Seeking for means to end violence perpetuated against children has been on the agenda of the Cross River State government. This desire, which has also been driven by the support of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has continued to gather momentum to check the rising spate of the menace.
Over the past few months, they have worked with various stakeholders as faith-based organizations, security agencies, civil society organizations, and the media among others in the state to ensure awareness is created about the issue so it can be addressed. They rue that the issue if violence against children is endemic, yet people are not talking about it.
To this end, among several workshops and other activities organized by the government and UNICEF, is a launch of the campaign on Violence Against Children (VAC) slated for June 16, 2016 and a technical working group (TWG) inaugurated drive the cause. The launch would make Cross River, the second state to do so after Lagos State. It had also been launched by the President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government in September 2015.
Some statistic provided by Child Protection Specialist UNICEF Nigeria, Enugu Field Office Mrs Nkiru Maduechesi, who in the past months, has been working with the state government through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, indicated that 24.8 per cent of girls are sexually abused while 10.8 per cent of boys are abused sexually.
According to her, among victims of sexual abuse prior to 18 years of age, 70.5 % females and 69.2% males reported multiple incidents.
She also pointed out that 49.7 per cent of girls are physically abused, while 52.3 per cent of boys suffer same. She noted that such abuses occur in the home of the perpetrator or victim and also in school. The perpetrators, she said mostly include neighbours, relatives and teachers.
Maduechesi said, “Of those children who experience of sexual abuse in the last 12 months, only 15.6% of girls and 26.1% of boys knew where to seek help, but only 5.2% girls/3.4% boys sought help, and only 4.2% girls, 3.4% of boys received help. Less than half tell anyone at all.”
She stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to end the scourge of violence against children in the society.
At the various workshops held with various stakeholders in the state, she said were aimed at sharing lessons learnt from the Federal and Lagos State launch of End Violence Against Children Campaign; share key National VAC survey findings and consider their implication for programming in Cross River; review the developed multi-sectorial response for preventing and responding to VAC and adapt it to the Cross River context; as well as plan for the Cross River launch including identifying and inaugurating members of the planning committee for the launch of the state response plan.
Another Child Protection Specialist with UNICEF, Mr Tatenda Makoni, who decried the spate of violence against children in the country, classified them into physical, sexual and emotional violence.
These he said have far reaching consequences on the children and the society at large.
Speaking at press briefing to launch the campaign to end VAC organized by the UNICEF with the state government, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Stella Odey, said they were leaving no stone unturned in making sure the malaise is wiped from the state.
The Commissioner said the state, which already has a Child Rights Act in place, has zero tolerance to any kind of abuse against children.
Odey said the launch by the President, which contributes to the attainment of the goals of the National Priority Agenda for Vulnerable Children in Nigeria (2013-2020), is a clear indication that the commitment to end violence against children reaches the highest political level.
“We are proud to respond to the call of the President for every State in Nigeria to launch its own campaign and priority actions, during the Year of Action, to more effectively prevent and respond to all forms of violence against children,” she said.
Odey said the State Priority Actions set out the short-term and long-term strategies for the state to more effectively prevent and respond to violence against children.
She said the Priority Actions not only define the role of each stakeholder in ending violence against children, but also acknowledge that no one entity can end VAC alone.
“I take this opportunity to call upon State and Local Government level actors, civil society, religious and traditional leaders, faith based organizations, community based organizations, the private sector, the media, families and local communities to join the Cross River State ‘End Violence Against Children Campaign’ to ensure all of our children are able to grow up free from violence. I am filled with hope that together we can eradicate violence against our children in Cross River State,” the Commissioner appealed.
Tag: Cross River
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Towards ending violence against children in Cross River
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Hausa/Fulani community in C/River appeals for grazing land
The Hausa/Fulani community in Cross River has appealed to Gov. Ben Ayade to allocate a portion of land to herdsmen in the state in order to enable them graze their cattle.
Mr Sani Baba-Gombe, Leader of the association in the state, made the appeal on Wednesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar.
According to Baba-Gombe, the land if allocated will put an end to the crisis between herdsmen and farmers in the state.
He said that the land would help the herdsmen to stop encroaching into people’s farmlands in search of food for their animals.
He said that one of the main challenges facing herdsmen in the state was a grazing land, hence the need for the state government to come to their aid.
“We use to instruct our people to always ask for permission before entering into any land to graze.
“If I were to be a farmer, I won’t be pleased if any cattle come along to destroy my crops.
