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Calabar

  • Panic as gunmen shoot Jonathan’s son-in-law in Calabar

    The son-in-law of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Prince Goodwill Edward, was on Friday shot by unknown gunmen in Calabar.

    According to a report by The Punch, Edward was shot in his State Housing Estate residence in the Calabar Municipal axis of the Cross River State capital.

    Edward is the Special Adviser on Youths Affairs to Governor Ben Ayade.

    Although the severity of injuries sustained in the attack could not be ascertained, it was learnt he is presently receiving treatment at an undisclosed medical facility in Calabar.

    Edward, who is from Abi Local Government Area of the state, got married Jonathan’s daughter in a very lavish and publicised wedding in 2014.

    When contacted, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hafiz Inuwa, said the matter had yet to be reported officially to the police.

    He said from records, it was not the first time that Edward had been attacked.

    Inuwa said, “They attempted him. This was the third or fourth time that this thing is happening. Do you know that as at now I’m talking to you there is no official report about it? We are not going to wait until the matter is reported. We are the police we know our responsibility.

    “Even if they have a reason for not reporting which we are not going to sit down until the matter is reported, we have the responsibility to investigate and by the grace of God we will go after those responsible.

    “Information just got to me that this is the third or fourth time that they have attempted him.”

  • Kidnapped ex-Commissioner regains freedom in Calabar

    Kidnapped ex-Commissioner regains freedom in Calabar

    Former Commissioner for Information in Cross River, Mr Patrick Ugbe, who was kidnapped in Calabar on June 1, has regained freedom.

    Ugbe, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), of Hit Fm 95.9, was kidnapped by gunmen at Ekpo Iso Street in Ikot Ansa, Calabar.

    ASP Irene Ugbo, Police Public Relations Officer in the State, confirmed this in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Calabar on Saturday.

    “As we speak, the CEO of Hit Fm has been released and he is right now with his family.

    “No ransom was paid, the combined efforts of security agencies in the state and the office of the State Security Adviser were on top of the matter to secure his release.

    “We thank God that he was released alive without any harm.

    “The police, in collaboration with other sister agencies in the state, would continue to work together to safe guard the lives and property of the citizens’’, she said.

    Ugbe also served as Chief Press Secretary and Commissioner for Youth and Sports in the eight-year tenure of Sen. Liyel Imoke as Governor of the state.

     

     

    NAN

     

  • Photos: Calabar agog as Acting President Yemi Osinbajo visits

    Photos: Calabar agog as Acting President Yemi Osinbajo visits

    Calabar, the capital of Cross River state was agog on Thursday as the Acting President Prof. Yemi Osinbanjo arrived the city on official visit.

    Among the huge excitement that was on display were school children and residents who trooped out en mass to welcome their Acting President, others succeeding to get an embrace or a hand shake with Professor Osinbajo.

  • Osinbajo storms Calabar on official visit, to commission projects

    Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbanjo has arrived Calabar, the Cross River State Capital, on an official visit. Osinbajo was received at the Margaret Ekpo International Airport by Governor Ben Ayade.

    The governor immediately led the Acting President from the airport to the palace of the Obong of Calabar. Osinbajo, while in the state is expected to commission some projects embarked upon by Ayade.

    Details shortly…

  • NEMSA begins investigation on Calabar electrocution

    NEMSA begins investigation on Calabar electrocution

    The Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) says it has commenced full investigation to unravel the remote and immediate causes of the electrocution of seven people in a television viewing centre in Calabar on Thursday.

    The Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation, Mr Peter Ewesor, revealed this to newsmen in Abuja on Friday.

    The police said seven people died while 11 were hospitalised after a high tension electric cable fell on a zinc structure where football fans were watching Manchester United in a Europa quarter finals match against Anderlecht.

    The incident happened at around 9.30 p.m. at Nyagasang area of Atimbo in Calabar Municipal Local Government Area of the state.

    Ewesor, who is also the Managing Director of the agency, described the incident as “unfortunate’’.

    “Our field engineers are already there. I am equally on the way to the place now for us to go and find out actually what happened, how it happened and how we can prevent future occurrence.

    “Presently, we are mourning with the family of the diseased; however, we will be able to make concrete statement to the nation after the investigation.

    “When things like this happen, as painful as they are, we should be on guard to prevent further occurrences,’’ he said.

