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Tag: Uyo

  • Uyo to host third edition of NAF inter-command combat sports

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has completed plans to hold the third edition of the NAF inter-command combat sports competition from 3rd to 6th April 2018 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
    The sport competition, which is tagged Uyo 2018, is part of efforts aimed at continually promoting combat fitness and esprit-de-corps among personnel.
    NAF objective is to enhance effective service delivery, which can only be achieved when personnel are physically and mentally fit. This was revealed during a press briefing held, today 29 March 2018, at the MD Umar Blue Room, Headquarters NAF.
    While briefing the press, the Chairman Organising Committee of the 2018 NAF Inter-Command Combat Sports Competition, Air Commodore Mfon Ekpoh, reiterated the commitment of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, towards ensuring that all NAF personnel are physically fit and mentally alert.
    He further stated that the importance of sporting activities to military operations cannot be overemphasized. According to him, this belief informed the decision of the current NAF leadership to embark on renovation, upgrading and construction of new sporting facilities across various NAF Bases to encourage regular physical fitness exercises among personnel.
    The Chairman noted that the 2018 NAF Inter Command Combat Sports Competition would be a symbol of regimentation, as it is also designed to test the combat readiness of personnel in a competitive manner while simultaneously promoting participation in sporting activities.
    Air Commodore Ekpoh added that the 2018 edition of the event would draw participants from HQ NAF, Tactical Air Command, Special Operations Command, Mobility Command, Air Training Command, Ground Training Command and Logistics Command as well as Direct Reporting Units.
    The teams will be competing in various games, which include combat swimming, combat relay race, taekwondo, tug of war, obstacle crossing and shooting competition. Athletes who stand out during the competition will cart away medals with an opportunity to represent the NAF and possibly the nation in future competitions.
    The Chairman equally announced that the City of Uyo and its environs will witness considerable movement of troops and military equipment deployed for the competition within the scheduled period.
    He therefore urged the general public not to panic or entertain any form of fear when they see movement of troops and equipment throughout the period, particular during the shooting exercise. He gave the assurance that adequate measures had been put in place to guarantee the safety of members of the public, who he advised to go about their normal lawful businesses.
    The Executive Governor of Cross Rivers, Professor Benedict Ayade, is expected to be the Special Guest of Honour during the opening ceremony of the Combat Sports Competition scheduled for 3 April 2018 while Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom will be the Special Guest of Honour during the closing ceremony on 6 April 2018.

  • VIDEO: Osinbajo storms Uyo for Akwa Ibom’s 30th anniversary

    The Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo on Saturday arrived Uyo, Akwa Ibom State for the 30th-anniversary of the state.

    The Vice President was welcomed by Governor Udom Emmanuel and other top government functionaries in the state.

    He (Osinbajo) was conducted round the traditional dancers and crowd gathered to welcome him to the state.

    See video below:

  • Collapsed Reigners church not built to specification, says witness

    Collapsed Reigners church not built to specification, says witness

    Architect Abimbola Oke, has said that Reigners Bible Church, Uyo, which collapsed on Dec. 10, 2016 was not built according to its original design.

    Oke, who designed the original structure of the building, made this known when he testified on Monday in Uyo in the ongoing Commission of Inquiry into the Collapsed Reigners Bible Church.

    He also denied supervising the building of the project contrary to evidence given by Apostle Akan Weeks earlier when he was cross-examined last week.

    Oke, who is also a lecturer at the University of Uyo, said that coupled with his tight schedule, he could not have time to supervise the building.

    “To the best of my knowledge Apostle Akan Weeks did not follow the original design as submitted.

    “I shall request the Commission of Inquiry to visit the site of the proposed Reigners Bible Church at Uyo village road to reconcile the facts on ground to the building design submitted.

    “What was implemented did not reflect what I designed.

    “I observed that not all the structural elements had been put in place, the gallery floor was not there,” Oke said.

    He added that there was an alteration on the structure that collapsed and the structure designed.

    Oke also denied redesigning the building plan apart from the original design submitted to Akan Weeks.

    The architect also revealed that, he did not developed any work plan for the building as alleged by one of the witness, Mr Anietie Ndarake.

    According to him, work plan is a schedule of work to be carried out with time frame and must be in writing.

    Oke explained that Weeks specifically instructed him to draw for him, a 5, 000 capacity auditorium with round or octagonal shape, adding that the plan was accepted as designed.

    When asked why he did not supervise the building, Oke replied that the church building committee said they would do the supervision.

    He said, “When I presented the building plan to Weeks in presence of the Church building Committee, they gave me the impression that the building will be supervised by the Church Building Committee.”

    Oke alleged that he was disappointed and betrayed by Weeks for saying during cross-examination that he (Oke) was a supervisor to the collapsed building when he was not.

    According to him, he designed the building free of charge for Weeks, which would have cost N11.5 million.

    Earlier in his testimony, Mr Uwem Okoko of Hensek Integrated Services Ltd., told the commission that Weeks removed the scaffold against his professional advice.

    Okoko, whose company undertook the landscaping of Reigners bible church, said that he heard of the removal of the scaffold through one of the site engineer Mr Stephen Alawi.

    Speaking to newsmen, Counsel to Okoko, Mr Akpakan Okoho, alleged that Weeks lied against his client.

    Okoho said that his client had warned Weeks on the danger of removing centre scaffold that were used to support the building.

    Okoho said Weeks did not retain his client as the contractor to supervise the building as he alleged during his testimony.

    The Chairman of the Commission, retired Justice Umoekeyo Essang, adjourned sitting to Jan. 17, for more testimonies.

  • [PHOTO] Gov. Udom marks Y2017 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration

  • Uyo church collapse: Gov Udom orders arrest of contractors, engineers

    Uyo church collapse: Gov Udom orders arrest of contractors, engineers

    Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State has ordered the immediate arrest of the contractors and engineers, that constructed the Reigners Bible Church, which collapsed in Uyo on Saturday.

    The Governor and his Deputy who were also billed to attend Saturday’s ordination service of Bishop Akan Weeks, however missed death by the whiskers as the building came down unexpectedly while the ordination service was ongoing.

    Aniekeme Finbarr, one of the Udom’s personal assistant on media told CNN’s Becky Anderson, that his principal gave the order on Sunday.

    “They should be made to answer certain questions so that the state would be able to get to the root cause of the matter,” the Governor was quoted as saying.

    Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has also called for a probe into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

    In a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, he commiserated with the people of Akwa Ibom.

    Saraki also called for “urgent and thorough investigation to determine both the remote and immediate causes of the building collapse.

    “I believe that such an investigation, if sincerely done, will help us to guard against unnecessary waste of lives, injuries and damage to property in the future. My heart goes out to all the victims, the Christian community in Akwa Ibom State and the entire people of the state.”