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Tag: Akwa Ibom

  • Resume work or get sacked, Akwa Ibom Govt warns striking health workers

    Resume work or get sacked, Akwa Ibom Govt warns striking health workers

    Akwa Ibom State Government has ordered striking health professionals to resume work immediately or risk sack.

    A statement by the commissioner for information, Mr. Charles Udoh on Wednesday said the strike action upon by the Joint Health Workers Union (JOHESU) was ill-conceived.

    Udoh described as ‘unreasonable’ JOHESU’s demand for payment of 50% of basic salaries as hazard allowance in the prevailing harsh economic climate.

    According to him: “This is in spite of concerted efforts by government to provide the best of working conditions for health workers in the state, including up to date payment of all due salaries and allowances, which makes our state one of the best paying states in the health sector.

    “The efforts of the state government in this regard has continued to receive widespread commendations from various healthcare stakeholders in the country.

    “Against this backdrop, government is constrained to state that it is unreasonable and also unlawful for healthcare professionals to embark on any form of strike action during period of Coronavirus pandemic.

    “Therefore, a full compliment of related healthcare professionals are expected at their duty posts unfailingly, as required by the terms and conditions of their employment.

    “Any staff not found on duty will be considered to be no longer interested in the job and will be relieved of such duty with immediate effect. The relevant health authorities have been mandated to conduct head count”.

    The government stated that it has made adequate arrangements to ensure that those interested in performing their lawful duties are allowed to do so without disruption or molestation of any sort.

    “Anyone found obstructing or disrupting healthcare operations any where in the state, under the pretext of an industrial action, will be apprehended and prosecuted.

    “It is criminal for anyone to obstruct health care workers from performing their legitimate duties in this period of emergency

    “Government is aware that the ill conceived industrial action and blatant act of sabotage by JOHESU is sponsored by political detractors with an underlying intent to vandalize healthcare facilities in the state,” Udoh further said.

    The government disclosed that security agencies in the state have been fully briefed to ensure the continued protection of lives and property, using all legal means.

    “Citizens and residents are enjoined to continue to cooperate with government in the fight to curtail the surge of the COVID19 Pandemic in our state,” he assured.

  • Akwa Ibom detains 23 rapists

    Akwa Ibom detains 23 rapists

    The Akwa Ibom State Government said 23 rapists were jailed lately in the state.

    The state Commissioner of Agriculture and Women Affairs, Gloria Edet, who disclosed this while speaking with newsmen on Saturday, expressed shock over the increasing cases of rape and other various crimes against the feminine gender.

     

    She said, “We’ve received reports of rape cases in the country and Akwa Ibom State is not left out, even though in Akwa Ibom State, the law is being implemented and God has helped us to jail over twenty-three rapists.

     

    “The number of rape cases is becoming alarming every day and I am calling on the citizens to report incidences of rape and other violent crimes against the female gender to law enforcement agents and other relevant government agencies for prompt intervention.”

     

    Edet said the state government has approved the establishment of Gender-Based Violence Referral Centres in each of its three Senatorial Districts to address the growing menace of rape in the state.

     

  • Police confirm 2 dead in Akwa Ibom renewed cult clash

    Police confirm 2 dead in Akwa Ibom renewed cult clash

    The police in Akwa Ibom on Monday confirmed the death of two persons in a renewed clash between two rival cult groups in Oruk Anam Local Government Area of the state.

    The spokesman of the police in the state, CSP Nnudam Fredrick, confirmed the incident to newsmen at Oruk Anam, Akwa Ibom.

    Fredrick said, “I just received a report from the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Oruk Anam area that there was a cult related case in the area and two persons have been confirmed dead.’’

    He said that some persons had been arrested in connection with the killings.

    “I don’t know the number of persons arrested for now but two persons have been confirmed dead,’’ Fredrick said.

    He said that the Commissioner of Police in the state had directed the anti-cultism unit of the command to take charge of the area.

    “So for now, the police have taken control by patrolling the area to ensure that there is law and order,’’ Fredrick said.

    A resident of the area, who did not want to be identified, told newsmen that the incident which occurred on Saturday was between ”Debam and Iceland confraternities”.

  • Akwa Ibom takes delivery of fourth aircraft, Bombardier CRJ 900

    Akwa Ibom takes delivery of fourth aircraft, Bombardier CRJ 900

    The Akwa Ibom State Government, on Tuesday, took delivery of the fourth aircraft in the fleet of Ibom Air.

    Speaking during the delivery of a Bombardier CRJ 900 aircraft, Gov. Udom Emmanuel said that the aircraft was still within warranty of planes in the domestic aviation.

    Emmanuel said that the arrival of the plane was in fulfillment of the business case and operational timetable that had been set by the government.

