TheNewsGuru

Tag: Akwa Ibom

  • Gov. Udom aims to exploit ICT for wealth creation in Akwa Ibom

    Governor Udom Emmanuel said his government is exploiting the option of Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Science and Technology for employment generation and wealth creation in Akwa Ibom state.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports Governor Udom stated this, as part of policy objectives, while presenting a N670.718 billion 2019 budget he proposed for Akwa Ibom before the State House of Assembly on Wednesday.

    The Governor said ICT and the knowledge of science and technology are major catalysts for economic growth, social development and job creation.

    He said science and technology have been recognized as a strategic tool for community development, wealth creation and advancement of the human condition at all levels.

    “This Administration aims to build a strong and rich intellectual human capacity in science and technology for Akwa Ibom citizens without discrimination in gender or age and to emphasize the advancement of knowledge of ICT at all levels,” Udom said.

    He said this would be achieved through the training of unemployed graduates on ICT under the Graduate Assistant Programme (GAP) and setting up of ICT academy for the training of Civil servants in the State.

    “The world today is going green through the adoption, development and use of renewable energy and efficient utilization of nature’s energy resources.

    “Since renewable energy can be used in electricity generation and production of cleaner vehicle fuel. There is a paradigm shift from an energy system powered by increasingly expensive, dirty and unsustainable fossil fuel resources towards the one powered by abundant, clean, local and affordable renewable energy sources.

    “The State is not left behind in the global renewable energy and energy efficiency trend, as a Directorate of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency has been created in the Ministry of Science and Technology to specifically develop, install and maintain Renewable Energy Technology in the State.

    “Government also intends to pursue e-governance, establish Resources and Development Laboratory, Technology Workshop. etc.

    “The 2019 budget proposes the sum of N2.800 billion, to execute these activities,” the Governor stated.

     

  • Gov. Udom highlights 13 strategies for Akwa Ibom N671bn 2019 budget

    Governor Udom Emmanuel has highlighted thirteen implementation strategies for the N670.718 billion 2019 budget he proposed for Akwa Ibom before the State House of Assembly on Wednesday.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports Governor Udom christened the 2019 budget as the Budget of Industrialization for Poverty Alleviation.

    He said to realize the objectives of the N670.718 billion budget, the following strategies and measures would be adopted by the State Government in 2019:

    1. Expand the revenue base of the State by eliminating wastages and leakages in expenditure, and improving IGR collection and development of tourism potentials.

    2. Employ effective public-private partnership strategies to provide much needed industrial and infrastructural development.

    3. Attract potential investors and donor agencies to invest in the relevant and key sectors of the State economy and also undertake robust human capital development.

    4. Strengthen the industrial base of the State through the development of a Mega Industrial City “Liberty Free Trade Zone” and 2 mini-AKEES Industrial Parks, which will provide a conducive environment for rapid industrialization.

    5. Setting up of new industries and maintaining existing ones, in the oil and gas, information technology as well as the agro-industrial sectors.

    6. Stimulate the Agriculture and Agro-allied industries to boost production of local farmers to ensure food sufficiency for local consumption, exports as well as the provision of raw materials for the industries.

    7. Pay priority attention to the completion of all on-going projects in the key sectors of the State economy.

    8. Expand and improve services in Health-Care Delivery at Primary and Secondary levels.

    9. Provision of Educational facilities with emphasis on science and technology, as well as information and communication technology.

    10. Enforce Child Protection Laws and empower women and youth through capacity building, empowerment, skill acquisition and elimination of gender discrimination practices.

    11. Enhance service delivery in the public service to ensure that the benefits of good governance are enjoyed by all.

    12. Ensure enforcement of peace, law and order by building an efficient and proactive security network to make the State conducive to live and invest in.

    13. Continue the on-going work on Sport Academy in the State and Sports Centres in the 10 Federal Constituencies of the State in order to boast of representatives of the State at local, National and International Sporting competitions. This will also create employment, generate wealth and reduce poverty among the youths.

     

  • Gov. Udom proposes N671bn budget for 2019 fiscal year

    Governor Udom Emmanuel has proposed a total budgetary outlay of N670.718 billion for the 2019 financial year for Akwa Ibom state as against the approved provision of N646.649 billion of 2018.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports Governor Udom presented the budget proposal before the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly on Wednesday with recurrent expenditure at N97.096 billion, capital expenditure at N445.936 billion and consolidated revenue fund charges at N127.686 billion.

    “In 2019, government intends to build more industries and attract more Foreign Direct Investments, while ensuring the consolidation and sustenance in our already actualized and on-going socio-economic programmes in Health, Education, Roads, Electricity, Water Supply, Agriculture, Information Technology, Capacity Building, Infrastructure, Housing, Commerce and Industry Aviation, General Administration, Political Posterity and Security, Legislature and Judiciary.

