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Tag: Cross River

  • Cross River: Audacity of vision

    Cross River: Audacity of vision

    As yours sincerely set out for Calabar, the Cross River State capital last week, the mood was one of high expectations. If my earlier visit in June 2013 – set in the background of the anniversary of the loss of the state’s derivation revenue exactly a year earlier – was one of tempered expectations, this was to be entirely different. Shortly before that 2013 visit, I could not but recall that the state’s last derivation cheque in the sum of N345 million came exactly a year before the visit – the aftermath of the July 2012 apex court ruling terminating its membership of the oil-producing club. That was subsequent to the ceding of its entire 176 oil-wells to its neighbour, Akwa Ibom. While that particular development came as dampener to any serious expectation, the visit turned out to be most revealing – or rather a most rewarding one. In the end, I could only surmise that while the state may have lost those prized oil wells, it has demonstrated that it had a lot going for it in the iron-clad determination of its leadership to turn things around in quick time.

    Of course, the main highlight of that visit was the ground-breaking ceremony of General Electric’s $1 billion manufacturing and training facility at Calabar, said to be one of two of its kind under the corporation’s Greenfield investment drive. But then, it was also an opportunity for the officials to showcase the impressive strides recorded in the area of direct foreign investment through the activities of the one-stop shop – the State Investment Promotion Bureau. Top on the list of the gains was Wilmar Limited’s $400 million investment in agriculture and agro-processing – which unfortunately I could not visit on that occasion. There was also the Brentex Petroleum $300 million pipe mills manufacturing; the $700 million Essar Power Limited 660MW Integrated Power Project; Southgate Cocoa, and the Artee Group’s investment in shopping malls –more than mere proofs of a state determined to move against the tide.

    You can therefore understand the basis of my heightened expectations as I flew into the state capital, last week. In a sense, it was for me an opportunity to play catch-up on the earlier visit.  Today, I can confirm that what whereas the state may have lost something in excess of N20 billion in the more than 22 months of non-receipt of derivation funds, it is, presently, not only fully poised to recover them through the burst of entrepreneurial energy to be unleashed from the massive investment in infrastructure and human capital, it appears even more determined to push new frontiers of development.

    This is no exaggeration; whether one is talking of tourism, sports infrastructure, urban renewal, agriculture rural development, education (particularly vocational education) or, health, the sense of urgency in the mission by the Imoke administration to lay the foundation for a prosperous, sustainable future is discernable.

    In Calabar, it was sheer marvel to behold the world-class Calabar International Convention Centre springing up, next to the Tinapa complex –both set within the sprawling Summit Hills – an integrated lifestyle real estate development complex. If ever a project would claim to speak to the determination of the state to become a force in global tourism, this would be it. And for Tinapa, it would be a case of the dream coming into realisation whenever it finally comes through; after all, nothing better speaks to the imperative to address the challenge which had rendered the utilisation of the multi-million dollar Tinapa investment sub-optimal than the coming of the 5,000-seat capacity auditorium, to be linked with it by mono rail. At completion, the centre would also host a 200-bed Convention Hotel under the state’s Public Private Partnership model; to complement these is the New Calabar Golf Course.

    Also in Calabar, the U.J Esuene Stadium is beginning to wear a new look under the massive rehabilitation going on; we saw the NYSC Demonstration Secondary School – one of the prototype schools conceived under the Cross River standard – a model of what a learning environment should be – with libraries, laboratories, ICT facilities and modern conveniences. At the newly built Institute of Technology and Management, Ugep, in Yakurr Local Government, we saw evidence of a state determined to change both the face and the paradigm of vocational education.

    In the area of road infrastructure, we drove through the newly built airport road bypass; the hundreds of kilometres of rural and urban roads, stretching from Calabar to Ikom, to Ogoja right up to Obudu – the ranch town; along the way, we inspected water and stadium projects in Ogoja and Ikom. Throughout the entire journey, we observed a deliberate effort to redress the neglect of the rural areas; so also is the effort to maintain the delicate balance between man and environment.

    For me, two projects particularly stand out as deserving of mention.  The Songhai farm complex in Abi; the other, the multi-million dollar Wilmar farm complex in Akampa. The former, a demonstration farm promoted by the state government to train the youths, is an integrated system under which waste products from plants, birds, fish ponds, which are ordinarily disposed off, are recycled as inputs. Earlier on, I had mentioned the huge agricultural complex owned by Wilmar, a multinational company. Both, aside showcasing the immense possibilities in commercial agriculture, offer immense promises in skills transfer for the youths of the state but also in the area of agro-processing.

    Let me conclude by summarising the lessons I learnt in the course of the tour. The first is the power of vision. I guess it makes all the difference that the state strives “To become the leading Nigerian state with prosperous, healthy and well educated citizens living in harmony with people and Nature; and pursuing legitimate interest in freedom moderated by good governance”.

    I consider that a clear, powerful statement to run with.

    The second lesson is the importance of continuity. Here, it is so easy to draw upon the lesson of Tinapa which is that the project, as well conceived as it appears, could never have come to its own without the Calabar International Convention facility. By picking up from where his predecessor stopped, Governor Imoke simply gave life to what is potentially, another white-elephant project. The good people of the state would, in years to come, have Imoke and his team to thank for this.

    Finally, I guess the point cannot be sufficiently made about how dysfunctional our practice of federalism has become. Asked about the terrible states of federal roads in the states at the Town Hall meet, the governor couldn’t agree more with the view that the notion of federal road in state jurisdiction is a strange.

