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Tag: Cross River

  • Excitement as Cross River awaits Buhari

    Excitement as Cross River awaits Buhari

    During his inauguration as the third Governor of Cross River State in the fourth Republic, Senator Benedict Benyaushuye Ayade made a policy declaration that he was going to undertake the construction of a dual super highway running the length of the state and the construction of a deep seaport, (Signature Projects) and until recent some few skeptics still question the veracity and honesty of the governor.

    However, what matters now is not the wrong misrepresentations of those skeptics but the reality that preliminary works are not only ongoing but that genuineness of the well-conceived projects by Ayade has attracted the respect and a Presidential handshake from President Muhammadu Buhari who is coming personally to carry out the groundbreaking ceremony of the N700Billion of over 260 kilometers super highway from Calabar to Gakem, Bekwarra and to the famous Obudu Ranch Resort. The Funding architect is Public Private Partnership (PPP) based with 500Million Euros tabled by Broad Spectrum, a European based firm.

    All necessary arrangements have already been concluded for the revered President Muhammadu Buhari to carry out the groundbreaking ceremony billed for Monday, September 21, 2015 in Calabar, the capital city of Cross River State. One irrefutable reality which nobody can deny is that it is no mean task to win the confidence of a highly principled and anti-corruption crusader, number one citizen of Nigeria, President Buhari to consider Governor Ayade’s proposal and included it in his very busy schedule to come in person to perform the groundbreaking.

    The ability of Governor Ayade to have conceived and dream big with a clear vision supported by a pragmatic leadership, worked assiduously and propelled those abstract concepts into concrete terms no doubt is the very reason why in this dispensation the government and people of Cross River State have not only earned a special place in the very disciplined heart of President Buhari, but has become the first state in the south-south geo-political zone to be visited by the Nigerian number one citizen.

    As a man who before now has prepared himself sufficiently ahead of time to provide service to the people, Ayade came into government with array of development projects and programmes that will transform the socio-economic and political face of Cross River State. The dual super high way, the deep seaport, the Garment factory, refinery among others are carefully planned to turn around, 360 degrees the fortunes of the state and its people. The super high way whose groundbreaking is fixed for Monday, September 21, 2015 in Calabar will provide an easy access from the seaport up to the northern part of Nigeria, reducing the many man hours that presently are being wasted between Calabar seaport and the northern part of Nigeria, as well as the neighboring countries such as Niger and Chad.

    The road will drastically reduce the rate of accidents and the associated carnages, waste of human lives, maiming of persons and bringing a lot of sorrows to many families. Several persons have lost their lives on this road, while several million litres of fuel, kerosene and diesel have equally been wasted on that same road as a result of the bad nature of the road. Another benefit of the dual super high way to the people of the state is that it will greatly boost the economic profile of all the communities that lies along the super high way route

    Similarly, the deep seaport which is one of the two signature projects of governor Ayade is signed to accommodate mother vessels, when completed is expected to remove the hitherto blockage by evacuating the corridors that have always served as obstacle to bigger vessels from entering the Calabar seaport, forcing them to always anchored at Lome, transferring the goods to smaller vessels that can find their way to the Calabar seaport. The combined force of the dual super high way and the deep seaport will equally serve as a veritable boost to land lock countries like Chad and Niger Republics to evacuate their goods from the seaport through the super high way to their various countries, as well as northern Cameroon.

    The people of the state are very happy with the landmark achievements of Ayade and for specifically winning the trust, confidence e and respect of Mr. President to create time from his busy schedules for a groundbreaking in Cross River state.

    A former member of the Armed Forces Ruling Council and former chairman of the Military wing of the Petroleum Trust Fund, Gen. Edward Unimna, said it is a privileged treatment that Buhari is visiting Cross River State.

    “It is a very good pointer that the state is doing well. I must commend the Federal Government for this confidence reposed on the state. When President Buhari selected Ayade to accompany him to Cameroon, it was a clear indication that the president is happy with what our governor is doing and that the governor is working harmoniously with the Federal Government”.

    Reacting to the Nigerian number one citizen’s visit to Cross River State the former elected female Chairman of Obudu Local Government Council, Hon Cecilia Ally reasoned that the acceptance of President Muhammadu Buhari to personally come to perform the groundbreaking for the super high way is a very clear indication that Buhari is a father to all Nigerians. Hon. Lady Ally said that President Buhari has proven that he is accommodating both his political party, APC and   other political parties by coming to carry out groundbreaking on a project conceived and initiated by Senator Ben Ayade, a PDP governor. “Buhari has shown that he is a father to all Nigerians. Equally, Ayade has proven to us that we have a bright future before us under his leadership”. The former number one indigene of Obudu expressed her deep appreciation to Governor Ayade for creating and ensuring such cordiality between him and the president within a very short period in office, indicating that we have a very bright future before us, adding that through Ayade efforts, Cross River has become the first state in the south-south to be visited by the president.

