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Tag: Cross River

  • Cross River SUBEB to spend N7.5b

    The Cross River State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), will spend N7.5billion on schools for various infrastructural projects. The cash will be spent in the 18 local governments.

    Cross River State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) is responsible for education at the primary and junior secondary school levels.

    The money would cover UBEC projects from 2012 to 2015, Chairman of the board, Dr Stephen Odey, told newsmen in Calabar.

    Odey said the state could not access UBEC grant since 2012. However, with the state Governor Ben Ayade providing N3.8 billion counterpart funding, Rivers State is now good to go.

    He said having met up with its counterpart, SUBEB now has N7.5 billion available and as such has invited reputable contractors with good track record of performance and experience to tender for the jobs.

    Odey said over 200 projects, ranging from construction of new school blocks to rehabilitation of existing ones as well as provision of school facilities, would commence immediately procurement is completed.

    He said: “We met a situation where Cross River was unable to access the matching grant for 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. It was a pathetic situation, because we were not able to pay our own counterpart to that effect. But the governor quickly approved the sum of N3.8 billion to enable us access our marching grant, which had been moribund with UBEC.

    “Based on fund released to us, we have commenced procurement. We have published more than 200 jobs to intervene in our basic education sector.

    “We are going to be very prudent and transparent in our operation. We have emphasised due process in all aspect. We are only going to award jobs to contractors that are competent and have the capacity to deliver.

    “We have advertised the jobs for the 2012 to 2015. All contractors that have record of abandoned projects, and those with projects that have dragged over a long period without any reasonable excuse need not apply for this one because we will go after them to make sure the right thing is done.

    “We have the complete money for the projects. Nobody can access the money because they are all tied to projects. We have the action plan for all the years mentioned.”

  • Why we honoured Mbu, by Cross River youths

    Why we honoured Mbu, by Cross River youths

    He is not the first senior police officer nor security personnel to have retired from service in Etung Local Government Area (LGA) of Cross River State. There are several of them but we chose to honour Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Joseph Mbu (rtd) because of his selfless contributions to the growth and development of our people.

    Those were the words of the Chairman, Nigerian Youth Congress (NYC) Etung chapter, Praise Eju, whose members held a reception in honour of Mbu for a meritorious 31 years of service to the nation through the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

    The youth had heard that the retired AIG was planning to have his thanksgiving mass at Mary, Mother of PerpetualHelp Catholic Church in his village, Abia on September 4, and decided to fix their planned reception for him on Saturday, September 3, at Etung Council headquarters in Effraya.

    Eju who extolled Mbu for being courageous and upright, stated that they chose to honour him so that young people will emulate him in their various fields of endeavour.

    “Our decision to honour him was borne out of passion. I have never met him face to face until today (Saturday). I have been watching him on television and also keeping track of his activities as a public servant. We investigated him and we are proud that he was a fine policeman. He was incorruptible and fearless.

    “Aside his role at the national stage, AIG Mbu, we discovered has helped alot of people back home. There are so many orphaned and indigent students he has trained. Without him, most of them wouldn’t have achieved anything meaningful in life. He has empowered people from his community and always strives to make them better.

    “Is he the richest man in Etung or Abia? No! There are so many richer than him but his generosity and love for his people can’t be marched. So, that was why we believed that he’s a Prophet who deserves honour in his home town. By celebrating him, we are challenging young people from our state who find themselves in position of authority to be upright so that when they leave the office, they too can be celebrated. If they don’t do well and bring disgrace to our LGA or State, we shall stone them,” said Eju.

    At the events were former Military Administrator of Kwara State, Col. P.A.M Ogar (rtd); former Secretary to the State Government  (SSG) David Achang; Local Government Area chairman, Inok Kuti; Ambassador Obase Okongor; Chairman old Ikom Local Government Area, Dr. Egbe Ayuk, and former chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Joe Ebam.

    Inok said the local government was proud to have Mbu as their son.