    I should add that the National Assembly consider turning over the budgetary allocation for maintaining federal roads to the states. From what I saw of the quality of Cross River roads, I have no doubt that the state could deliver a far better job than the federal maintenance agency could ever.

  • Criss-crossing Cross River

    Criss-crossing Cross River

    It was the second day you arrived in Calabar, the Cross River State capital with a reputation for having zero tolerance for indiscriminate dumping of refuse. You remembered Lagos, your base, that microscopy of Nigeria and the indiscriminate way residents litter everywhere.

    The night you arrived you had gone with your host and some colleagues to see ‘Devil in the detail’, in which a wife made it clear to her husband that she was entitled to his fidelity just like he was to hers. It was at the Marina Resort, a beautiful resort with a cinema and other entertainment centres. The resort, you were told, is a Public Private Partnership (PPP) initiative.

    Your last two visits were short and not much time to see and feel Calabar.

    On the second day, you were taken to see what you have chosen to see as the future of Calabar. It is called Summit Hills. On the Hills, you saw a Golf Course and Golf Clubhouse under construction; you saw an international convention centre with an adjoining Four Points by Sheraton Hotel also under construction, both with huge capacity to host the world; you also saw the site of a monorail to link Summit Hills with Tinapa, that entertainment, shopping and leisure centre. The rail will bring Tinapa closer to Calabar metropolis, you were told.

    February 2015 is the opening date for the Calabar International Convention Centre (CICC) sandwiched within a Free Trade Zone. Governor Liyel Imoke’s dream is for the CICC to turn Calabar to “West Africa’s business and event destination of choice”. The Hills also boasts of the Calabar Specialist Hospital, a collaboration with foreign partners meant to encourage medical tourism on completion. There are also layouts with infrastructures already in place for people to build homes.

    Done with the Hills, you and others were taken to the new Margaret Ekpo Airport Bye Pass, a sizeable portion of which sits on a swamp. The road has increased land value to millions from the initial thousands. It has also reduced time to the Margaret Ekpo International Airport considerably.

    On the third day, you joined others on a trip to Ikom, a three-hour drive from Calabar. There were to be stops here and there. The long stretch leading to Odukpani junction was taken over by heavy duty vehicles for reasons no one could explain. Many of them facing one-way. Around the junction leading to Tinapa, your convoy almost got stuck but snaked its way out after losing precious time. It reminded you of Apapa-Oshodi Epressway.

    After crawling out of the gridlock, driving was smooth. At a point, you passed a massive palm plantation cultivated by Wilmer International, a global brand in oil palm plantation based in Malaysia, which over three decades ago got its first palm oil seedlings from Calabar. The farm located in Akamkpa is so big a colleague exclaimed: “You could get lost here.”

    You and other members of the team had a stop at the oil palm farm and were briefed by an official of Wilmer who confessed that the oil palm seeds were imported from Indonesia but that they originally were taken from Calabar several decades ago. He added that they had been improved upon.  The farm also has a refinery for the oil palm and an oil palm mill. Residential quaters are also springing up.

    You were told the land was only leased to Wilmer for 25 years and renewable after. All things being equal. You later had a stopover at the Cross River State College of Education, which had literally gone into extinction before Imoke. Many a new structure has found space courtesy of the governor.

    The journey to Ikom began once again. After over one hour of driving and sleeping and gisting, you and others stopped again at the Songhai Integrated Farm located in Itigidi, Imoke’s village. You were told an hotel would be built to complete the farm and create room for recreation. It reminded you of the Songhai Farm in Port Novo owned and run by a Nigerian, where people visit as a resort. This is what Cross River also has in sight.

    The next stop was a brand new vocational and technical education centre. You were told the construction work was started some eight months ago and several buildings were already standing and looking radiant. It is called Institute of Technology and Management (ITM), Ugep in Yarkur, the hometown of the late Okoi Arikpo, a First Republic Minister.

    The Rural Development Agency, a government agency, the team learnt, had done not less than 500km of road. In all, the agency, said an official, has done 36 roads in the rural areas. Two roads each in the 18 local government areas in the state, an official said. One of these roads done with counterpart funding with the African Development Bank has opened a community where the people used to go through hell before getting to their homes where they were greeted with ‘sorry’ for making it safely.

    The Rural Access Mobility (RAM) has also done some rural roads.

    Eventually, you were in Ikom, where you saw the Water Treatment Plant and the Specialist Hospital. The hospital is still under construction. The water comes from the Cross River.  Before the plant, people were drinking from unsafe sources.  You later saw the Ikom Stadium, which is nearing completion.

    The last day of the tour began in Ogoja, where the team passed the night after the Ikom rounds. You saw the Bebi Airstrip and other projects of the Imoke administration in the Ogoja division. And thus ended a memorable trip to this state which borders Cameroun on many a front.

    And now the final take: exactly a year from now, Imoke will be out of the Government House leaving behind a legacy of projects that will define Cross River’s tomorrow. All hands must be on deck to ensure the plans are not derailed because opportunities lost, most times, are never regained.

  • Cross River: Uncertain race for Imoke’s job

    Cross River: Uncertain race for Imoke’s job

    Following the refusal of Governor Liyel Imoke of the state to openly throw his weight behind a particular aspirant in the race for the ticket of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2015 gubernatorial election in Cross Rivers State, and the subtle but determined resolve of the opposition in the state to work towards victory in the said election, political analysts say the electoral battle in the state appears shrouded in uncertainty.

