The Lumine News

Author: News

  • Barr. Imah Nsa Adegoke Declares Gubernatorial Ambition, Canvass For Power Shift

    PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY CROSS RIVER STATE

    20th April 2022.

    Press Statement:

    Barr. Imah Nsa Adegoke Declares Gubernatorial Ambition
    ……canvass for Power Shift.

    Yesterday, Tuesday 19th April 2022, the State Executive Committee and members of our party received in audience a gubernatorial aspirant, Barr. Mrs Imah Nsa Adegoke. The campaign team led by the aspirant arrived the party Secretariat around 3:45pm.

    Speaking during the consultative meeting, the Gubernatorial aspirant thanked the party for receiving her team. Declaring her intention to join the Gubernatorial race, Barr. Mrs Adegoke canvassed for a power Shift in the Politics of the State.

    “My name is Barr. Mrs Imah Nsa Adegoke. I am officially declaring my intention to run for the Governorship position of this state. I believe in democracy, which is a government of the people, for the people and by the people, not a government of the elite and the privileged few. As a lawyer with almost 40years’ experience, I had as a lawyer to NUPENG from 1988 to 1996, negotiated better working conditions for oppressed junior oil and gas workers with Integrity, refusing offers to sell out their interest. This experience drives my passion to ensure that under my Government, we will aggressively combat the recalcitrant conduct of labour employers in the state. Driven by my passion as Chairman of Bonny Environmental Consultants’ Committee from 1997 to 2002 with power to negotiate with Nigeria LNG, Shell Petroleum Development Company etc, on behalf of Bonny Kingdom, I led negotiations and ensured transparent compensations to impacted Communities. I will bring same commitment and passion to bear in Cross River State by ensuring that all companies extracting our resources Commit to ensuring that the rural Communities benefit from an approved and robust Corporate Social Responsibility budget”

    On insecurity, the legal practitioner advocated the deployment of forensics in tackling Security challenges. While summarizing her manifesto under the acronym “SHIFT”. On Zoning, the aspirant enjoined the party to give all aspirants a level playing ground while assuring the party that she’s not running on the basis of gender as she believe she’s the best for the job.

    Reacting to the comment, the state Chairman of the Party, Barr. Venatius Ikem eulogized the aspirant for taking the bold step to declare, while assuring her of a level playing ground.

    “I want to thank you for speaking so eloquently like a gentleman of the bar. You left no one in doubt. All the women that came here to consult have been exceptional but you have come to top all of them. I want to assure you that the party will give all Aspirants a level playing ground. It is only in PDP that you will come yesterday and we guarantee you a level playing ground because we are a democratic party. I want to also thank you for not talking about North, South or Central. We need a Candidate that can deliver. I am happy you did not talk about zoning”

    Signed
    Prince Mike Ojisi
    (State Publicity Secretary)

  • Police Raids Hotel Where Underaged Girls Trafficked From Rivers State Are Used As Sex Slaves In Delta

     

    Operatives of the Delta State Police Command has raided Fagboma Hotel where underage girls trafficked from Rivers State are used as sex slaves and rescued the victims.

    Focus Naija can report that the sting operation was carried out on Friday, 15th April, 2022, after the command received information that the hotel located at Aragba in Otokutu Town, Ughelli South, Delta State was been used as a brothel for underaged prostitution.

    According to the Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Ari Mohammed Ali during a press briefing at the Command’s Headquarter in Asaba, investigations revealed that a woman simply identified as Joy trafficked the victims from Rivers, took them to Patani to forcefully swear an oath then brought them to Otu-Jeremi and handed them over to the owner of the brothel by name, Edwin Etareri.

    He said that the owner of the hotel is currently at large but his wife, Grace Etareri is currently in custody alongside ten men and ten suspected prostitutes that were arrested during the raid.