    “We are proud of him. He is a courageous person. He has the typical spiriit of an Etung man in him, which is doggedness, courage and excellence. My advice to younger people is that there is just no easy way to success. It is commitment, persistence, courage, and believing in that which you want. I will like the young ones to emulate his character,” he said.

  • New tourism cities coming in Cross River

    The Cross River State government has concluded plans to develop new tourism cities as part of efforts to improve the revenue profile of the state.

    Commissioner for New Cities Development George Ekpungu  disclosed this on Wednesday in Calabar during a meeting with Community Relations Officers (CRO’s) from the 18 local government areas of the state.

    He said that the new cities, which would be built with modern day facilities, would attract more tourists into the state for business and leisure.

    According to him, Calasvegas city will be built in the Southern Senatorial District, Centicot in the Central Senatorial District and Nostradam in the Northern Senatorial District of the state.

    The commissioner said the ministry had concluded arrangements for the take-off of the new cities, adding that the state governor, Ben Ayade would soon announce the date for the groundbreaking.

    “As a state, we want to open new tourism cities in the three senatorial districts of the state. These cities would help to boost the state revenue profile by attracting tourists and investors into the state.

    “These cities would also have the requisite tourism content. Gov. Ayade is so passionate about developing the state for economic growth and we must support him,’’ he said.

    He called on all indigenes of the state to support the laudable projects of the state governor, saying that the proposed deep sea port and the super highway projects would be beneficial to the state and country if completed.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the objective of the meeting was to enlighten the CRO’s on government programmes and policies in the state.

    Mr Vincent Obi-Dibang, the Special Assistant to Ayade on Community Relations, urged the CRO’s to be the change agents in their communities.

    Obi-Dibang charged them to always work with security agencies in their locality with a view to averting communal clashes between worrying communities.

    Mr Egbe Edogi, the CRO from Abi Local Government Area, appealed to the state government to provide office accommodation and official vehicles for them to ease their work.

    Other CRO’s who spoke at the meeting, lauded the state governor for the prompt payment of salaries of civil servants in the state.

  • Cross River gets 20 megawatts power equipment

    Cross River gets 20 megawatts power equipment

    The Cross River State government, at the weekend, took delivery of the equipment for a 20-megawatt plant.

    Governor Ben Ayade received the equipment with some government officials.

    Ayade told reporters that the delivery showed that the Memorandum of Understandings (MoU) he had been signing were coming into action.

    He said:“This is one outcome of the trips in my first year in office when we were still trying to do agenda setting for the government. It will generate 20 megawatts of embedded power for Cross River State. I am happy to announce to you today that we are taking delivery of 20-megawatt equipment for embedded power generation for the city of Calabar.”

    The governor assured residents of Calabar that electricity tariff would be affordable to all.

    The governor, who also announced that five containers-laden with equipment will arrive soon, highlighted how the project would  enhance security in Calabar.

    “The street lights are gong to be connected to this grid, and we are going to pick up the diesel engines from the streets and then link the street lights to this plant so that Calabar South up to Anantigha, Atimbo and all areas, including 8 Miles, Nassarawa, will be lit up,” he said.

    He said the equipment was “specially designed for economy and for uninterrupted power supply. So what will happen ultimately is that Cross River State and Calabar in particular will have uninterrupted power supply, which means perhaps Calabar will be the first state capital to have uninterrupted power supply in the country.

    “We are beginning to convert the many MoUs we signed to action, all the MOUs are taking the breath of life. I can guarantee the people of Calabar that in three months from today we would have finished the installation and Cross River State will enjoy steady supply of electricity.”

  • NGO appeals to Cross River govt to rehabilitate roads to encourage tourism

    A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) MATER DEI, has appealed to Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River to rehabilitate the deplorable roads in the state to boost tourism activities.

    This call is contained in a statement signed by Mr Bioku Ibraheem, the National Secretary of the organisation on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Mr Nnamdi Okpara, the National Coordinator of the NGO, made the appeal when he led other officials on a visit to the governor.

    He said their visit was to acquaint Ayade on its decision to construct an international pilgrims’ centre in Maryland, Ogoja.

