The Lumine News

Category: Metro News

  • CRNEWMAP Donates Compact Truck To Waste Management Agency

    CRNEWMAP Donates Compact Truck To Waste Management Agency

    By Admin

    Cross River State Government in partnership with the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) has donated a brand new compact truck and other working equipments to the State Waste Management Agency.

    The effort is in keeping with the commitment of the State Government led by *Gov Ben Ayade* to strengthen the Agency’s capacity and operation of the Waste Management Agency (CRSWMA)

    Speaking at the handover ceremony, the Commissioner, Ministry of International Development Cooperation, *Inyang Asibong* explained the vision of the State’s environmental cleanliness policy to sustain Calabar in particular, and Cross River State as Clean and Green Corridor in Nigeria.

    Asibong said the partnership with NEWMAP to deliver the compact truck was to boost the daily operations of the Cross River Waste management Agency routine works.

    Also speaking, the SSA on NEWMAP, *Mr Francis Agaba* explained that the truck has been tested with satisfactory performance on collection and disposal of waste products and optimally ready for use .

    Receiving the truck on behalf of the CR waste management Agency, the Director General, Mr Sunday Oko thanked the State Government through the Ministry of International Development Cooperation and NEWMAP for boosting the Agency with another truck which will significantly improve public solid waste disposal across the state.

  • Rivers State Govt Pledges 500M To Support Sokoto Rebuild Burnt Market

    Rivers State Govt Pledges 500M To Support Sokoto Rebuild Burnt Market

    By Kelvin Ebiri – Rivers Govt House Press

    Rivers State government has pledged Five Hundred Million Naira (N500m) to support the Sokoto State government rebuild the Sokoto Central market that was gutted by fire on Tuesday.

    Part of the money will also be used to support victims of the devastating fire that destroyed goods worth billions of Naira.

    Rivers State governor , Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, made the pledge on behalf of the State government during a visit to the Governor of Sokoto State ,Aminu Waziri Tambuwal on Wednesday.

    Governor Wike who was conducted round the destroyed market by Governor Tambuwal, said he was saddened by the devastating fire that razed over 60 percent of the 16000 shops there.

    “We have come here to commiserate and sympathise with our brother, our friend and the good people of Sokoto State on what had happened to one of the biggest market in this country, the Sokoto central market.

    “When I got the information last night, I was touched and I said as brothers, what affects you affects us. What affects Sokoto State affects Rivers State.”

    The Rivers State governor who empathized with the traders over the loss of their good worth billions of Naira, thanked God that no life was lost in the disastrous inferno.

    “There is nothing you can equate with life. That there was no life lost, we give glory to the almighty Allah. Having come here, I’ve seen the level of destruction, it is unfortunate. People have lost their goods, the state government will have to see how this market will be brought back to the way it is supposed to be .

    “We sympathise with you. We identify with you and we know the negative effect on the economy of the various families; families who depend for day to day trading and sales of their goods .”

    Governor Wike expressed his appreciation to the various security and paramilitary agencies that prevented the fire from destroying the entire market.

    He pledged that the government of Rivers State will support Sokoto State to rebuild the market and ameliorate the plight of the traders with N500 million.

    “On behalf of the government and the people of Rivers State, we will support the Sokoto State government to see how quickly they can rebuild this market” he added.

    Governor Tambuwal thanked Governor Wike and the people of Rivers State for the kind gesture.

    Governor Wike also paid a courtesy visit to the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar in his palace to commiserate with him over the demise of junior brother , Hon. Abdulkadir Jeli Abubakar, who was Sokoto State Commissioner for Home Affairs.

    In his response, Sultan Abubakar, acknowledged the age-long relationship between Sokoto and Rivers State and lauded to Governor Wike for sustaining it.

    He explained that Governor Wike’s visit and pledge to support Sokoto State is a demonstration of what Nigeria is and should be.

    The Sultan further commended Governor Wike for his remarkable developmental stride in Rivers State

    ” I commend you and congratulate you for all what you have been doing for Rivers state in particular, because we have seen a lot of infrastructure being put in place and that is why they call you Mr project in Rivers.

    ” You have just some few more years, please do much more so that no body will beat you when he take over from you

    Similarly, the Sultan lauded Governor Tambuwal for his judicious management of the state resources which earned the State a World Bank grant under the State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability And Sustainability (SFTAS) program.