    The press briefing goes thus;

    “On 15/4/2022 at about 2330hrs, the Command received information that Fagoma Hotel located at Aragba in Otokutu in Ughelli South LGA of Delta State is being used as a brothel where underage children are trafficked and used as sex slave. The command upon receiving this disturbing information raided the brothel and the following underage girls were rescued:

    1.Happiness Johnson ‘f’ age 13yrs
    2.Esther Godspower ‘f’ age 21yrs
    3.Angel John ‘f’ age 22yrs
    4.Miracle Bishop ‘f’ age 19yrs
    5.Happiness Isreal ‘f’ 19yrs

    “Investigations revealed that one Joy ‘f’ surname unknown now at large trafficked the underage girls from Rivers State took them to Patani where they were forced into taking an oath before they were brought to Otu-Jeremi and harbored by one Edwin Etareri the owner of the said brothel and his wife one Mrs Grace Etariri currently in custody. Ten other male suspects and ten female suspected prostitutes were also arrested during the raid. Investigation is ongoing.”

    Source: https://www.facebook.com/100041566351018/posts/838414320887439/?d=n

  • Caterpillar Movement Describes A Non-existent Online Poll By Delegates Of The PDP In C’River For The Gubernatorial Primaries As Misleading And False Graphic Presentation

    THE CATERPILLAR MOVEMENT

    Press Release

    Our attention has been drawn to a spurious,
    misleading and false graphic presentation on social media detailing a non-existent online poll by delegates of the PDP in Cross River State for the Gubernatorial Primaries.

    As we all know, elections have never been won from social media postulations and ” online polls” but in the interest of full disclosure, we in the Caterpillar Movement wish to state categorically and emphatically that the circulated graphic is nothing but a figment of the imagination of a particular political interest group skewed heavily to favour their candidate while at the same time attempting to create a psychological mind game on the mind of delegates in the party to think that they have some phantom advantage when in truth, our Principal, Sen. Prof. Sandy Ojang Onor is , by every standard, the leading and preeminent candidate for the position of party flagbearer.

    We believe that this fantasy, packaged as an online poll is nothing but the last kick of an obviously dying horse hell-bent on not only destabilizing our well meaning party delegates but also on being bad losers since it has become obvious that their aspiration shall not see the light of day.

    Accordingly, we urge all our teeming supporters to remain calm and unperturbed by this false development while also urging them to continue to spread the gospel of our Principal and his intentions to liberate the state from this current chokehold.
    It is our belief that come May 21st, we shall emerge victorious at the only real and legitimate polls available to us; The PDP Gubernatorial Primary Election.

    God bless the PDP
    God bless Cross River State
    God bless the Caterpillar Movement.

    Joe Obi Bisong ( Hon. Chief)
    Director-General

  • Godwin Agbor Declares Intention To Contest Obudu State House Of Assembly Election

     

    A front line contender to represent Obudu State Constituency in the Cross River State House of Assembly, Dr Godwin Agbor has formerly declared his Intention to contest the election under the All Progressive Congress APC.

    The declaration was held on Monday 18th April, 2022 at his home town, Ukpada – Utugwang, Obudu Local Government Area as part of the Easter celebration with his ward party members, leaders, councillors, ward Chairmen and Secretaries, chapter Chairman and Vice Chairman.

    Declaring his intention, Dr Agbor stated that he has consulted the leadership of the party at all level and he is still consulting and so decided to formerly declare his intention to contest election.

    He assured that which ever modality the party will adopt for the selection of its flag bearer, he will emerge victorious by God’s grace.

    Dr Agbor averred that his loyalty to the party is evidently clear and that most of those who parade themselves as loyal members of the party do so because they are in the payroll of his Excellency, if you remove the salary from them, they may want to leave the party.

    “I have a lot of bills to bring to the table for good governance which will take care of the youths, the women and the elders. If you liken our political sojourn to Catholicism, you will realize that I have done my baptism, I am only waiting for confirmation. Most of those who have indicated interest are preparing for baptism” Said Agbor.

