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Tag: Cross River

  • C/River Govt. warns against indiscriminate dumping of waste

    C/River Govt. warns against indiscriminate dumping of waste

    The Cross River Environmental Protection Agency has warned residents of Calabar against dumping of refuse from moving vehicles on major roads in Calabar metropolis.
    Director General of the Agency, Mr Erasmus Ekpang, gave the warning in a press release issued on Saturday in Calabar.
    “In line with Gov. Ben Ayade’s passion for a clean, healthy environment, it is therefore our collective responsibility to protect health, property and quality of life for a better Cross River.
    “Henceforth, all trucks conveying stones, sand, goods and waste must be properly covered to avoid litters on the roads. Households are expected to bag their refuse before disposal.
    “Also, dumping of waste from moving vehicle on major roads are prohibited. If caught, both the offender and drivers will be held responsible.
    “Transporters and households are by this announcement given two weeks to procure waste baskets from our office, at No. 3 Mary Slessor Road, Calabar,” the release stated.
    The release added that a surveillance team had been set across the state to monitor, apprehend and enforce the process.
    “Defaulters will be penalized/sanctioned in line with the provision of the Cross River Environmental Protection law,” the release added.
  • Teenage girl caught with locally made pistol in school makes shocking revelations

    Teenage girl caught with locally made pistol in school makes shocking revelations

    The teenage female student of Community Secondary School, Ikot Ewa in Akpabuyo LGA, who was arrested for unlawful possession of a locally made pistol has confessed to the police in Cross River State.

    The schoolgirl made the confession on Friday at the Police Command Headquarters, Diamond Hill Calabar when she was paraded alongside her boyfriend who owns the locally made pistol and 11 others for various crimes.

    The teenage girl confessed that she belongs to a cult group known as “Sky Queens Confraternity” and that she has been sleeping with her “man-friend” since August last year and that the man has been helping her out with other things apart from paying her school fees.

    However, while briefing newsmen in Calabar, Cross River Commissioner of police, Sikiru Akande disclosed that they discovered from their Investigation that the girl was taking the locally made double barrel pistol to a blacksmith.

    Akande also said that investigation was ongoing to unravel the mystery that surrounds the ownership of the gun, adding that a suspect, Okon Effiong has been arrested and more details would be made known soon.

    The Police boss, however, called on parents and guardians to cultivate the habit of getting closer to their children and wards to know what they do and who they mingle with.

    He revealed that within the period under review 13 persons were arrested for sundry crime including, Kidnapping, armed robbery, unlawful possession of Indian hemp, vandals amongst others.

    Also, the boyfriend to the schoolgirl, Okon Effiong told Vanguard that he has been intimate with her since August last year and have been supporting her family too in so many ways.

    “I am a married man with six children, I did not give her the gun, she took it herself where I kept it under the bed.

    “I started sleeping with her in August last year, her mother knows me, I have been doing small something on her head, they know she is my wife,” he said.

    On her part, the schoolgirl also claimed to be taking the pistol to the blacksmith before it was confiscated by her school principal.

    “I am a member of Sky Queen Confraternity, I am just an ordinary member, I don’t hold any position in the group, I have known the owner of the gun who is my man-friend since last year, he sleeps with me and supports me with little things, but he is not the one paying my school fees.

    “My mother knows about him because he visits me at our house and sometimes he sleeps over at my place because I have my own room then in the morning he goes back to his own house,” the girl said.

    When contacted, the Special Adviser to the Governor Ben Ayade on Education, Castro Ezama said it was important for parents and guardian to take the welfare of their children more serious.

    His words:” It is not just about paying school fees and buying of uniforms, you must take care of your children and know them deeply including who they hang out with.

    “We know the security agents are doing their investigation, but after that, we will definitely pick her up for proper rehabilitation.

    “There are many of her kind, who need to be rescued immediately, we have already contacted Humanitarian Aid and Social Welfare, and we also have qualified counsellor’s that will sit with her.

    “Our interest is to save her from herself and make sure she is safe. Even though it is a failure from the homes, our teachers must understand the psychological needs of their students.

    “We give kudos to the principal of the school, Mr Inyang Inyang who was able to spot that the child needed help, it could have been worse than what we are saying now.

    “Inasmuch as we have zero tolerance for indiscipline and we teach two things; knowledge and character, we will not allow her to become what vices want her to be, she will be properly rehabilitated.

    “Parents must do more because she is coming from a home, they spend more time at home than school, so parents must live up to expectations and take good care of their children,” he said.