“If a grazing land is provided, the animals would not stray into farms and this would further prevent any future crisis between herdsmen and farmers in the state.
“All we are appealing for is a grazing land that is different from the farmlands; this would help us to stop encroaching into people’s farmlands in search of food for our cattle.
“We have also sensitised our people to always have a good understanding with their host communities,’’ he said.
He further said that herdsmen in the state were tired of moving their cattle from one place to the other in search of food for them, hence the appeal for a reserved land for them.
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Ayade promises to make Cross River Africa’s industrial hub
Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade says his administration is determined to make the state a construction hub in Africa.
Ayade in his Democracy Day broadcast said he has already done diligent planning to bring the plan to fruition.
“We are fully reloaded to make Cross River State the construction hub for Africa. It is indeed difficult at this point in time to hope perhaps that magic would be done.
“But with sincere commitment with the love and fear of God with all your support, Cross River State indeed shall move from 3rd world to 1stworld under my watch,” he stated.
He pledged that his administration would move “Cross River beyond the boundaries of hope and jobs to the horizons and frontiers of content, bliss and happiness.”
Continuing, the governor said: “one year into our administration today we can assure you that victory, prosperity, success and an end to poverty and unemployment is assured. As sharp hunters we won’t miss our mark. As custodians of your collective trust, we would keep our promise.”
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Two dead in Ebonyi, Cross River communal attack
Two more persons have died in renewed hostilities between the people of Ochenyim village, Amagu community in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State and Adadama community in Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State over their boundary.
The victims – Okechukwu John Ogwa and Mrs. Nweke Nwankwo – are said to be from Ochenyim village.
Also, the policemen on duty in the disputed land were reportedly attacked by the warring communities.
The village head, Chief Peter Azuegu, said Mrs. Nwankwo was harvesting cassava in a farm near the disputed boundary when she was killed.
Police spokesman George Okafor, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), confirmed the incident.
He said: “The matter was reported to the police that Nweke Nwankwo left her home at 9 a.m to harvest cassava and did not come back and that nobody could trace her whereabouts.”
The spokesman said immediately the matter was reported to the police, it raised a team to support other mobile and conventional policemen to the disputed area.
He said immediately the policemen arrived on the scene, the hoodlums opened fire on them.
Okafor said: “They were even using real bullets, not even cartridges. They actually wanted to kill our men, but God, being on our side, no policeman was killed.”
He warned the residents to avoid the disputed land.
The spokesman pleaded with the residents not to take the law into their hands.
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Igbo businessmen kick against kidnappings in Cross River
It started like a joke in Calabar, the Cross River State capital. A random kidnapping here and there – a phenomenon, which reared its head about five years ago in the state, said to be the most peaceful in the country.
It was hoped the issue would be nipped in the bud, if just to ensure that the state still retains its enviable status. This has not turned out to be so. It would be recalled that father of former deputy governor of the state was kidnapped while he was still in power. News of children being kidnapped once in a while always made the headlines. Also just recently, the kidnap of three people on campus of the University of Calabar, was the talk of the town.
The situation has over the years, gathered momentum and snowballed into a monstrous situation, as many believe security has grown lax in the state. However, it has been learnt that a good number of such kidnapping have never gotten to the news. Most worried by this dimension, which has gotten to a head in the past one year, are Igbo businessmen, who strongly believe they are targets as many of them have been kidnapped and released quietly, because they fear for their safety or that of their loved ones abducted.
Cross River State is generally believed to be a civil service state and majority of the businesses in the state belong to Igbo who have injected a lot of spirit into the economy. To a great extent, the economy of the state depends on their endeavours. From spare parts, electronics, building materials, clothing, to transport companies among a host of other businesses, their presence is well established.
In the past month only, it is on good authority that at least three of such Igbo businessmen or their relatives have been abducted by unknown gunmen and heavy ransom paid for their release.
An Igbo trader, who begged not to be named, said to Niger Delta Report: “Things are not well. The government is just pretending they are. They don’t want to hear these things but they are true. They don’t want people to know these things because of the tourism status of the state, but people have to know, so that something can be done urgently about it.
“In the past few weeks, they have kidnapped the wife of a popular electronics dealer in this Calabar and millions of naira was used to secure her release. Who knows if the husband even had to borrow money to pay in these hard times?
“Not long after that, they kidnapped the owner of a bakery and demanded several millions also. A businessman along Hewett Road was also kidnapped and I think about N20 million demanded for his release. These kidnappings have been for a long time, but have just been quiet. They have kidnapped a lot of people in Calabar collecting up to N10 million or N20 million. It is now the order of the day here.