    Okpara stressed the need for the road to be fixed, saying that it would encourage tourism.

    “The roads in Central and Northern Cross River areas, Ikom and Ogoja linking Benue state and Abakaliki are in a sorry state.

    “The rehabilitation is very expedient so as to secure the lives and properties of travelers on those roads.

    “Also, a good road network in the state would encourage tourists from all parts of the word to access the state known for its richness in hospitality and tourism potential,’’ Okpara said.

    He also urged the state government to create an enabling environment for investors in the state to do business.

    Okpara commended Ayade for his pragmatic handling of workers welfare and urged him not to relent in his demonstration of good governance.

  • Cross River signs pact on power, ITM with Dubai firm

    Cross River signs pact on power, ITM with Dubai firm

    Cross River Governor Ben Ayade has signed a pact with a Dubai based firm, Skipper Seil, to provide 100kva solar lighting generating system.

    He also signed another agreement for a 26 megawatts gas power turbine at the Tinapa Business and Leisure Resorts.

    As part of the agreement, there will be a training of trainers at the Institute of Technology and Management in Ugep.

    At the agreement signing ceremony held at the Governor’s office in Calabar,  President of the firm, Mr. Jitender Sachdeva, gave the assurance that his firm would commence construction in two months.

    “We will work very hard, fine tune all the activities and try to be on ground after the PPA in December. I want to assure you that the plant in Tinapa for 26 megawatts will give a boost to electricity and will be completed in 18 months,” Sachdeva said

    He said his firm chose to invest in the state due to the investment friendly policies of the Ayade-led administration and because “the state is peaceful and safe”.

    On the Institute of Technology and Management, Ugep, the President, Skipper Seil group, said “in addition to our Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR), we have sent our team for the study of the technical Institute here in the state, and I can, with pride, say we are going to associate with your state in education as the Institute is now fully geared to start.”

    Sachdeva expressed confidence in Ayade’s zeal and doggedness. He described him as “one of the few governors in Nigeria today who are paying salaries on time,” adding that “your projects are moving, your garment factory has been completed and I see you getting energy all the time even in the night and morning.”

    Ayade said the 100kvm solar power intervention will serve as a grid for industrial zones across the 18 local governments in the state.

    According to him, “solar power is a new way to go, because it is one way of reducing carbon emission to the atmosphere. It also creates new job opportunities for young people who are now interested in going into solar energy.”

    The governor also hinted that discussions were at advanced stage for the immediate communities where the power plants will be located to enjoy power supply from the plants.

    On the intervention on education by the Dubai-based firm, Ayade said: “My original dream was to build a builder’s academy. I will like to see the superhighway and seaport being constructed by a team of Cross Riverians who have been trained by our skill school.

    “It is our strong hope that Skipper Seil will provide the Indian technology which today is indisputable anymore,” adding that “truly, truly, ITM will take a true breath of full technical capacity while upgrading it to a polytechnic to allow it have some federal interventions and sustain its philosophy to provide skilled hands-on training.”

  • 161, 000 live in open-defecation-free communities in Cross River

    No fewer than 161, 000 people are now living in open-defecation-free communities in Cross River, four years after the implementation of the Rural Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion in Nigeria Programme (RUSHPIN).

    Mr Nanpet Chuktu, the Programme Manager, Concern Universal, the implementing agency for RUSHPIN programme, disclosed this on Thursday at a workshop on Budget and Advocacy for Sanitation Task Group in Calabar.

    RUSHPIN is an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and the Global Sanitation Fund (GSF), the grant giving body of the UN Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council.

    Chuktu said that this was achieved through the programme’s Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) approach, which targets behavioural change for increased access to sanitation and hygiene.

    He said that the programme, which started in 2012, was also aimed at strengthening political commitment in all tiers of government to improve allocation for promoting sanitation and hygiene.

    The programme manager said that there was the need for all states to domesticate the Open-Defecation-Free Roadmap which had been signed by the National Council for Water Resources.

    This step, Chuktu said, would go a long way to meet the target of ending open defecation by 2025 and meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

    Also speaking, Mr Gabe Odu, the Commissioner for Water Resources in Cross River, said that the state would continue to support the lofty ideas targeted at developing the rural areas.