    He assured that most of his bills will come from his constituents through town hall meetings.

    Agbor maintained that he has capacity, qualifications and has impacted his people through community services and that the people are witnesses to his impact.

    Agbor maintained that the party now more than ever needs credible candidates that will be accepted across party lines to win the general election.

    Responding, Mr Agorye Ajang commended Dr Agbor for the initiative and bold step to contest the election, having consulted the relevant stakeholders.
    He advised Dr Agbor to avoid having issues with other aspirants, as they will support whoever the party chooses to fly the flag.

    The Ward Chairman of Utugwang North, Mr Paul Akpanke thanked Dr Agbor for his boldness and advocated for primaries which will offer them the opportunity to participate in the process, as they will not have any role to play if the process is going to be by consensus.

    In his vote of thanks, the Councilor representing Utugwang Central, Hon Emma Adinyang commended Dr Agbor and used the opportunity to call on the party to explore the direct or indirect mode of primaries as the use of consensus post potential danger to unity of the part.

    Dr Agbor is the Medical Director, Omega Agbor Clinic and Maternity, Boki, Cross River State and currently the General Secretary, Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners, ANPMP Cross River State.

    He is a practising Catholic and a Knight of St Molumba Nigeria, Sub Council Physician. He is married to Mrs Adeline Agbor and is blessed with Children. He was the Coordinator and Supervisor for the APC registration and revalidation exercise in Obudu. He was the APC flag bearer in the December 2020 Obudu State Constituency bye-election to replace the late Hon Godwin Akwaji.

     

  • GFO Orim Foundation Begins Construction Of Delapidated Culvert Linking Ofambe And Okiro In Obudu

    The Chairman of GFO Orim Foundation, and Chief of Staff to the Cross River State Governor, Hon Martin Orim an illustrious son of Alege/Ubang, has commenced a total overhaul of a delapidated culvert linking Ofambe and Okiro, Ubang in Obudu.

    Reports has it that the Chief of Staff has instructed the contractors not to leave the site until the culvert is fully completed. He has insisted on the use of quality materials and also given directives to allow people of the community monitor the progress and quality of work being done.

    The construction work is a collaboration of the GFO Orim Foundation and the Okiro community. The community requirement is to provide sand and gravel while other requirements is provided by GFO Orim Foundation.

    As at today, work on the said culvert is at top speed, and the contractors are poised on delivering a quality culvert in record time, to beat the later part of raining season.

    This development comes on the heels of the outcry by Mr Emmanuel Abua on the 24th November, 2021during his ward tour of the People’s Democratic Party PDP. Lots of attention was drawn via his verified Facebook page about the dilapidated culvert linking Ofambe to Okiro, the last village in Ubang.

    In the widely circulated Facebook publication, Emmanuel had cried of neglect of the people of Okiro and had called on leaders to help in constructing a culvert for the community.

    When contacted, Emmanuel Abua commended the Chief of Staff to the governor for the prompt response and assured that such collaboration is needed most now than ever for the good of the people, and maintained that criticizing government is never a bad thing, but rather calls government attention to areas where they need to take action.

    GFO Orim Foundation has undertaken a lots of projects for Alege/Ubang ward of Obudu Local Government Area including human capital development of the youths.

  • Southern Senatorial District Group Presses For Chris Agara To Take Over From Ayade In 2023, Sees Him As The Right Person To Continue With Ayade Legacy Of Development

     

    A group from the Southern Senatorial District of Cross River State has called on Mr. Chris Agara to step into the race for the governorship of Cross River State to take over from Senator Professor Benedict Ayade come May 29, 2023.

    The political support group which has membership across the seven Local government Areas of the district known as “Southern Senatorial District Standing for Agara and Continuation of Governor Ayade Legacy,” (SSDSACAL), through a statement signed by the group Chairman Comrade Asuquo Asuquo Etim, dated April 11, 2022, said the political group has chosen to pull all its resources Chris Agara without ethnic or religious sentiments.

