The Lumine News

Category: Metro News

  • APC Lauds Minister For Facilitating Grant For 200 Cross River Women

    APC Lauds Minister For Facilitating Grant For 200 Cross River Women

    APC Lauds Minister For Facilitating Grant For 200 Cross River Women

    The All Progressives Congress, APC in Cross River State has commended the leader of the party in the state and Honourable Minister of State, Power, Goddy Jedy Agba, OFR, for facilitating grant for 200 women from the state.

    In a statement by the State Publicity Secretary of the Party, Mr. Bassey Ita, the party said that they were overwhelmed by the gesture and efforts of the Minister to reconnect the Federal Government and Members of the party in the state especially in the area of social inclusion agenda.

    Recall that recently, some women numbering two hundred (200) were shortlisted for payment of N20,000 each under the Special Grant for Rural (poor) Women component of the Social Investment Programme of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

    The programme was organized by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development and superintended by the Minister, Hajia Sadiya Farouq.

    Instrumental to the shortlisting and facilitation of the payment of the money to at least, eleven women from across the 18 local government area of the state was the Honourable Minister of State, Power
    ,Jedy-Agba.

    Excited by the development, APC said that
    under the leadership of the Minister, “in view of the responsibility given us as a party to mobilize the rural women who were mostly members of our great party to benefit from the programme,we most heartily appreciate the Honourable Minister for this great gesture.

    We are particularly overwhelmed with joy and confidence that a new dawn beacons which brings a gapping reconnect between the Federal Government and Members of our party in the state especially in the area of social inclusion agenda”.

    The party assured that “we are confident that, tomorrow counts for our party with the illumination that today’s gesture of the Honourable Minister has brought” .

    The APC added that “the grips of pervasive injustice which usually come from the outcry of isolation and neglect in earning from our central government has been relaxed as gleaned from the aforementioned.

    Our members can now heave a sigh of relief that indeed, the special largesse to our party women has open a new vista of opportunity to talk more rural women and men alike into the APC fold which had hitherto been Herculean to achieve for the pervasive injustice”.

    While noting that the party looks forward to having many more such robust gestures from the Minister and other party leaders in government, they insisted that the current party leadership in the state remains the only rallying point to appropriate developmental options meant for members.

    “The responsibility of sustaining the existing peaceful atmosphere we have so far enjoyed in the party is a burden we have resolved to shoulder, and we wish to submit that we shall continue to disallow undue sentiments whatsoever arising from distribution of opportunities to take toll on our hard earned stability.

    Honourable Minister Sir, we congratulate you once again for the gesture and for the confidence reposed in the party to mobilize our women for the special grants”.

  • Ayade’s Chief Of Staff, Hon. Martin Orim Donates Vehicle To First Priest From Wife’s Community

    Ayade’s Chief Of Staff, Hon. Martin Orim Donates Vehicle To First Priest From Wife’s Community

    By Elijah Ugani

    The Chief of Staff to the Cross River State Governor, Hon. Martin Orim has donated a vehicle to the first to be ordained priest from the Roman Catholic Mission RCM Bedia.

    The Soon to be ordained priest, Rev. Jeremiah Udida will be the first priest from Bedia in Obudu Local Government Area, where the wife of the Chief of Staff hails from.

    Hon. Orim had pledged the vehicle during the thanksgiving ceremony of Major General Parker Undiandeye at RCM Bedia.

    During the thanksgiving, the Priest In Charge of RCM Bedia, Rev. Fr. Paschal Ngang had told the congregation that the major challenge faced by the church was how to purchase a car for the new Priestley’s to be ordained.

    Announcing the donation, the Priest In Charge of RCM Bedia, Rev. Fr. Pascal Ngang wrote, “I just got this car for the first priest of Bedia origin to be ordained on Saturday the 8th of May, 2021,” as he shared images of the red Toyota Corolla on Saturday.

