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Tag: Ivara Esu

  • Road crashes reduce by 34 per cent in C/River – FRSC

    Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Cross River State, Corps Commander Nkwonta Chidebere, says there has been a 34 per cent reduction in road crashes, as well as a 50 reduction of fatalities in the state since January this year.

    Chidebere, who was speaking at the 2018 Ember Months Programme in Etim Edem Motor Park in Calabar on Thursday said they have recorded continual trending down of road crashes over the years because of the strategies they were deploying to check the problem.

    He said such trending down was despite the fact that the vehicle and driver population on the roads are on the increase.

    “This is formal launch of flag off of ember months end of year special patrol. Towards this time of the year, every year, activities shift to the road because people want to catch up before the end of the year and because of Christmas. So usually the volume of traffic increases and the road itself is not expanding so that naturally brings a lot of competition on the road. Often it leads to crashes. Because we know this over time, that is why we take steps to warn the people because preventive measures cost less than the consequences of neglect.

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    “We want to prevent and sensitize the people way before the rush hour, so that psychologically they would be prepared and know what to anticipate on the road and prepare for it way ahead and ultimately, it would reduce the crashes on the roads. We are working with sister agencies and the motoring public. We call for the cooperation of everybody because road safety is everybody’s business. All hands must be on deck to achieve our targets,” the Sector Commander said.

    Deputy Governor of the State, Prof Ivara Esu, emphasized the need for safe driving on the roads.

    He urged drivers to always ensure that they are in good health and their vehicles in good condition.

  • Governors urge FG to increase allocation to states

    Governors urge FG to increase allocation to states

    The South-East and South-South Governors’ Forum on Monday called on the Federal Government to increase allocation to the states from the Federation Account.

    The governors made the call in a communiqué at the end of the forum’s meeting in Uyo.

    In the communiqué signed by its Chairman, Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom, the forum expressed concern that in spite of increase in oil price and production level, revenue accruing to states had not reflected such realities.

    “The forum therefore urges the Federal Government to ensure improved revenue allocation to the states to reflect the current realities to enable the states meet the yearnings and expectations of their people.

    “The forum also proposed that the Federal Government should relinquish all federal roads to states, where such roads are located, facilitate legislation that would ease concession of the roads,” the communiqué said.

    The governors appealed to the Federal Government to intervene urgently to improve the current state of some critical infrastructure located in the South-South and South-East.

    According to the communiqué, the forum mentioned some of the infrastructural facilities to include airports in Calabar, Enugu, Imo and Port Harcourt as well as roads located in the zones.

    The forum expressed concern over alleged shoddy approach to infrastructural development by some intervention agencies of the Federal Government operating in the regions.

    It, therefore, appealed to the Federal Government to direct the agencies to liaise with state governments in the identification and execution of projects.

    It expressed belief that the approach would ensure that projects carried out by intervention agencies were in synergy with the developmental agenda of the states.

    The meeting was attended by Udom Emmanuel, Rochas Okorocha of Imo, Nyesom Wike of Rivers, Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu.

    Others were Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, Ivara Esu and Dr Nkem Okeke, both Deputy Governors of Cross River and Anambra.

    NAN

  • Revamp PHCs in your states, Health Minister urges governors

    Revamp PHCs in your states, Health Minister urges governors

    The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has advised governors to revamp and upgrade medical facilities in their respective Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs).

    Adewole gave the advice on Tuesday in Calabar during the Cross River Health Summit, orgnised by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Inyang Asibong.

    The theme of the summit is: “Translating Health Policies and Plans into Action’’.

    The minister said that the advice call became necessary following the dearth of medical facilities in some PHCs across the country.

    He said it was important for state governments to champion the cause of renovating and upgrading medical facilities for them to deliver quality health services to their people.

    “There is no need for states to establish new PHCs; we need to strengthen the existing ones by upgrading the facilities and training of health personnel.

    “The Federal Government will continue to mobilise resources to support PHCs with a view of achieving universal health coverage in the country.

    “The era of federal might is over, states must begin to develop their healthcare centres with a view of attending to the health needs of the people, ’’ he said.

    Prof. Ivara Esu, Deputy Governor of the state said that the present administration in the state commenced the rehabilitation and upgrading of PHCs across the state shortly on assumption of office.

    Esu explained that the state government had constructed modern healthcare centres in the hard-to-reach areas with a view to ensuring universal health coverage in the state.

    According to him, Gov. Ben Ayade places premium on the health sector in the state.

    He also said that the state insurance health scheme, tagged ‘”AyadeCare’’ sought to provide affordable health care service to the people of the state.

    Asibong said that the summit was organised to formulate policies aimed at improving quality health services in the state.

    She further said that the summit, a collaboration with development partners on the way forward, was a respond to the challenges of the health sector in the state.

    “The health workforce system in the state is being strengthened with the lifting off the ban on employment and the recent accreditation of three schools of nursing and midwifery in the state.

    “The high maternal mortality rate, improved maternal wards in hospitals, collaboration with development partners, regulation of Traditional Birth Attendants and others are some of the policies we shall be looking at today,’’ she said.

    She assured that her ministry would not relent in the reduction of maternal mortality , improving family planning and reducing the incidences of HIV-AIDS.