    Mr. Etim who is from Akpabuyo LGA emphatically asserted that Chris Agara is the right person to take over from Senator Professor Benedict Ayade to continue with the laudable development projects and programmes, especially the industrial revolution on going in Cross River State and that their position is without ethnic or senatorial sentiments, but for the progragress of Cross River State.

    “Southern Senatorial District Standing for Agara and Continuation of Governor Ayade Legacy want to emphatically state without ethnic or senatorial Biase That Chris Agara is the right person to take over from Senator Professor Benedict Ayade to continue with the laudable development projects and programmes, especially the industrial revolution on going in Cross River State,” Etim maintained.

    The group through the  Chairman further stressed that Chris Agara has been with Governor Ayade for a long time and take part in the great industrial and other projects and programmes development right from. The inception and actually understand the mind set of the initiator, Ayade and  completely share in that vision.

    Etim went on to explained that the business of taking  Cross River State from obscurity to indusrial heights and to an all round developmental transformation at this moment goes beyond the issue of rotational argument to a man who possess the know-how to continue with the aggressive development  pedigree which Governor Ayade has set in motion in the state.

    “We understand and appreciate the argument that in 1999 the governorship started from the South, went to the Central and then the North, then it should return to the South, an idea which the governor himself is strongly behind. However we asa group look beyond this argument to the general interest of the state and the continuity of the great  development blueprint of Ayade,” he stressed.

    Arguing further, Etim explained that it is still the same” if Chris Agara finishes his terms, we know that the South will take its two terms and them reverse to the North since at this time both the Central and South had taken their two terms leaving only the North with one round and will need to go for its own second round. ”

    The SSDSACAL Chairman called on Chris Agara to come out frontally to contest for the 2023 number one political position in Cross River State and that the groupyand other similar groups will do everything within the ambit of the law to ensure that Chris Agara emerge as the winner of the governorship race and be sworn in on May 29, 2023.

    He therefore appealed to all Cross Riverians to file behind Chris Agara desire to take over from Ayade next year to continue with the development projects and programmes of Governor Ayade.

     

  • The Leading Presidential Aspirant In PDP, Nyesom Wike Will Be In Calabar Today – Joe Obi Bisong

     

    Dear partners, this is to officially inform you that our own His Excellency Barr Nyesom Wike Governor of Rivers state and leading Presidential Aspirant will be in calabar today by 11am
    We are expected to mobilise in our numbers to the calabar Airport by 10am to recieved and accord our August visitor a resounding welcome to calabar.
    Give this information very wide publicity. Thank you and God bless you all.

    Joe obi Bisong
    DG

    Caterpillar Movement

  • Cross River 2023: In Search Of Mr Integrity As Tag Team Partner BY JERRY EKPO

     

    The die is cast. 2023, another year of political transition is here with us. Cross River, like most states in Nigeria, is bracing up for a fresh governorship election and contenders for the two topmost political positions in the state are not in short supply.

    A candidate shall definitely emerge in the All Progressives Congress,  APC. But what is also critical, is who will play the deputising role for the governor?

    For the sake of argument, they are those who have been parroting the claim that as a party now in power in the state, it has not won a major election, except for the recently conducted senatorial by-election in the Northern Senatorial District of the state. However, before then, the APC won Abi-Yakurr federal seat as an opposition.

    So as the APC warms up for what will no doubt be its first major election for the office  of the governor come 2023, the choice of a tag team partner with the governorship candidate of the party is key, as whoever is chosen should be one with something to bring to the table.

    It is against this background that the name Anthony Odey Ochicha is a fit and proper one for deputy governor.

    Odey Ochicha has become a recurring decimal on the lips of a broad spectrum of Cross Riverians of like-mind who insist that there is an inextricable nexus between integrity and good governance.

