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Tag: Obudu

  • Cross River Govt confirms 1 case of Mpox

    Cross River Govt confirms 1 case of Mpox

    The Cross River Government has confirmed one case of Mpox in  Okoshe community in Obudu Local Government Area.

    The confirmation is coming a few days after the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, (NCDC) reported a case in the state.

    The Mpox case was initially denied by the State  Commissioner for Health, Dr Henry Ayuk.

    However, Ayuk, while addressing newsmen in Calabar on Sunday, said that the National Reference Laboratory in Abuja confirmed the presence of Mpox in one patient in Obudu.

    He explained that the ministry of health was alerted to a possible case of Mpox or chickenpox on Aug.19 by an Ebonyi Epidemiologist.

    ”The patient, a female resident of Okoshe village in Obudu, sought medical care at the Federal Medical Centre in Abakaliki.

    “Her test sample was sent to the National Reference Laboratory, and the result, which returned on Saturday, Aug. 24, confirmed Mpox and ruled out chickenpox,”Ayuk said.

    The commissioner said that the state government was working to prevent a possible outbreak in the area.

    “While we are still investigating the patient’s travel history, the state government is taking immediate action to contain any possible spread in Obudu,” he assured.

    The commissioner said the ministry had ordered for immediate activation of the Mpox Emergency Operation Center to strengthen the response.

    He said Dr Ekpo Ekpo, Special Adviser to Gov. Bassey Otu on Health, has been appointed as Incident Manager.

    He also directed the Obudu LGA response team to collaborate with the state health team to mitigate efforts immediately.

    The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) in Cross River appealed to the state government to enhance surveillance measures, citing the state’s vulnerability to such outbreak.

    NAN reports that the NCDC on Friday announced that the country has recorded a total of 40 confirmed cases of mpox out of 830 suspected cases.The NCDC Director-General, Dr Jide Idris, made this announcement at the Joint NCDC/World Health Organisation National Mpox briefing with stakeholders and partners in Abuja.

    The WHO Nigeria Country Office disclosed that Nigeria would be receiving doses of the mpox vaccine through a donation from the United States Government.

    Idris noted that an Emergency Operations Centre and an Incident Management System have been established since mpox was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

    The NCDC said the cases recorded are Bayelsa, Cross River, Ogun, Lagos, Ondo and Ebonyi,

    The centre saus some states have also been put on high alert including Lagos, Abuja, Enugu, Kano, Rivers, Cross-River, Akwa-Ibom, Adamawa, and Taraba.

    The centre said that the National Mpox Technical Working Group (TWG), is coordinating Mpox response activities.

  • Obudu Airport ready by April 2024 – Official

    Obudu Airport ready by April 2024 – Official

    The Cross River Government has disclosed that the Obudu Cargo Airport being constructed by the state will be ready for operation by April 2024.

    This was disclosed by the state Commissioner for Aviation, Mr Eno Inah, during inspection of the project on Tuesday.

    He said though the contractor had given 120 days for its completion, he would want to make it 180 days from today (Tuesday) for the completion.

    Inah said that contrary to claim that the airport project had been abandoned by the current administration, work was progressing well on the project.

    He noted that the Gov. Bassey Otu-led administration was desirous to see to the timely completion of the project.

    According to him, “We are here to assure Cross River people that like the governor has said in most of his statements, no project will be abandoned.

    “In matching words with action, construction is ongoing at the Cargo Airport.

    “I am optimistic that God on our side in 180 days, we should be talking of inauguration, going by what we have seen.

    “You can see that the various structures at the airport are at various stages of completion.

    “The contractor has given his word that the Cargo Airport project will be completed in the next 120 days. As a responsible government, I put it at 180, to ensure that everything is done before commissioning.”

    Inah said that the people and ultimately the state, would be the greatest beneficiaries of the project.

    He explained that not only would the airport improve the economic livelihood of the people around the project, it would also boost the tourism potentials of the state due to its proximity to the Obudu Ranch.

    Meanwhile, the Project Manager, Mr Shola Okeleye, said they were working to ensure that the project was delivered timely and according o standard.

    Giving a breakdown of the completion stage of various structures of the project, Okeleye said, “the tower is 85 per cent completed while the terminal building is about 75 per cent.

    “The runway and taxi way are 85 and 80 per cent completed respectively.

    “From the level of work done so far, we are optimistic that the project will be delivered in 120 days time.”

    The immediate past administration of the state inaugurated the construction of the project in March 2021.

  • Cross River Govt. plans rail line to link Obudu to Calabar

    Cross River Govt. plans rail line to link Obudu to Calabar

    Gov. Bassey Otu of Cross River says his administration has begun plans to construct a rail line that will link Obudu from Calabar.

    Otu disclosed this in Calabar during a media interaction to mark his 100 days in office.

    He said that the planned rail line, which would come to fruition during the lifetime of his administration, would help to ease the transportation challenges in the state.

    He noted that the planned project would be environmentally friendly.

    “I had said I wouldn’t embark on any new projects but to finish all the abandoned ones, but the rail line is important to ease the present challenges in the state.

    “My administration is not just going to start this project, but will also see to its conclusion,” he said.

    While noting that his administration had achieved huge success in the area of infrastructure development within his 100 days in office, he also said that Cally Air was receiving priority attention as well as the Obudu Cargo and Passengers airport.

    Expatiating on the Cargo airport, the governor said that the state had secured N3.7 billion for its completion.

    He said its completion was part of the plans to transform Cross River into an aviation hub.

