The Nation Newspaper

Tag: uyo

  • Investor foresees emerging economic triangle along PH, Uyo, Aba axis

    Investor foresees emerging economic triangle along PH, Uyo, Aba axis

    A real estate investor in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital, My-ACE China (aka Mayor of Housing), has foreseen emerging massive “economic triangle” along Rivers/Akwa Ibom/Abia states corridors in their states.

    China, who drew the attention of the governors of the concerned states to the emerging potential, urged them to take steps to accelerate the economic triangle.

    He made the statement while speaking to newsmen in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state capital at the conclusion of his business trip to the state, at the weekend.

    According to him, the massive land, blue economy and huge deposits of oil mineral in the State hold great potential and immense economic advantage for them, adding that if well harnessed, and managed, it might surpass that of Lagos state.

    The real estate mogul who is the Managing Director of the Housing and Construction Mayor Limited, said the envisaged economic corridor would compete favourably with the Lagos economic hub or even better.

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    He said, “Talking about ‘Economic Triangle’, the only place that can wrest economic power from Lagos is Akwa Ibom, Abia, and Rivers states axis or corridor. This corridor contains more than Lagos has, if they can be interconnected with smooth roads, ports, and if their blue potentials are unlocked. They will not only wrest power from Lagos but would be more lucrative.”

    The investor who is behind the emerging Alesa Highlands Green Smart City in Eleme near Port Harcourt, said the new ‘Economic Triangle’ has a bigger potential due to massive land assets with the corridor plus blue economy and the existing hydrocarbon industry.

    Explaining, he said Aba, in Abia State, provides the biggest fabrication capacity in West Africa to supply goods to the Gulf of Guinea; Port Harcourt provides access to the Gulf of Guinea for off-taking Aba products, and the Uyo provides deep sea port at Ibaka and international airport facilities as well as forest reserves for massive agro-economy.

  • Bassey, Onuachu, Ajayi, Onyeka , Osayi Samuel struggling to hit Uyo

    Bassey, Onuachu, Ajayi, Onyeka , Osayi Samuel struggling to hit Uyo

    Lookman, Maduka, Iwobi expected  today

    Bafana Bafana contingent land tomorrow

    The quintet of defenders Semi Ajayi, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Calvin Bassey, midfielder Frank Onyeka and forward Paul Onuachu are already in the country and trying to make their way to Uyo to join the 15 other players already on ground, as the Super Eagles’ preparations for Friday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana swing into new gear.

    A total of 15 players trained on Monday morning in Uyo, with Head Coach Finidi George telling the players afterwards that the three points at stake in Friday’s encounter must end up in Nigeria’s kitty.

    Read Also: InfraCo project, others threaten Nigeria’s broadband plan

    While the quintet (three in Abuja and two in Lagos) is being expected at the team’s Ibom Hotel and Resorts, the trio of midfielder Alex Iwobi, goalkeeper Maduka Okoye and forward Ademola Lookman are expected to arrive in the country on Tuesday. 

    There was no training session on Monday evening, as the players get countenance intensive sessions on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, hopefully with a full house.

    The delegation of Bafana Bafana is expected to arrive in Nigeria on Wednesday, with the team already booked into Four Points By Sheraton Hotel in Ikot-Ekpene.

  • NGE installs Bello, Alli, 12 others fellows at Uyo confab

    NGE installs Bello, Alli, 12 others fellows at Uyo confab

    • Inducts 39 new members

    Renowned journalist, lawyer and former Secretary to the Lagos state government, Mr Tunji Bello and the managing editor , Northern Operations of the The Nation, Alhaji Yusuf Alli were among outstanding journalists conferred with Fellowship of the Nigerian Guild of Editors on Thursday.

    Their induction took place in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state,  at the conference of the Nigerian Guild of Editors.

    A total of 39 new members were inducted with 14 editors honoured and installed as fellows of the guild.

    The fellows were installed during the gala night organised by the Akwa Ibom State governor,Umo Éno, while the new members were inducted  at Ibom Icon Hotel.

    The event was the culmination of the 19th NGE conference which ended in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital, yesterday. The theme of this year’s conference was “Stimulating Economic Growth, Technological Advancement: The role of the media”.