    For the good of Cross River, recruitment and enthronement of quality leaders that will take over the baton from His Excellency, Governor Ben Ayade on May 29, 2023, is one task that must not be shirked or treated with levity,  thus John Quincy Adams’ treatise on leadership ready comes to mind here.

    In climes where good governance and service delivery are the meat of democratic ethos, Quincy’s prescription forms the fulcrum upon which the leadership selection process rests.

    According to Quincy Adams, “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”

    This timeless quote clinically mirrors the character traits of Anthony Odey Ochicha. It also offers a veritable barometer to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC in Cross River to hinge on while carefully sieving through the galaxy of gladiators in its fold currently angling for the two topmost political positions in the state- Governorship and Deputy Governorship.

    While zoning arrangement in Cross River APC may have technically precluded Ochicha from gunning for the number one position, even though he flew the party’s flag in the 2015 gubernatorial election,  his wealth of experience, patriotic fervour, selflessness, rock-solid integrity and unflinching loyalty to the party highly recommend him for the Deputy Governorship position.

    Cross Riverians are desirous of leaders who are well acquainted with the socio-political and economic anatomy of the state, ones that know the nitty-gritty of governance and are committed to consolidating the gains of His Excellency, Governor Ayade’s administration. Ochicha perfectly fits this bill.

    There is no doubt that if paired with whoever the APC eventually endorses as flagbearer, Ochicha will provide a robust bulwark against maladministration.

    Here is an incorruptible character,  a man who places integrity, honesty and morality above self-aggrandisement.

    A few years ago, as a senior staff of NAPIMS, a subsidiary of the NNPC, before he resigned to vie for Cross River governorship, Ochicha refused to do what most public servants would have gleefully done.

    He was supposed to travel to the US for a training program on the bill of his employers (NAPIMS)

    NAPIMS had already paid him millions of Naira upfront as travel allowance to cover his stay there. However, knowing that his mind was already made up for politics, he declined to attend the training because he wanted to attend a scheduled APC meeting in Lagos, Ochicha promptly returned the humongous travelling allowance to NAPIMS.

    As is the lurid norm in the public/civil service, Ochicha, if he had wanted, could have decided not to return the money as others that did not attend the training program oversea did but it was not in his character to swim in corruption.

    In all he does, Ochicha puts Cross River first. For him, love of the state transcends political and pecuniary benefits which was why shortly after Ayade, his main challenger in the 2015 governorship election, was declared the winner of the exercise, he wasted no time in conceding defeat and congratulating the winner.

    Of course, moving the state forward rather than dissipating energy on legal tussle or toxic opposition was paramount to him. Like the governor himself, Ochicha’s political philosophy is rooted in the principle of politics with ethics.

    A consummate party man, his fidelity and loyalty to the APC contributed to a large extent the reason the party didn’t go into extinction following the debilitating crisis that rocked it before and after its defeat in the 2019 guber election.

    Even when it became fashionable for some chieftains to switch allegiance to the then ruling party in Cross River, the PDP, Ochicha hugged the APC tightly, helping to navigate it through that perilous phase to its current position of strength as the ruling party following the entrance of Governor Ayade.

    Ochicha’s unwavering loyalty to the party was to catch the attention of President Muhammadu Buhari hence he was appointed by Mr President to serve his fatherland as Chairman of the governing Board of the Federal Polytechnic, Ile-Oluji, Ondo State.

    However, the President, knowing Ochicha’s pedigree, no doubt will be happy to see him serve Cross River as Deputy Governor.

    A native of Bekwarra local government in Northern Cross River, in the spirit of equity, fair play and natural justice, Ochicha’s Deputy Governorship will go a long in assuaging the hurt that the local government has felt over the years following its mindless marginalisation politically as well as unexplained denial of basic amenities.