    Although Imoke has announced his support for the northern zone of the state to produce the next governor, he has remained silent on which of the numerous aspirants from the zone he would be backing. Not even his body language is suggestive of the slightest inclination towards the aspiration of any individual.

    Speaking on the matter during a media parley recently, Imoke reminded his listeners that Cross River has three Senatorial Districts. “Two senatorial districts have produced by the grace of God, governors. One has not. Would it be fair for us not to allow the other senatorial district a governor? Will it be fair?

    “This is a just a question of simple fairness. Just like we had president from the North, then, South West, now from South South, there is no big deal. It is a natural sequence. That is why I support it openly. Some people have been asking ‘oga keep quiet over this matter. This is not how to do’. I say I don’t know how to deal with what is honest, sincere, correct and right.”

    And in a move that suggests that the leadership of the party in the state may be thinking in the same direction as the Governor, the party recently de-emphasised the position of the governor.

    According to a release by the party, the Southern Senatorial District had Donald Duke as governor from May 1999 to May 2007 and at the moment; Imoke from the Central Senatorial District is in charge of affairs in the state. So, in its view, Imoke was right in stating his support for the emergence of his successor from the Northern Zone of the state.

    Already, there is a fierce fight amongst chieftains of the PDP for the control of the party from the wards to state levels. But for the  leadership provided by the governor, this development, party sources claim, would have plunged the PDP into a serious crises.

    “The way some people are going about their aspirations, they care less if the party disintegrates. If not for the way Governor Liyel Imoke has being intervening to stall crises in the party, Cross Rivers PDP would by now be in the worst crises that is unimaginable,” a chieftain of the party told The Nation.

    Aspirants who are currently jostling to fit the bill include Mr. Goddy Agba, the General Manager Crude, NNPC, Professor Ben Ayade, the Senator representing the Northern  Senatorial District, Mr. John Odey, former Minster of Environment, Mr Larry Odey, Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Mr. Fidel Egoro, Deputy State Chairman of the PDP, Mr Mr Tanko Ashong, Legal Adviser NEMA, Mr. Legor Idagbo, Commissioner for Works and Mr. Fidel Ugbo, the serving Secretary of  National Planning Commission.

    Odey, a former Acting Governor and now Speaker of the House of Assembly in Cross River State, had remained behind the scene until recently  when he suddenly announced his interest in the governorship. Sources say he is counting on the very healthy relationship he enjoys with Imoke and some powerful PDP leaders at the national level, to work in his favour.

    The Speaker, who represents Yala State Constituency in the state Assembly, said he is the most qualified aspirant for Imoke’s job. He is seeking to contest on the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He said he is vying because, according to him, PDP caucus in the state has unanimously zoned the 2015 governorship slot to his zone, the Northern Senatorial District of the state.

    Describing himself as the most qualified candidate, Odey told journalists recently: “I have been the acting governor of the state for three months when the Appeal Court nullified the mandate of Gov. Liyel Imoke in 2012. Haven’t been the acting governor, and currently serving as Speaker of Cross River State House of Assembly, I have the capacity, experience and pedigree to contest the 2015 in the state.

    “I have been in the umbrella party for a long time now and at that level, I am not lacking any quality not to contest the polls’’, he said. On his agenda, Odey said: “My primary motivation for the race is to promote educational and economic development of the state and to serve the good people of Cross River with dignity, transparency, and accountability.

    “Cross River is blessed with natural and human resources, with the support of all stakeholders; we can move the state to a greater height. The choice of the people matters most in politics, your opponents do not really matter, anyone who thinks he has something good to offer the people can as well run for the polls,’’ he said.

    But pundits say it may not be an easy ride for the Speaker. According to watchers of the politics of the state, unless the Speaker gets the backing of the powerful blocs within the state, he is not much of a political heavyweight to go it all alone with or without some stakeholders.

    “In spite of his pedigreee politically, Odey is not that strong to say he will be governor on his own merit. We know those who can say such in the politics of Cross Rivers state,” a party chieftain said.

    Another aspirant willing to stake his money and popularity in the uncertain contest is Jeddy Agba, the  outgoing General Manager Crude, NNPC. According to reliable sources, there is a lot of talk about the frenzy within his political camp.

    Agba reportedly sent in his resignation letter to the management of the corporation few weeks back. His disengagement from NNPC according to insiders’ report, is expected to take effect in a couple of months. “He is resigning so as to concentrate all his energy on his governorship ambition,” a source said.

    Sources in Calabar, the state capital said Agba is putting a lot of energy and resources into his campaign effort with regular visits to the state in recent weeks. According to reports, the politician, hoping to take advantage of the zoning arrangement with the ruling party as announced by the Governor, is reaching out to party leaders and members across the divisions of the state.

    “Agba is not taking the contest with kids glove. He appears to be ready for the political dog fight that is sure to trail the contest for the party’s ticket ahead of the 2015 general election. He is fast popularizing himself among the politicians. This is easy because he has a large political war chest and he is ray to use all available resources to see his ambition through.

    As party leaders, we are open to all the aspirants and ready to listen to them all. That is what you are witnessing. The fact that Agba is going round the party leaders and telling them of his ambition is not enough for his people to claim that he has our endorsement. Even if he doles out money to politicians as they claim he is doing, the party will still allow the people to decide who they want,” a chieftain of the party said.

    But in a move that many say may halt Agba’s aspiration, the Chairman of the PDP in the state, Ntufam John Okon, said the NNPC topshot is not a member of the ruling party.