    According to him, rural development is paramount to socio-economic development of any nation.

    Odu said that sanitation and hygiene promotion in rural areas had impacted on foods, wellbeing, health, finance and education.

    “Rural development is paramount to socio-economic development; any programme with the sole aim of boosting the sector will be supported in all spheres.

    “Sanitation and hygiene in rural areas is important; if cholera or dysentery breaks out in these places, it will affect the farms, children, foods and water,” he said.

    In her remarks, Ms Ebele Okeke, the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Ambassador, said that development and wellbeing of any nation would be in jeopardy without potable water supply, basic sanitation and good hygiene.

    Okeke, represented by Mrs Joy Ejiga, called on all tiers of government to scale up access to WASH in the country.

    She also called for strengthened collaboration from all stakeholders to advocate for increased budgetary allocation toward meeting the SDGs goal No. 6 by 2030.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that in June 2014, Nigeria benefitted from the Global Sanitation Fund (GSF)’s $5million to meet the sanitation and hygiene challenges in Benue and Cross River.

    The innovation sees international funding matched by national, regional and local funding, setting a framework for replication to achieve the national target of ending open defecation in Nigeria by 2025.

    Also, the Cross River State Commissioner for Water Resources, Mr Gabe Odu, said on Wednesday that the provision of potable water was a top priority of the state government.

    Speaking on the sidelines of the ongoing advocacy visit of the Rural Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion in Nigeria (RUSHPIN), in Calabar, Odu said the administration had realised that water was of paramount importance to development.

    He said that more than 60 per cent of the state’s inhabitants had access to potable water.

    Odu said that Nigeria could reduce its child mortality rate by improving access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH).

    He said that it was saddening that 80 per cent of rural communities practised open defecation and lacked access to potable water, saying that they consumed water from unsafe sources, leading to illnesses and deaths.

    The commissioner said the RUSHPIN programme had supported the state in adopting good hygiene practices, saying it would be scaled up through speedy provision of counterpart funds.

    Odu said about 150,000 under-five children died annually from poor sanitation and hygiene, saying the trend needed to be reversed.

    He stressed the need for all tiers of the government to improve allocation of appropriate resources for scaling up sanitation and hygiene.

    “Approximately 90 per cent of diarrhoea prevalence is directly attributed to poor quality WASH.

    “Sanitation coverage actually decreased from 37 per cent in 1990 to 28 per cent in 2012 and 100 million Nigerians, roughly two in three persons, have no access to sanitation.

    “Meanwhile, more than half of all rural water points are dysfunctional, In June 2014, Nigeria benefitted from the Global Sanitation Fund to the tune of five million dollars to meet the sanitation and hygiene challenges in Benue and Cross River states.

    The RUSHPIN is an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and the Global Sanitation Fund, the grant giving body of the UN Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council.

    The innovation sees international funding matched by national, regional and local funding, setting a framework for replication to achieve the national target of ending open defecation in Nigeria by 2025.

    A Swedish firm, Greenland Resources, said that it would establish a pulp mill that would generate employment for over 14, 000 Nigerians in Cross River.

    The president of the firm, Mr Torbjorn Johansson, made the disclosure on Wednesday in Calabar when he led a Management team of the firm on a courtesy visit to Gov. Ben Ayade.

    He said the pulp mill would increase the country’s exports, adding that it would also generate 1.5 million tonnes yearly.

    Johansson said that the firm needed land to establish the pulp mill.

    He said that the establishment of the mill would not have any adverse effect on the state’s eco-system.

    Johansson said that the choice of the state was as a result of its peaceful atmosphere and unprecedented security.

    According to him, this country has a big population, great workforce and the security in Cross River is the best.

    “We have been travelling round the world to find a place to site the industry and we were very close to giving up but the Swedish Embassy in Nigeria advised us to come to Calabar; so we are here,’’ he said.

    Johansson said bio fuel, viscos, bio plastic products as well as raw materials for carbon fibre, could be produced in the pulp mill frame.