    The editors installed as fellows were Martins Oloja, the Managing Director/Editor-in-chief of the Guardian Newspaper, Yusuf Ali, the Managing Editor, The Nation Newspaper, Imani Amarere, the Managing Director AIT/Ray Power Academy, Ambros Okoh, Controller of Programmes Channels TV and Hajia Maimuna Garba, General Manager Multi-Channels.

    The list of fellows includes Tunji Bello, former Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Celestine Ogolo, Ex-Editor The Tide Newspaper, Austeen Elewodala, Director of News Voice of Nigeria, Mustapha Isah, former President Nigerian Guild of Editors, Chuks Nnbuife, former editor National Light.

    Others are Samuel Egbala Egbe, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Cross River State, Agualobo Victor Chuma, former editor National Light, Sani Mohammed Suleiman, former Director of News Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) and Hon. Chuks Ugwoke, ex editor Sunday Vanguard.

    Speaking while inducting the new members Friday night, veteran journalist and publisher of Newswatch Magazine, Ray Ekpu, charged the inductees to be good editors, adding that as editors they are important personalities who set agenda for government through the stories they publish.

    Ekpo said “The Editor is the most important person in terms of decision making in our industry. Editor decides what people must read, what they consider important.

    “They are the people who set the agenda for the government and the people of Nigeria by the choices of stories and the placement of those stories.

    “Whether you decide you will publish or kill the story, that is agenda setting. So the people we are going to inaugurate today are going to be joining a privileged elite group in our industry. My advice to them is when you join the club, take it as a serious responsibility to be a good editor.”

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    He said that the role of the Editor has increased tremendously especially at this critical time of the nation’s history, adding that editors’ role is very critical for the survival of the nation.

    “Our country is at a very critical stage now. And the responsibility of the editor has increased tremendously because of the state in which we are. I don’t know whether we all appreciate our role, but our role is a very important one for the survival of this country. We are at the edge of a precipice and editors can control it to developing the country or destroying it.”

    Ekpu said that there are about 25,000 journalists in the Nigerian practice space.

    The President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors and Editor of the Vanguard Newspapers, Mr Eze Anaba, urged the new members to help grow the guild

    “Those of us that will be inducted this night, I am to tell you that for the past three days, we’ve been here discussing the state of the nation and the state of our profession. After tonight, do well to be involved and help us to grow the guild.

    “Our country and profession is in a very delicate situation. Your experience and knowhow will help us in charting the way forward,” Anaba said.

    The Secretary of the Guild of Editors, Iyobosa Uwugiaren disclosed that over 90 people applied to be members while only 39 were recommended.

    “While selecting people for the guild, let me let you know that over 90 people applied to be members. Out of the 90 applications, only 39 were recommended by the Screening Committee as new members. It shows those inducted today are very important to the guild,” he said.

    The new members were sworn in by the former President of the guild, Mr Gbenga Adefaye.

  • International Pairs Golf tourney returns to Uyo

    International Pairs Golf tourney returns to Uyo

    This year’s International Pairs Golf Championship, scheduled to hold at the prestigious Ibom Icon Golf Resort in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State between September 15 and 18 promises to be an exceptional event for participants.

    This heightened anticipation is attributed to the valuable collaboration of prominent brands like Pepsi, the Chief Executive Officer of the Falcon Golf Development Company, (FGDC) Mr. Remi Olukoya has said.

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    “We have not had the privilege of hosting a significant golf competition in Uyo in recent years. However, this year marks a remarkable return of the International Pairs to this iconic course, where fifty pairs of golfers will contend for honor and recognition. The Ibom Golf Resort stands as a golfing paradise one cannot afford to miss. It invariably promises a weekend to remember, and that is the assurance we extend to every participant this year,” expressed Mr. Olukoya.

    Already, golfers from Ikoyi Club 1938, Golf Section, IBB International Golf & Country Club, Ikeja Golf Club, Benin Club, Golf Section, Port Harcourt Golf Club, Lakowe Lakes Golf Club, Kaduna Golf Club and host club Ibom Golf Club have confirmed their participation in the competition.

    According to him, Pepsi will refresh all participating golfers in the event. He also disclosed the participation of Meristem as a prominent corporate supporter of the competition, which is expected to draw golf enthusiasts from across the nation.