    According to him, to transform the state into a transit hub and an evacuation corridor, the government had attracted an Irish Aviation Company to build and run an Aviation Training School in Bebi, Obanliku.

    “The State Government will undertake the payment of full tuition fees for all the indigenes of the state enrolled in the institution.

    “The sum of N3.7 billion has been made available by the State Government for the completion of the Obudu Cargo and Passenger Airport.”

  • BREAKING: Nigeria’s longest-serving monarch is dead

    BREAKING: Nigeria’s longest-serving monarch is dead

    The paramount traditional ruler of Obudu Local Government Area (LGA) in Cross River, His Royal Majesty, Joseph Davies-Agba, said to be the longest-serving monarch in Nigeria, is dead.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the late monarch is the father of Nigeria’s Minister of State for Power, Gody Jedy-Agba.

    His accession to the traditional royal stool dates back to 64 years ago, making him probably the longest-serving monarch in Africa.

    The demise of Davies-Agba was announced in a statement by his Son, Mr Kjay Jedy-Agba, on Sunday in Calabar.

    “It is with a heavy heart that I communicate to you the passing away of my beloved father, His Royal Majesty, Joseph Davies-Agba, OON, the “Uti Item III of Utugwang, Uti Ukani I of Obudu, Paramount Ruler of Obudu Local Government Area and Chancellor of the University of Cross River State.

    “His accession to the traditional royal stool dated back 64 years ago, making him probably the longest serving traditional ruler in Africa.

    “We, the immediate family, may not have the full details of his final funeral protocol given his standing as a king.

    “We are constrained to follow the tradition of our people in all events that would culminate to his final obsequies,” the statement said.

    The statement explained that the public would be abreast with the details of the funeral as soon as the traditional institution concludes on it.

    “As difficult as this moment is for the family, it is my sincere wish that your hearts stay with us in prayers,” the statement added.

  • Obudu Airport project gets backing from host communities as Ayade promises early completion

    Obudu Airport project gets backing from host communities as Ayade promises early completion

    Construction of the Obudu International Airport in Cross River state has received further impetus as the five host communities where the project is sited have declared their absolute support for the project.

    This is even as Governor Ben Ayade disclosed that the Airport, when completed, will boost the state’s economy through export of ornamental flowers and other resources found in abundance in Northern Cross River.

    The communities; Atiekpe, Ikwuomkwu, Igwo, Okamibi and Abonkib made the declaration Monday in their separate presentations during an interactive session with the governor at the project site.

    The five communities disclosed that in view of the enormous economic spinoffs that will be derived from the construction of the airport, they freely donated their land to the state government.

    Most of the youths that turned out for the meeting displayed several placards with messages of support for the governor and the projects.

    “We are extremely proud that Igwo is one of the communities that donated land for this project. We are happy that in our life time, Igwo will be hosting an airport. This airport will bring jobs and development to our people. We are grateful to His Excellency,” a representative of the Igwo community said in his presentation.

    On his part, the Councilor for Obudu Urban Ward 2, Honorable Emmanuel Akomaye stated that contrary to insinuations, the land was not acquired by government, but was freely given.

    “Nobody forced us to give up our land. Our land was not acquired by government for this airport project, it was freely given,” Akomaye said.

    On his part, the Clan Head of Abonkib in Obudu Urban 1, His Royal Highness, Augustine Ikashi, said the people were fully behind airport project.

    The royal father said the project when completed will bring development to the area.

    “It is not because the governor is our own son, but because we need development, because we love progress, therefore, we are fully behind the airport project. We believe it will bring development to the entire community.

    “I think the project is the only good thing that has happened to Obudu and Cross River State. So if we have this International airport, Obudu is going to be on the world’s map.”

    Responding Governor Ayade disclosed that the state government has so far paid N500 million as compensation to the communities that donated their land for the project.

    He expressed optimism that in no distant future, the airport will be completed and operational as the federal government has already given the necessary approvals.

    His words: “We are right here at the site of an international cargo airport in Obudu, Cross River State. The intention of this airport is to provide cargo support services and export of ornamental and special flowers from the Obudu Cattle Ranch. As you are well aware, a country like Kenya does average of 39 million Euros annually exporting flower from an altitude even less than that of Obudu cattle ranch.

    “So for Cross River State, we need to have an airport here to be able to assist us take advantage of the Obudu cattle ranch. More so Obudu Cattle Ranch is a beautiful place of nature which has been heavily under utilised because of access. So we are building an airport that can allow us benefit from the full potentials of the ranch.”

    Continuing, Ayade stated that the airport will also help create access to the rich agricultural potentials of Northern Cross River to the world.

    “We have very very essential elements to find which is the agricultural heritage of Cross River State and with all the precious stones available to us, the cargo airport will be very critical”

    On the land donated by the Obudu communities for the project, the governor said: “N500 million has been paid and the work is going on. And as you can see the communities are celebrating, they are excited that I have come here in person to speak to them and hear their concerns with a view to addressing them.

    “Every single contributing village here today is excited about the potential of this airport. And we have also received the approval from the Federal Ministry of Aviation already. We have all the necessary approvals and construction work is on going. We are working very hard to see that this airport is ready by the close of this year.”

    Earlier, the Cross River state Commissioner for Aviation, Dr Jacob Otu Enyia disclosed that the airport runway will be the longest in the country at 5.6km.

    “We have also been able to remove the top soil and the next phase will see us go into filling to attain the required level as requested by the consultant,” the Commissioner quipped.