    Rev. Jeremiah Udida is among the ten Deacons to be ordained priests for the Catholic Diocese of Ogoja on the 8th of May, 2021 at St. Benedict Cathedral Ogoja, as part of the activities for the centenary celebration of the diocese.

  • Saviour Orim, Obudu Born Primary One Grammarian To Meet Patrick Obahiagbon In Abuja.

    Saviour Orim, Obudu Born Primary One Grammarian To Meet Patrick Obahiagbon In Abuja.

    By Elijah Ugani

    Former member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Patrick Obahiagbon, the Igodo-migodo, has reached out to the father of Master Saviour Orim from Ufambe – Ubang in Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State.

    Master Saviour Orim who has trended recently in video is reported to be a primary one pupil. The video got the internet trending with commentators wondering the mastery at which a primary one pupil could display while chunking out grammar effortlessly.

    Master Savior is said to have wished to speak like the former lawmaker. The video got the attention of Mr. Patrick Obahiagbon and he wants to meet the primary one grammarian.

    Mr. Patrick Obahiagbon wants to mentor Master Savior Orim and pay his fees till University.

    Information available to TheLumineNews indicates that arrangement has been concluded between Mr. Patrick Obahiagbon and the father of Master Savior to be flown to Abuja next week.

    TheLumineNews was the first to indicate interest to offer Master Savior Orim scholarship, GFO Orim Foundation announced a scholarship up to the university for Master Savior Orim, and Mr. Patrick Obahiagbon has also announced scholarship up to the university for Master Savior.

  • Minister Unveils First Fully Operational Solar Power Facility For Nigerian Mall In Abuja

    Minister Unveils First Fully Operational Solar Power Facility For Nigerian Mall In Abuja

     

    The ongoing power sector reforms by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration recorded another huge achievement yesterday as the Honourable Minister of State, Power, Goddy Jedy Agba, OFR, and other industry stakeholders unveiled the 609kWp solar power facility to energize the Jabi Lake Mall in Abuja.

    The project which was formally activated by United Kingdom company, Actis along with developer, CrossBoundary Energy, (CBE)
    one year ago, is the first fully operational solar rooftop facility for a Nigeran mall and the second power purchase agreement (PPA) for one of Actis’ malls in
    Africa.

    Speaking after touring the facility, Agba commended the team of expert’s vision for providing clean energy to one of the largest malls in Nigeria.

    He said that “the solar hybrid project at Jabi Lake Mall is another example of Nigeria’s pioneering role in clean energy transition and also highlights the critical role Nigeria is already playing in the UK COP26 Energy Transition Council”.

    The Minister commended the efforts of partners in providing support for the implementation of the federal government Energizing Economies Initiative programme (EEI) .

    He assured that the Jabi Lake solar power project is one of the many others to be inaugurated in Nigeria in the coming months.

    On his part, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Rural Electrification Agency, the implementing agency, Engr. Salihijo Ahmad commended the team for maintaining such a sustainable design.

    While explaining that the EEI supports the rapid deployment of renewable energy solutions to provide clean, safe, affordable and reliable energy to economic clusters such as markets, shopping centers and industrial facilities, he added that through EEI, businesses are already being sustainably powered across Nigeria.

    Also speaking, the United Nations Special Representative of Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All, Ms. Damilola Ogunbiyi, says “this represents a good example of UK private sector companies like Actis implementing sustainable clean energy transition projects at scale across the African continent, with a particular focus on energy efficiency and renewable energy, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and UK’s COP26 Energy Transition Campaign.”

    Deputy British High Commissioner, Mr. Ben Llewelyn-Jones, noted that, “the solar installation at Jabi Lake Mall represents a pioneering initiative by Actis, a UK managed investment firm, to commit to the pressing sustainable initiatives in Africa while adhering to sound economic principles. It serves as a case study for others to emulate.

    “I am delighted that Nigeria is a prominent member of the COP26 Energy Transition Council, which seeks to accelerate the transition to clean power as part of a green economic recovery, through enhanced cooperation.”