    “Let me use this opportunity to make this clear that Gody Agba is not a member of our party. He is a civil servant and our party rules are there on how the number of years you spend before you can contest elections in our party. I just want this to be made clear because, you brought it. I have never said it before. So if anybody wants to do anything let him go ahead, All I am, saying is that don’t use the name of PDP.

    “You know they are some people who want to ruin other people’s chances, trying to make PDP disqualified them run to another party. We are too intelligent for that kind of game. We have not authorised anybody to start campaigning to protect the party because we are going to win. Those who are looking for tribunal should stay clear because they would not make us to be disqualified or enter any controversy. As for Jedy Agba, let us wait for him to resign and come. But as for now, I know he is not our member,”

    Reacting to reports that Agba claimed to be a card carrying member of the PDP, Ntufam said the membership card of the party is not too difficult to procure.

    “PDP card is printed everywhere. If you want the PDP card you can pick it anywhere. You can go to a printing press and pick it but is that how you become a member of the party? Let him prove that he is a member.  You must make sure the card is also incorporated in the register. Jedy Agba is not a member of the party. If he likes let him print 20 cards, he is not a member,” he reiterated.

    In a related development, a group, Cross River State Youths Forum, (CRSYF) recently threatened to take legal action against Senator Ben Ayade, if he refuses to run as Governor of Cross River State in the 2015 governorship race. Sources however say Ayade is hoping to announce his aspiration soon.

    The President of the group, Comrade Joseph Ishajie who made the disclosure during an interactive session with journalists in Calabar, berated politicians against making unguarded utterances that the old Ogoja (the North) has no credible candidate, neither do they ever speak in one voice in matters as this.

    He said, “We the youths of Cross River are out to give our total support to Senator Ayade and urge him to hasten up and declare to run for the governorship seat zoned to his area. And if he fails to contest, we will compel him by mobilising over one million youths to his house at Obudu. Surely, when he sees such action, he would be forced to declare. It is on record that he has empowered the youths more than any of his predecessors. He has recommended youths for jobs, sent some abroad for training and given financial assistance running into millions of naira for entrepreneurship scheme,” Ishajie added.

  • Cross River to build 400 houses for civil servants

    • Kwara to demolish buildings on river banks

    Civil servants in Cross River State are to benefit from 400 housing units being planned by the government, Governor Liyel Imoke has said.

    The houses are to be built in Akpabuyo.

    Imoke made this known during a visit by executives of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) led by the state Chairman Comrade John Ushie.

    The governor appealed for support to strengthen the service, saying that labour is part of the process to bring about the expected change.

    He explained that the state had enormous challenges while executing the first phase of the scheme, which it paid for 100 per cent, due to the inability of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria to fulfil its financial obligation.

    Ushie promised that the NLC would partner with the government to enable it achieve its programme.

    Meanwhile, the Kwara State Government has said it would demolish all buildings on river banks.

    This decision was taken after the Chairman of the Task Force on Flood Control and Prevention,  Alhaji Abubakar Kannike, visited some areas affected by flooding in state capital.

    Kannike also said the state government would compensate the owners of the affected buildings. The task force identified roads and bridges that needed reconstruction.

    Kannike said the government would respond to the plight of the people by providing succour for victims of flood disasters in the state.

  • Cross River takes over disputed land

    Cross River takes over disputed land

    In the wake of rising hostiles between the people of Usumutong and Ediba communities in Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State over land ownership, the State Government has ordered the take-over of the disputed land to forestall more crisis.

    The State Deputy Governor, Mr. Efiok Cobham, addressing Traditional Rulers, Chiefs and Youths in the two communities, warned them to steer clear of the disputed area so as not to further incur the wrath of the Government.

    He advised youths in the area not to allow themselves to be used by elites to foment trouble.

    He blamed the protracted crisis on the elites and elders for lack of cohesive leadership in both communities to broker peace, law and order in the area.

    He urged them to embrace peace to give way to progress and development, learn to forgive one and another, and to co-exist and accommodate each other.

    Cobham urged them to go about their normal business as government is in full control of the situation.

    Meanwhile, soldiers, policemen and other law enforcement agencies have been deployed to the communities to forestall breakdown of law and order, with directives to deal decisively with any person or group that perpetrates any mayhem in the disputed area.

  • Fulani herdsmen incursion raises fear in Cross River

    The chairman of Ogoja local government council in Cross River State, Rita Agbo Ayim, has raised fears over the incursion of some Fulani herdsmen from neighbouring Benue state to the area.

    In a meeting with the Hausa/Fulani community living in Igoli-Ogoja, she said the herdsmen’s relocation to the area posed a security challenge.

    She appealed to the community through its head, Alhaji Adamu Asaba, to help talk with the herdsmen to move from the area to another place.

    She said their presence was giving the people of the area sleepless nights because of their recent actions in other places.

    “More than five thousand cattle have been shifted to Ogoja and the community is not happy over the development, and the Fulani herdsmen is danger to the people.

    “You should as a matter of urgency talk to the Fulani cattle rearers to relocate as there is no space in Ogoja to accommodate them,” she said.

    The chairman used the opportunity to thank the Hausa community for the support she has enjoyed from and reassured them of her government readiness to carry everybody along.

    Alhaji Yakubu Adamu, appreciated the chairman for coming to address them over the issue of the Fulani herdsmen before taking an action.

    He assured the chairman that they will do everything possible to make sure the cattle rearers return to where they came from.

    He said they have enjoyed peace throughout their stay in Ogoja and will want nothing to spoil their relationship with the community.