    A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River, Chief Linus Okom, saidthe coming of the President, “makes the people of the state not to feel that they are in  the opposition party and that they are part of the family”.

    The former Commissioner Local Government, Chief Peter Ojie, said: ”It is a clear indication that the President is happy with what our dear governor is doing in the state with the array of people-oriented projects which he has packaged and by the grace of God would be a reality.”

    The immediate past Senator representing the Southern Senatorial District, Senator Prince Bassey Otu, hailed Buhari for his transparent leadership and for playing politics beyond party line.

    A plantain trader from the Central Senatorial District of the state, Mr. Boniface Osafung, expressed happiness that with the coming of President Buhari to carry out the groundbreaking ceremony, there is a clear indication that the road project is on course and that the super high way would be completed so they the traders and other Nigerians will heave a sigh of relief.

    A woman, who identified herself as Paulina Ubong, a whole sales garri merchant, said that she has never had any fear about Ayade because she had heard him speak and had also seen him work and the sincerity of the governor in bringing about projects that will have direct bearing in the lives of the common man, and thanked president Buhari for accepting to come and carry out the groundbreaking ceremony of the super high way.

    A motorist plying the route between the northern part of the state and Calabar, Mr. Godwin Atem Ogani, commended Ayade for his visionary leadership and for conceiving the signature projects.

     

    • Ulayi and Asha are media aides to Governor Ayade.

     

  • Cross River APC leaders woo Ndoma-Egba

    Some leaders of the Cross River All Progressives Congress (APC), led by the Vice Chairman of Central and Chairman of the Stabilisation and Mobilisation Committee, Mr. Cletus Obun have visited former Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba.

    They urged him to join the party. Obun said APC and Cross River State needed his character, integrity, personality leadership and father figure in the party.

    They urged him to ignore media attacks on his speculated membership of the party because the attacks were not from the APC but allegedly  by those they called sponsored hirelings of the opposition party.

    Obun said the visit was necessary because APC and the state needed Ndoma-Egba  to benefit from his political strength in the state and at the Federal levels.

    The spokesman noted  that no the decision was taken at a resolution of an enlarged stakeholders and State Executive meeting of the party  in Ikom, Cross River State.

    According to him, APC agreed to go on a serious membership drive to increase its members ahead of the forthcoming local government elections in the state.

    Obun said Ndoma-Egba was targeted among those to be wooed into the party.

    The spokesman said the elderswanted to take advantage of the ill-treatment meted out to him by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to  join the APC.

    He said Ndoma-Egba’s movement to APC  would be  an historic duty because his experience would enable the party to develop further.

    Another member of the delegation and former Minority Leader and only APC member in the Cross River State House of Assembly, Alex Irek noted   that ‘’because we know where the sponsorship is coming from, the party mandated us to come and plead with you to come fast”.

    According to him, Ndoma-Egba’s defection was long overdue because APC members were already waiting for him to join the progressives.

  • Cross River lists N8b bond on Stock Exchange

    THE Cross River State Government at the weekend listed the state’s recent bond issue on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), paving the way for investors in the bond to trade on their investments.
    Cross River’s N8 Billion 17% Series 1 Fixed Rate Development Bonds due 2022 was admitted to trade at the NSE at the weekend. The bond issue was a tranche under the state’s N40 Billion debt Issuance programme.
    The listing of the Cross River’s bond brought the number of sub-national bonds on the NSE to 23. The Cross River’s bond is within the highest coupon rate in the market, at par with the Kwara Government Bond 2022, which also carried a coupon of 17 per cent.
    The Nation had in May named Cross River State as one of the six state governments and four companies that had initiated plans to raise about N350 billion through bond issues as governments increasingly turn to the capital market to bridge shortfall in national allocations.
    The state governments planned to raise between N5 billion and N40 billion in medium term revenue bonds.
    The states included Zamfara State, Cross Rivers State, Plateau State, Benue State, Kogi State and Oyo State. Zamfara State and Plateau planned to raise N30 billion each through medium-term fixed rate debt issues. Cross Rivers State was eyeing N40 billion while Benue State had filed application for N11 billion debt issue. Both Oyo State and Kogi State planned to raise N5 billion each.
    Total debts by the Federal Government and State Governments were then over N12 trillion. Official records by the Debt Management Office (DMO), the national agency that oversees debt issues by governments and state governments, had shown that total public debts by the Federal and State Governments closed the first quarter at about N12.1 trillion.
    According to the report for the period ended March 31, 2015, external debts by the Federal and State Governments stood at N1.86 trillion. Domestic borrowings by the Federal Government totaled N8.51 trillion while domestic debts by state governments stood at N1.69 trillion.
    SEC had earlier approved about N45 billion for four states including Bauchi, N15 billion; Kaduna, N8.5 billion; Ebonyi, N9.34 billion and Gombe State, N10 billion.
    Reacting to controversy over the approval of the Gombe State bond, SEC had said bond applications by sub-national governments usually follow due process in line with the rules and regulations of the Commission and extant laws guiding such issuance.
    According to the Commission, SEC is unique among other capital market regulators around the world in carrying out pre-offer and post-offer inspections to ensure that funds raised from the capital market are not misappropriated but applied for the purposes stated in the issuance prospectus.
    The Commission noted that its inspectorate department usually carries out on-site verification inspection of the projects completed from the proceeds of any previous issuance before granting approval for subsequent issue.