    He further said the finished products of the mill would be directed to international and domestic paper manufacturers.

    Johansson said that the firm would source its finances from investment and commercial banks, adding that negotiations were ongoing with other investors in this regard.

    Responding, the governor assured the investors that his administration would support the execution of the project.

    He said creating more than 14,000 jobs would be a huge relief for his government.

    “We will do all we can as a government to support you.

    “We are excited about your project. I know what comes out of this.

    “14,000 jobs is a huge relief for me as a government because 14,000 mean 1.4 million people feeding from 14,000, given the African brotherhood and love for each other.

    “We are ready to fast-track the documentation process to ensure that you get the facilities you are seeking for,’’ Ayade said.

    He urged the relevant commissioners to ensure necessary support for the speedy commencement of the project.

  • Banker held for ‘attempt to divert’ Cross River council fund

    Banker held for ‘attempt to divert’ Cross River council fund

    The police have accused an official of Ecobank Nigeria Plc, Hillary Ejechi, and one Happy Eguakun of attempting to divert a project fund of Obanliku Local Government Area of Cross River State.

    The fund, whose amount was undisclosed, was deposited by the LGA in an Ecobank account number 0339007306 bearing the name Obanliku Local Government Project.

    The suspects were arraigned before Mrs. O. M. Ajayi of an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court on five counts bordering on forgery and impersonation.

    According to the police, the charges contravene Sections, 409, 363 (1a), 378 (1) and 323 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    Ejechi, 27, and Eguakun, 42, from Delta State but residing in Lagos, were alleged to have committed the offence along with others who are at large, sometime last month.

    Computer Science graduate Eguakun was alleged to have forged a document and gone to the bank’s branch at Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Lagos, on the pretext that he worked with the council and was a signatory to the account.

    Ejechi, who he met sometime in July, and who worked at the branch was reportedly waiting to receive him.

    Unknown to them, the council had been alerted of an imminent fraud on the account and had notified the police which had men on standby.

    The duo was subsequently arrested by the police team from the Ikoyi Division in Lagos led by Sergeant Damian Ojuinyi.

    Three of the counts against them read: “That you, Happy Eguakun and Hillary Ejechi and others at large, in July  at Eco Bank Plc, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit: impersonation, forgery and unlawful possession.

    “That you, Happy Eguakun and others at large, on July in the same place, at the aforementioned magisterial district, did present a forged Lagos State Management Authority Bill with property code 62614 to Eco Bank, TBS branch, on the pretext to modify account number 0339007306 domiciled in Eco Bank.

    “That you, Happy Eguakun and Hillary Ejechi and others at large, on the same date and place, did conspire among yourselves with intent to defraud account number 0339007306 with name: Obanliku Local Government Project, domiciled in Eco Bank Plc., thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 323 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.”

    The defendants denied the charge.

    Magistrate Ajayi granted them bail in the sum of N250,000 each with two sureties each in the like sum who must present evidence of tax payment and have verifiable residential addresses.

    The case was adjourned till August 16.

     

  • Cross River to set up Homeland Security Service

    The Cross River State Government has said it will set up a Homeland Security Service as part of measures to address rising insecurity.

    Governor Ben Ayade, spoke in Calabar when he hosted the French Consul-General, Laurent Polonceaux, and his entourage.

    The governor said members of the Homeland Security Service would not carry arms.

    He said the state would rely on the support of the Government of France for technical and other logistics for the security organisation.

    Ayade said the envisaged Homeland Security, which is expected to provide 3,000 jobs for Cross River residents, would be a complete departure from the traditional security operations.

    He said: “With the visit of the Consul-General of France in Nigeria and with the useful deliberation we had, looking at the security challenges facing the state and Niger Delta at this period and looking at how Lafarge can do business much better in a less security tense atmosphere, it became imperative for us to create a security architecture that can protect Lafarge and extend other services to other citizens and visitors to Cross River.

    “Cross River has been the home of tourism, a signature and hallmark of hospitality and good lifestyle for all Africans; hence, it is imperative we make it very safe.