    “This is the latest in the addition to this fleet. I don’t want to be boastful, but check the domestic flights in Africa.

    “I want to believe when you have an airplane that is still within warranty in the domestic aviation, you can hit your chest and praise yourself, even if no one does that.

    “We had a dream and I shared that dream with just one man; we held our hands and started the documentation; the dream dates back to 2016, not just now. When they needed documentation, we were almost ready.

    “The experts have said a lot about the quality of the aircrafts we are having. This one, you don’t have to be afraid of coronavirus. No COVID-19 can attack you in this one. The air efficiency that we have in it is super, so nothing to fear.

    “Also, our safety standards remain to be beaten by any other airline. Even the way we decontaminate our airline after each flight, our hygiene regulations remain the best of the best.

    “I want to believe that I have the pledge of the members of staff and management that instead of going down on that standard, we will keep improving, because there is always room for improvement.

    “We want to really dominate this industry with our services, the quality of our aircraft and the quality and professionalism of our own personnel.

    “We have people to sell; we have services to sell and we have the best of the best of the aircrafts to sell,” Emmanuel said.

    He described the air efficiency of the aircraft as super, adding that with High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters, which helped to remove contaminated air from the cabin, passengers needed not be afraid of COVID-19.

    The governor noted that plans were underway to make Ibom Air dominate the aviation industry in Nigeria and the entire Africa continent in terms of services, professionalism and quality of aircraft.

    He stated that the safety standards of Ibom Air remained unbeaten, and the hygiene regulations the best.

  • Palliative: A’Ibom Dep. Gov. warns public of online scammers

    Palliative: A’Ibom Dep. Gov. warns public of online scammers

    The Akwa Ibom Deputy Governor Mr Moses Ekpo, warned online scammers against using his name for a fake COVID-19 empowerment scheme intended to defraud members of the public.

    Mr Ekikere Umoh, the Press Secretary to the deputy governor, made this known to newsmen in a statement in Uyo on Wednesday.

    Umoh said that online scammers had created a fake Facebook account purportedly owned by the deputy governor.

    He urged members of the public to discountenance any message asking them to send their account details to an alleged account officer to benefit from COVID-19 palliatives of N50,000 each allegedly owned by the deputy governor.

    According to him, a screen shot of the message taken from the fake Facebook account with Mr Ekpo’s identity states:

    “Due to the current situation (COVID-19) causing the economic breakdown, I am using this medium to support Nigerians and empower them with the sum of N50,000 only.

    “Call my Account Officer on 08081679628, Mr Kingsley Udo for the transaction only FCMB, Unity bank, Union bank, Jaiz bank users.

    “Note: Don’t send your bank details here, send it to the number above for your transaction.”

    The press secretary said that the deputy governor had neither a private nor an official Facebook account, and therefore could not have originated such a message.

    “His Excellency has not mandated anybody or an organisation to organise a COVID-19 pandemic palliative or any form of welfare based programme in respect of the pandemic at any given time on his behalf,” Umoh said.

    According to him, the deputy governor has no idea of the identity of the alleged account officer, nor does he have any account in any of the various banks mentioned in the said messages.

    He added that the deputy governor did not have any form of financial transactions in the said banks.

    The press secretary noted that the deputy governor empathised with the public, especially the vulnerable group over the current pains occasioned by the pandemic.

    He said that the deputy governor would continue without any publicity to reach out directly to the poorest of the poor that were many in the state.

    He warned the general public to be wary of devices and messages circulated on social media as they were not only false, but represented a product of criminals with malicious intent.

    Umoh said that perpetrators of such acts would soon face the full wrath of the law.

  • Akwa Ibom intercepts, buries smuggled corpse of COVID-19 victim from Lagos

    The Akwa Ibom State Government says it has intercepted a corpse of a COVID-19 victim suspected to have been smuggled into the state from Lagos State.

    The government said it has buried the corpse in accordance with the COVID-19 regulations.

    Commissioner for health, Dr. Dominic Ukpong disclosed this at a meeting of the State Incidence Management Committee held at the Ibom Specialist Hospital, Uyo on Friday.

    Ukpong added that the 6 persons who transported the corpse have been quarantined pending the outcome of their test for COVID-19.

    The Health Commissioner expressed the gratitude of the State COVID-19 Management Committee to the State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, for ensuring that adequate provisions are made to ease the team’s work of managing the cases, while appealing to the public to accept discharged people without any discrimination or stigmatization.

    Dr. Ukpong who is the state Incident Manager of the pandemic, lauded the security agents in the state for efficiency in the discharge of their duties especially in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

    He maintained that the deceased was transported in an ambulance from Lagos State on the night of Wednesday 6th May, 2020 and arrived Akwa Ibom State borders at the early hours of the next day.