     

    Jerry Ekpo, a chieftain of the APC, wrote in from Abuja

  • C’River To Vaccinate 900,000 Children Against Wild Poliomyelitis Type 2, As Obol Lopon Of Ugep Flag-Off Campaign

     

    Over 900,000 children between the ages of 0-59 months in Cross River State are set to be vaccinated against Poliomyelitis, one of the deadliest disease in the history of mankind as the Obol Opol of Ugep flagg of exercise in his palace at Yakurr Local Government Area of the state.

    For Dr Janet Ekpenyong Director General of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, it was not just an epoch making event but historic because according to her , “the role of the traditional rulers can never be over emphasized especially in delivering quality and productive Healthcare to citizens”.

    She employed parents and caregivers to protect the lives of the next generation by granting them the opportunity to get vaccinated within the stipulated time citing example with the Obol Opol who has often led in the mobilization of children within his Community for similar exercises.

    She said, immunization is a right of a child and the child should not be deprived. She also chipped that the state government with support from partner agencies have mapped out strategies to get all children vaccinated irrespective of weather conditions, topographical challenges as well as other surmountable barriers which hindered accessibility and 100% coverage in the time past.

    Dr Ekpenyong said, with the commitment of health workers with compelling voices from strategic leaders like the Traditional Rulers council, Religious leaders, Government functionaries, Youths and Women leaders, the state has remained Poliomyelitis free despite panicking figures from some states of the federation.

    According to her, with the devastating effects of the Disease to children within 0-59 months which includes economic, psychological and general well-being, all hands must be on deck for continuous and non stop advocacies and sensitization in churches, schools , markets and other places of public gathering .

    She appreciates the efforts of His Royal Majesty, the Obol Opol of Ugep in identifying with the health sector as his continuous advocacies has led to the advancement of the health sector in Yakurr Local Government Area as well as the state at large.

    “Today, we are officially flagging off the First round of the Outbreak Response on Poliomyelitis for our children between the ages of 0-59 months because they are the most vulnerable because of the level of their immunity.
    Because of the Outbreak of the type 2 Poliomyelitis, the Federal and state governments embarked on this response to ensure that child mortality rate is lowered as this disease has a ripple effect on the socio, economic and general well-being of affected families.

    So far in Cross River State, no record of Poliomyelitis 2 variant has been recorded, this is due to the collective efforts of all stakeholders including the traditional, religious and political leaders who are determined to see a healthier Cross River State”. The choice of flag off at the palace of the Obol Lopon is because the role of the traditional institution in the promotion of health activities cannot be over emphasized, and the Obol lopon has always been a voice and a champion of vaccination.

    The Obol Opol of Ugep, His Royal Majesty, Ofem Ubana Eteng and host of the event was excited that exercise of such magnitude is being decentralized to encourage participation and give a sense of belonging to all Communities in the state.

    He pledged his support towards raising awareness on the Outbreak Response on Poliomyelitis and other health interventions in order to compliment the efforts of the state government and health workers who work tirelessly for the outright elimination of all vaccine preventable diseases.

    On his part, the Director Public Health, State Ministry of Health, Dr Iwara Iwara, reiterated Government’s commitment to eradicating vaccine preventable diseases and encouraged the mothers to ensure their children are vaccinated as it is the responsibility of the parents to protect their children.

    The Director Disease Control and Immunization and state Immunization Officer applauded the Director General of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency for showing commitment in reaching out to all children across the state irrespective of where they are and emphasized in the importance of Immunization and asked care givers to use this opportunity to ensure their children get all the complete routine immunization .

    Other speakers who spoke include the representative of the World Health Organization Dr Pella of WHO, UNICEF National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, where they pledged their continued support to Cross River State Government and encouraged Mothers and caregivers to utilize this opportunity for good.

    Some parents who spoke testified to the commitment of health workers in their various Communities as they expressed their gratitude to the state government and it’s partners for introducing the high impact intervention.
    High point of the event was the oral adminstration of the Vaccine to children at the venue, Covid-19 vaccination for adults and the distribution of health packs to pregnant and nursing mothers.