  • 13 corps members test positive to COVID-19 at Cross River NYSC camp

    13 corps members test positive to COVID-19 at Cross River NYSC camp

    Cross River State on Sunday recorded 20 cases of COVID-19 infection, the highest so far in the state.

    Prior to this, the state has remained at the bottom of the table since the outbreak of the Coronavirus in Nigeria.

    The total number of confirmed cases in the state is now 189 as of January 24, according to data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.

    The Commissioner for Health in Cross River State, Betta Edu, said the recent high cases in the state was because of corps members who came in for their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme.

    “We had people who came in from the NYSC, about 13 of them were positive cases. So, these are people who moved into our state from other states.

    “The other ones are people who are residents in the state,” Mrs Edu told newsmen on Monday.

    “However, it clearly shows that the second wave of the COVID-19 is here on us, so people need to improve on their level of adherence to all the COVID-19 protocols.

    “It is also a call for the federal government to see that they can immediately come in and help Cross River State fix their lab so that we can do community sampling and testing and really have a true picture of what might be going on in communities, as we already do know that community spread is taking place,” she added.

    Cross River, before now, had two laboratories for COVID-19 testing – Lawrence Henshaw Memorial Reference Lab and another one at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH).

    Mrs Edu said the Lawrence Henshaw lab, which had the capacity to test large samples, was vandalised and looted in October by hoodlums, as a fallout of the #EndSARS protest.

    She said this has consequently slowed down testing in the state.

    “The COVID-19 testing is almost coming to a halt (in Cross River),” the health commissioner said.

    “The only place we have now is the little lab in the UCTH that can just do only about four samples in hours. They don’t work 24 hours shift and they don’t work during the weekends. So when we have that kind of situation, it (testing) is almost coming to a halt,” she said.

    Cross River State, she said, may not be able to meet a new national target that would be rolled out by February where each state is expected to bring in 550 samples per local government area in two weeks for COVID-19 testing.

    She appealed to the federal government, the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, the NCDC, and the Coalition Against COVID-19 to support the state in fixing the vandalised isolation centres and laboratory.

    “We had to quickly create a new isolation centre at Obubra General Hospital that can take at least 15 people in there because of the 13 corps members who have tested positive.

    “The one that can take up to 10 persons in Okoja is still there and the UCTH that has just four rooms,” the commissioner said.

  • Photo: Cross River demolishes hotel harbouring suspected kidnappers

    Photo: Cross River demolishes hotel harbouring suspected kidnappers

    The Cross River Government security outfit, “Operation Akpakwu”, has demolished the “Save side hotel” at 8miles area in Calabar for harbouring suspected kidnappers that have been terrorising the state.

    Speaking after the exercise, Mr Henry Okokon, the Security Adviser, South, to Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River, told newsmen on Saturday that most recorded kidnap cases in Calabar were planned and coordinated from the hotel.

    According to Okokon, the Homeland Security bill which was signed into law by Ayade clearly stated that “anybody who aid, abet and harbour a criminal is also guilty of the crime.

    He explained that residents of the area were equally living in fear because of the harassment from the suspected kidnappers who took over the hotel for illegal activities.

    “The demolition exercise is an ongoing process, it is part of the activities of Operation Akpakwu that was set up to fight criminality in the state, especially kidnapping.

    “The governor had warned landlords who are harbouring criminals to desist from doing so. Therefore anybody found to be harbouring, abetting or aiding crime, must definitely be held responsible.

    “This hotel is one of the buildings that have been harbouring criminals and the government has decided to bring it down.

    “Ths is a warning signal to all, and I think everybody should be aware of this. The general public should be aware that security is everyone’s business.

    “I want to state that all legal procedures were taken before this building was demolished. The police have equally done their investigation, that is why we have the Army, Navy and Air Force personnel here on ground,” he said.

    He advised landlords and hotel owners to do a thorough background check of their tenants and guest before giving accommodation out to them.

  • Cross River gets $20.4m World Bank SFTAS’ grant

    Cross River gets $20.4m World Bank SFTAS’ grant

    The Cross River State government has achieved a total of $20.4m in grants from the World Bank funded SFTAS programme of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

    The state Commissioner for Finance, Asuquo Ekpenyong Jnr revealed this at a press briefing, Friday morning in his office, stating that Cross River state met the eligibility criteria for the 2019 programme and was accordingly pre-qualified for the detailed annual performance assessment of all qualified Nigerian states under the States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) programme.

