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Tag: Cross River

  • One die as Navy, Police clash in Cross River

    Men of the Nigerian Navy and Police on Tuesday (today) clashed in Calabar, the Cross River State capital. The clash, which occurred at the Akim Police Station axis of the IBB Way in Calabar, it was gathered, led to the death of one person while several others were injured.

    The whole area was thrown into confusion as residents and passersby were seen fleeing the scene to escape being caught up in the crossfire.

    It was learnt that the naval operatives allegedly attacked the policemen after one of their colleagues was allegedly arrested by the police for an infraction.

    The naval operatives mobilised their colleagues and attacked the policemen in a reprisal.

    In the process, weapons were freely used while a police station was allegedly torched.

    Unconfirmed report said that some people were killed in the process.

    But while confirming the incident, which started around 7pm, the state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Irene Ugbo, said, “We have not been able to ascertain what is happening yet. But the little I can gather is that two Navy officers beat up a police officer. So, the two of them were arrested and taken to the police station at Akim along IBB Way.

    “So, the Navy people were informed and they stormed the police station. We are still trying to calm the situation down. I have not heard of any casualty for now. We are still trying to calm the place down. It is still not calm.”

     

  • Gov Ayade frees 34 prisoners to commemorate Cross River at 50

    Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State has granted a state pardon to 34 inmates serving various jail terms in Calabar Prison to mark the 50th Anniversary of the state.

    Ayade said this on Saturday in Calabar in his anniversary speech to the people of the state.

    He said that Cross River had every reason to celebrate 50 years of its existence as a state, considering its monumental achievements during the period.

    The governor said the pardon was in the spirit of the celebration and based on the provision of section 212 of the 1999 Constitution.

    He said, “in the spirit of the celebration and the powers vested on me by the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, I hereby grant clemency to the following category of people serving various jail terms in the state.

    “They are five people on death row; 16 prisoners serving life sentences; four prisoners who are above 60 years of age; nine convicted criminals who are terminally ill and may likely die any moment if not granted pardon.’’

    Ayade stressed the need for the people to always remember past leaders of the state who had made considerable efforts in moving the state to greater heights.

    He said that in spite of the great challenges that have bedeviled the state, there was the need for the people to have hope for a greater future.

    According to him, the state has excelled in many fields of endeavors including tourism, agriculture and forest preservation.

    He added that the annual Calabar Carnival has become the greatest street party in Africa.

    “I therefore call on you to stick together as we look forward to a greater tomorrow, ‘’ he said.

    Ayade had earlier performed the public signing into law of eight bills passed by the State House of Assembly, as part of the celebration.

    The laws include Administration of Criminal Justice in Cross River; Citizen Right, Cross River Inland Water-ways, Cross River Scrap Regulatory Agency, Cross River Lottery ; Hawkers Right; Emergency Management Agency, and House of Assembly Commission.

    The governor also used the occasion of the celebration to call on the people of the state to pray for the quick recovery of President Muhammad Buhari.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Cross River was created on May 27, 1967 from the former Eastern Region as South Eastern State by the then Gen. Yakubu Gowon regime.

    The state was renamed to Cross River State in 1976 by late Head of State, Gen. Murtala Mohammed.

     

     

    NAN

  • Cross River Rice city will be best in Africa when operational – Ayade

    Cross River Rice city will be best in Africa when operational – Ayade

    Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State has said that then when completed and in operation, the state rice city under construction will be the best seedling plant in Africa.

    Ayade stated this, Monday, while inspecting the level of work at the project site situated along Goodluck Jonathan bypass in Calabar.

    In his words: “We went around looking for the very best and we saw the very best in the world. We decided to modify it and when in full operation, you will see the sophistry and the automation which will be absolutely wonderful,” adding that, “it is obvious that this will be the most outstanding seedling plant in Africa.”

    The governor who expressed satisfaction on the progress of job done at the construction site said: “The speed of work is quite fine and I am impressed with the outcome of the design concept. That is why the team has come back from Thailand to review what we have done on ground.”

    Intimating that he feels happy when MoUs turn into action, Ayade lashed out at critics who grumble each time government goes into a pact with multi-national companies in a bid to industrialise the state.

    According to him, “an MoU does not mean that you sign it today and tomorrow the plant is running, but here is one MoU that is fully in operation. MoU is a technical agreement between parties that are willing to understudy each other and do business. That is the first step and the next is progress, due diligence of both parties and consummating it with the proper agreement.”

    Ayade also pointed out that, “Although we have missed our target day which is May 29, but surely we are on course in terms of quality standard, a lot of design review as you can see. Some areas that were completed, we have to go back to reconstruct what we had actually constructed because there were changes in design.”

