The Lumine News

Category: Metro News

  • C’River Humanitarian Affairs Commissioner Presents Food Items And Relief Materials To Inmates Of Nigerian Correctional Service In Calabar

     

    In her continuous quest to extend the Season of Sweetness to all Cross Riverians and in line with His Excellency Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu’s People First Agenda, the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Helen Isamoh Egodo Ph.D, presented food items and other relief materials to Ogoja inmates of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Cross River State.

    The Commissioner who conveyed the Governor’s compassion towards the inmates assured the inmates and staff of the Nigerian Correctional Service, CRS, of the State government’s determination to provide the needed support and assistance to the Nigerian Correctional Service in their determined attempt to rehabilitating the inmates.

    She encouraged the Controller, Cc. Kupan Amos to call on the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs for necessary assistance anytime the need arises.

    IDr. Egodo prayed God to give the inmates a new beginning, and enjoined them to keep making good choices now regardless of the past as their choices today determines their destiny.

    Responding, the State Controller of Correctional Service Cc. Kupan D. Amos Ph.D, mni, who received the gifts on behalf of the inmates at the Cross River State Headquarters of the Nigerian Correctional Service in Calabar expressed appreciation to the Cross River State Governor Senator Bassey Edet Otu, for his regular support for inmates in the State and his drive towards ameliorating the suffering of his people.

    Dr Amos also commended the efforts of the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Helen Isamoh Egodo, for always showing great sympathy for people with special needs.

    He applauded Dr Egodo for working tirelessly to ensure that the Governor delivers on his mandate and campaign promises in order to rebuild the Paradise City.

  • LOAN CRS Chapter Embarks On Indefinite Strike

    Culled from CrossRiverWatch

    The Law Officers Association of Nigeria (LOAN) Cross River State chapter has embarked on an Indefinite Strike on Monday May 13th.

    LOAN said the action is due to the State Government’s inability to meet their demands for the implementation of the existing approval for parity between Law Officers and Magistrates, in the 50% Salary increment for Magistrates since June, 2022, without a corresponding increase for law officers.

    The association had embarked on a warning strike on March 27, 2024 to April 2, 2024 over the demand, however there appears to be no solution to their plea.

    LOAN Chairman Ewonah Araghe, Esq. and Chairman Action Committee C . Adama had signed a notice made available to CrossRiverWatch in Calabar saying the government has a, “deliberate refusal to implement the existing approval for parity.

    “The notice reads in parts: “LOAN in its executive meeting held on the 9” day of May resolved to embark on an indefinite strike to press home their demands. This is because there is no credible reason or explanation as to why they refused to implement the 50 % increment for Law Officers in the first place.

    “This singular act has plunged members of (LOAN) Cross River State Chapter into indescribable hardship. Much worse, it defies logic to try to subject members of this profession to discriminatory treatment. In the light of this, we are constrained by this bulletin to direct all Law Officers working in all Government Ministries and agencies to proceed on an indefinite strike, commencing from Monday the 13” day of May, 2024.

    “We advise the government not to take for granted the maturity of this Association by trying to coerce or victimize its members as the association will resist such threats. The time for empty promises and excuses has passed; the time for action is now.”

  • Cross River TOPREC Laud Governor Otu for Creating More Satellite Towns

     

    The Cross River State Representative of Town Planners Registration Council of Nigeria, TOPREC, TPL. Dr. Simon Ajom has lauded the recent declaration by the state Governor, His Excellency Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu for the creation of more Satellite Towns in the state.

    Dr. Ajom made this known during an interactive session with Journalists on Thursday 9th May, 2024 in Calabar, the state capital.

    According to him, the idea aligns with the Governor’s ‘People’s First’ mantra of his Administration and if fully implemented, it’ll serve as growth poles centers that will help in expanding the state Government’s effort in the provision of basic infrastructural facilities as they relates to roads, power supply, housing, schools, telecommunication, etc which are already overstretched as a result of increase in human population.

    Emphasizing the needs and importance of satellite towns, Ajom said the action and activities will promote effective utilization of different land-uses as well as guarantee environmental quality, comfort, security and safety of lives and properties in the state.

    He also expressed the readiness of professional Town Planners in the state to partner with the State Government to achieve the desired goal in the areas of site selection and layout design, infrastructural and facility planning, Urban designs and renewal, regional and rural development planning, sector planning, master planning and development control amongst others.

    Dr. Ajom is also a fellow and one time Cross River State Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, NITP and a former Director of Physical Planning Unit, University of Calabar. He is currently the Head of Department, Urban and Regional Planning in the Faculty of Environmental Sciences in the University of Calabar.