  • Odukpani Lawmakers Impeaches Leader On 5-Count Charges, Swears In New Leader

    Odukpani Lawmakers Impeaches Leader On 5-Count Charges, Swears In New Leader

     

    By  Admin

    The Leader of Odukpani Legislative Council, Hon. Godswill Iya has been impeached for alleged misappropriation of public funds. The lawmakers also elected Effiong Okokon to replace the impeached Leader.

    The Lumine News gathered that the impeachment came on the grounds of a 5-count charge signed by 11 out of the 13 councillors in the Local Government Area.

    The charges against the erstwhile leader reads:

    “1. That the leadership style of Hon. Godwin Iya is fraught with inefficiency and administrative high-handedness without regards to his colleagues in the council.

    “2. That his leadership is enmeshed in gross embezzlement and misappropriation of funds meant for the legislature and reckless spending of legislative vote without due process.

    “3. That as a leader whose fundamental duty is to protect the sanctity of the legislature and the interest of his colleagues, Hon. Godswill Iya on the contrary used his position as a leader to obtain monies from 4 of his colleagues namely; Hon. Eton Effiong Okon, Hon. Bassey Duke, Hon. Nkoyo Obo and Hon Okokon Effiom, under the false pretense of carrying out an executive order, thereby amounting to gross abuse of office, a height of criminality and fraud.

    “4. That Hon. Godswill Iya is incompetent in legislative matters and lack the requisite capacity to lead the revered Odukpani Legislative Council.

    “5. That Hon. Godswil Iya is highly corrupt and used his office as an avenue to amass wealth to himself as well as attempting to blackmail the executive arm of Odukpani Local government council for his own pecuniary interest.”

    The motion further reads, “In view of the aforementioned, we hereby declare that we have completely lost the confidence we had reposed on Hon. Godswill Etim Iya as our Leader, and in line with part 4 section 33, sub-section 2c of the Cross River State Local Government Law, hereby declare Hon. Godswill Iya removed and he cease to act as the leader of Odukpani legislative council with immediate effect.

    “Hon Godswill Iya by this declaration and order shall handover all official properties of Odukpani Local Government Council including official vehicle to the newly elected leader of council with immediate effect”.

  • C’River To Inject World Bank SFTAS Grant Into The 2021 Budget To Curb Youth Restiveness – Ekpenyong Jr.

    C’River To Inject World Bank SFTAS Grant Into The 2021 Budget To Curb Youth Restiveness – Ekpenyong Jr.

     

    The Cross River State Commissioner for Finance, Mr Asuquo Ekpenyong Jr has disclosed to the press that
    Cross River State government intends to inject $20.4 million dollars grant from the World Bank’s States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability , SFTAS, programme into implementation of 2021 budget of blush and bliss.

    Mr Ekpenyong Jr stated this on Friday in Calabar during a press briefing at the Ministry of Finance Headquarters that the money would be ploughed into the implementation of the state’s 2021 budget which has emphasis on job creation for the youths.

    He stated that Cross River state met the eligibility criteria for the 2019 programme and was accordingly pre-qualified for the detailed annual performance assessment of all qualified Nigerian states under the States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) programme.

    The assessment exercise was conducted in September 2020 by the Independent Verification Assessors (IVA) from the office of the Auditor General of the Federation and JFR Consulting, showed that Cross River state achieved 6 Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLRs), out of 9 applicable DLRs for 2019, and 3 DLRs out of 3DLRs, i.e 100% for the 2020 additional financing.

    The Commissioner said that the report noted that Cross River state has strengthened its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) collection, implemented biometric verification to reduce Payroll fraud, improved its procurement practices for increased transparency, strengthened its public debt management and fiscal responsibility framework, improved debt sustainability and instituted a more transparent budgeting process over the course of the fiscal year.

    The Commissioner used the opportunity to commend the members of the SFTAS state Steering Committee for their untiring efforts in bringing the state machinery up to speed towards achieving resounding success in the programme. The Steering Committee comprises of the Ministry of Finance, Internal Revenue Service, Office of Accountant General, Bureau of Due Process, Debt Management Department, and Auditor General’s Office.

    He further stated that, “the independent verification success is a confirmation of the Ayade led administration’s commitment to transparency and fiscal performance”.