  • National Sports Festival: Cross River solicits FG’s support

    National Sports Festival: Cross River solicits FG’s support

    Cross River Government on Sunday appealed to the Federal Government to assist it funds to enable it to host the National Sports Festival.

    A statement by Nneka Ikem-Anibeze, Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Youths and Sports, said the Deputy Governor of the state, Prof Ivara Esu, made the plea when he visited the Minister, Solomon Dalung, in Abuja.

    It quoted Esu as acknowledging that the hosting right for the festival was given to the state about five years ago but that for some exigencies, the games had not held.

    He said that the previous administration in the state constituted up a team of consultants to market the festival to raise funds.

    He said that much money had been sunk into the renovation and building of new infrastructure as part of preparations for the festival, adding that some of the projects had been completed.

    “We have been preparing for this National Sports Festival since 2012.

    “The government before us had set up a team of consultants to raise funds for the games. I am sure that when they hear about the festival coming alive, they will come back for re-engagement.

    “So much money has already been sunk into building of infrastructure and facilities for the games. Some of the facilities are 100 per cent completed. Others are between 65 to 85 per cent ready.

    “We have considered various ways in which we can cut cost. I also know that the kind of money we are looking for is not in the budget of 2017.

    “We are not passing the entire budget for the festival to the Federal Government. We need help of 60 per cent of the cost of the facilities, which we have presented to the ministry.

    “I know that President Muhammadu Buhari and the minister have contacts that we can leverage on to raise funds,” he said.

    Esu stated that the state government had made efforts to raise funds “but we have assessed that at no time will we be able to raise more than 40 per cent of the funds needed.

    “Certainly, we can’t get money even from our federal allocation.

    “We are number 35 out of the 36 states; so, if we can’t get the remaining funds, we will not be able to host this games”.

    In his response, Dalung promised to discuss the issue with the president and thanked the deputy governor for the visit, saying it demonstrated the state government’s commitment to “rescue” the festival, which had been in limbo.

    “The National Sports Festival has been on the front burner and the concern of many Nigerians. At every given opportunity, there is a question about the fate of the festival.

    “That confirms how passionate the people are about the games. It is sad that for a long time we have not been able to host the games.

    “I quite agree with the challenges, especially economic challenges confronting the nation but let us not lose touch of the fact that sports is our national heritage and passion and a service-oriented item.

    “Therefore, we must do our best to mobilize funds and give our people those things they yearn for,” he said.

    Dalung recalled that the National Youth Games was held in Ilorin after a long time.

    “We did that not because we had sufficient budgetary allocation. We had only N9 million allocated for the games, but we had to think outside the box and engaged the private sector and sponsors to raise enough funds for the games.

    “So, I think Cross River state needs to put up a structure of consultants to market the games and I assure you that it will pay off.

    “It is not a matter of setting up committees and getting the right people who will mobilize the right investment.

    “If you insist on using a committee made up of just people from the state’s sporting architecture, you will achieve nothing.

    “The state government may not have money but there are many Nigerians who are ready to give the state funds needed to host the festival if they are sure that the investment will be deployed judiciously.

    “I know of states who are hosting international competitions. So I know people will also want to invest in national competitions which have direct benefits on Nigerian youths,” he said.

    The Minister also promised to assist the state to seek the intervention needed to host the games.

  • ‘Cross River eyes top position in cocoa production’

    ‘Cross River eyes top position in cocoa production’

    The Deputy Governor of Cross River, Prof. Ivara Esu, says the state government targeting to be first in cocoa production and, therefore, is taking the necessary measures boost the production of the cash crop.

    Esu said this on Monday at Ikom during the Tree Crops Development Cocoa Value Chain Capacity Building workshop for cocoa estate managers, farmers and agricultural officers.

    The workshop, Esu said, is expected to impact on management and extension delivery system for high quality and increased yield in cocoa production in the state.

    He said it was time the state returned to agriculture as an alternative source of income in view of the dwindling federal allocation.

    He, therefore, enjoined all participants to take the workshop serious for the benefit of farmers and the state.

    He said that the workshop, organised by the State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, is aimed at improving the knowledge and skills of the participants for effective and safe usage of agro-chemicals in cocoa production.

    Earlier in a remark, Prof. Anthony Eneji, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, noted that cocoa production required professional skills for increased production.

    Eneji described as apt the theme of the workshop which is “Professionalism and Service Delivery: Effective Management Systems for Increased Yield and High Quality Cocoa Production’’.

    He underscored the importance of regular capacity training on the new techniques for improved yield for cocoa managers and farmers

    According to him, the ministry, in partnership with relevant stakeholders, is poised to revolutionalise cocoa production in the state to meet the required international standard.

    He identified the sustenance of effective management system for increased yield as the challenge of cocoa production.

    Also speaking, Mr Ogban Ekpe, the Head of Administration, Ikom Local Government Council, explained that cocoa plays an important role in revenue generation and its attendant capacity for job creation.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports cocoa estate managers, cocoa farmers and agricultural officers from the 18 local government areas of the state are attending the two-day workshop.

    Currently, Cross River occupies the second position after Ondo on this list of major cocoa producers in Nigeria.

    The other states are Ogun, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Ekiti, Delta, Osun and Oyo.