“They feel we have too much money to throw about. What many people don’t understand is that sometimes, we borrow money to do our businesses. That we are enterprising and carry on come rain or shine does not mean, we have money to throw about. A lot of people do not understand what we pass through doing our business. I only wish they knew.”
Worried by the developed, Igbo traders and businessmen have planned to close their businesses for two days in protest, a move which to an extent would cripple the state’s economy.
Briefing newsmen on the development, the coordinator of Igbo Unity Forum, Mazi Okechukwu Ebubedike, said the decision for Igbo to shut down business for at least two days in Calabar metropolis was reached at after an extensive emergency meeting with all major stakeholders and town unions of Igbo extraction to protest this ugly trend.
Ebubedike, who is also the chairman of Igbo professionals in the state, disclosed that over 35 prominent sons and their wives have been abducted so far in the state in the last one year with hundreds of millions paid out as ransom.
According to him, most of the victims pay between N5m and N30m as ransom to secure their release from the kidnappers even when injuries are inflicted on them.
Ebubedike said: “We have been made victims of kidnap in the state in the last one year and made to pay dearly as ransom to these hoodlums in the last couple of months. Unfortunately, nobody cares about our plight at this excruciating circumstance.
“I can tell you that the Igbo traders and businessmen who are victims of these hoodlums have been paying through the nose to secure their release. And to protest against this ugly trend we are embarking protest by closing our shops and other business outlets for two days.
“We have, therefore, directed that all shops owned by Igbo should be closed on a day to be announced so as to attract attention and to see how this security lapse can be tackled. We will enforce the closure to press home our demand to stop the kidnapping.
“We have been made targets of kidnappers. We are now preys in the hands of criminals and everybody seem not to bother because it is Igbo. But we will resist it because we are here to do business and assist in developing the state sincerely. So, we can no longer fold our hands and watch our people being used as money-minting machine by kidnappers,” he stated.
The coordinator, who claimed that government has paid deaf ear to the plight of the Igbo in Calabar in respect to kidnapping, said most Igbo have been subjected to undue treatment and harassment by these criminals even when they pay their taxes and other levies to the state.
He said Igbo contribute positively to the development of the state and therefore deserve protection to enable them carry out their businesses in a more conducive atmosphere.
The coordinator, who enjoined the government to step up security surveillance within the metropolis, said the state is noted for hospitality and therefore should do everything possible to protect investors as well as lives and property.
The President Igbo Community, Calabar, Cross River State, Chief Albert Enya, said they have been talking to the government over the matter. He however, did not support the plan of the traders to close shop.
He said: “We have been talking with government. We are not fighting the government. What we are saying is that this kidnapping should stop. And also the issue of closing of market, was not discussed in our last meeting and today we had an executive meeting too over the issue and we have resolved that there should be no strike, but rather we should dialogue with government and security people to see what we can do about the kidnapping because it is getting out of hand. This kidnapping does not only affect the Igbo but the whole Cross River State, but 80 per cent of those kidnapped are Igbo. We are here to business and if every time they kidnap one of us it is not good for us and we don’t like it. That is why we are saying that government should do something. They have been trying because we are meeting with them, but they should put more efforts. We are not part of the strike arrangement but rather we dialogue with government to see how we can stop the problem.”
Also speaking, past chairman of the Igbo Community in the state, Chief Fidelis Onyebueke, said: “We condemn in its totality, the kidnapping exercise going on in Cross River State. Particularly, the victims have been Igbo. About 80 per cent of them have been Igbo. We are not fighting the government but we are saying is that government should put more efforts in the security, because it is the priority in any government. We know that Governor Ben Ayade is doing his best. But we urge him to more effort, particularly where our ethnic group is involved in this kidnapping exercise. We know that other ethnic groups are also victims, but majority are Igbo. It would seem as if Igbo are not wanted in the state. But also we know the government is favourable to us Igbo to do business here, but the problem is the few individuals having selfish commercial interests to use Igbo as baits to make money which is very bad. This is affecting the tourism status of this state. We appeal to all the security agencies to sit up, because it would seem as if there are lapses. They should put more effort to make sure that Igbo feel more secure in this state. A situation where 80 per cent of the victims of kidnapping are Igbo, it is not in the best interest of this state, because it would seem as if Igbo are targets, whereas they are not. It only seems so. We appreciate the efforts of the government and security agencies. But in the end, result is what we need.”