  • Elder brother to former DSS DG abducted in Cross River

    Elder brother to former DSS DG abducted in Cross River

    Chief Asuquo Ekpenyong Ekpe, the elder brother of the immediate past Director General of the Department of State Security, Ekpenyong Ita, was yesterday morning whisked away by unknown gunmen in his Creek Town home in Odukpani local government area of Cross River State.

    The gunmen whose number could not be ascertained, a source in the area said, gained access to the area in a boat through the Creek.

    “Several armed men just burst into his house on Friday night and whisked him away through the narrow canal, which is only navigable at high tide, through the main access Creek into the main beach and into the Calabar River from where they disappeared. Soldiers have been sent to the area as we speak,” the source said.

    Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Hogan Bassey, confirmed the incident.

    Bassey said they were on top of the situation and would ensure his release.

    He said the police were unaware of any demand for ransom.

    In October 2013, the father of the former Deputy Governor of the state, Efiok Cobham, was abducted in the same vicinity and manner.

    He was eventually released amid rumours that ransom was paid.

  • FBN Capital concludes Cross River bond issuance offer

    CBN Capital Limited has announced the successful conclusion of the Series- One Bond Issuance offer for the Cross River State Government, under its N40 billion bond issuance programme.

    The seven-year tenured bonds with maturity due in 2022 were issued via a Book Building process by FBN Capital Limited, following its appointment as the Lead Issuing House by the state government in May this year.

    The state, in line with its mandate to develop infrastructure, had embarked on several projects, including roads, water and health facilities which were financed through bank loans.

    The proceeds from the Issue were therefore earmarked for refinancing the state’s outstanding obligation to the lending banks. The bonds which were offered at 17 per cent coupon rate (paid semi-annually) proffered a cheaper financing option to the state.

    FBN Capital as Lead Issuing House, led the league of the Issuing Houses to underwrite the transaction to the tune of N6.25billion on a standby basis. The Bond Offer was secured by an Irrevocable Standing Payment Order (ISPO) issued by the Federal Ministry of Finance as a first line charge upon, and payable out of the Statutory Allocation of the state. By this order, a Sinking Fund Account was created and managed by the Trustees to the Issue from which bondholders’ obligation (interest and principal) would be repaid.

    Its Deputy Managing Director,  Taiwo Okeowo, said:  “Despite the market volatility which characterised the bond issuance period, the transaction was closed at a favourable pricing mark, raising N1.75billion over the underwritten sum.

    “FBN Capital leveraged on its distribution relationships to obtain commitment for the transaction, and on conclusion of the offer, a total of N8billion was raised, significantly reducing Cross River State’s outstanding loans to banks and lowering the service cost for the loans,” he said.

  • Cross River, Irish investors plan 5,000 housing units

    Cross River, Irish investors plan 5,000 housing units

    Cross River State government and Irish property developers are finalisng a deal for the construction of 5,000 housing units.

    The investors met with Governor Ben Ayade in Calabar yesterday.

    The meeting is coming barely two weeks after Ayade led a trade delegation to the Republic of Ireland.

    A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Christian Ita, said modalities had been worked out between the state government and an Irish building firm, Affordable Building Concept International, to build affordable houses in its effort to develop new cities.

    Ayade, while receiving the team which he described as “ specialists in affordable housing scheme”, in Calabar, explained that its presence was a follow-up to an earlier discussion in Dublin on plans by his administration to provide affordable but comfortable shelter for the poor and unemployed.

    Ayade said: “There is no amount of value you can give to mankind that will compensate for the lack of shelter. The  investors will come with their technology and expertise and set up a factory where low-cost housing will be designed off site and the houses set up in less than three days.”

    Headded that the houses would be in three categories to cater for the needs of the people, who will key into the ambition of the government to create a new city in each of the local governments while that of Calabar will be called “Calas Vegas”.

    Ayade said they would be mindful of the natural endowment of the environment where the houses would be located.

    The  Chairman of Affordable Building Concept International, Mr. Desmond Cullinane, hoped that they would achieve some measure of success in the state.

