his administration’s investments in agriculture.

    He said “the first visit of President Buhari was on infrastructure but this second visit will be agriculture related and it shows consistency and a pass mark on my government.”

    The President will also inaugurate the ultramodern Navy Hospital in Carlsbad.

    Governor Ayade said with Federal Government’s support, the State would be generating at least N50b annually from the factory.

    Already, Calabar is looking spick and span in readiness for the visit