    ©️Onigah Joseph Egidi

  • C’River State Govt Set To Revamp Home-Grown Feeding Programme, Disengages Old Vendors

    TheLumineNews

    As part of efforts to reinvigorate the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, the Cross River State government has announced the disengagement of its former vendors, in a press release dated 3rd of May 2024, sighted by TheLumineNews.

    The release signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Nsa Gill expressed appreciation to the outgoing vendors for their service and wished them well in their future endeavors

  • Foundation Distributes Yam Seedlings To Farmers To Boost Food Production

     

    By Ovat Abeng

    In continuation of his drive to help indigenous farmers in Anambra State boost food production and arrest the lingering food crisis in the country, Anambra philanthropist, High Chief JohnBosco Onunkwo, through his Foundation, JohnBosco Onunkwo Foundation, has carried out the second phase of his foundation’s free yam seedlings distribution.

    The second phase of the yam distribution took place at Ekwulobia and Umuchu in Aguata local government area of the state last week.

    Speaking to beneficiaries by a proxy, Mr. Onyeka Offor (Deputy Chairman, APC Aguata), the philanthropist urged them to cultivate the yam seedlings this planting season and promised to reward those who harvest the biggest size of yams during the new yam festival with cash prizes.

    On behalf of Aguata APC excos, the chairman, Chief Godson Anyadike thanked the founder, Chief Onunkwo for his thoughtful initiative in boosting food production in his constituency among other numerous interventions and prayed for God’s blessings upon him.

    The Foundation have earlier in her first phase distributed the seedlings to farmers in Awka and Onitsha axis respectively.

  • Just In: Court Convicts Man for Raping An Eight Years Old Child In Calabar

     

    A High Court sitting in Calabar, the Cross River State capital has convicted Aniedi Mfon, age 25, for  raping an eight years old child in Calabar today, May 6th 2024.

    Delivering the judgement, Hon. Justice Blessing Egwu, of the High Court of Cross River State, sentenced him to life imprisonment.

    The Judge who lamented the high prevalence of rape, also awarded a fine of One Million naira to the survivor.

    Reacting to the development, Founder of Basic Rights Council Initiative, Mr James Ibor Esq, noted that “I wish to thank the Commissioner of Police and his team, Attorney General, Ededem Ani and his team the staff of the Basic Rights Counsel Initiative and the survivor and her father who resisted intimidation and bribes to back out. Special thanks to our amiable Prosecutor Patience Akpama. You are a rising star”

  • Legal Aid: Foundation Targets Over 10 Inmates Of Calabar Correctional Centre

    By Christian Njoku

    Royal Ambassadors Family Enlightenment Foundation, (RAFEF), a Non Governmental Organisation, (NGO), has taken steps to assist some inmates of the Afokang Correctional Centre in Calabar with legal aid.

    This was disclosed by Mr Jonathan Okwudiri, Chairman, Board of Trustees of RAFEF on Monday in Calabar during the official inauguration Ceremony of Cross River Executive Working Committee of the foundation.

    Okwudiri who doubles as the Director General of the foundation said apart from there programmes to empower women and youths, they would be embarking on a project in Cross River to assist inmates in the state’s correctional centre with legal aid.

    According to him, “In Afikpo, we visited the Correctional Centre and got inmates who didn’t have representation and those who didn’t have money to pay for their bail after they were granted bail by the court.

    “The legal team of this foundation went to work ensuring that applications were made to the court to see how we could assist about 12 of them with legal representation and bail payment.

    “We also did the same thing in Amawbia Correctional Centre in Awka where we equally picked 13 inmates to help secure there freedom; in Cross River, we will be doing the same in Afokang Correctional Centre,” he said.

    He said while ensuring that they empower over 1,000 women and youths in each of the 18 Local Government Areas of Cross River, they have taught their members never to protest or fight against government adding that it resolved nothing.

    He said as a group, they had a system of getting positive results through negotiations, dialogue and consultations whenever there was conflict.

    He appealed to the members of the foundation in Cross River to uphold the watchwords of integrity, truth, trust, transparency and accountability, noting that with these virtues, they would excel.

    On his part, Dr. Moses Agboreyo Cross River Coordinator of the foundation said he would work to mobilize members of the foundation to get positive results and meet up with their aims and objectives of empowering people.

    Agboreyo who is also the South-South Zonal Director said the major challenge they faced was funding and mobilisation due to the vast and difficult terrain of Cross River but added that they were working to surmount these challenges and touch lives. (NAN)

  • Family, Friends And Business Associates Bids Late Leonard Afanga Wodar Farewell

     

    It was a solemn moment as family, friends, the leadership of All Progressives Congress Cross River State, and Business Associates trooped the country home of late Comrade Leonard AFANGA WODAR in Igol Ugbagada Nkum Iborr, Ogoja to pay last respect.