    The assessment exercise which was conducted in September 2020 by the Independent Verification Assessors (IVA) from the office of the Auditor General of the Federation and JFR Consulting, showed that Cross River state achieved 6 Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLRs), out of 9 applicable DLRs for 2019, and 3 DLRs out of 3DLRs, i.e 100% for the 2020 additional financing.

    The Commissioner said that the report noted that Cross River state has strengthened its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) collection, implemented biometric verification to reduce Payroll fraud, improved its procurement practices for increased transparency, strengthened its public debt management and fiscal responsibility framework, improved debt sustainability and instituted a more transparent budgeting process over the course of the fiscal year.

    The Commissioner used the opportunity to commend the members of the SFTAS state Steering Committee for their untiring efforts in bringing the state machinery up to speed towards achieving resounding success in the programme. The Steering Committee comprises of the Ministry of Finance, Internal Revenue Service, Office of Accountant General, Bureau of Due Process, Debt Management Department, and Auditor General’s Office.

    He further stated that, “the independent verification success is a confirmation of the Ayade led administration’s commitment to transparency and fiscal performance”.

    The SFTAS programme is a product of mutual agreement between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the World Bank, designed to strengthen the fiscal transparency, accountability and sustainability in Nigerian states as a way of improving their revenue base, increasing fiscal efficiency in public expenditure and reducing debt overhang.

    It’s a four year programme that runs from 2018 to 2022, with a budget size of $750million.

     

  • INEC declares PDP’s Odey winner of Cross River North Senatorial by-election

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday declared the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Stephen Odey, winner of Saturday’s Cross River North Senatorial by-election.

    The Collation Officer for the by-election, Prof. Ameh Akoh of Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ikwo, Ebonyi, who announced the result, said Odey scored 129,207 votes to defeat eight other candidates.

    Akoh said the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Joe Agi (SAN) scored 19,165 votes to emerge second while the candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Mr Gregory Agam, came third with 388 votes.

    “I, Prof. Ameh Akoh of the Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ikwo, Ebonyi State, hereby declare that Dr Stephen Odey of the PDP having scored the highest number of valid votes is hereby declared winner of the Cross River North senatorial by-election.

    “The PDP candidate is hereby declared winner in line with electoral guidelines,” he said.

    The senatorial by-election followed the death of Sen. Rose Oko.

    The party’s candidate, Mrs Maria Akwaji, also won the Obudu State Constituency seat in the House of Assembly.

    Akwaji obtained a total of 32,166 votes to defeat her closest rival, Mr Abor Adaji, of APC who scored 3,546 votes.

    The Collation Officer, Prof. Abel Ezeoha, of Alex Ekwueme Federal University of Technology, Ikwo, Ebonyi, announced the result after collation from different polling units.

    Akwaji is the wife of the Late Goodwin Akwaji who died in July in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    By the result, she takes over the seat of her husband as member representing Obudu State Constituency.

    According to INEC, nine political parties contested in the senatorial by-election and six in the Assembly by-election.

    In his reaction, a PDP agent, Mr Thomas Aruku, described the party’s victory as well deserved.

    “I see the victory as well deserved because among all the political parties in this election, it was the PDP that criss-crossed the 54 electoral wards.

    “So, to me, we are just reaping the fruit of our labour,” he said.

  • INEC declares PDP winner of Cross River North Senatorial by-election

    INEC declares PDP winner of Cross River North Senatorial by-election

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday declared the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Stephen Odey, winner of Saturday’s Cross River North Senatorial by-election.

    The Collation Officer for the by-election, Prof. Ameh Akoh of Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ikwo, Ebonyi, who announced the result, said Odey scored 129,207 votes to defeat eight other candidates.

    Akoh said the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Joe Agi (SAN) scored 19,165 votes to emerge second while the candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Mr Gregory Agam, came third with 388 votes.

    “I, Prof. Ameh Akoh of the Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ikwo, Ebonyi State, hereby declare that Dr Stephen Odey of the PDP having scored the highest number of valid votes is hereby declared winner of the Cross River North senatorial by-election.

    “The PDP candidate is hereby declared winner in line with electoral guidelines,” he said.

    The senatorial by-election followed the death of Sen. Rose Oko.

    The party’s candidate, Mrs Maria Akwaji, also won the Obudu State Constituency seat in the House of Assembly.

    Akwaji obtained a total of 32,166 votes to defeat her closest rival, Mr Abor Adaji, of APC who scored 3,546 votes.