The Secretary of the Igbo Community, Prof Rufus Okoro, also said: “The issue of kidnapping in Nigeria today is not new. We know that government, even at the Federal level, is doing a lot to see how they can curb it. But in Cross River State, it is becoming too rampant and the targeted groups seem to be the Igbo. If 80 per cent of the kidnapping is done and an Igbo man is involved, ordinarily one can say they are only kidnapping Igbo people. So the government of the state has to beef of security and have a good security network.”
The President of Abia Communtity Cross River, Prince Raphael Atulomah, added: “I am calling on the state assembly to make laws that would prescribe capital punishment for kidnappers so it would drastically reduced. The thing is not helping the Igbo here. If Igbo are affected here, everybody knows that they help the state economically to move forward. If they close their shops and businesses, it would affect the economy of the state and we don’t that to happen. So, we want the state government to do something about it.”
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Lassa fever: NDDC donates drugs, kits to Cross River
As part of efforts to check the spread of Lassa fever in the country, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has donated drugs worth millions of naira as well as other personal protection equipment (PPE) to the Cross River State Ministry of Health.
The delivery of the items taken at the Ministry of Health and Essential Drug Stores was made on behalf of the acting NDDC Managing Director, Mrs Ibim Semenitari by the State Director, Mr Alexander Okenwa, to the Director of Medical Services, Ministry of Health Calabar, Dr Ogban Ikpoti.
Okenwa said, “We are very proactive in all modus operandi because we try to give people in the Niger Delta region the very best, we don’t want to be reactive in responding to any health issue whether endemic or otherwise and this is why we are carrying out this gesture.
“We have donated the consignment so that the hospitals can be well prepared to handle any incident of Lassa Fever professionally and efficiently too.”
Okenwa said though no incident has been recorded in the state, there was need to fully equip and prepare the health workers.
He said Lassa Fever has killed over 80 people in 18 states of the Federation.
Director of Medical Services, Dr Ogban Ikpoti said it was very important for the health workers to protect themselves before caring for others.
Ikpoti said, “With this donation we now have the means to protect caregivers and health workers in our various hospitals with NDDC gesture they can now do their work no matter the nature of the disease they have to deal with.”
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Cross River CAN inaugurates new exco
The Cross River State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has inaugurated it’s new state executive members in Calabar.
The event which was held at the Apostolic Church, Edgerley Road, and themed “Unity in Diversity” was attended by church leaders and members from various denominations.
The new chairman of the Association, Archbishop Joseph Ukpo (Emeritus), said for CAN to survive as a united Christian organisation, ecumenical dialogue must be taken seriously.
He said no religion can exist in isolation anymore and any religion that is not open to others becomes irrreligious as exemplified in fundamentalism and religious fanaticism.
He said the Church promotes the spirit of dialogue in the world in order to resolve conflict, advance common good and strengthen human solidarity.
Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Prof Ivara Esu, charged the new executive council to build on the achievement of predecessors to ensure good working relationship among Christians and other people in the state irrespective of their background.
He urged religious leaders to constantly pray for the government to deliver on its promises to improve the lives of the people of the state.
The deputy governor said the government was open to Godly counsel to enable them take the state to the heights desired.
Commissioner for Information Mrs Rosemary Archibong was grateful to God for keeping CAN together, through a peaceful election.
While describing the church as an epitome of unity in diversity, she urged that they continue to work together as a viable army for God.
“As diverse as we are in the body of Christ, we need to be ready to be used by God to bring down most difficult situations,” she said.
South South chairman of CAN, Archbishop God-dowell Avwomakpa, urged that despite all challenges, Christians should still keep faith in God.
Prof Mrs Ebele Eko presented a keynote address on the theme of the event.
The new executive council has Archbishop Joseph Ukpo as chairman, Rev O. B. Ekpenyong as Vice Chairman, Elder James Ekabua as Secretary, Ms Olive Effanga as Financial Secretary and Apostle Frank Umo as Treasurer.
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Cross River: Odukpani seeks cultural rebirth
The need to celebrate a rich cultural heritage as well as interrogate the current moral drift in society to stimulate a fresh cultural rebirth has instigated the Traditional Rulers Council of Odukpani local government area in Cross River State to host the maiden edition of its cultural celebration.
Addressing reporters on the weeklong event of activities to mark the celebration, Paramount Ruler of Odukpani, HRM Dr Col. Ekanem Ita Ekanem, decried the pervasiveness of an alternative culture that was eroding the values of the people.