    The Irish investors later visited Summit Hills, where UAC is building housing an estate of various categories, known as the Golf Estate.

  • NGO to partner Cross River agency to tackle environmental hazards

    The Nigerian Environmental Society, Cross River Chapter, has expressed its readiness to collaborate with Cross River Basin Development Authority (CRBDA) to tackle environmental hazards in the state.

    Dr Udeme Udofia, the president of the state chapter, made the pledge in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Udofia said the organisation took the decision in its drive to effectively manage environmental related challenges, as part of its objective for sustainable development in the state.

    ‘’We pledge to work with the state basin authority as part of our objectives to foster partnership in areas of environmental management, pollution control and capacity building,’’ he said.

    The president also stressed the need for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) before embarking on any project in the state.

    According to him, such assessment would g a long way to helps in sustaining the environment and the authority’s projects.

    ‘’EIA is just an information gathering exercise carried out by the developer and other bodies.

    ‘’This enables a local planning authority to understand the environmental effects of a project before deciding whether or not it should go ahead.

    ‘’Such consideration will serve as protection and conservation of the environment for sustainable development,’’ Udofia said.

    He said environmental management was everybody’s business; saying that every society or organisation should be proactive in environmental related issues before embark on any project.

    Udofia advocated enlightenment campaign to sensitise the public on environmental sustainability.

    Meanwhile, the president urged Nigerians to contribute their quota in enhancing the environment by clearing drains and planting trees to control erosion.

  • Cross River, Ireland partner for development

    Cross River State and Republic of Island are to partner for the development of the Southsouth state.

    Governor Ben Ayade yesterday visited the Irish Ambassador to Nigeria, Sean Hoy, with a request for a stronger partnership that would engender growth and prosperity for his state and the Republic of Ireland.

    The visit came ahead of his visit to Dublin where he is expected to meet with key Irish investors as he continues his drive to industralise the state.

    While acknowledging the strong Irish heritage of the people of the state given their association with Irish missionaries, Ayade said the time had come for a more economically productive partnership between Cross River and Ireland.

    He said he would want Ireland to take advantage of the vast arable land in the state and invest in agriculture, especially in diary, feed milling, cultivation of tomatoes and potatoes for export.

    “In Cross River, we have a strong Irish heritage, especially in Calabar. I really will like to see a stronger Irish presence in Agriculture. I want Irish companies to take advantage of the potentials our state offers,” the governor said.

    Ambassador Hoy said Calabar had been home to most Irish missionaries and expressed his desire to visit Calabar.

    Hoy informed the governor of plans by the embassy to bring Irish musicians to perform in Calabar.

    The ambassador said one of the most celebrated rights activists in his country once served in Calabar as a young officer, adding that even the uncle to his country’s  Foreign Minister was a missionary in Calabar.

    He expressed the willingness of his country to invest in agriculture in the state, disclosing that his country currently produces ten times what it consumes.

    He praised Cross River for being a stand out state in the country, adding: “I have heard about your Cattle Ranch. It is amazing that as big as Nigeria is, everybody keeps talking about only one place; Calabar and the Ranch Resort. “

     

  • Cross River recruits into Green Police, garment factory

    Cross River recruits into Green Police, garment factory

    The Cross River State government begun recruitment into its garment factory and Green Police.

    The garment factory and the Green police are two of several opportunities designed by Governor Ben Ayade to create over a thousand jobs to mark his 100 days in office.

    Ahead of its inauguration, the garment factory is expected to absorb several hundred women, mostly widows while the Green Police, a non-arm bearing organisation established to protect the state’s vast forest reserve and the environment, will employ about a thousand.

    Ayade, while conceiving the two projects, said it was a more institutionalised way of empowering the people, noting that the era of giving out handouts was over.

    Since the job vacancies for the two projects were advertised a few days ago, over 6,000 have submitted their resume to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government.

    Ayade, upon his inauguration on May 29, 2015, had promised to rekindle hope by breaking the vicious of cycle of employment that had been the lot of the citizenry for sometime now.

    “With the commencement of recruitment into the state’ garment factory and the Green Police, Cross River State youth and women, especially widows can now heave a sigh of relief as their situations look to be taking a turn for the better,” said a source.

  • 15 die in Cross River auto crash

    15 die in Cross River auto crash

    Fifteen people were feared dead yesterday in an auto crash at Odukpani, Calabar-Ikom highway.

    The victims were occupants of a Lagos-bound 18-seater bus belonging to a popular transport company.

    Eyewitnesses said the bus collided with an oncoming truck.

    It was gathered that three of the people were unconscious, following the crash.

    They were reportedly conveyed to Benin General Hospital.

    The dead were deposited in the mortuary.

    The dilapidated road has been a source of worry for residents.

    Sveral fatal accidents have been recorded on the road.