    The Health Commissioner lamented that despite the inter- state lock down, the culprits were able to transport the body through seven states, beating the security formations in those States.

    “But for the alertness of the police officers posted to our borders, the corpse would have successfully made it to its destination in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area.”

    The Commissioner was alarmed that Six (6) men bearing a corpse made it past other State borders without being intercepted.

    “We really appreciate the point of entry team as well as the burial committee that ensured the deceased was committed to Mother Earth on the same day in Ikot Ebidang Village, Mkpat Enin Local government area.”

    He urged members of the public to report any one who recently return to their Community to the authorities while calling on community leaders especially Village Heads to give their utmost support to Government so as to keep their Communities safe.

  • COVID-19: Akwa Ibom govt lauds Moni Pulo over donation of ambulance, 2000 bags of rice

    COVID-19: Akwa Ibom govt lauds Moni Pulo over donation of ambulance, 2000 bags of rice

    The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Emmanuel Udom, hasthe indigenous upstream oil giant, Moni Pulo Limited, for supporting the efforts of the Akwa Ibom State Government in combating COVID-19.

    The Governor made the remark while taking delivery of a brand new ambulance donated by Moni Pulo to the State Government.

    Represented by the Secretary of the Akwa Ibom State Government, Dr. Emmmuel Ekuwem, the governor said the gesture of the company proved that it places priority on human lives beyond doing business within the territorial waters of the State.

    “I can see in you as a corporate entity, one that is striking that link between the human person and your business. It is not just Corporate Social Responsibility but it is also a sign of humanism in you as a corporate organisation called Moni Pulo,” the Governor said, while praying for God’s blessing on the company.

    Making the donation on behalf of the Executive Chairman of Moni Pulo, Dr. Mrs. Seinye O. B. Lulu-Briggs, Head of Admin and Community Relations Officer the company, Chief Clifford Daerego said the company’s intervention in donating an ambulance to Akwa Ibom, its host State, was to support the efforts of the State government in containing the spread of the virus.

    He lauded the pragmatic steps taken so far by the State government and extended the best wishes of the management and staff of Moni Pulo limited to the government and people of Akwa Ibom State.

    In a related development, Community Relations Officer of Moni Pulo, Chief Itama Bassey Ekpe on behalf of the company also delivered 2,000 bags of Rice to all communities within the company’s host LGA, Mbo Local Government Area.

    According to him the donation follows a long history of Moni Pulo’s responsiveness as a corporate citizen in standing by its host communities through thick and thin.

    He noted that although the global oil sector had been adversely affected by the pandemic and the number of COVID-19 cases were low in Akwa Ibom State, the company still considered it vital to support its host LGA and the people of the State on account of the challenges being experienced by vulnerable persons, families and communities due to the lockdown.

    Receiving the bags of rice on behalf of Mbo Local Government Area, Chairman of the Council, Asukwo Eyo thanked Moni Pulo for its thoughtful intervention and assured the company that vulnerable families in communities across the LGA would be the prime beneficiaries of the kind gesture.

  • FG’s rice decayed, unfit for consumption in Akwa Ibom – Gov Udom

    Governor Udom Emmanuel said he will not share the rice from the Federal Government of Nigeria to the people of Akwa Ibom.

    The Governor, who stated this Monday evening during a media chat, said the rice showed signs of decay and may not be suitable for consumption.

    He said: “for the Relief materials from Federal Government, we got 1800 bags of custom bonded warehouse rice.

    “That gift is not good for me to distribute to my citizens. We have sent it for test, but it doesn’t look good enough for consumption.”

    However, Udom also noted that his government has so far spent about one Billion Naira to tackle coronavirus pandemic in Akwa-Ibom.

    He added that the Restriction of Movement order in the State will be relaxed when the situation improves.

    He said that a gradual reopening of the system on the order of economic importance of sectors would be considered.

    The Governor noted that the 300-bed isolation centre at Ituk Mbang was near completion.

    He said COVID-19 never met Akwa Ibom State unprepared as it already had isolation centre with 25 bed/modern facilities, 13 ventilators, functional intensive care unit, and digitised/functional situation room and call centre manned by 50 medical experts.

    On the proposed random testing for COVID-19 in the State, Gov. Emmanuel said it was a waste of government resources to embark on such.

    He added that anyone who needed to be tested would be tested according to the guidelines of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.

    He said, “It would absolutely be a waste of resources if we go on random testing. No one who needed to be tested that had not been tested. Everything we do follows NCDC guidelines.

    “On lockdown, I will come back to announce very soon. We were waiting to also consult with other States because in situations like this, no state can work in isolation.