    While Pepsi assumes a prominent role as a major sponsor, Meristem secures a sponsorship position. Furthermore, Suzuki Motors, managed by CFAO Motors has staked one of their brands for a hole-in-one on signature Hole 12.

  • Elections Petition Tribunal receives 34 petitions in A’Ibom – Scribe

    The Governorship, National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal in Uyo, Akwa Ibom says it has received no fewer than 34 petitions as at April 1.

    The Tribunal Secretary in the state, Mr Sidiq Abubakar made this known in a document made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Uyo.

    Abubakar said that one of the petitions was filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the state, Mr Nsima Ekere against Gov. Udom Emmanuel of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    He said the tribunal also received two petitions emanating from the senatorial election, adding that Sen. Godswill Akpabio of APC filed one against Mr Christopher Ekpenyong of the PDP from Akwa Ibom North West.

    The secretary tribunal also said that Mr Bassey Etim of APC filed another petition against Sen. Bassey Akpan of the PDP from Akwa Ibom North East.

    READ ALSO: Delta tribunal receives 51 petitions

    He said eight petitions emanated from the House of Representatives and 23 petitions from the State House of Assembly elections out of the 26 House of Assembly seats.

    “We have received 34 petitions, including that of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate Mr Nsima Ekere, two petitions from the Senate, eight from the House of Representatives.

    Others are 23 petitions from the State House of Assembly elections,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the tribunal also received one petition filed by the PDP House of Assembly candidate, Mr Gerald Umoh against Mr Nse Ntuen of APC from Essien Udim State Constituency.

    No date has been fixed for the tribunal to begin its sitting.

  • Ekere promises to build new mechanic village in Uyo

    The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Obong Nsima Ekere has promised to establish a new mechanic village in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, if elected in Saturday’s election.

    Speaking during a visit to the mechanic village located at Afaha Offot, Uyo, on Thursday, Ekere decried the deplorable state of the village established more than 30 years ago.

    He said the proposed mechanic will meet the standards that obtain in advanced countries of the world.

    The APC flag bearer said he would construct access roads to the village immediately after his inauguration on May 29 because the location of the present mechanic village causes traffic gridlock in that axis of the city.

    Ekere criticised Governor Udom Emmanuel, who is also the PDP governorship flag bearer in the election, for failing to fulfill the promise he made four years ago to reconstruct the village.

    He said: “Akwa Ibom State does not need a lying governor. That is why we are embracing change.

    “Change has come to Akwa Ibom State. Akwa Ibom State is going to the next level.”

    Read Also: What Buhari said at Uyo rally

    Ekere charged the technicians to protect and follow their votes to the collation centres.

    Former Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Senator John Udoedehe, who is an indigene of Afaha Offot, wondered why Governor Emmanuel came to campaign at the mechanic village after failing to fulfill his promise to develop the village made four years ago.

    He added: “Any government that looks down on mechanics is a government of fools, because you are the employers of labour. Nsima Ekere’s government will retain and equip you.

    “I want you to be agents of Nsima Ekere, because Nsima Ekere is your future. Politics is a game of development. If Udom had performed, we would have nothing to campaign with.”

  • Elections: APC UK wants INEC reviewed, reformed

    The All Progressives Congress ( APC ) in the United Kingdom has called for review of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC’s) operational model with a view to reforming it.

    The chapter made the call following INEC’s postponement of the general elections on Saturday.

    In a statement copied to the News Agency of Nigeria in Uyo on Monday, the Chairman of the APC in the United Kingdom, Dr Philip Idaewor, said that the postponement indicated a systemic exhaustion within INEC and necessitated review of its operational model and enabling laws.

    “This is with a view to radically reforming it and making it fit for purpose. This is because well organised free, fair and credible elections are important to the enthronement and sustenance of democracy.

    “The announcement by INEC to postpone the 2019 General Elections has come as a huge shock to us, especially given the timing of the announcement, when political parties had already deployed huge resources to the field for the elections.

    “We have carefully listened to all the explanations given by INEC as well as the reactions of our party’s leadership, our presidential campaign council, President Muhammadu Buhari and international observers.

    “We align ourselves with the position of our party leadership, our presidential campaign council and Mr President.