Tagged Celebrating Odukpani, Our Culture, Our Heritage, the celebration aims to promote the socio-cultural and spiritual nurturing of family and its well being that would form the basis for community and national development.
He said, “We are aware of the great demands and high expectations associated with maiden programmes. Fortunately this event has generated immense goodwill and support from the Odukpani community and all hands are on deck to ensure we have a historic and memorable celebration.
“Let me add that among our awardees is a frontline living legend in the person of Etubom Eniang Essien who at the age of 96 is still kicking and alert to translating the timeless values of discipline, diligence and dignity in modern world and generation where these mores are deficit and where we have millions of culturally displaced persons (CDP) in a society where debased sextology and short-cut to riches have estranged the living from a wholesome history.
“It is also noteworthy that despite all the trials and crisis of modernity, the largely heterogeneous Odukpani local government area has remained peacefully one and united, our community is a microcosm of Cross River/Nigeria with the Efiks, the Quas, the Efuts and Kiongs dwelling together.
“We want to showcase our peace and harmony. This is another enviable heritage we are celebrating and presenting to other communities as a paradigm for building new cultural friendships.
“In all we want humanity to pay more attention to the family as a bastion of enduring moral transfusion that can save future civilizations from bleeding to death.
“The reason for the CDPs is that we have family values and the basis of any culture emanates from the family. A child who is bad comes from a family. These family values are the things inculcated into us all and they form the cultural norms that we grow up with. In which case, we would have people who respect their elders, people who accept authority, people who go according to norms that society expects. But nowadays we have egoism in our system. We are aware of the disrespect we see in our children of today. We are also aware of the indolence we have in our society and many more, which are contrary to the family values we used to know, and therefore we started wondering why this should happen. It can only happen in a society that is warped. That society that has gotten an alternative lifestyle from what we used to know. Of swagger and doing things you know are bad because you cannot find anyone to check you. Everyone is now on the internet. No one is listening to their parents anymore. So the taproot of our culture is being seriously eroded. The reason is that we have an alternative lifestyle, propagated through social media. This alternative lifestyle has culminated in this debased attitude of our children and ourselves. And that is the reason for what why we have this high percentage of culturally displaced persons in our society.”
Ekanem also emphasized the need for the traditional institution to be enshrined in the constitution.
His words, “The traditional institution not enshrined in the constitution. We want to know why, because it was there before the 1999 constitution. I want the press to help the traditional institutions and create this awareness, so we might have justice and be incorporated into the Nigerian constitution, which would define our roles and our remunerations.
“You know the constitution is the bible of the nation and when you exclude any group of people, you are discriminating against them. The tradition institutions are still there and growing in numbers and quality. Today’s traditional institutions are made up of those who have retired from work and have reached the highest rung of their profession and have come back to dedicate themselves to building the community, which I have told you has a high percentage of CDPs. The amendment of the constitution has not seen the light of day, so the traditional institutions still remain outside the constitution. They should bring it back.”
The itinerary for the cultural celebration included visitations to Mary Slessor Home in Akpap Okoyong, charity institutions, the aged homes and a royal announcement to the Obong of Calabar and grand patriarch of the Efik Kingdom at his palace.
Also featured were the public lectures; The Role of Traditional Rulers in Governance by Muri Prof Itam Hogan; The Effects of Climate Change in our Communities by High Chief Prof Eyo Etim Nyong; and Natural and Economic Resources in Odukpani by Prof Ayara Ndem Ndiyo.
At the grand finale there was a thanksgiving service at the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Odukpani Qua parish and the main ceremony at the council field immediately after.
A lecture on the theme of the celebration was presented by Prof Onoyom Ukpong, a US based art historian and different categories of awards were be given to deserving recipients before a grand finale of rich cultural displays of the people.
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Cross River holds security summit, seeks collaboration
Determined to maintain its status as the safest state in the country, Cross River State Government, yesterday called for collaborations from all stakeholders to support its effort to rid the state of criminal elements.
At a security stakeholders’ in Calabar, attended by captains of industry, traditional rulers, religious organizations and all security commanders in the state led by the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Henry Fadairo, the State Security Adviser, Mr. Jude Ngaji, said the essence of the forum “is to appeal to the public to partner with government in the fight against criminal elements and insecurity.”
According to him, government has expended quite a big chunk of its lean resources to tackle these challenges in order to protect lives and property of the people,, adding that it will not relent in its effort at ensuring that utmost peace and security was attained across the state.