    He said the investigation would assist the agency to find out what led to the mishap.

    He said NEMSA had always been sincere with investigation of this nature.

    According to him, the agency’s report on a similar incident that killed a student of University of Lagos recently remains transparent.

    “ You remember the issue that happened in university of Lagos; it was equally a similar thing when the breakable cable dropped directly on a female student of the institution.

    “We were able to make a firm statement at that time, after we had visited and reviewed the incidence and carried out our test,’’ he said.

    Ewesor, however, said NEMSA had initiated measures to avert electrical accidents in the country.

    “For us to prevent this kind of situation, we had actually given so many instructions and directive to the industry in the area of using quality and standard electrical materials,’’ he said.

    According to him, the use of sub-standard materials contributes to electrical accidents.

    He also said non adherence to rules on electrical installation by professionals and consumers were responsible for some of the electrical accidents.

    He said staff in its 17 field offices had been involved in monitoring and evaluation of existing networks across the country.

    “They go round the network to see those ones that are in bad shape which we call high risk network that are about to cause accident.

    “ When we discover that, we do a memo to the DISCO concern for appropriate steps to remedy the situation,’’ Ewesor said

    He said NEMSA had been encouraging the DISCOs to embark on standard construction of electrical installations and the need to monitor their network.

    Ewesor said it was better for operators to spend their money to repair damaged network than to spend the money to pay compensation.

     

     

    NAN

  • Graphic photos: Alleged battery thief burnt to death in Cross Rivers

    Graphic photos: Alleged battery thief burnt to death in Cross Rivers

    A mob this morning burnt to death a suspected car battery thief at Yellow Duke Street in Calabar, Cross Rivers state.

    A Facebook user, Ifere Paul reported that the young man had gone out to steal batteries from parked cars when he was caught.

    See more graphic photos below…

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  • [Trending] Watch Governor Ayade’s stunning dance steps at Carnival Calabar

  • Fun seekers call for improvement of Carnival Calabar

    Fun seekers call for improvement of Carnival Calabar

    Residents of Calabar and fun seekers have called on organisers of the annual Calabar Carnival to improve on the various aspects of the event.

    A cross section of the residents, who spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Calabar were reacting to the criticisms that trailed the timing and other aspects of this year’s carnival.

    A resident, Mr Jude Ochala, told NAN that some aspects of the carnival were no longer in conformity with what he used to know.

    “The timing of the different bands is becoming boring and unattractive.

    “In time past, before 8 p.m, almost all the bands would have completed their parade along the carnival routes which gives residents and fun seekers a sense of joy and excitement.

    “Then they would retire to the stadium where the panel of Judges would pick the various winners.

    “But in the 2015 and this year’s carnival, the bands were still on the streets up till 4a.m. in the morning.

    “Those who were supposed to watch them had waited and gone back home to sleep disappointedly, ‘’ he said.

    Miss Isabel Ruth, who came from Ogoja to watch the parade, said she was unable to watch them because of the lateness.

    “I came from Ogoja with my friend to watch the carnival but we only succeeded in seeing two of them after waiting for several hours. We had to retire home.

    “The bands were parading until midnight; I do not think it is fair. They should start early so that people can watch them and have a feeling of joy in the whole thing, ‘’she said.

    In the same vein, a tourist from Anambra, Mr Morris Igwe, said he missed the opportunity of watching the bands because he was afraid of staying late in the night.

    “I had to hurriedly rush back to my hotel room when it was close to 9 p.m.

    “I watched one in the day time and another band came something past 7 p.m. and after waiting for the next two hours without any other band, I retired back to my hotel.

    “Calabar carnival to me still stands out as the best in the country but If they really want people to enjoy the carnival, the organisers should make it early enough.

    “I was told that the governor did not flag-off the event on time, hence the delay but I think there is need for adjustment, ‘’ he said.

    A beautician, Mrs Elizabeth Archibong, further stressed the need for the organiS0ers to harmonise the various events and give enough publicity to enable people follow the events as they unfold.

    “There was a lot of guess work during this year’s carnival. I do not think that is right. The events should be clearly spelt out so that people can follow even from their homes, ‘’ she said.