    Read Also: Buhari, Osinbajo, Tinubu, others meet in Abuja

    “We are saddened that INEC leadership did not deem it necessary to brief Nigerians on a regular basis when it realised the difficulties it listed as reasons for this postponement.

    “We note that the decision by INEC falls well below the expectations for a seamless performance, given that INEC has conducted similar elections since 1999 when this fourth republic started, with opportunities for extensive field experiences and organisational discipline that would have ensured operational options even in unforeseen circumstances.

    “Moreover, INEC leadership presented the needed budget for this elections, with evidence showing that all of INEC’s requests were fully met to ensure successful implementation of this election cycle,” he said.

    Ideawor said that INEC should tell Nigerians why elections could not hold in states which did not have the logistics problems it listed.

    “Why postpone the elections in the entire country? What happens now to those ballot papers and other election materials already distributed to local government areas around the country?

    “What is the cost of this postponement to our national purse? Where will money for another deployment come from? Who takes responsibility for this, and what is the consequence?” he asked.

    He, however, urged Nigerians to refrain from spreading messages capable of heating up the polity.

    “Nigeria needs peace to continue on the path of national reclamation started by the APC government led by President Muhammadu Buhari.”

  • Don attributes deaths in developing countries to poor sanitation

    A Senior lecturer in the Department of Geography and Environmental sciences, University of Uyo, Dr. Emmanuel Akpabio has attributed avoidable deaths in developing countries to poor sanitation, and unsafe drinking water.

    The varsity don, a consultant for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WaSH) Act Right, a non-governmental organization, said a larger chunk of statistics from global the global deaths, is recorded from Sub Sahara Africa.

    “Out of the one billion people without access to treated drinking water and 2.5 billion lacking adequate sanitation, over 83 percent is concentrated in Sub Sahara Africa while infectious disease outbreaks in the region are much related to inability to get the water, sanitation and hygiene.

    “WaSH has diverse dimensions, water (quantity and quality). It is associated with the  transmission of water-washed, water borne, water –based and water related disease  arising from inadequate supply, poor quality, hosts to aquatic invertebrates and the spread of diseases agents respectively,’’ he said.

    Akpabio, who is a Marie Sklodowska fellow, at the department of Geography and Environmental sciences, University of Dundee, United Kingdom stated this during a one day public engagement on a European
    Union project aimed at improving the capacities of policy makers, scientists and relevant stakeholders  for achieving evidence-based policies in the Water, Sanitation and  Hygiene (WaSH) sector held in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.

    “So, the sources of water we drink, the storage medium and the way we manage water are fundamental. Sanitation and hygiene carry several elements including personal hygiene, domestic and environmental cleanliness, waste  disposal, hand washing, food hygiene , menstrual hygiene, child , safe disposal of human excrement and control of waste water,’’ he stated.

    He lamented the impact of water, sanitation, hygiene and public health on children and woman who spend so much of their time and energy to secure water for drinking at the expense of engaging in other productive/study activities.

    According to him, children carry the main responsibility for collecting water with girls under 15 years of age being twice as likely to carry the responsibility as boys under 15 years pointing out that in Africa, 90 percent of the work of gathering water for the household and for food preparation is done by women.

    “Indeed, WaSH challenge in Sub South Africa is complicated by the existence of layers of socio-cultural and religious beliefs, attitudes and values across geographies, religion and economic groups, our greatest problem is  our inability to disengage WaSH matters from socio-cultural behaviours and religious beliefs which in some cases
    are reproduced at the policy arena,” he said.

    Read Also: WASH, Buhari and lessons from Visionscape

    He pointed out that that Nigeria’s inability to evolve practical and relevant policies for the water, hygiene and sanitation sector has hampered her effort to secure and sustain improved WaSH sector performance particularly in urban areas adding that roughly 42 percent of the urban and semi urban populations are estimated to have access to safe drinking water as compared with about 29 percent of the rural dwellers.

    Quoting a report from the year 2000 by the Federal Government that only Abuja and limited areas in Lagos have a sewage system, he noted that the task of securing access to safe drinking water and sanitary services is transferred to the ordinary citizens who have to depend on all forms of unimproved sources mostly dictated by economic, social and environmental circumstances as well as religious and cultural beliefs.

