The Lumine News

Category: Metro News

  • 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.

  • #EndSARS Destruction: Cross River Gov’t Attracts World Bank support

    #EndSARS Destruction: Cross River Gov’t Attracts World Bank support

    By Admin

    The Cross River State Government has received support from the World Bank after the destruction of properties during the #EndSars protest  by hoodlums that took place in Calabar on Oct. 23 and 24.

    After the destruction, the state government through the Ministry of International Development Cooperation had approached the World Bank to render support to the state, especially in the delivery units of the World Bank Assisted Programme, CARES, which is scheduled to commence very soon in the state.

    The items donated include furniture, 20 seater conference chairs, air conditioners and inverters, laptop computers and printers, virtual meeting equipment, hybrid inverter with solar among many others.

    Speaking after distributing the equipment to the different units, the Commissioner for MIDC, Dr Inyang Asibong, expressed happiness with the gesture from the World Bank, saying that the distribution was coming at the first day of resumption of duties in the year.

    She explained that two result areas of the Ministry, FADAMA and EDF were badly affected during the protest and all the items were destroyed by hoodlums.

    According to her, the items will go a long way to enable the staff of the result areas to get back to work in preparation for the CARES programme.

    “The CARES is COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus of the government. It is going to be a state owned project and Gov. Ben Ayade is so committed about improving the lives of residents in the state.

    “We know that the poverty index in Nigeria is 40.1, and this is really high. Cross River is lower than the national average, 36.3, we want to further reduce that our percentage to at least a single digit.

    “I want to thank the World Bank for coming to our aid at this point in time, and we can assure them we will make the best use of these equipment,” she said.

    Also Speaking, Mr Fidel Udie, the Acting General Manager of Community and Social Development Agency, said that the donation confirms the good working relationship between the state government and the World Bank.

    Udie said that the donation will now put the state in a good position to participate in the CARES programme, which is a World Bank Assisted Programme.

    “These programme is basically meant to target the poor and vulnerable in the society. Of course, without these agencies and their platforms been able to have their working tools and be ready for the implementation of the programme, the state cannot join other states for the programme.

    “Gov. Ayade was able to follow up with the World Bank and here we have these equipment to help the delivery units to be ready for this programme,” he said.

    He mentioned the platforms benefiting from the equipment to include; CSDA, the state coordinating unit, FADAMA, Enterprise Development Funding, Smart City, Public Work Fare and the state Cash Transfer Unit.

  • Bekwarra Council Chairman In Company Of His Wife Celebrates 2021 New Year With Orphans, Pays Hospital Bill For Patients

    Bekwarra Council Chairman In Company Of His Wife Celebrates 2021 New Year With Orphans, Pays Hospital Bill For Patients

     

    The Chairman of Bekwarra Local Government Council, Dr. Josephat Emeka in company of his dear wife, Mrs. Freda Luu Emeka celebrates the 2021 new year with orphans as part of his efforts to put smiles on the faces of the less privileged in the society.

    Dr. Emeka noted that “we have decided to embark on this hospital visitation to appraise the state and situation of the patients, who not privileged to celebrate this year’s new year in their homes on account of various ailments.

    “We cooked for the new born babies. We paid hospital bill for an accident victim and he was discharged.

    “Every position comes with responsibility, and my husband and I have made frantic efforts to reach out to the less privileged. It is our desire that we continue to touch lives as many as we within our lean resources”

    One of the beneficiaries who identified himself simply as Eneji, thanked the Chairman and his dear wife for the show of love and prayed God to continue to bless the family while their resources continue to increase to enable them reach out to others.

    The Chairman and his dear wife undertook the visit to General Hospital Abouchiche, and Primary Health Centre.

    Items provided during the visit includes; Cooked food, drinks, wrappers, diapers for the new born babies and tissues.