  • Dying businesses of Cross River

    Dying businesses of Cross River

    Calabar, the Cross River State capital, and other towns around are witnessing a lull in business. The multi-billion naira Tinapa Business and Lesure Resort is not left out of the bad times, reports NICHOLAS KALU, Calabar 

    A few weeks ago, the new Area Comptroller of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in charge of Akwa Ibom, Cross River and the Calabar Free Trade Zone Command, Bamidele Akande, visited the Cross River State Security Adviser. The visit was to familiarise the leadership of the command with the state government and seek ways of collaboration for the benefit of the people.

    Akande pointed out something that appears a lot of people will rather sweep under the carpet. He said businesses were dying in the state.

    He expressed concern over the lull in economic activities. He said with a viable seaport, businesses should be booming. He urged the state government to do something about the situation.

    The Tinapa Resort, he pointed out, is also suffering, adding that due to the situation, some investors were already making plans to move elsewhere.

    Several reasons have been adduced for the situation, but topping the list are the shallow Calabar channel and the terrible condition of link roads, especially the Calabar-Itu federal highway.

    Akande said: “We have identified some key factors in the lull in economic activities in the state. The bad road is one of them. We have seen that the government is doing very well in terms of providing good roads within the city, but the problem is the road linking the state to other states is the main problem. They are very bad sections and this is really affecting economic activities in the state adversely.

    “The road is a serious problem as we have been in touch with business men in Abia and the neighbouring states but they complain that they cannot come here to do business because of the bad road.

    “Another problem here is the dredging of the Calabar Channel. This is another cause for concern and something should be done about it urgently.”

    A top official of the Calabar Free Trade Zone, who pleaded for anonymity, said the zone felt highly challenged because of the constraints against the proper kick-off of economic activities in the state.

    The official said goods destined for the zone as well as Tinapa have to berth in Onne in Rivers State for onward movement to Calabar, a situation, he said, has created several logistic problems for business.

    He said: “Calabar Free Trade Zone feels highly challenged because the roads leading from Onne, which is the nearest port to Calabar, is something that needs urgent attention. It causes great discomfort for our people to bring in their goods or take out their goods. The Calabar Port that is among the oldest ports in Nigeria, which has got a lot of history behind and it is attractive to shipping lines. We have been told of so many reasons why it is still not working, but we are still unable to understand.”

    He also identified electricity as another major challenge. He said: “After road and port another major infrastructure challenge is the availability of electricity. We hope that with the privatisation of the discos maybe we would now start solving the problem. We want to say that Calabar as a growing industrial city should receive priority in terms of allocation by the transmission companies. If we have electricity there would be enough to encourage people to come and settle. The problem is the investors would say they would not come because no power. The power companies would say well there are no people who are consuming. We have to start from somewhere. We have people who are interested in coming here to establish and generate their own power, but also we have limitations in terms of the gas supply.”

    The chairman of the Cross River/Akwa Ibom states branch of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Elder Iniobong Jackson, decried the situation in an interaction with reporters recently. He urged the federal and state governments to engage the private sector in repairing the deplorable Calabar-Itu Highway.

    He believes the road requires a complete overhaul and government needs the input of the private sector in this regard.

    Jackson, who is also a Calabar industrialist and Chief Executive Officer of Jackson Devos Enterprise, said it would not be out of place for the government to re-introduce toll gates on the highway, so far as its proceeds are used to maintain the road. He said the road is very important to the state’s economy and should be prioritised by the state government.

    He also rued the Federal Government’s failure to dredge the Calabar Sea Port even when others in the country are frequently being dredged.

    Describing the state of the Calabar port as pathetic, he said: “Most of us in the Free Trade Zone usually have our goods coming either through Lagos or Rivers State ports.

    “No shipping line is effectively operating this route because they say there is no adequate traffic, and this makes the cost of production higher.”

    Elvis Masor, the Managing Director of the Ugonabo Trading and Logistics in Tinapa, told Niger Delta Report that he would leave Clabar as soon as the goods he has are sold out. According to him, there was no need continuing to stay and incurring losses as economic activities were not moving as expected.

    He said: “You can see there is no traffic. You can stay from morning till night. Virtually we don’t make sales again. Basically it is actually the major problem we are having because what really do is importation and this is known to be a free zone and most of our customers who come from other countries when they come they get some embarrassment from customs discouraging them from coming in to buy. Our mode of importation that we feel could be addressed in future. We are expecting that the Calabar seaport should work, because during our importation, we bring in from Onne in Rivers meanwhile Calabar is the final destination. Goods coming in from Rivers would still be on transit to Tinapa. Had it been the Calabar Port is working, it would have also gone a long way to salvage most of the problems we have as a free zone.

    “If the business is flowing we would recoup the expenses we have made but now it is not moving, we have been affected. The road is the only means and it has been another factor affecting us. Most of those goods are not insured. They use to fall on the road and once they fall, then some of them get damaged. All boils down to the fact that if this seaport is working, it would go a long way to help us salvage the problem.”

    For Kingsley Ihenacho, the General Manager of Ecomarine (ECM) terminals concessioned to manage the Calabar Port for 25 years, the non-completion of the dredging of the channel to the advertised draft of 9.4m meters is the biggest threat to the development of the port with adverse effect on their financial projection and cargo throughput which was predicated on the completion of the dredging as assured during the concession exercise.