    The SFTAS programme is a product of mutual agreement between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the World Bank, designed to strengthen the fiscal transparency, accountability and sustainability in Nigerian states as a way of improving their revenue base, increasing fiscal efficiency in public expenditure and reducing debt overhang.

    It’s a four year programme that runs from 2018 to 2022, with a budget size of $750million.

  • Operation Akpakwu Demolishes 4 Houses Of Kidnappers And One Brothel In Calabar

    Operation Akpakwu Demolishes 4 Houses Of Kidnappers And One Brothel In Calabar

    By Admin

    The State security outfit codenamed “Operation Akpakwu”, has demolished four houses at 8-Miles area in Calabar owned by suspected kidnappers arrested by the security outfit.

    The team also demolished a brothel close to the popular Flour Mill junction in Calabar for allegedly harbouring criminals and consumers of illicit drugs.

    Speaking after the exercise on Monday, Mr Henry Okokon, the State Security Adviser (Southern Senatorial District) to Gov. Ben Ayade, said the exercise was one of the ways of chasing criminals out of the state.

    Okokon explained that the state government placed premium on security of lives and properties hence, the need to fight against all forms of criminality.

    “This is part of the activities of Operation Akpakwu, a special force set up by Gov. Ayade to fight crime in the state, especially kidnapping.

    “This demolition exercise is ongoing. The governor has warned that anyone who is involved in any form of criminality, or any landlord who is found harbouring any criminal, should desist from it.

    “These houses belong to individuals who have been caught in the act of kidnapping in the state.

    “The brothel was also brought down because the management of the facility was also harbouring criminals and drug addicts.

    “This is a warning signal to everybody. Whosoever is involved in crime of any form should desist from it,” he said.

    Okokon urged business operators in the state to go about their normal businesses, adding that the state government was doing its best to protect them from criminals.

     

  • Ogoja Local Government Chairman Pledges Support For Mediatrix Development Foundation To Provide Livelihood To Cameroonian Refugees

    Ogoja Local Government Chairman Pledges Support For Mediatrix Development Foundation To Provide Livelihood To Cameroonian Refugees

    By Admin

    The Chairman of Ogoja Local Government Council, Hon. Emmanuel Ishabor has pledged unwavering support for Mediatrix Development Foundation MDF, to ensure effective implementation of the livelihood project for the Cameroonian refugees in the local government.

    Hon. Ishabor made this known on the 18th January, 2021 in his office when a team of Mediatrix Development Foundation paid him a courtesy/advocacy visit as part of stakeholders engagement to intimate him of her programme designed for both the refugees and host communities.

    In his words “As a council, we are very determined to provide support that is within our reach to enable Mediatrix implement the livelihood project for the Cameroonian refugees in Ogoja.

    “The HOLGA will give you the necessary support needed to achieve your result. Wherever you need us to come in, kindly intimate us and on time too.

    “The United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR is doing exceedingly great in coordinating the affairs of refugees and we are very determined to provide the enabling support and environment for UNHCR and all implementing partners as long as the refugees continue to stay here, while we anticipate an end to the squabbles and skirmishes ravaging the refugees back in Cameroon”

    Earlier, the team lead, Mr. Elijah Ugani intimated the Chairman of MDF plan to train and empower the refugees and host communities members on vocational skills in partnership with the local government structure.

    Mr. Ugani listed vocational areas of the training to include; Plumbing & Tiling, Electrical Installation, Leather work (Shoe and bag making), Tailoring & Fashion designing, Hair styling & barbing, Catering & Pastries as well as POP painting and Ceiling work.

    Ogoja Local Government Council has generously donated land for the housing of the Cameroonian refugees in Adagom 1 & 3 and Ukende.

  • Bonny Ewhe Sets The Pace, Donates Generator and Cash To National Identity Management Commission

    Bonny Ewhe Sets The Pace, Donates Generator and Cash To National Identity Management Commission

    By Elijah Ugani

    The Chairman of Obudu Local Government Council, Mr. Boniface Ewhe has donated a 2900KVA generator and a cash of (#50,000.00) fifty thousand naira only to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Obudu branch to facilitate enrolment of those who were yet to be enrolled.

    Presenting the generator, the Chairman noted that “we are worried that majority of our people are yet to be enrolled for NIMC, and with the directives to link all sim cards to NIMC, it becomes very obvious that those who were not captured, would come to be enrolled.