    “It is against this background that the Cross River State Government, with technical partnership from the French Government, will be looking at the possibility of setting up a Cross River State Security services. “The Cross River Homeland Security Service is a complete departure from what is the tradition. It will, however, include but not limited to things like providing intelligence, profiling visitors coming in and out, providing intelligence services, doing neighbourhood checks, neighbourhood watch and understanding who comes in and out. It will provide intelligence data and services to the police. But it will be a non-arm-bearing with vehicles and personnel parading and inviting people.

    “We have the French Government’s support, providing us with the necessary support we need to succeed. But importantly, it will provide human security services, which will be the first point of call between the Homeland Security and the people. It is technical in nature; it is intellectual. It is packed with a design to focus more on data gathering, intelligence gearing. This is because in a security network, if you have advanced knowledge, it will help you to abort any action. That is what we think the Homeland Security Service will have a particular edge in.

    “The Secret Service Unit of the Homeland Security Service will focus more on intelligence gathering in a digital nature, including satellite gathering, which we expect to get some institutional approval from the Federal Government.

    “It is our hope and strong conviction that this is the way to go in the face of the challenging tension we have in Niger Delta.”

    Ayade said an Executive Bill would be sent to the House of Assembly for a law to establish the state’s Homeland Security Services.

    Also, sunmen on Wednesday night abducted a Third Republic House of Representatives member, Patrick Ani, in Cross River State.

    It was learnt that Ani, who represented Cross River South under the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC) between 1991 and 1992, was seized on his farm in Akpabuyo Local Government Area, on the outskirts of Calabar, the state capital.

    It was learnt that the politician was abducted without resistance.

    Police spokesman Irene Ugbo, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), said she would confirm if it was true and get back to our reporter.

    But she did not do so at press time last night.

    But a worker, who did not want to be named, confirmed the incident.

    He said the police were on the scene of the incident to assess the situation.

  •  Earth tremor: National disaster looms in Nigeria if….AWDROP warns

    Nigeria may witness earthquake and sea intrusion in different part of the country if the state government does not partner with relevant agencies to curb indiscriminate drilling and drill borehole in line with code of practice.

    The National President, Association of Water-well Drilling Rig Owners and Practitioners (AWDROP), Michael Ale gave this warning in a communique issued in Ibadan on Monday.

    He noted that the earth tremor which occurred in Saki was as a result of illegal drilling, warning that if the issue is not well managed it may eventually lead to natural disaster such as earthquake.

    “AWDROP has observed indiscriminate drilling practice persistence in all nooks and crannies of the country and the industry is being turned into an all comers affairs. AWDROP is set to enforce the power vested on the it by the National Council of Water Resources to partner with state government on the rejuvenation and revitalisation of abandoned borehole and the application and enforcement of code of practice on borehole drilling among drilling practitioners.

    “AWDROP hereby direct all its state chapters to partner with their respective state government to ensure the implementation of Code of Practice in borehole drilling, using best subjected practice judgment. Indication is that all Borehole Drilling Contractors must be registered by States Agencies in their respective state, pay their registration fees and obtain a drilling permit before any drilling operation. Borehole projects are to be strictly supervised by a Comeg registered Geologist or Hydro geologist” Ale said

    He observed that the activities of the Federal Government, Non Governmental Organisation, development partners and the private sector in the industry is strained, because of lack of proper coordination of activities by the Ministry of Water resources.

    According to the AWDROP boss, many borehole projects do not last more than a year after commissioning because they are not designed to meet with the current standards and adaptive nature of the needs of the beneficiary community.

    Ale urged the federal ministry of water resources to shop for qualified companies that meet up the professional standard of bidding, especially human capacity, equipment and experience so as to record success in this year project execution with the ministry.

    He noted that the association is aware of the water intrusion along the land ocean boundaries in shorelines areas like Lagos, Porthacourt, Warri, Bayelsa, and Cross river, adding that AWDROP is ready to assist the government to manage expenditure on the provision of portable drinking water in those States.