    “The drop in performance in general cargo and container volumes shown above are purely affected by non-completion of dredging and pull-out of container services from Calabar(by Maersk line). This is in spite of ECMT’s huge investment in this sector of our operation (in terms of equipment purchase). Also, with the withdrawal of Baco Liner services in Nigeria, Calabar port is completely without a container service. At the moment, all the cocoa exporters are trucking to Lagos for consolidation and export at the expense of the government of Cross River State in terms of revenue and to the port in terms of cargo traffic,” he said.

    Also commenting on the road, he said: “There is an urgent need to fix the bad roads leading out of Calabar. On completion of the dredging, the envisaged increase in container business may not be realised as the bad road will still prevent the importers from the South-East and North-Central states from bringing in their cargo through Calabar which was built to service the importers/exporters from these areas. We request the Federal Government to assist in addressing this impediment.”

    The net effect of the constraints, he said, has led to the non-calling of container ships to Calabar and has affected negatively forecasted cargo volumes upon which their development plan was hinged on.

    “Hence the company is basically thriving on low hanging fruits while hanging on awaiting the Capital Dredging of the Calabar River Channel. Negligible import container and general cargo volume due to the non-calling of the Container vessels to Calabar Port has consistently depleted our revenue base thereby impacting on our desire for backward integration.

    “Our major clients, such as Flour mills, Unicem and Dangote etc do not presently enjoy the economy of scale in their vessel nominations to Calabar due to the fact that their full load arriving vessel has to lighter off some cargo tonnage in Lagos before calling Calabar Port due to draft limitations. Hence, a cargo ship load that could have come at once per voyage ends up being conveyed down to Calabar Port in two or three voyages. This increases their operating cost and by extension cost of the end product from the end-users position. It also leads to capital flight out of Nigeria. This makes these companies less competitive.

    We have equally lost several business prospects like a fertilizer Company- Nargajuna and several Ro-Ro. Shipping companies that could have been plying their trade in Calabar Port due to the restriction of approach draft limitation. It is ironical that the even draft alongside quay at Calabar Port is 10m whereas the Calabar river approach draft is 6.4m on high water. All these have had limiting and stunting effects on the growth efforts of the various Free Trade Zones in Calabar(CFTZ and TFTZ) and has largely made them unable to realize their basic potentials. The FTZ are all struggling presently due to the non-dredging of the Calabar river channel. Based on all of the above, the going-concern status of ECM Terminals Calabar is threatened,” he said.

    But must wait for the dredging of the Calabar channel, which has almost become politicized, continue for economic activities to kick start at the port? Stakeholders do not think so.

    Akande said even as the channel is some vessels can still come in he said vessels can still come in with bulk consignments. There is high tonnage. “The kind of tonnage they can bring in is still enough to make a lot of difference around here,” he said.

    The CFTZ official also agrees with this. “We have always been told that the port needs to be dredged and the channel needs to be dredged but for me as a person, I would love a situation where we encourage smaller vessels to ply the route and channel to make the port busy so that business find it attractive and then continue to use it and then build up skill which would then make it possible for government to say okay lets dredge it and allow bigger vessels. But if we keep saying we would not use the port until the channel is dredged for bigger vessels, if bigger vessels cannot find the volume of business to come here, then we would always remain in that situation. We would not use the port until it is dredged. The commercial shipping lines would not come because there is no volume and because it is not dredged.

    “If investors in the zone could guarantee something like 50 containers a month, if we put heads together all the people around Calabar, the business community under the chamber of commerce, under MAN, and the investors in Tinapa, by the time we put our heads together we can make at least a hundred containers a month.

    “Why it has not happened, I don’t know. If we do this we should be able to attract business. When a ship gets to Onne, we transload it and bring it to Calabar. If we start with a small number of containers and it is regular, we would get the port working. From there we would move to the next level.

    “It would get to a point where everybody would see the port working and would now divert his goods to the port and we would be able to manage it. That would reduce the pressure on the road itself, particularly the Itu road. Anytime there is breakage, think of the trouble, the trauma, the delay. So we are saying let us reduce that. Let us have a vessel that would be bring in containers directly from Onne to the Calabar port.

    Jackson also said the situation does not stop economic activities in the zone.

    “It does not make it impossible for ship to come. At the moment, ships are coming but they are mostly dedicated ones. It only reduces the volume of ships that can come at a given time”.

    Many stakeholders point out that Cross River generally is not an industrial state but with its potential for being an investors’ haven, it could possible beat other economic destinations in no time.

    However, they believe this cannot be achieved if the problems highlighted are not adequately taken care.

    A stakeholder said: “When you look at the traditional industrial areas of the nation whether it is Lagos, as economic hub, Kano as trading hub, Kaduna as manufacturing hub or Port Harcourt for oil and gas, you notice that each of these areas is either full and saturated. So we believe Cross River State and in particular Calabar has become the investment destination of today and tomorrow. Because it is a territory coming out of the doldrums and once we address the challenges of infrastructure, they will beat Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kaduna or any other place. But first they have to address the obvious challenges which are hampering economic activities or they would go nowhere.”

     

  • Cross River denies selling liaison office

    The Cross River State government has denied reports that it put up its liaison office in Lagos for sale.

    A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Liyel Imoke, Christian Ita, quoted the state Attorney General, Attah Ochinke, as describing the report as false.

    Ochinke, who chairs the state Privatisation Council, said the report was not only ludicrous but also mischievous.

    “The council has never broached the idea let alone putting up the structure for sale,” the statement quoted Ochinke.