    “A lot had been put in place in term of infrastructures already, but we need to do more. Our belief and conviction is that through industrialization, the fortunes of people would be greatly improved and employment opportunities will abound for our people thus, lifting the standard of living,” the Governor said during his presentation.

    The 2019 budget was christened the Budget of Industrialization for Poverty Alleviation and the 2018 Budget was named Budget of Consolidation on industrialization.

    “It was so named as the State had started witnessing a breakthrough in industrialization through the construction and commissioning of some industries that are currently in full operations. We also attracted more Foreign Direct Investments, boosted the fortunes of our people and improved employment opportunities,” Udom said.

    He said his administration is encapsulated by the five-point agenda of job creation, poverty alleviation, wealth creation, economic and political inclusion, and infrastructural consolidation and expansion to further transform the state into an industrialized entity.

    Akwa Ibom 2019 budget proposal

    He further stated that the 2019 Budget is prepared in accordance with International Public Sector Accounting Standard (IPSAS) – Accrual Template.

    “The Policy thrust of the 2019 Budget is aimed at reducing dependence on statutory allocation as the main source of revenue to the State. This will be pursued by establishing more industries, improving IGR and providing the enabling environment which will encourage private investments in the State.

    “The State Government will also create employment opportunities and improve the living standard of our people by providing basic infrastructures, enhancing security, develop human capital and continue to boost services in education and healthcare,” Udom said.

     

  • 2019: Obasanjo visits Akwa Ibom, drums support for Emmanuel

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Sunday asked Akwa Ibom residents to continue to support and return incumbent governor, Udom Emmanuel as governor in 2019.

    The former President stated this in Uyo on Sunday during a church service he attended alongside Emmanuel, his wife, Martha, Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Mr Onofiok Luke; members of the State Executive Council and leaders of the People’s Democratic Party at Qua Iboe Church.

    The former president said Akwa Ibom State could only develop when there was continuity from a good product. Obasanjo added that Akwa Ibom people needed Emmanuel to continue with what he had started.

    He said he was in the state to congratulate the governor, adding that continuity had been in existence since God created the world.

    He said, “As the governor has said, I am here to congratulate him. He himself asked the question, what is he celebrating? I will tell you what I know we should be celebrating. We should be celebrating good leadership. Unfortunately, I don’t have time but I will come back and when I come back, I will come back for a big celebration.

    “You have to be a strong Christian to be able to say, ‘God will find for me a successor that will do to me what I have done to my predecessor.’ This man believes in his character, he believes in his value, he believes in his service to humanity and to God.

    “I always cherish the attributes of God. The wonderful God that we worship kept some attributes to himself, he doesn’t share with anybody: Omnipresence, Omnipotence, Omniscience, all that are kept for God and God alone. He has other attributes that he shares with us – kindness, generosity, compassion, truth, forgiveness, love and continuity.”

    “God is a God of continuity since he created the world. I always say to myself and my family, if something is good, keep it. We have a good product in our hand and if I have a good product in my hand, I will not change it, I will keep it. This is a good product, let’s have him for continuity. I can assure you, this governor has no fear; he will stand still. Please, stand with him and he will take us to the promised land.”

    Emmanuel said Obasanjo was in Akwa Ibom on a solidarity visit, stating that the presence of the former President always brought about something good.

    He said, “Whenever you see him move, know that something is about to happen. As you see him move today, something good is about to happen in Akwa Ibom State. He has spoken concerning Nigeria and I’m sure something good is about to happen in Nigeria.

    “Baba just came on a father-son solidarity visit and he chose to worship in my own local church. I want to thank him for this show of love, this show of solidarity and I also thank God for everything.”

    Remarking that he is a good successor to former Gov. Godswill Akpabio, Emmanuel said, “May God give me the kind of successor I have been to my predecessor.”

  • Police arrest A‘Ibom commissioner for allegedly rejecting Buhari’s campaign billboards

    Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have allegedly arrested the Commissioner for Environment in Akwa Ibom, Iniobong Essien for preventing President Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign billboard to be hoisted at a location within the state capital.
    The spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Ini Ememobong, said in a press statement that the commissioner was detained for hours at the police headquarters, Ikot Akpan Abia, on Tuesday, before he was later released at night.
    The billboard, Ememobong said, was for the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Nsima Ekere, and not that of Mr Buhari.
    He that the commissioner returned to the police headquarters on Wednesday on the police’s request.
    “He is still in the police station as we speak,” the PDP spokesperson said at about 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
    Ubong Asanga, the media aide to the commissioner confirmed the arrest.
    Ememobong explained in the press statement the controversy surrounding the billboard.
    “According to the facts of the matter, a local vendor had sought and got an approval to erect a billboard. The Ministry approved the erection of the billboard at a particular location free from encumbrances and in accordance with the extant regulations. The vendor many months ago commenced the erection of the board, but at a different location, which for all intent and purposes is not fit for the undertaking he sought.
    “This fact was brought to the attention of the vendor many months back and he halted the erection of some components of the board.
    “Surprisingly, yesterday the ministry learnt that APC agents went to hoist a banner on the billboard and were prevented by security agents.
    “The approved location of the billboard was several meters away from the main thoroughfare of the market. Instead of restricting themselves to the point approved for them, they erected the billboard at a place most unfit for such and in flagrant contravention of environmental regulations,” Mr Ememobong said.
    Continuing, he said, “The Commissioner of Environment, Dr. Iniobong Essien in full execution of the regulatory powers vested in his ministry advised the company to relocate the pole to the approved location. Instead of adhering to the advice, the thugs employed by the APC engaged in unrestrained violence injuring bystanders and chasing away staff of the ministry.”
    The PDP spokesperson said the arrest of the commissioner was “deeply offensive”.
    “If this is the beginning of the Federal might that the APC has been promising to use in capturing Akwa Ibom, we can assure the world that the people of Akwa Ibom State who are solidly behind Governor Udom Emmanuel will resist this type of Federal might with every fibre of our being,” he said.
    The chairman of APC in the state, Ini Okopido, however, said the confrontation near the market occurred when people working for the state government and the PDP tried to put up a billboard for the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, on the exact spot paid for by the APC.
    Okopido, who was away in Abuja when the incident occurred, said, “Later in the evening, someone told us that they came to mount Atiku’s billboard in the spot that they prevented us from putting up President Buhari’s own”.
    “So the information was relayed to the commissioner of police who said nobody should put up any billboard in that particular space. They invited everyone to the station the following day,” he said.
    The police spokesperson in the state, Odiko McDon, said it was not true that the commissioner was arrested.
    “The command invited those who had issues with what happened at Akpan Andem market in order to chart a way forward for peace. He was not the only one, we had people from the APC, and we had people from PDP.
    “It is just like fact-finding and then looking for a solution to make sure nothing like that happens again in the future. Nobody was detained,” Mr McDon said on Wednesday afternoon.

  • Gunmen kidnap youth corps member in Akwa Ibom

    Gunmen kidnap youth corps member in Akwa Ibom

    There was pandemonium in Akwa Ibom State on Saturday as six unknown gunmen suspected to be members of Iceland cult group kidnapped a youth corps member, Mr Akpanabia Udoworen, in his village, Nto Okon Usung Itike in the Ukanafun Local Government Area of the state.

    Udoworen, who is serving in Birni Kebi, Kebi State, was said to have visited his parents after completing his mandatory orientation exercise and was discharged from the camp on Friday.

    A family source confirmed to The Punch in Uyo on Tuesday that as soon as the hoodlums heard that Udoworen, who is the son of the president of a prominent socio-cultural organisation, Esop Ikpaisong Afaha in Ukanafun, returned, they stormed his family compound on three motorbikes and whisked him away.

    “He arrived on Friday and the following day, Saturday, the hoodlums got wind of his arrival and stormed the compound at Nto Okon Usung Itike, and whisked him away after brandishing AK-47 rifles and machetes,” the source said.

    Asked if the militants had established contact with the family to make known their demands and the whereabouts of the kidnapped corps member, the family source noted that the hoodlums have yet to contact them.

    It was, however, gathered that the hoodlums, mostly of the Iceland cult groups, have been kidnapping for ransom in the last two years, compelling governor Udom Emmanuel to outlaw at least 33 cult groups in Akwa Ibom.

    The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr Odiko Macdon, said he was yet to be briefed by the Divisional Police Officer in-charge of Ukanafun.

    The police command in Akwa Ibom had arrested many hoodlums, raided their camps in Okoyo, Ikot Akpan Ayara as well as other locations and rescued many kidnapped victims.

  • 2019: Ikpeazu praises Udom, Wike takes swipe at Akpabio in Uyo

    Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu was on Friday full of praises for his Akwa Ibom State counterpart Governor Udom Emmanuel at his declaration for second tenure in Uyo, capital of the state.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, who was also present at the Governor Udom’s second tenure declaration event, took a swipe at the State’s former Governor Godswill Akpabio.

    “Those that defected cannot say that Udom is not performing well, they were only escaping from prosecution,” Governor Wike said of Akpabio while telling the mammoth crowd gathered at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, venue for the event, not to be intimidated.

    “No man is God. Do not be intimidated, for I know you that you will stand and defend your votes,” Wike said.

    Speaking at the event, Ikpeazu said “Akwa Ibom is lucky to have a God-fearing leader,” while also adding: “God does not lie, he alone can make kings. You cannot come from anywhere and take over Akwa Ibom land. Akwa Ibom belongs to Akwa Ibom people”.

