The Lumine News

Author: News

  • Post Covid-19: Cross River Partners UNFPA On 2021 Development Strategy

     

    Cross River State Government has unveiled strategic plan 8! Partnership with the United Nations Fund and Population Agency (UNFPA) to achieve Global Program for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    The Strategic Partnership was sealed during a two-day 2020 end of the Year review and 2021 annual work plan event held in Calabar.

    Declaring the meeting open, the State Commissioner for International Development Cooperation, Inyang Asibong, called on all partners to assess the extent of UNFPA’s program implementation and results achieved in relations to the planned intervention in 2020 associated with COVID-19 pandemic.

    Asibong said the partnership will also unveil a 2021 strategy which would serve as post-COVID-19 recovery plan across board.

    She added that “The strategic plan should be in tandem with the State Government’s priority and the UNFPA key agenda on 2030 principles to achieve universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights, focusing on women, adolescents and youth,advising that the strategic plan should ensure everyone is carried along with premium concentration on reaching vulnerable people in the hinterlands as a key priority”.

    In his opening remarks, the Head of Office, UNFPA, Dr Polycarpe Takou, called on all partners to use the experience they have gotten over the year, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, to agree on high impact activities to be implemented in 2021.

    He also assured the state partners of continuous support to ensure no one is left behind, and that; “The strategic plan should focus on Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) Services, Gender Based Violence (GBV), prevention and response, risk communication and community engagement, and provision of life-saving supplies and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

     

  • United States Government Blacklists Nigeria For Violations Against Religious Freedom

    By Admin

    The United States Government has added Nigeria to its blacklist as one of the countries that have engaged in “severe violations of religious freedom.”

    The Trump administration had in December 2019, added Nigeria to a Special Watch List of countries tolerating violent crimes against religious freedom.

    Today, the United States Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, had announced that Nigeria has been added to the “blacklist” on violations against religious freedom.

    Today the U.S. designates Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, Nigeria, the DPRK, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan as countries of concern under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 for engaging systematic, ongoing, egregious religious freedom violations.

    The U.S. is unwavering in its commitment to religious freedom. No country or entity should be allowed to persecute people with impunity because of their beliefs. These annual designations show that when religious freedom is attacked, we will act.

     

  • Breaking News: Operation Akpakwu Clamps Notorious Kingpin, Bassey Bassey Etim.

    By Admin

    Culled From Andrea Ekeng Inyang’s wall

    The Special Anti-kidnapping squard code named Operation Akpakwu, has napped a notorious kingpin suspected to have been terrorizing Calabar residents, Mr. Bassey Bassey Etim and his gang in Calabar, on the 7th December, 2020.

    According Andrea Ekeng Inyang, Special Assistant to Governor Ben Ayade on Strategic Communication, “Operation Op got intelligence by intelligent officers and swung into action. Bassey was said to have been spotted with his gang around the Anantigha axist of Calabar South.

    “Operation Akpakwu responded immediately and surrounded all escape perimeter, then clamped on the criminal suspect with his gang (check pictures)

    “Also confirmed is the presence of
    Operation Crocodile Smile which is now permanently stationed in Anantigha, Calabar South Local Government Area.

    “As at yesterday, OP CS invaded and combed the entire Anantigha and Jebbs creeks in search of kidnappers and notorious gang leaders.

    “Meanwhile the State Security Department has dismissed report making the rounds on social media that one person was shot dead at Ekpo Abasi junction, Calabar South in the early hours of yesterday, describing the report as false.

    “Speaking on the development, the Department said it received a distressed call from a shop owner of sporadic shooting around the environment which necessitated the prompt response of OP Akpakwu but on arrival it was discovered that the blaring sound from “knock-out” being thrown into a popular shop was mistaken for gunshots”

     

  • Catholic Diocese Of Ogoja Commends Sen. Sandy Onor For Project Facilitation

    By Elijah Ugani

    The Catholic Diocese of Ogoja has commended the senator representing Cross River Central Senatorial District, Sen. Prof. Sandy Onor, for facilitating the renovation of Holy Child Secondary School Ikom.

    The Diocese in a letter of appreciation signed by the Executive Secretary, Catholic Education Board, Rev. Fr. Justine B. Udie and sighted by The Lumine News, indicates that the diocese prayed God to bless the senator abundantly and continue to sustain and grant him success in his political carrier.

    The letter reads in parts “I am directed by the bishop of Ogoja, His Excellency, Most Rev. Donatus Edet Akpan, to write and express our deep and sincere sentiments of gratitude to you for your kind gesture towards one of our catholic schools (Holy Child Secondary School) Ikom. The school is one of the beneficiaries of the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) 2109 SKC project.