    While urging the public, particularly Cross Riverians, to disregard the report, the statement appealed to journalists to verify their reports before going to press.

  • Cross River’s Songhai agriculture experience

    Cross River’s Songhai agriculture experience

    It is not so often that you are likely to come across a leader who is passionate about almost anything and everything that has the potential of transforming his society or community.

    But in Liyel Imoke, you will find a Governor whose passion for what can conduce to infrastructural and human capital development is not only palpable but infectious.

    Peerless in vision and creative in imagination, it has been one legacy project after another ever since he assumed office nearly seven years ago.

    Under the Imoke Administration, projects are considered on their potential to boost the state’s income profile and ultimately leave a telling impact on the citizenry.

    Always thinking outside the box, Imoke reckoned that agriculture, as one of the vital components of the economy must also occupy the pride of place in the state’s quest for sustainable development as well as attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

    It was therefore not surprising when in March 2013, he felt that Cross River State must also key into the Songhai Integrated Farm initiative.

    Beyond the incentive of creating food sufficiency for Cross River State’s teeming populace, the Songhai Farm initiative has brought about a paradigm shift from mere subsistence to a full scale commercial agriculture.

    Given the abundant agro-allied resources nature has endowed the state, there is urgent need, according to Governor Imoke, to do away with the lethargic and dated approach to agriculture and focus on how it can create wealth in order to tackle the challenges of unemployment and poverty.

    While recently on an inspection of the state’s Songhai Farm Project, which is currently at 75per cent completion, Imoke who decried subsistence approach to agriculture, quipped: “The problem we have had over time is that we never understood agriculture as a business. It is because of the fact that we have engaged in a lot subsistent farming as a people for too long. We never really created the value that could be created out of agriculture and the opportunities for employment, poverty alleviation as well as the provision of food. The fact of the matter is that we have never really done it in the manner it should have been done. That was why this project was developed and conceptualised.”

    Designed as an incubation or training centre, on completion, the Songhai farm is expected to assist emerging farmers to improve on their farming techniques, methods and quality as well as improving their variety.

    Offering further insights into the project, the Governor who cannot wait its commissioning in the second quarter of this year, hinted: “First of all, we must understand the project for what it is. It is an incubation or service centre from where other local government areas will be fed.

    The government sent some youths for training at Songhai Farm in Benin Republic for six months. On their return, they got additional training at the Central Bank of Nigeria Entrepreneurship Development Centre preparatory to moving in here to start work. And hopefully, some of them would leave here and start something similar to this.

    There is also the application of inexpensive technology. There is nothing synthetic or sophisticated in what is going on at the Songhai Farm. That is the beauty of it.”

    How Songhai farms will be run

    The Farm, like most projects spread across the state, though being funded by the government, will be run privately, devoid of government’s involvement.

    Imoke shed more light: “A project like this is not going to be driven purely by the government. The initial funding and take off of the project is borne by the government. The farm was designed to be run by the Songhai organisation. The organisation has done this with tremendous success in many parts of Africa. It is recognised globally as one of the most outstanding success stories in agriculture in the world. That is what we are trying to achieve and it should be sustainable.

    Farm at an advanced stage of completion

    The farm which is progressing into the next phase of processing, already boasts of livestock and market gardens.

    There are 24 earthen ponds, which, apart from raising fingerlings, also serve as reservoir for collecting water whenever it rains. Such water is sometimes used for irrigation purposes.

    There is a free range method of poultry for breeding of guinea fowls, turkeys and geese.

    Conducting Governor Imoke round the farm, the accountant, Ekeomo Christopher, said attention would be more on livestock rather than crop production, owing to the topography of the land.

    “We intend to concentrate rather more on livestock than crop production and on a large scale. The only crop that can be cultivated here is rice because it is seasonal and the land is usually very swampy. At Anon (an annex of Songhai), emphasis will be more on crop production because the soil is quite suitable for that purpose.”

    Piggery

    The piggery has three designated blocks designed to accommodate about 500 piglets.

    The piggery is ready to welcome the pigs in. By first week of February, we had received the first batch of pigs from our sister farm in Port Harcourt. The pigs are special specie which we will be multiplying. There is also a provision for goats and cow ranch. This will come on stream before the end of the first quarter.

    Abattoir: With a clinically certified abattoir under construction, there are indeed good times ahead for consumers of meat who are very particular about their source and environmental hygiene.

    There is also the smoking house designed for smoking fish, pork and chicken.”

    Also expected on the farm are crops such as pineapple, mango, oranges and palm trees orchard, where a vast portion of land has been earmarked. It is on a 5-hectared land. Two hectares of pineapple orchard has been completed.

    Expressing his amazement at the sight of some species of cucumbers, Imoke bellowed: “I have never seen cucumber grow in this manner!”

    Taking care of excess produce

    “When we begin producing in excess, we would create enough market for the perishables like cucumber, pineapples and pawpaw. And for those we are unable to sell, we intend to process them into juice or have them dried. Processing is also part of our project here in Songhai Integrated Farms. Pineapple juice will be processed and bottled here. Some of the end products of the pineapple processing will also be converted to syrup or honey. There will be a processing component of the farm where everything produced at the farm acquires additional value.”

    Hostel accommodation

    There is a hostel accommodation in place for two sets of workers- those who will be working permanently on the farm and those who will be trained on skills acquisition, following which they will leave to set up their own farms to be funded by the state government. So, the farm is going to serve as a processing hub or a collection centre. The hostel is ready to take off in March with the quartering of the first set of 20 trainees. There is also a library, classrooms and conference halls for trainees or students. A two-star hotel is also being planned to take care of visitors and tourists to the farm.