    On his part, Principal at Actis, Tolu Sokenu, said, “We are very proud to be Nigeria’s first mall powered with solar energy. As pioneers in Sub-Saharan Africa’s commercial real estate space, we wanted to show that incorporating environmental sustainability energy efficient buildings across the continent is achievable. It supports our mission to reduce our carbon footprint and have a positive impact on the environment. It will also heavily reduce our reliance on grid and diesel while providing energy savings for the mall.”

    Head of Business Development for CrossBoundary Energy, James Shoetan, added that “now that we’ve commissioned this solar plant, CBE is providing Jabi Lake Mall with cleaner, cheaper, reliable power and with no upfront cost or technical risk. It’s fantastic to work with early adopters like Actis, who can inspire like-minded businesses in the region to make the switch to solar.“

    There are 1,848 solar PV modules located on the roof of the mall which generates approximately 850MWh per year of electricity. Besides cutting energy costs, the solar facility will cut Jabi Lake Mall’s reliance on polluting diesel generators and will reduce carbon emissions by over 13,000 tonnes in line with the Paris agreement and sustainable development goals.

    Jabi Lake Mall, located next to Jabi Lake in Abuja. The mall building adopted a “green-by-design” approach, guided by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) sustainability principles to accommodate solar renewable energy.

  • Innovate To Meet The New Normal, Dr. Linda Ayade Tells Staff.

    Innovate To Meet The New Normal, Dr. Linda Ayade Tells Staff.

     

    The President of the Mediatrix Development Foundation and wife of the Governor of Cross River State, Dr. Linda Ayade, has said that the COVID-19 pandemic had created a new normal, and as such, visionary organizations must adopt new ways of doing things to achieve their developmental goals rather than waiting and wishing that things will return to how they used to be.

    Speaking during an interactive session with staff of the Mediatrix Development Foundation (MDF), Dr. Ayade encouraged the staff to be especially creative in adopting new approaches in managing their school-based projects as the present reality no more encourages large gatherings, hence affecting the operations of the MDF Health Clubs in various schools across the state.

    The Founder then called on all staff to put on their thinking caps and come up with innovative approaches in impacting communities in 2021 while tasking the management to step down trainings to the new staff.

    Speaking earlier, the Chief Operating Officer of MDF, Mr. Jeffrey Adamade, briefed the President on the 2020 partnerships which he described as successful. MDF implemented various projects in the year under review including Peaceful Co-existence with UNHCR; the TAFT project focusing on empowerment of Refugees and Host communities in Akamkpa with UNWOMEN; and, the US Embassy-funded small grant project respectively.

    About 15 of the 28 staff of MDF were present in the Calabar office during the interaction and each staff had the opportunity to share their experiences since joining the organization.

    The Governor’s wife encouraged the staff to be diligent in their work and to consider their contributions to the NGO as an investment into humanity and their own career growth.

  • Hon. Maria Akwaji Set To Empower Constituents As She Inaugurates Committee To Mark One Year Funeral Anniversary Of Her Husband

    Hon. Maria Akwaji Set To Empower Constituents As She Inaugurates Committee To Mark One Year Funeral Anniversary Of Her Husband

    By Elijah Ugani

    The Member representing Obudu State constituency in the Cross River State House of Assembly, Hon. Mrs. Akwaji is set to empower 60 constituents as she marks one year funeral anniversary of her departed husband, late Hon. Dr. Godwin Akwaji.

    Hon. Maria Akwaji disclosed this during the inauguration of the committee to plan the event.

    Speaking during the inauguration, the lawmaker intimated the committee that “by June, 18th 2021, it will be one year since my dear husband departed and bearing in mind that by June, it will be six months when my constituents overwhelmingly voted me to continue the work my husband had started, I have decided to use the opportunity to do a thank you visit during the anniversary.