  • Calabar carnival parade show features over 400 bikers’

    No fewer than 400 bikers’ from 10 African countries on Tuesday featured in the grand finale of the 2016 Calabar carnival bikers’ show.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the bikers were drawn from Ghana, South Africa, Togo, Egypt, Senegal, and Kenya among other African countries including a Palestinian.

    Mr Akin Ricketts, President of Metallic Knights Motorcycle Club of Calabar, told NAN that no fewer than 200 members of his club participated in the parade.

    Ricketts, a former Information Commissioner in the state, said that the parade was to add fun, excitement and vitality to the carnival as well as entertain tourists.

    “What we do yearly is to bring people to the state by exhibiting what we have. Calabar carnival is growing bigger and better yearly.

    “When you bring a large number of people into the state, it invariably brings about a better flow in the economy.

    ”The bikers’ show is a display of riding talents across the carnival routes. We are well-kitted today to give the carnival our best.

    “We have bikers’ from no fewer than 10 African countries participating in today’s show, it promises to be fun,” he said.

    A Palestinian, Jaka Fara, told NAN that he was in Nigeria specifically to participate in the bikers’ show.

    According to Fara, riding a power bike is like doing a sporting activity which is good to the body.

    He said that the carnival had continued to gain international recognition due to its efficient management by the state government.

    Among notable bikers’ at the show was Mr Donald Duke, a former governor of the state, along with state legislators, commissioners, and captains of industries.

    NAN report that the bikers’ went on display round the 12 kilometers carnival routes displaying their riding talents and entertaining tourists.

    NAN also reports that the displays were done under heavy security presence mounted by men of the Nigeria police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Immigration Service and others.

  • 21 megawatts Calabar power plant to be delivered February – Ayade

    21 megawatts Calabar power plant to be delivered February – Ayade

    Governor Ben Ayade of Cross Rivers State has reiterated his commitment to the fulfillment of uninterrupted power supply in Calabar metropolis by ensuring the delivery of the 21 megawatts Calabar power plant in February 2017.

    The power project is one of the fruits of the several Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) signed with foreign investors during his several investment trips round the world.

    Speaking during his routine inspection of ongoing construction work at the site along the Parliamentary Extension, Calabar, on Wednesday, Ayade said the power plant is a new technology which is cost effective.

    Excited about the level of work so far done, Ayade said: “As you can see, there is massive construction work going on here at the site, we are putting the structural base for the installation of the 21 megawatt power turbines that have already been delivered on site.”

    He further disclosed that: “We have set February 17, 2017 deadline to deliver uninterrupted 24/7 power supply to Calabar metropolis. With this singular effort, Calabar will be the first capital city to have uninterrupted power supply in the country.

    The good thing is that this is the product and manifestation of the several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) I had signed early last year and today, we are at the construction stage to deliver on this all important project.

    As you can see, there is so much energy as, several young men are already engaged and we are making plans to engage some of them permanently as maintenance staff after the construction,” Ayade noted.

    On the status of the power plant, the governor explained that the project was a Public Private Partnership (PPP), adding that the state was working in partnership with a Brazilian/American firm which is also collaborating with the Cross River State Power Company to establish and deliver on this world class independent embedded power plant here in Calabar.

    “It is to ensure that no contractor is paid until he meets the mile stones set. So, if you bring me an IPC, I must check to ensure that you have delivered as declared by the agencies concerned before you receive your payment.

    Secondly, I am driven by the passion and determination, which is why I am always on site instead sitting in the office. This is rather very alien to me and that is why I am on site daily to ensure that we catch the pace because money is scarce, every little kobo will be accounted for,” Ayade explained.

    According to Ayade, “my excitement is that work is also done according to specification and approved designs.”

    On the plan to ensure steady power supply in Calabar during the carnival festival, Ayade assured residents that the state had concluded arrangement with Lilleker and Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company to ensure uninterrupted power supply during the yuletide.

    “In line with this effort, the state has provided 88 new transformers across the city centre for improved power supply to ensure that all parts of Calabar are lit this December.”

    While assuring Nigerian of a hitch-free carnival, Ayade said: “Let me use this opportunity to invite every Nigerian to stop searching for scarce dollars for overseas trips and come to Calabar for the festival and Carnival. We have everything you are looking for, hospitality, love, good treatment, everything you can think of is here in Calabar.”