    CEO Thai- African Rice, Mr. Kannadit and another team member, Mrs Pantipa D, in their various remarks, explained that there was need to put the right combinations of the equipment and machinery in order to offer the best rice seedling centre in Africa.

    Kannadit said: “We are doing a little modification as we want the best. We want to do it once and in the proper way,” adding that,”this project will generate a lot of money from seeds production while opening up a vista of opportunities in job creation and training.”

  • Gunmen kidnap Cross River Commissioner for Water Resources

    Gunmen kidnap Cross River Commissioner for Water Resources

    The Cross River State Commissioner for Water Resources, Mr Gabriel Odu-Orji was on Sunday kidnapped by unknown gunmen.

    The commissioner was abducted around 12pm at Effionawan Street in the Mayne Avenue area of Calabar-South

    According to a report by The Punch, the gunmen, who were five in number, came in a blue Audi car and cornered their victim as he stepped down to eat in a restaurant.

    Asuquo said that the gunmen dropped their car and ordered the commissioner into his Prado Jeep and drove away with him.

    He said, “At around 12pm today, I was in front of one restaurant waiting for a friend when the Commissioner for Water Resources stepped down and was approaching the restaurant.

    “Before he could get into the restaurant, some armed men numbering about five came in a blue Audi, parked their car by the roadside and ordered the commissioner into his car and drove away.

    “Those guys were kidnappers because they wore mask to hide their faces.”

    When contacted, the the state Police Public Relations Officer, Irene Ugbo, said, “We have received a complaint about the abduction of the Commissioner for Water Resources.”

  • 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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  • Agency uncovers fake certificates, promotion letters in Cross River

    Agency uncovers fake certificates, promotion letters in Cross River

    The Cross River Primary Health Care Development Agency (CRPHCDA) said on Tuesday that it had uncovered fake certificates, promotion letters and other irregularities during the ongoing verification exercise.

    Dr Betta Edu, the Director-General of the agency, disclosed this to newsmen at the ongoing personnel audit conducted by the Primary Healthcare Centre, Ediba, Calabar.

    Edu said that the exercise became imperative following Governor Ben Ayade’s directive to fish out ghost workers in all Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the state.

    He said that records showed that there were 4,000 health workers in all the primary healthcare centres across the state as at December 2015 when he assumed duty.

    “From the needs assessment and unscheduled visit to most of the health centres, it was evident that the number on paper being paid salaries does not truly exist.

    “The last four days have been the toughest as the chief servant of primary healthcare in Cross River. I have seen tears, drama, heard loud voices, confession, begging and plea for amnesty.

    “I have seen forged documents, no practicing licence, fake promotion letters, irregularities in salaries received, enough lies on how some people’s documents were eaten by their grandmother’s cat and lots more.

    “I have seen persons who finished First School Leaving Certificate at the age of four and others who had West African Examination Council result at the age of five.

    “I have seen people of my mother’s age looking at me in the face and telling me that they are 10 years younger. The question is, how did things get this bad?

    “If things like this occur in other spheres, should it occur in the health sector, where the precious lives of people are at stake? Should this be allowed to continue?”

    She said that she had rejected so many phones calls from people asking her to lower the standard of the audit and clear their relatives, adding that the right thing must be done to save lives.

    The DG said that the state needed health workers to deliver efficient healthcare service to the people.

    According to her, the state health insurance scheme tagged ‘Ayade Care’, needs capable health workforce to make it functional and effective.

    “We need the right people with the right skills to deliver our pregnant women and keep our babies alive.

    “We want to set the right foundation for primary healthcare in Cross River and build a system that truly works.

    “We have, so far, carried out the exercise in six local government areas.

    We are left with 12 council areas and I can assure you that at the end of the exercise, necessary actions will be taken,” she said.

    However, Edu did not disclose the actual number of people with fake document and promotion letters so far discovered.

     

    NAN

  • Calabar festival: Watch all stunts as Gov. Ayade leads Bikers Parade

    Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade and his predecessor, Donald Duke, on Tuesday led over 400 power bikes from Uyo, Imo, Enugu and Anambra States in the 2016 Bikers’ Dry Run in Calabar.

    Ayade alongside other extremely kitted bikers rode the carnival routes from Mary Slessor to Efioette Roundabout in style. The Calabar Carnival which draws tourists from around the world has become a delight for most participants.

    See videos:

     

  • BREAKING: Ayade wins at Supreme Court

    The Supreme Court has affirmed Ben Ayade of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as the duly elected governor of Cross River State.

    Recall that a governorship aspirant who came second in the party’s primary election in December 2014, Joe Agi, had approached the apex court seeking Ayade’s sack over false declaration of age.

    However, the apex court on Friday dismissed Agi’s claim over his inability to prove his allegation.

    Details Later…