    “As part of the activities to mark the one year funeral anniversary, I want to undertake a mini empowerment: To get 20 youths, two from each ward and train them on skills that could be undertaken within three months and provide them with startup kits.
    Secondly, to identify 20 women/widows that are currently into petty business and support them with #20,000.00 each. Thirdly, to support 20 farmers with fertilizer as we go into farming season.

    Inaugurating the committee, Hon. Mrs. Akwaji charged members of the committee to put in their best for the realization of her dreams. “I believe that the people I invited can assist me to plan the event and so I commission the committee to begin work, she added.

    Responding on behalf of the committee, the Chairman, Hon. Peter Okaba thanked the lawmaker for the confidence reposed on him and the committee and promised to coordinate the committee to achieve desired result. He however, observed that the committee should be composed of at least one person from each ward.

    Composition of the committee

    Hon. Peter Okaba (Chairman) – Ukpe ward
    Mrs. Kate Ajibike – Urban ii
    Hon. Alorye Adigeb – Urban I
    Hon. Philip Ikpah – Alege/Ubang
    Hon. Sunday Inyali – Utugwang North
    Hon. Sylvester Agabi – Utugwang South
    Mr. Emmanuel Utande – Begiading
    Hon. Frank Agim – Ipong
    Mr. Phydel Aben – Utugwang Central
    Hon. Tony Adah
    Mr. Jeffrey Adamade
    Comr. Elijah Ugani
    Hon. Emmanuel Akwagiobe (Secretary) – Angiaba/Begiaka Ward.

    Recall that Hon. Mrs. Maria Akwaji was elected to replace her late husband, Hon. Goodwin Akwaji of blessed memory, as member of the Criss River State House of Assembly, Obudu state constituency, on December 5th, 2020.

    She is barely four months in office as a legislator.

  • Inyang Asibong Calls For New Response Strategy To Refugees Situation As UNHCR Partners CRSG.

    Inyang Asibong Calls For New Response Strategy To Refugees Situation As UNHCR Partners CRSG.

     

     

    The Commissioner, Ministry of International Development Cooperation Dr Inyang Asibong, has urged the United Nation’s Organization in charge of Refugees UNHCR, to evolve new strategies of partnership with the state with a view to bring about proper response to refugees challenges.

    The Commissioner made this known when Officials of UNHCR paid a courtesy visit to the Ministry.

    Receiving a team of UNHCR Officials in her office, the Commissioner said as a Ministry that mediates between the State Government and International Organizations working in the State, it was necessary to profile the activities of the Organization as it relates to refugees.

    Dr Asibong emphasized that as a UN Agency that handles affairs of the displaced persons especially within the African region, UNHCR owes it as a duty, to make available their programs and projects.

    “I want to say welcome, and thank you for coming, UNHCR has been working in Cross River State, I know that you’re doing very well. I’ve severally been to the Refugee settlement you have in Ogoja”

    The Commissioner further explained that the Ministry’s mandate was to coordinate activities of Development Partners. She used the occasion to request UNHCR to review its response approach to enable the state government key into its plan for effective partnership to ameliorate the plight of the refugees in the state.

    Speaking earlier on the essence of the visit, the head of UNHCR office in Cross River Mr Tesfaye Bekele, stated that Cross River is one of the few states where refugees are treated with dignity as brothers and sisters, because of the pragmatic leadership of the Governor, Prof Ben Ayade.

    Mr. Bekele averred that “Honestly speaking, this is commendable, we are happy about it. We’ll continue to cooperate with the State Government, but we need your support”

    Mr Tesfaye also noted that UNHCR needs expansion and currently has presence in Ogoja, Cross River State, Benue, Taraba and wherever there are refugees. He explained that the Organization which has its operational office in Ogoja currently, oversees all refugees programs including the Cameroon refugees program in the states of Cross River, Taraba and Benue. He said the choice of Ogoja was because that is where the Organization has the largest number of refugees. The Head of Sub office agreed on an MOU to be entered into, to improve on support from the State Government.