    “We just discovered lately that this project was facilitated by you. This appreciation though belated, is an expression of our deep thanks to you. We cannot quantify the great benefits this kind gesture of yours will bring to our educational system in the entire diocese.

    “We pray that the good Lord bless you abundantly and continue to sustain and grant you success in your political carrier. We remain united with you in prayers always”

  • Maria Akwaji Wins Obudu State House Of Assembly Bye-Election

    By Elijah Ugani

    The candidate of the People’s Democratic Party PDP, Mrs. Maria Akwaji has been declared winer of the December 5th 2020 Obudu State House of Assembly bye-election.

    Mrs. Akwaji pulled a total of 32,166 votes to defeat her close rival, Dr. Godwin Agbor of the All Progressive Congress APC scored a total of 3,546 votes.

    Declaring the result, the Returning Officer, Prof. Abel Ezeoha maintained that “having satisfied scored the highest votes cast, I hereby declared Maria Akwaji of the People’s Democratic Party elected for the Obudu State House of Assembly bye-election”

    Other parties scored the following votes; AAC 51, ADC 204, APC 3, APM 71, NNDP 76.

    Total valid votes 36, 114
    Rejected votes 505
    Total votes cast 36, 619.

  • APC Agent, Valentine Undeshi Sleeps As Collation Of Result Is Ongoing For Obudu State House Of Assembly Bye-election.

    By Admin

    The Local Government Collation Agent of the All Progressive Congress APC, Mr. Valentine Undeshi was caught on camera sleeping while collation is ongoing.

    Undeshi may have been frustrated by the result that was turned in by the various in Obudu, resorted to sleep while collation was going on.

    Seven wards had turned in result as the People’s Democratic Party PDP is leading with a very wide margin.

  • 50 Youths Of Cross River Central Senatorial District To Benefit From HiiT Scholarship For Online ICT Training, Facilitated By Sen. Sandy Ojang Onor.

    By Admin

    Human development is basically about expanding the richness of human life. It focuses on creating opportunities and equipping people with the prerequisite knowledge, skills and talents to grab opportunities. It centers on developing people’s abilities and giving them a chance to use them.

    Today’s digital world offers a plethora of opportunities for our youths, that is why our youth friendly, focused and proactive Principal Senator Professor Sandy Ojong Onor in collaboration with HiiT PLC has offered 50 youths of the Senatorial district, an all expense paid scholarship for a one month online ICT training starting from Monday 7th December, 2020.

    The 50 beneficiaries were drawn from the six LGAs and shall be equipped with knowledge in either

    Digital Literacy,
    Digital marketing,
    Ethical hacking,
    Graphic design,
    Web design,
    Project management,
    Python programming,
    PHP programming or Java programming.
    CRSCSD.

    The youths of Central Senatorial District have been afforded the opportunity to partake and break the ceiling in the advancement of global technology.

  • Meet #MOP Ogbonnaya Prince Ifanyi, Next Naija Comedy Star Contestant.

    By Elijah Ugani

    Mr. Ogbonnaya Prince Ifanyi with the stage name MOP Comedian, a graduate of Imo State University, Port Harcourt by birth, is among the 10 successful comedians battling at the ongoing AY Next Naija Comedy Star.

    The show is created and hosted by comedian AY, has Alibaba, Funke Akinde, I Go De and MC Shakara as Judges.

    According to AY, “It is centred around 10 Contestants in a comedic and intellectual battle against each other for a duration of 3 weeks upon which Contestants will be evicted and one Grand Finale, the last standing 5 will fight for the ultimate crown of 5 Million Naira and a brand new car.

    “The highlights of the show will be aired every Wednesday 7pm on Hiptv and eviction/Main Event 7pm every Sunday starting from Sunday 29th November 2020”

    You can follow MOP @mopcomedia on twitter and Instagram.

    To vote for MOP in this contest, text “VT AY MOP to 8014”

    Speaking to Ogbonnaya on telephone, he pledged to use the opportunity to help the needy and advocate for the end of gender based violence against women and girls.

    #MOP is a bunch of talent, make it a date this Sunday 6th December 2020 by 7pm at HipTV on DSTV channel 324 and GOTV channel 74.

  • Breaking: Ayade Declares War On Kidnappers, Other Criminals, Launches Operation Akpakwu

    By Admin

    Cross River State Governor, Sir Ben Ayade on Thursday launched a special operation to flush out criminals from the state, especially kidnappings.