    Leaders paid tribute as they took turns to pour emotions over the untimely death of late Hon Leonard Afanga Wodar, a community leader, a peace builder and consummate Business Man.

    Reading his tribute, the immediate past Chairman of Ogoja LGA and leader of Nkum Iborr Ward, Hon Emmanuel Ishabor x-rayed the contributions of the late Afanga, he charged everyone to learn to celebrate ourselves while we are still alive because the vacuum he left cannot be filled in a hurry. He said he was forever indebted to him for being a pillar of support to him and the Ward.

    Hon Patrick Agbe who read the tribute of the state Chairman of APC, examined the life of Afanga as a political son whom he tutelaged for years. He said the disease is a good example of a community leader who is loved by his people. He Admonished everyone to be mindful of how we use positions of influence and leadership.

    Hon Emmanuel Anoh who read out the tribute of the Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Rt Hon Peter Odey, posed a striking question: “with this death, the questions in our hearts about why good men depart so early have become even stronger. He also said I have a worthy opponent whom I ran elections twice- first as students and then in 2019 when we ran for the Ogoja State Constituency in the Cross River State House of Assembly. On both occasions I won but he was gracious in defeat and never took me to courts nor did he allow bitterness to build between us”.

    Hon Joe Lifu took tributes for the Ugbagada community as he reeled out the humane and sacrificial life of the disease. He said the APC Family, BAKOR nation is pained by this death, the Executive Director Operations of SYNERGY MINERAL RESOURCES LIMITED, Akpoga Geoffrey, took the tribute for the group, a company late Afanga tenaciously built while he was alive.

    The funeral climaxed when an age long friend of late Afanga, Dr Oli made a passionate appeal to the government of Cross River State to assist the family in the children’s education, saying the late Afanga toiled so much for the party and deserves handsome rewards even in death.

  • Godwin Offiono visits TB, Leprosy, Orthopedic Centres In Ogoja, Donates Items

    The Member representing Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency, Hon. Godwin Offiono, yesterday visited the Tuberculosis, Leprosy and orthopedic centres in Ogoja LGA.

    The MP went bearing gifts such as, sewing machines, rice, yam, garri, etc, and cash. He assured the patients of his constant support and prayers.

    According to the patients, the MP visited them few months before his election where he promised to return again after the election; he fulfilled the promise yesterday and assured them of constant visits. They prayed for the MP and wished him success in all his dealings.

    Also, the MP had a sit out with the people of Urban Ward 2 at Abakpa Motorpark in Ogoja LGA, where he assured constituents of continuous good representation.

    GOFFIO MEDIA.

  • Egbe-Mbube Community Confers Chieftaincy Title on Cross River Deputy Governor

    The Council of Traditional Rulers in Egbe -Mbube, Ogoja Local Government Area, have conferred the highest honourary chieftaincy title on the Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Rt Hon. Dr. Peter Odey.

    Odey was conferred with the title of ‘Likeuel é’mpam I’ of Egbe Community, which means, the ‘Pillar of Egbe’ community as a reflection of the positive impact his immense contributions have made towards the development of the community and Mbube nation.

    The title was bestowed on the Deputy Governor recently during the Egbe Day Celebration, an annual event dedicated to celebrate the values of community development.

    Speaking after the conferment, Deputy Governor Odey, represented by his Head of Personal Staff, Dr. Chris Ojikpong, expressed gratitude to the people of Egbe Community and the Council of Traditional Rulers for the honour and recognition, emphasizing its significance to him, and assured the people of his commitment to community development.

    Continuing, he extended congratulations to the good people of Egbe-Mbube community for the successful 2024 Egbe Day Celebration, urging them to continue their support for the administration of Governor Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu to fully realize the ‘People First’ Agenda.

    In praising the efforts of the Egbe-Mbube community in undertaking self-sustaining development projects, he hailed the initiative as valuable and encouraged them to persist in launching and completing projects that offer economic advantages and benefit everyone.

    The Clan Head of Egbe-Mbube, HRH Buturo Thomas Akung, stated that conferring the title on Odey recognizes his steadfast dedication to the advancement and progress of not only Mbube nation but also the state and nation as a whole.

    He reassured the Deputy Governor of Egbe people’s support for the current administration, under the capable leadership of Senator Prince Bassey Otu, whom he described as truly embodying the ‘People First’ approach.

    Major highlight of the event, held at the Primary School Field in Egbe-Mbube, Ogoja Local Government Area, included the commissioning of an ultramodern town hall by the Deputy Governor’s representative, presentation of awards and chieftaincy titles to deserving individuals from Ogoja, as well as captivating cultural displays.