“It should be noted that insecurity in our society affects everybody. Government has not relented in its effort in the fight against criminality, which is why structures and facilities have been put in place to confront the challenge.
“Since security is the business of all of us and not government alone, I want to use this opportunity to call on everyone in this hall to join the fight to root out criminals in our midst. Let me specifically mention that the Church has a critical role to play in this fight through their daily sermons to their congregation, while I also call on parents not to relent in their responsibilities in bringing up their children to be good and useful citizens,” he emphasized.
While lauding efforts of security operatives in the state, the Special Adviser maintained: “Let me use this opportunity to commend the Nigeria Police and other security agencies for their untiring efforts to ensure security of lives and property in the state. This effort has yielded some results as there is a remarkable reduction in the crime rate in the state,” and called on members to always say something each time they see something to enhance the effort.
A communiqué issued at the end of the summit lauded the establishment of the Security Trust Fund by the state government and urged greater synergy between it and the various stakeholders.
The Summit also recommended that traditional rulers be empowered financially to enable them contribute effectively to the peace and security of their domains.
On the proliferation of arms, the forum advised that Security agencies should carry out aggressive joint military operations to recover all illegal arms, adding that peace and security vanguard should be established in each ward of the Local Government Areas to work closely with security agencies to maintain peace in their respective localities.
The 15-point communiqué demanded the setting up of “peace and security committees made up of Traditional Rulers, Hausa/Fulani leaders and host communities to regulate the activities of herdsmen and promote peaceful co-existence between the cattle rearers and farming communities.”
It urged parents to pay more attention to the moral upbringing of their children and wards, while school authorities and care givers should develop and implement strategies to curb the menace of cultism amongst children and wards.
The communiqué also called on members of the political class to abstain from making inflammatory and divisive statements that are capable of undermining the peace and security of the state while also recommending that the forum be held quarterly in the state with a replica in the 18 Local government areas to promote community participation in security management.
“Many of such euro-centric mentality he has persistently displayed on social media, to underscore his materialistic eccentricity, hence his dialectical opposition to made-in-Nigeria goods. But an attempt at making women wear the garb of goods to be picked off the shelves was to take the issue to a ridiculous and irresponsible level.”
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Police join fight against malaria, zika in Cross River
The Nigeria Police Force has donated over 600 Insecticide Treated Nets and drugs worth millions of naira to the Police Secondary School, Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State to help protect the students and staff from mosquito bites and prevent the spread of malaria, zika and other diseases caused by mosquitoes.
The nets and malaria drugs were presented to the School Management on behalf of the Police Authority in Akpabuyo by the Commissioner in Charge of Police Medical Services, CP Wilson Akwiwu in the presence of the Commandant, Police Secondary School, Superintendent of Police Peter Austin and the Officer in charge of the Police Medical Clinic in the School, Inspector Baba Enoch, as well as other management staff of the School.
Commissioner Akwiwu said the donation was part of the Inspector General of Police’s commitment to support healthy living within Police formations across the country.
He said the human body can only function properly in a healthy environment and urged the students to maintain good hygiene in order to be healthy to pursue their studies diligently and compete favourably with their counterparts in Lagos and Abuja.
The Police Medical Services Commissioner pointed out that the Police Secondary School, Akpabuyo was specially selected as one of the beneficiaries of the program because it is the only Police school with a Medical Centre in the country.
He emphasized that malaria is a killer disease that has affected many families in Nigeria and called on the beneficiaries to judiciously use the drugs and the insecticide treated nets to achieve desired results.
He lauded the staff and students of the school for their high level of discipline and commitment to work, assuring that their problems, including inadequate accommodation, expansion of the school Medical Clinic to meet increasing health needs, would be taken to Abuja for possible positive response from the Inspector General of Police.
Commandant of the Police Secondary School, Akpabuyo, Superintendent of Police Peter Austin, thanked the Commissioner for the gesture, assuring that the drugs and Insecticide Treated Mosquito Nets would be properly put to use by the students.
Mr. Austin appealed to the Police high command to look into the challenges facing the school especially accommodation and expansion as well as improvement of facilities in the School Medical Clinic to meet increasing health needs of the people.
The Officer in charge of the School Medical Clinic, Inspector Baba Enoch, also praised the efforts of the Commissioner in tackling their health needs, noting that the Clinic requires expansion and well equipped facilities in order to meet growing health challenges of the student.
Enoch said the items donated would help a great deal in checkmating the spread of malaria, zika and other Mosquito causing Diseases in the school and its environs.