    In his address, Governor Udom asked for support of Akwa Ibom people, stressing he is submitting himself again as a servant-leader to the people for his second tenure bid.

    “I come today following the ratings and commendations of Akwa Ibom People drawn from the 3 Senatorial Districts in our state & also cutting across diverse segments of our population, that I have made results-oriented efforts in serving Akwa Ibom people since I was elected in 2015.

    “I have operated a Christ-centric Government, I have led a People-centric Government, I have worn humility like a badge of honour, believing that power comes from the people; I have refused to hurl insults at people who have attacked and called me names.

    “I have been a Servant-leader which I had promised you. I have maintained peace in Akwa Ibom State and brought about civility in our engagements. I hereby submit myself to complete the Divine Mission which you had first sent me to accomplish in 2015,” Udom told the mammoth crowd gathered at the stadium.

    Speaking on Akpabio’s earlier comments on invading Akwa Ibom like Poland, Governor Udom said, “Anybody who wants to make Akwa Ibom be like the invasion of Poland, to kill our people, we say, Holy Ghost, Fireeeeee”.

     

  • Breaking: Gov. Udom Emmanuel declares for second tenure

    Incumbent Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel on Friday publicly declared intention to run for the governorship position in 2019 General Elections.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports Governor Udom made the declaration at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, capital of the state.

    The governor, while asking for support for a second term from the people of Akwa Ibom, said he is submitting himself again as a Servant-Leader to the people.

    “I come today following the ratings and commendations of Akwa Ibom People drawn from the 3 Senatorial Districts in our state & also cutting across diverse segments of our population, that I have made results-oriented efforts in serving Akwa Ibom people since I was elected in 2015.

    “I have operated a Christ-centric Government, I have led a People-centric Government, I have worn humility like a badge of honour, believing that power comes from the people; I have refused to hurl insults at people who have attacked and called me names.

    “I have been a Servant-leader which I had promised you. I have maintained peace in Akwa Ibom State and brought about civility in our engagements. I hereby submit myself to complete the Divine Mission which you had first sent me to accomplish in 2015,” Udom told the mammoth crowd gathered at the stadium.

     

  • Four suspected armed robbers killed in Akwa Ibom

    The Police Command in Akwa Ibom said its officers had killed four of the five suspected armed robbers who robbed a fuel station in Ikot Ekpene in Akwa Ibom state on August 21.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, Adeyemi Ogunjemilusi, made the disclosure at a news conference in Uyo on Friday.

    He said that the four suspects were gunned down in a gun battle with police while one of them was arrested after sustaining injuries due to gunshot.

    Ogunjemilusi said that the masked gunmen were killed during an operation in a bank at Ikot Ekpene after robbing ATM users and shop owners at gunpoint in a broad daylight.

    “My men of Ikot Ekpene Division, led by the Divisional Police Officer, Benjamin Achegbani trailed and engaged the suspects in a fierce shootout.

    “Four of the suspected armed robbers were shot dead while one was arrested with an AK47 with 60 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition.

    “Items recovered from them include five locally made pistols, eight live cartridges, and two rounds of 5.5mm ammunition,“ he said.

    The others he said are one AK47 magazine, three expended cartridges, two masks, six assorted phones, three motorcycles and N63, 000.

    “Our investigation revealed that the same suspected armed robbers were those responsible for the robbery at Gulfsafrin Filling station located at Ukana Ikot Ntuen close to the residence of Sen. Godswill Akpabio.”

    He attributed the upsurge in robbery operations in Ikot Ekpene to infiltration of the commercial motorcyclist union by armed robbers who posed as commercial motorcyclists.

    The police boss warned that the curfew imposed on motorcycles in the area would be sustained until the association fish out fake members among its members.

    The police commissioner said that the command was poised to sustain its fight against crime and criminality in Akwa Ibom, adding that the command was also committed to the protection of lives and property.

    NAN

  • 2019: Akwa Ibom Governor, Udom attends God’s consultation service

    Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel on Thursday evening attended a God’s consultation service at the Qua Iboe Church at Ikot Ekpene Road, Uyo, capital of the state, to seek God’s blessings for his second term election.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports this coming prior to the Governor’s second tenure public declaration event set to hold on Friday.

    “Political fathers can disappoint, but spiritual fathers cannot because the presence of God goes with them at all times,” Udom said.

    The incumbent Governor is set to publicly declare his intention to run for the governorship position in the 2019 General Elections.

    The event is set to hold at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.

    The governor, asking for support for a second term from the people of Akwa Ibom, said he is submitting himself again as a Servant-Leader to the people.

    “Tomorrow, just as I did in 2014, I will submit myself again as your Servant- Leader and ask for your support for a second term.

    “I know I can always count on your support, so the Akwa Ibom story will continue to be told in poetry and in prose,” the Governor had stated.