    In attendance at the meeting were, the Head of Sub office Mr Tesfaye Bekele; UNHCR Protection Officer, Jonathan Darko and Christopher Mubanga, the Head of Calabar Field Office.
    Others were the Permanent Secretary of MIDC, Mr Akwaji Timothy, and Directors in the MIDC.

    Highpoint of the visit was the delineation of an MOU between the Ministry and UNHCR.

  • Beebo/Bumaji To Have One Of The Best Road Networks In CRS By 2022 – Sandy Onor.

    Beebo/Bumaji To Have One Of The Best Road Networks In CRS By 2022 – Sandy Onor.

    By Elijah Ugani

    The senator representing Cross River Central senatorial district, Sen. Prof. Sandy Ojang Onor has stated that the Beebo/Bumaji road is going to be one of the best road networks in Cross River State by 2022.

    The lawmaker made this known on the 3rd of April, 2021 at Kakwe – Beebo during a launching for the construction of Beebo/Bumaji Road organized by the community.

    The senator who was represented at the event by his Senior Legislative Aide, Associate Prof. Dave Imbua maintained that the development of any community depends on its road network, and where there are no roads, it is difficult for anything else to be done.

    In his words “This is a project that I take to heart and I will do everything possible to make sure that by the end of 2022, Beebo/Bumaji community will have one of the best road networks in Cross River State.

    “I appreciate this project because I also come from a community that has difficulties with access road, so the same burden I have for my community, Nsofan in Etung Local Government Area, is the same burden I have for other communities in the Central Senatorial District that are yet to be provided with good road network.

    “Initially, when the organizers of this programme came to me, I told them not to worry, because I have a special programme for this road by 2022, but on a second thought, I said it is good for people to start a project so that they can take ownership and responsibility for it. I will be making other interventions after now.

    “Whatever contribution that is being made today will be the beginning of a long process of funding until this road is completed. On this note, I want to make a donation of half a million naira”

    In his capacity, the Senior Legislative Aide to senator Sandy Onor, Associate Prof. Dave Imbua used the opportunity to call on well meaning cross Riverians to rise to the challenge of stopping the indiscriminate and crazy deforestation going on in Eastern Boki.

    Imbua averred that “On a personal note, for those who are my friends on social media, you will realize that an issue that has occupied me in the past months is the rate at which deforestation is taking place in Eastern Boki.

    “I made a claim which I thought I was right, but from the way the chairman of this occasion, Ambassador Soni Abang, has spoken this evening, I now know that my claim was not right because I said it is one thing that is making me cry more than the bereaved, but I now know that there are other people who are seriously concerned.

    “Let me say to the Chairman of this occasion that on a matter of this nature, you don’t need to look at people’s faces, by the nature of human beings, people must be angry, if they are angry for a good course, I don’t think there is any problem with it. There are things we do for the sake of the future. Future generation of this community needs this environment to live in, if there are destroyed, what do we think will happened.
    It is a fight we must come together to resist and make sure that it does not continue”

  • CUDA Warns Road Defacers Through Sensitization Program

    CUDA Warns Road Defacers Through Sensitization Program

     

    The Calabar Urban Development Authority – CUDA has extended a note of warning to various degrees of road defacers in Calabar through a sensitization walk carried out earlier on today.

    The warning which was issued through the agency’s executive secretary Mr. JoeMary Ekeng-Ita, explained that most road gridlock around town is caused by the incessant activities of mechanics and car wash companies who decide to extend their businesses into most road walkways.

    Expressing dissatisfaction, Mr. Ekeng-Ita noted that it has become pertinent to address this issue but first by thoroughly sending out strong notice of warnings and sensitization such as this.

    In his words; “today’s exercise is to carry out an awareness. Mostly to the mechanics on our roads. Most of the mechanics have turned our city roads into their workshops.

    “Vehicles are packed indiscriminately without regards to other road users. They pack the vehicles there, drop the engine, spill oil on the road.