    Calling on the Federal Government of Nigeria to formulate a coherent policy  on water sanitation and hygiene, the University teacher said the present adhoc arrangement was not good enough adding that the entire government system has to be reformed to pave way for innovation and smart ways of project implementation.

  • PENCOM: Compliance officers urged to uphold ethical standards

    Compliance officers of the National Pension Commission (PenCom) have been urged to uphold excellent and ethical standards in the discharge their statutory roles of monitoring and reporting of non-compliance of Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs).

    The Acting Director General of PenCom, Mrs Aisha Dahir-Umar, who gave the charge on Monday at the 6th session of the Compliance Officers Forum (COF) in Uyo, said it is imperative that Compliance Officers discharge their statutory roles with the required professionalism, independence and integrity.

    According to her, “In an effort to promote a stable and sustainable pension industry, the Commission adopted zero tolerance for non-compliance and consultative supervisory philosophy in the issuance of guidelines and the review of existing ones to further promote sound corporate governance in the industry and ensure the security of the pension assets.

    Read Also: PENCOM sensitizes on micro-pension

    “In addition, the Commission has this year moved to a more risk based approach to supervising pension operators by aligning its supervisory framework with that of the Financial Services Regulation Coordinating Committee (FSRCC). We believe this will promote better risk management in licensed pension operators.”

    She further added that: “The Commission recently released the framework and guidelines for the implementation of the Micro Pension Scheme, which is targeted at increased participation of employees in the informal sector, Multi-fund structure and revised guideline for Fund Accounting as well as revised Circular for Branch opening and Service Centre by PFAs.

    “Similarly, Circulars on pension enhancement and processing procedures of deceased benefits entitlement were also released by the Commission.

    “The monitoring and reporting of non-compliance with regards to the implementation of these guidelines and other existing regulations remains part of the responsibilities of the Compliance Officers.”

    The forum focused on reviewing compliance and ethical culture; institutionalization of Know Your Customer (KYC) processes in the industry; matters of identity theft in data capturing; emerging risks and its mitigating factors as well as other general industry operational issues.

  • Seven jailed for rape in A’Ibom, 30 cases in court

    Seven persons have been jailed for rape in Akwa Ibom while 30 rape cases are ongoing in various courts in the state, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Dr Glory Edet has said.

    Edet, who disclosed this on Monday to our correspondent in Uyo, said the feat was achieved by government between 2017 and this year.

    According to her, the Governor Udom Emmanuel administration was committed to the full implementation of the Child Rights Law as well as the protection of vulnerable persons from abuse.

    She appealed to states in the country that have not domesticated and implemented the Child Rights Law to do so without further delay.

    The commissioner said rape cases and similar crimes would be curtailed if states with domesticate and fully implement the Child Rights Law.

    “When I called for the domestication of the Child Rights Law, I don’t mean only domestication but emphasis on implementation. It is one thing to domesticate it, but another thing to implement it. I want to thank our governor, Udom Emmanuel for implementing the law in the state because anything that has to do with child abuse, falls under the Child Rights Law.

    “So far between last year and now, seven persons have been convicted and jailed while we have 30 cases in courts. I want to thank the judiciary who has been sending their lawyers to assist us in court, court assessors, the women lawyers and other NGOs for their supports in the course of trying these cases.

    “We have created a lot of awareness in schools, churches and other public places on the punishment associated with rape, child trafficking and other child abuses. We do not publicize rape cases so that the victim should not be stigmatized; in the Child Rights Law, you have to protect the child from trauma and psychological stress”,
    she said.

    According to the University lecturer turned politician, the awareness efforts of the ministry has helped a lot in recent times as the reported cases especially on rape has reduced drastically, adding that, the fear of victim being sent to jail has also helped in this direction.

    On benefits from her ministry to Akwa Ibom women, she explained that, in the current local government administration, 56 women are serving as councilors and more than 57 are also serving as supervisory councilors across the 31 local government councils in the state, adding that, most permanent secretaries, Head of service, board members, commissioner, House Members are women.

    “Governor Udom Emmanuel government is the first to send widows to pilgrimage in Israel, five widows each were taken from the 31 local government councils and sent for pilgrimage; again, 155 women, five each from the 31 council areas are given N200,000 grants for trading in their businesses”.