    On completion, the Songhai Integrated Farm limited is expected to be one of the governor’s several legacy projects designed to create jobs, meet the state’s food sufficiency and as a spinoff, transform the state’s fast growing economy.

  • Cross River 2015: Conflict imminent as northern aspirants jostle

    With the wide acceptance among the political class in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Cross River State that the northern senatorial district of the state should produce the next governor of the state, many from the area have already started working towards the number one position in the elections next year.

    Donald Duke from the Southern Senatorial District governed from 1999 to 2007 while Liyel Imoke who is from the Central is on the seat.

    The northern senatorial district comprises of five local governments namely Ogoja, Obudu, Bekwarra, Obalinku and Yala.

    The many interests, both openly and subtly, observers have felt if not properly managed may lead to a friction that may harm the district’s chances in 2015.

    This is especially against the background that a section of the political class from the southern senatorial district is mooting the idea of the Calabar-Ogoja accord for determining where the next governorship goes.

    By the dynamics of the Ogoja-Calabar accord power should return to the south. But stakeholders across political platforms have discountenanced the irrelevant and anachronic. Protagonists of the northern agenda have also posited that they can always handle their differences without making a mess.

    Despite various permutations however all seems set for the north to take over and the players have begun to emerge. Some of them have spoken about their intentions while others have chosen to remain tacit but what is clear is that whoever would get it would have to fight for it.

    This will be a departure from the political atmosphere in the past where all seemed to be concluded as to who gets what, even long before the elections.

    Among them is Ntufam Fidelis Ugbo from Obanliku. Ugbo who is Executive Secretary of the National Planning Commission is believed to have the blessing of the present governor Liyel Imoke. Ugbo, a former Secretary to the State Government under Imoke, analysts believe is the favourite that would embark on a governance of continuity of the agenda of the present administration. He aspired in 2006 against Imoke, but later stepped aside to align forces with the present administration. However Ugbo has remained cagey about his ambition as he said he would only make his intentions known when Mr President makes his known.

    Another player is the General Manger, Crude of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr Jeddy Agba from Obudu. The general feeling is that the establishment is not so comfortable with someone who would be coming in with such independent mindedness as he would. He is likely going to expect resistance. Though he has not personally declared his intentions, the build-up of support by various interest groups as the elections approach has been tremendous. Agba it is believed may have created some frost between Senate Leader Ndoma-Egba and Imoke, as Ndoma-Egba is said to be rooting for him.

    Mr Francis Bullem from Ogoja has declared has declared that he has all the qualities required to sustain the pace of development and the peace in Cross River State if elected a governor in 2015.

    A career banker with over 20 years’ experience, Bulem, is also the Chairman of the Board of Internal Revenue Service

    “I am eminently qualified to sustain what Governor Imoke is doing because where the state is now requires somebody with the mindset and capability to blend public and private sector experiences.

    “I am courageous, humble and have integrity, more so I have maintained a wonderful relationship with all segments of society and political players which puts me on the pedestal to win the support of majority of the people in my party and the state”.

    The governorship aspirant said he is not coming into the race because the position of governor in 2015 has been zoned to the north but because he can successfully pilot the affairs of the state.

    Another man to watch as the governorship elections approach is Mr Emmanuel Ibeshi from Obudu. He was the first elected National Publicity Secretary of the ruling PDP. His affable and upfront approach endeared him to the Press which celebrated him and his then Assistant, Mr Gbenga Olawepo as the “Young Turks”

    In 1992 he was elected into the Federal House of Representatives and emerged as the House Committee Chairman on Banking and Currency. He is said to have been part of the team alongside the three wisemen to position their thoughts for the way forward for Cross River State which gave birth to the vision the state as it is.

    Already groups are drumming support for him. According to one of them, “Imoke being the consummate politician he is and knowing the capacity of political and cerebral demands for today’s political landscape of Nigeria and his state would definitely have very little task to determine his successor going by the antecedents of Hon. Emmanuel Ibeshi bearing in mind the Dream of the original three wise men. What makes the original three wise men postulation most probable in spite of the ambiguous ensemble posturing to replace Sen. Imoke by 2015 is the fact that Ibeshi, Duke and Imoke have a shared passion for Cross River State though their methods may differ. They have similar educational exposure combining both Nigerian and American. They are all within the same age bracket, urbane, articulate, and bold with wide network of contacts in all sectors locally and abroad. They are in a hurry to elevate their citizenry to global standards, which they have been exposed.”

    Abuja based lawyer from Obanliku, Mr Tanko Ashang, has stepped out to declare his aspiration to take the top job in the state. According to him he wants to come to the “kitchen” of governance, where he can prepare the meals instead of remaining on the “dining table”.

    His words: “Governance is more like being in the kitchen. Those who are working with government now would understand the sometimes tough decision that come out from nowhere and you have to make them or destroy the whole administration. So I looked at myself and I am satisfied that I can stay in that kitchen and cook the food well and come out still smelling like a rose.”

    Also believed to be interested in the governorship ticket include Commissioner for Works, Mr. Legor Idagbor from Bekwarra, former Minister of Environment, Mr. John Odey from Yala, Speaker, Cross River State House of Assembly (CRHA), Mr. Larry Odey from Yala, member representing Obanliku/Obudu and Bekwarra, Mr. Frank Adah from Obanliku and former Commissioner for Environment Mr. Julius Oputu from Yala.