    The Collation Officer, Prof. Abel Ezeoha, of Alex Ekwueme Federal University of Technology, Ikwo, Ebonyi, announced the result after collation from different polling units.

    Akwaji is the wife of the Late Goodwin Akwaji who died in July in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    By the result, she takes over the seat of her husband as member representing Obudu State Constituency.

    According to INEC, nine political parties contested in the senatorial by-election and six in the Assembly by-election.

    In his reaction, a PDP agent, Mr Thomas Aruku, described the party’s victory as well deserved.

    “I see the victory as well deserved because among all the political parties in this election, it was the PDP that criss-crossed the 54 electoral wards.

    “So, to me, we are just reaping the fruit of our labour,” he said.

  • Police rescue kidnapped victim in Calabar, arrest 3 suspects

    Police rescue kidnapped victim in Calabar, arrest 3 suspects

    The Cross River Police Command has rescued a kidnapped victim, Emmanuel Akpan-Udo, while three suspects connected with his kidnap were arrested.

    In a statement signed by the State Commissioner of Police, Mr Abdulkadir Jimoh, on Sunday in Calabar, he said that the suspects were arrested on Nov. 21 in Calabar.

    Jimoh said that the victims’ vehicle was also recovered during the operation that was carried out by officers of “A Division” in Calabar.

    “Through painstaking investigation, officers of the A Division on Nov. 21 arrested three suspected kidnappers, rescued the victim, Emmanuel Akpan-Udo and also recovered his car.

    “The suspects include Blessed Etim-Sunday, 33, Samuel Udo-Udo, 27, and Ime John-Effiong, 23, a.k.a last born.

    “They have also made useful statements and further effort is still been made to arrest other gang members,” he added.

  • Nigerian Army set to launch ‘Exercise Crocodile Smile’ in South East, Cross River

    Nigerian Army set to launch ‘Exercise Crocodile Smile’ in South East, Cross River

    The Nigerian Army says it has concluded plans for an inter-agency training workshop as part of its preparations for the launch of ‘Exercise Crocodile Smile VI’.

    Col. Aliyu Yusuf, the Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 82 Division, Enugu, stated this in a statement issued on Tuesday in Enugu.

    “In line with Nigerian Army Training Directive 2020, 82 Division will be hosting a 2-day inter-agency training workshop to launch the Exercise Crocodile Smile VI in the South-East and Cross River.

    “The workshop will be held between Nov. 18 and Nov. 19 at the division’s headquarters.

    “The workshop is designed to further boost the existing cooperation among the various security agencies operating within 82 Division Area of Responsibility (AOR),’’ Yusuf stated.

    The army spokesman said that the theme of the workshop: “Inter-agency collaboration: imperative for joint internal security operation,’’ would be achieved through carefully selected lectures.

    According to him, the workshop is open to all security outfits and formations within the division’s AOR.

  • Gov. Ayade presents 2021 budget of N277.7bn

    Gov. Ayade presents 2021 budget of N277.7bn

    Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River on Thursday in Calabar presented the 2021 budget of N277.7billion to the State House of Assembly.

    Ayade, who tagged the budget as “Budget of Blush and Bliss’’, said it was aimed at improving the welfare of residents of the state.

    While giving a breakdown the budget, the governor explained that “Of the figure N277.7billion, a sum of N192billion represents the recurrent expenditure which represents 69 per cent of the budget.

    “31 per cent of the budget is now being reduced and left for basic expenditure which is the sum of N85.1billion.

    “The 31 per cent is to deal with infrastructure, water resources, foreign relationship, information system, climate change and also strengthen our social media unit’’.

    According to him, the budget will also focus on efforts to diminish hunger and poverty, increase youths’ employment and enhance security and rural development.

    He noted that the outgoing year was characterised by the Covid-19 pandemic and the EndSARS, with negative impacts on the economy.

    The governor disclosed that few days ago, the state got the final registration for CallyAir, a state-owned commercial airline to commence operations soon.

    Earlier, Speaker of the House, Mr Eteng Jonah-Williams, said that the current year would go down in history as “the year of ups and down”, calling for strategic actions and deep thinking.

    He, however, noted that in spite of the year’s challenges, the house worked overtime to see that the 2020 budget was passed, paving way for economic growth and socio political transformation in the state.

    He commended the state governor for giving approval for the employment of 20,000 workers into the state civil service and the indefinite suspension of tuition fees by indigenes of the state in Cross River State University of Technology.