    Code-named Operation Akpakwu, the outfit draws personnel from the army, navy, Air Force and Civil Defence.
    To enhance operations, the governor handed over 100 patrol vehicles fitted with cutting edge communication gadgets, ten power bikes and drones.

    Speaking at the event, Ayade who was flanked by all the service commanders in the state, vowed to return the state, particularly Calabar, to the paradise it once was.

    He said though statistics indicates that the state remains one of the safest in the country, he decried recent incidents of criminality , especially kidnappings in the state.

    The governor therefore, asked every criminal in the state to relocate immediately as the state will no longer be a haven for their kind.
    Ayade said the state will henceforth be too hot for kidnappers and other criminals, asking them to quit or face the wrath of his government.

    “Cross River State statistically remains the safest state in Nigeria , however as a state we are used to the culture of zero kidnapping, zero cultism and zero robbery.
    “In recent past, there has been an increase in the number of crime within the Niger Delta and the country as a whole arising from the difficulty orchestrated by Endsars as well as Covid19 which brought a general poverty and general hardship upon the entire world”, the governor said.

    According to him, “the instruction is very clear from Abuja, you must deal decisively with any form of criminality, you must deal decisively with any form of banditry, cultism, kidnapping of any form.
    “Let this therefore be a strong message to every Cross Riverian and non indigenes alike, that as far as you are resident in Cross River State, today is the end of that criminality.

    “Today is the end of armed robbery, banditry must end today. We have received very clear instructions from the federal government and I have supported and I stand strong with all my military men and the police that they must comply with the obligations, the instructions and orders of the Inspector General of Police and the commander in chief of the Nigerian armed forces that Cross River State must be made safe.”

    The governor blamed the spate of kidnappings and robberies in the state on outsiders, citing the police records of those arrested so far in the state over crimes.

    He stated that going forward every landlord in the state must account for every tenant as part of the regulations which he has signed into law under the Homeland security.

    The governor also declared that under this operation “Akpakwu” government will henceforth demolish any property belonging to, or being occupied by kidnappers and robbers.

    He decried the non inclusion of the Bakassi Strike Force in the Amnesty programme of the Federal Government after voluntarily surrendering their arms at the behest of the state and federal government.

    “We want to ask the federal government to explain to us why the Bakassi Strike Force has not been given proper restitution, rehabilitation and reintegration as they have done in other states.

    “I plead in the name of God that the Bakassi strike force should be admitted into amnesty so that they can have their due and be properly trained so they can become citizens that will bring value to society.”, he lamented.

    Speaking on behalf of the service commanders in the state, the Cross River state Commissioner of Police, Abdulkadir Jimoh commended governor Ayade for his proactive steps in crime fighting and pledged the commitment of security agencies in the state to keeping Cross River safe free from criminals.

  • Anambra Commissioner For Women Affairs Rescues Brutalized Toddler In Abagana Accused Of Witchcraft

     

    The Commissioner of Women and Children Affairs, Lady Ndidi Mezue, has come to the rescue of a 6 years old child, brutalized by her foster mother in Abagana, IgbereTV reports.

    The child whose name is Amanda was spotted by a good Samaritan, Miss Loritha Ebere Obelue from Akpu Village, Abagana, who noticed the burnt and severe scars all over body and raised alarm.

    The Ministry through the Child’s department swung into action immediately and the culprit, 39 years old, Agatha Uba, from Imo State was picked and brought to the Ministry for questioning.

    Seeing the the wrenching mutilated body of the child, drove Lady Ndidi Mezue to tears, as she demanded from the mother why she subjected the child to such inhuman treatment.

    Releasing that nemesis has caught up with her and speaking from both sides of the mouth, Mrs Agatha said her pastor revealed to her that the child was a witch, after years of watching her misbehave and showing signs of witchcraft.

    And to deliver her, Amanda will be handcuffed, beaten and kept days indoors, some days without food until rescue came her way.

    From preliminary investigation, it was discovered that the woman, had other 3 children under her custody, and all were allegedly stolen, as she has no child of her own.

    Because Amanda was found in a delicate state, owing to the inhumane treatment, Lady Ndidi Mezue, who fed and clothe her, has promised the Ministry will follow up the case. She instructed that a team from the Ministry go to Abagana immediately and rescue the remaining kids and the case taken up by the appropriate authorities further investigation.

    The ministry stated that it will always uphold the protection of children from violence and harmful practices as it has been observed that thousands of children are accused of being witches in Nigeria, and the children are tortured, and even killed.