    “For Akwa Ibom State, once we have a trend analysis and the graph is showing downward, we will do a gradual reopening of the system based on the economic importance of those sectors.”

  • COVID-19: Akwa Ibom extends lockdown

    COVID-19: Akwa Ibom extends lockdown

    The Akwa Ibom State Government has extended the Quarantine and Movement Restriction Order by three days.

    The Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, who disclosed this to journalists on Thursday, said the three -days extension was to enable it review the status of the spread of Coronavirus in the State.

    The SSG’s clarification brought to an end speculations that government would lift the restrictions on Friday after the expiration of the one -week extension it declared last Thursday.

    Ekuwem, who said that further updates on the lockdown would be given on Monday, explained the decision was taken in the interest of the health of the people given the precarious situation the state and country has found itself.

    “In view of the critical situation we are in as a nation and state, although it could have been desirable to call off the lockdown at this juncture but given that we must continue to ensure continuous safety of our citizens, the most ideal thing to do now is to continue with the lockdown untill Monday, April 27, 2020 where we will provide an update on the lockdown in a press briefing.

    “To this end everyone is advised to cooperate with the government and the security agencies in the bid to curb community spreading of the disease,” the SSG explained.

    The State Government, he said, has deployed enormous financial and material resources to ensure the pandemic is kept at bay for as much as possible.

    “So far, only nine cases have been confirmed in our state. Thankfully, we have had three reversed to negative and have been discharged. Although we still have five active cases and one dead, the sincerity of our government in the fight against the pandemic as not gone on noticed by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.

    “In a recent publication by the national body, our contact-tracing scored 99%. Within a short period of time, the state government has a fully kitted Emergency Operation Centre, which comprises Call Centre, Situation Room and Isolation Centre at the Ibom Specialty Hospital,” he said.

    Ekuwem maintained that the state isolation centres in Ikot Ekpene and at the Ibom Specialty Hospital have been in top shape to accommodate any eventualities, the administration has intensified efforts at completing the 300-bed isolation centre at the General Hospital, Ituk Mbang and de-contaminated major towns in the area.

    He implored healthcare professionals to do all they can to protect and avail themselves of the facilities provided by government to handle the Covid-19 pandemic and other medical challenges.

    Ekuwem expressed sadness that people who never needed palliatives partook from the food items meant to ameliorate the hardship of the most vulnerables

    ” May I therefore advise that anyone who is able to provide for himself and family at such time as this, should for the sake of humanity steer clear of such items, so that those who truly need the items can have more to themselves.” He said.

    It would be recalled that the three weeks cummulative lockdown order earlier issued by the state government was to end on Friday this week.

  • Doctor dies in Akwa Ibom after displaying COVID-19 symptoms

    Doctor dies in Akwa Ibom after displaying COVID-19 symptoms

    A medical doctor, Dominic Essien, has died in Akwa Ibom State after displaying suspected symptoms of coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.

    The deceased owner of San Dominique Hospital, Uyo was said to have been sick with fever, cough and shortness of breath for about one week.

    The late Dr Essien was a renowned private practitioner, a physiotherapist and lecturer in the Department of Physiology, University of Uyo.

    His condition was said to have worsened with his peripheral capillary oxygen saturation (SPO2) as low as 72 per cent, requiring him to be placed on oxygen at his clinic.

    According to reports, the State COVID-19 Response Team was contacted and they immediately swung into action, following which he was admitted into the Ibom Multispecialty Hospital, Uyo.

    He was said to have been managed by specialists in respiratory medicine.

    Following suspected symptoms of the Covid-19 displayed by the late doctor, his sample was said to have been taken and was awaiting transportation to the laboratory for COVID-19 testing.

    Unfortunately, he died on Thursday over alleged absence of a ventilator in the IBH.

    The state chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) confirmed the death of Dr. Essien in a statement issued on Friday by the state chairman of the association, Dr. Nsikak Paul Nyoyoko.

    Expressing sadness over the death of their colleague, Nyokoko said: “Today, we all have a reason to be sad.

    “I was called last night by a colleague who intimated me that one of our colleagues was sick with a week history of fever, cough and shortness of breath which worsened yesterday with his SPO2 as low as 72 per cent, requiring him to be placed on oxygen at his clinic.

    “I immediately called upon a member of the State #COVID19 Response Team to swing into action and somehow, later last night, our colleague was admitted into ISH and managed by specialists in respiratory medicine.

    “With the symptoms elucidated above, a suspicion of COVID-19 was entertained and he had his sample taken today awaiting transportation to the laboratory for COVID-19 testing.

    “Unfortunately, this revered colleague of ours died mid afternoon today (yesterday).

    “Details of the case management are still sketchy as attempts to reach members of the Incident Management Committee (IMC) were unsuccessful as they were out for a meeting.”