    “So, this exercise is to sensitize them that such attitude is not good because CUDA has been saddled with the responsibility to take care of those kind of issues”

    Touring round most of the affected areas in Calabar South and Calabar Municipality, the Executive Secretary also decried the situation where most of these businesses operating within Calabar, fail to make provision of convenience for their customers who in turn pollute the environment indiscriminately, making it not conducive for other citizens.

    “You’d agree with me that almost all the workshops, maybe very few, have convenience for their customers.
    They litter the whole place, they urinate anyway and do all sort of things because they don’t have conveniences in those workshops and so we are trying to enforce that.

    “If you must have a workshop where 20-30 people are gathered everyday, you should have convenience for them to use”, he said.

    Also warning against the activities of car wash companies occupying most roads in Calabar, the agency warned that all such operations must be taken off the road to preserve the integrity of these roads constructed to stand the taste of time as it cost government so much to fix them.

    Notably, the agency through it’s Executive Secretary hinted that enforcement would be thorough and would come after the easter holidays.
    “We will continue move around town, give them enough time to adjust so that by the time we clamp down on them, they won’t have any excuse.

    “We had carried out an announcement about three weeks ago which was on radio for about 5 days.
    When we do this, we will continue with the announcement.
    “We are looking at starting to enforce somewhere in the middle of April, just after the easter holidays. So they can have ample time to checkmate most of these highlighted issues” he added

     

  • 280 Cultists Embrace Peace In Boki As Local Gov’t Chairman Initiates “New Boki Project”

    280 Cultists Embrace Peace In Boki As Local Gov’t Chairman Initiates “New Boki Project”

     

    The Chairman of Boki Local Government Area in Cross River State, Pst. John Ewa, on the 27th of March 2021 launched the “NEW BOKI PROJECT” with a view for cultists in the area to drop their arms and embrace peace.

    The event, which took place at the Primary School in Bunyia, had a huge turnout of Boki sons and daughters in attendance where over 280 cultists dropped their arms and embraced peace.

    Some of those present were the DPO of Okundi Police Division, the Commander of Army Battalion Afi, the Head of Civil Defence Corps, the Head of Immigration in Boki, representative of the Police Commissioner, as well as members of the Boki Peace and Reconciliation Committee, including Barr A.B Tase, Mr Joe Tate (both former Chairmen of Boki) as well as Barr. Christie Okoi.

    Speaking at the occasion, the Chairman, Hon Pastor Ewa, lamented that Boki had been involved in series of civil unrest, hence the need to promote peaceful co-existence among the youths for the radical development of the area.

    He maintained that it was only peace that can guarantee the needed development that Boki yearns for.

    According to him, since the communal and cult related clashes began, Boki has lost over 50 youths, a situation he said was worrisome.

    He explained that as a result of the quest to find a lasting solution for peace to return to Boki, he had decided to to embark on what he tagged “THE NEW BOKI PROJECT” so as to create other viable alternatives for the youths in Boki to explore their potentials.

    Pastor Ewa admonished the youths to shun cultism, saying that there was no gain in being a cultist.

    He advised the youths of Boki to channel their energies towards avenues that would improve their productive life.

    He disclosed that arrangements were on ground to use a facility that would enable the youths who are being rehabilitated to undergo some training and even acquire skills in order to be properly reintegrated to the society.

    The Heads of various Security Agencies who spoke at the event, advised the youths to shun cultism and embrace peace so that Boki can achieve the needed development.

    Members of the Boki Peace and Reconciliation Committee also spoke on the need for Boki youths to give peace a chance so that the needed developments would be attracted to Boki land.

    Some members of the youth groups who spoke on behalf of others, promised to turn a new leaf and support the administration of Pastor John Ewa’s efforts towards bringing lasting peace and developments to Boki nation.

    Highlights of the event was a pledge by the youths who promised to leave cultism and embrace peace and also support “THE NEW BOKI PROJECT”.