    “As a council, we are not unaware of the challenges that beclouds this exercise, ranging from power supply to provision of fuel. It is on this note that I present this generator and a token of #50,000.00 to aid your work”

    When contacted by The Lumine News, Mr. Ewhe said “we want to avoid the idea of officials charging people to pay money for enrollment. When people pay transport from their villages to come to the registration center, asking them to pay money for any logistics is abnormal.

    “We have to provide the needed logistics for NIMC to enable them do their job. Government is government, be it federal, state or local government. We have to take ownership of the enrolment process.

    “When they derail, we can then ask the necessary questions, for now, we will give them all the support they need to do their job effectively, and we are hopeful that they will deliver on their mandate”

    Mr. Ewhe used the opportunity to call on all residents of Obudu to take advantage of the opportunity created to enroll for NIMC as to be linked to their sim cards.

    Receiving the generator on behalf of the Chairman of the National Identity Management Commission, the Head of NIMC Obudu, Mr. Paul Alekwu thanked the Chairman of council for the magnanimity in donating the generator as well as providing fuel, and pledged utmost use for the purpose it is meant for.

    Mr. Alekwu used the opportunity to call on Chairmen of other councils in the state to follow the path created by Mr. Boniface Ewhe to ease the enrollment process.

    This gesture by the Obudu council Chairman would not have come at a better time than now, when an Aide to Governor Ben Ayade had raised alarm that some NIMC officials are charging and collecting as high as #2,000.00 for enrollment.

    A development that has led to the suspension of some of the officials of the commission.

  • C’River Gov’t Inaugurates COVID-19 Action Recovery And Economic Stimulus Steering Committee

    C’River Gov’t Inaugurates COVID-19 Action Recovery And Economic Stimulus Steering Committee

    BY admin

    The Cross River Government has inaugurated the COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (CARES) committee to steer the activities of the programme in the state for the next two years.

    Deputy Governor of the state, Prof. Ivara Esu, who inaugurated the team on Wednesday in Calabar, said that the project was timely and coming at a time where the Nation’s economic needed to be stimulated with various programmes.

    CARES is a World Bank Assisted programme which is supported by the Federal and State Governments in Nigeria, designed to stimulate the economy.

    According to him, with the coming in of the programme which is scheduled to start by April, the state will consolidate on the gains and reduce her poverty rate of 36.3 to at least, a single digit.

    He cited the destruction of properties in government offices and private homes in Calabar during the #EndSars protest on Oct. 24, 2020 as one of the factors that has further created poverty in the state.

    “I want to specially commend members of this committee and especially the Chairman of the committee, Dr Inyang Asibong, who is the Commissioner for International Development Cooperation for her drive in making this programme a reality in the state,” he said.

    Earlier in her opening speech, Dr Asibong mentioned the benefiting areas to include CSDA, FADAMA, Enterprise Development Funding, Livelihood, Public Work Fare and the State Cash Transfer Unit.

    She explained that the focus of the programme was to help in the recovery of the economy by way of collective involvement of all relevant stakeholders who have been identified to play certain roles.

    “In the area of public work fare, we are going to get youths, both skilled and unskilled, to be meaningful engaged so that they can earn a living.

    “For the Cash Transfer Unit, pregnant women, the vulnerable and physically challenged persons will also benefit from this platform.

    “Also, the FADAMA project will cater for the provision of input to farmers among many other beneficiaries,” she said.

    She commended Gov. Ben Ayade for placing premium on intervention programmes in the state, adding that the state was ready for the implementation of the programme

    Mr Toni Ikpeme, Board Chairman of Community and Social Development Agency, who spoke on behalf of members of the committee, assured that they were going to give in their best in order to achieve the mandate of programme.

    Members of the committee include the Commissioner for Finance, Mr Asuquo Ekpenyong, Commissioner for Commerce, Mrs Rosemary Archibong and Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Okon Owuna,

    Other members are; Commissioner for Youths and Skill Development, Mr Signor Omang-Idiege, Mrs Marjorie Asuquo, Special Adviser to Gov. Ayade on Enterprise Development Funding, Mr Gabriel Adah, Director General of Cross River Commercial Transport Regulatory Agency and Mrs Monique Ogon, Special Adviser to Gov. Ayade on Enterprise.