    The exercise which began on the 9th of April is expected to officially climax on the 12th of April with two additional days for the sorting of missed children in the community as health workers are expected to move from house to House, schools, churches , markets places , some temporary post as well as permanent health facilities.

  • Florence Obi: Upgrading Infrastructure In UNICAL For Academic Comfort BY DOMINIC KIDZU

     

    Always pragmatic in her style of administration, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Professor Florence Obi has in a little over one year in office repositioned a large number of office and studying facilities to ease the process of learning and avail more comfort for students of the institution. On assuming office as Vice Chancellor, she met a lot of infrastructure and facilities in an appalling state with dilapidated hostels, decrepit lecture halls and uncompleted examination pavilions.

    The situation was further worsened with the devastating invasion of the institution by angry youths during the END SARS protests leading to a complete stripping of hostel facilities including conduit pipes, wires, toilet shanks, basins and pipes, windows, doors, and roofs. The hostels were more like ruins in the aftermath of a fierce war and students could not be sent to live there with all good conscience. She commissioned the renovation and expansion of many of these facilities even with a zero bank balance at her inception and handed down stiff timeliness to the contractors. She has also included external works, furnishing and landscaping as separate contracts tied to the original projects.

    Arc James Ikpi, who is the Director of Physical Planning said that the ongoing projects are mostly lecture theatres and pavilions. “Pavilions 1, 2 and 3 are existing structures that had neither offices nor conveniences. Large halls that we are remodelling to increase sitting capacity. They were just halls which we have converted to storey buildings in order to increase the sitting capacity and enhance student comfort. The projects were started in October last year but are almost complete. These projects are under the TETFUND budget for 2018/2019/2020 but they were not done until we came and met them.”

    “The Vice Chancellor has told us that she doesn’t want abandoned projects that will attract variation. We started in October and many of them are already completed while the other ones are nearing completion. The team that came from Tetfund was very impressed with our work. Commissioning of the projects will be coming up soon” Engineer Ikpi said.

    I found one of the major contractors, Engineer Dominic Eguda at one of the sites and he told me that he was under immense pressure from the Vice Chancellor to deliver the job. “I have worked in about 15 institutions but I have never experienced this kind of commitment from any chief executive. We originally wrote that we will complete the projects in 36 weeks but the VC insisted that we compress the duration to 24 weeks, making us to work day and night. She comes to inspect the site twice a day. The management also; from physical planning, bursary etc, have also been very supportive”.

    The pavilions now have a sitting capacity of 4,500 students for lectures and examinations, up from 1,200. And the theatres are now fitted with suitable offices, conveniences and other ancillary facilities.

    The Director disclosed that “we are doing all this even though we inherited sanctions caused by infractions of up to N1.3 billion from the previous administration due to misapplication of funds
    which we have been refunding. As a result of this, funds for 2021 and 2022 Tetfund intervention are not available to us. We are repaying gradually. We are trying to wipe out the impression that we are the institution with the highest abandoned projects so that we can return to good standing with TETFUND”.

    When I spoke to Engr Paul Takon, who is the Deputy director of works (Electrical), he was excited about the Solar project he was supervising which is a gracious intervention from the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC. “We are lighting up the institution including security search lights especially after the criminality that has been going on. Deans of faculties are also being encouraged to also light up their faculties.”

    “Public Power supply has always been the limitation, but we are already in the second phase of Energising Education Programme which is another intervention from the Rural Electrification Agency, REA, to give universities 247 Power supply. What is proposed for the University of Calabar is a 7 megawatts solar plant which will adequately cater for the power supply needs of the university. Contractors are already bidding for the actual construction of the plant. In the next 2 – 3 months work will start effectively”.

    He said that in the meantime, the Vice Chancellor has just bought another new 1500kva generator to add to the two existing ones. The
    VC has also made sure that most faculties and departments have strong generators that can carry airconsitioners and other electricity needs, so that the absence of public power does not disrupt academic activities.