    Also in the committee are, Mr Victor Edet, Special Adviser to Gov. Ayade on International Development, Mrs Kate Ajibike, Special Adviser, Community Development Enterprise and Mr Felix Ita, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of International Development Cooperation.

  • Just In: Communal Skirmishes Between Abankang And Alok Claims Two Lives

    Just In: Communal Skirmishes Between Abankang And Alok Claims Two Lives

    By Elijah Ugani

    Two persons are said to have lost their lives to a communal Skirmishes that ensued between Abankang and Alok both in Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State.

    The two communities are along Ikom – Ogoja high way.

    Commuters have expressed concern that the Skirmishes if not checked might put their lives at risk.

    The crisis is not unconnected with land dispute.

    As at the time of filing this report, soldiers have been deployed to the boundary to maintain peace.

  • Obudu Cargo Airport: 3 Shot And Hospitalised As Police Fires Protesters

    Obudu Cargo Airport: 3 Shot And Hospitalised As Police Fires Protesters

    Culled From CrossRiverWatch

    Three residents of Okambi community have been shot by a combined team of Police personnel and civilian gunmen in Obudu Local Government Area of northern Cross River State, over the controversial proposed Passenger and Cargo Airport, eyewitnesses say.

    The victims are currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed medical facility while two others arrested are also detained at the Mopol 75 base in Obudu.

    The victims include a woman who was shot on both legs, a young man shot in the wrist, another was shot in the elbow while the fourth was hit by a heavy stick by a Police officer which led to him losing consciousness for a while.

    The shooting, beatdown and arrests occurred when resident protested to halt the demolition of houses without compensation by the Cross River State Government to pave way for its proposed Obudu International Cargo and Passenger Airport.

    Mr. Paul Obi, an aide to Governor Ben Ayade who is in charge of the project had written the community to inform them that demolition will commence today while compensation will be processed at a later date.

    “We mobilized our youths and women and went there to tell them that they had to resettle us first and pay compensation before the demolition of our homes, but they brought guns, Operation Akpakwu and gangstars to shoot at us and chase us away while the bulldozers moved in,” a senior resident (name withheld based on advice from security experts) told CrossRiverWatch moments ago.

    Operation Akpakwu is a security team comprising of personnel from the Police, military and paramilitary forces operating in the State set up in December to combat the rising spate of kidnappings, gang wars and armed robbery.

    Meanwhile, Mr. Paul is said to have employed civilians and armed them to protect himself following allegations that he was not advising Mr. Ayade properly which led to the myriads of challenges bedeviling the airport project.

    In his statement to CrossRiverWatch, he claimed those injured were shot by natives of Okambi community and accused them of attacking a Police officer.

    “Community men shot an Operator, burnt a Dozer (sic), vandalized many, deep machete cut on a Police officer attached to project (sic),” he wrote.

    On those injured, he wrote: “Those who got gun shots were from unprofessional handling of firearms within Okambi Youths. One Iduku Udide and Alonso Ukaba did the shooting that affected them within the crowd.

    But, Kajetan Ifeanyi, another eyewitness said the protesters demanded to see the Governor in person for meaningful agreement to be reached, and also ordering the suspension of work within the Okambi axis.

    According to Kajetan, “Today being Tuesday, 5th of January 2021, it was indeed a tragic morning in the Community as security operatives numbered in their hundreds alongside some thugs and contractors stormed the project site to resume work, reacting to this development, the villagers mobilised themselves to protest against this public ignominy.”

    He explained that the lady shot is a breastfeeding mother.

    This is not the first time violence has erupted over the airport which has cost two lives including those of a Senior Immigration personnel, Mr. Emmanuel Ushie and one community chief in Igwo village.

    Dozens have been arrested with some facing trial while properties of those who spoke vocally over the discrepancies in compensation have had their properties seized and kept at the Mopol 75 Squadron base at the Mega Hilton hotel owned by Mr. Ayade.

    Several protests have rocked the project with the Police often drafted in to shoot and scare away residents several times.

    The State recently claimed that over NGN900 million was paid as compensation to the residents of the five impacted communities. But, natives of these communities have continuously denied this, especially Okambi and Ikwomikwu which will lose at least 80 and 90 percent of ancestral lands. Those affected have also challenged the State to publish the list of beneficiaries.