The Lumine News

Category: Press release

  • Ayade’s Interview With Arise TV: The Paradox, Farce, And Fact – Ojisi

    Ayade’s Interview With Arise TV: The Paradox, Farce, And Fact – Ojisi

    PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY CROSS RIVER STATE

    9th April 2022

    Press Statement:

    Ayade’s Interview With Arise TV: The Paradox, Farce, and Fact

    Governor Ben Ayade’s ignominious interview granted to Arise TV yesterday, has further underscore the position of the Peoples Democratic Party that the Ben Ayade’s led administration is purely a government whose foundation is built on deceit and lies. For a Governor who has perfected the art of grandiloquence and concussing unsuspecting individuals with litanies of fallacious claims, one wonders where he draws his inspiration and penchant for lying barefacedly.

    Here are some of the paradox from the interview.

    Governor Ben Ayade claimed to have built the Obudu German Hospital, which according to him is the most sophiscated Project built by any Governor in Nigeria. Nothing can be further from the truth as the said Obudu German Hospital is neither sophisticated nor near completion. Like other white elephant Projects of his, the Obudu German hospital is mainly a conduit pipe for the governor to retire public funds. Construction work at the site is quite epileptic and not a single medical equipment has been installed. So, where lies the sophistication?

    On the claim by the Governor that he created 5000 jobs for teachers, the Peoples Democratic Party challenge the Governor to publish the names of the beneficiary and their payroll since 2019. For the sake of emphasis and clarity, the Governor only carried out a kangaroo recruitment of less than 2,300 teachers, unfortunately a greater percent of those recruited are yet to collect their appointment letters not to talk of being on payroll.

    The Governor claimed also to have built the Teachers Continuous Training College in Biase and that the said college is fully functional. This is another mendacious claim as the Teachers Continuous Training College was neither completely funded by the State Government nor is the institution fully functional.

    Of all the lies dished out by the Governor, the most nauseating is his claim of building the biggest pharmaceutical factory in Nigeria called Calapharm. The reality is, we have nothing close to a pharmaceutical company in Cross River State. What we have is a makeshift facility at the Ayade’s industrial park that is neither completed nor operational. We challenge the Governor to mention just one product from the pharmaceutical company that is in the market.

    On the claim that he parades 18,000 Political appointees, the governor has succeeded in making a mockery of governance. What is a single Governor doing with 18,000 Political Appointees in a state that he has repeatedly complained that the economy is comatose? Isn’t it paradoxical that the governor parades such large number of Political appointees under the state payroll some of which are without defined portfolios and job designations yet complains of the economic situation of the state?. It is noteworthy to also stress that the army of food eaters paraded as appointees by Governor Ben Ayade are majorly cultists employed to carry out hatchet jobs during election.

    We call on Cross Riverians to rise and demand total accountability from Governor Ben Ayade. Our dear state cannot continue to be under the stranglehold of his deceits, digital lies and unconscionable approach to governance. We must rise to the occasion and salvage what is left of us as a state. As we approach 2023 Election, we urge Cross Riverians to come out and register in order to vote out this ill-fated government.

    Signed:
    Prince Mike Ojisi
    (State Publicity Secretary)

  • PDP Hails Court Judgement Sacking 20 Lawmakers In Cross River State, Describes Verdict As Victory For The Electorates

    PDP Hails Court Judgement Sacking 20 Lawmakers In Cross River State, Describes Verdict As Victory For The Electorates

    *PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY CROSS RIVER STATE*

    22nd March 2022.

    Press Statement.

    *PDP hails Court Judgement Sacking 20 Lawmakers in Cross River State*
    …..describes verdict as victory for the electorates.

    The Peoples Democratic Party Cross River State has describe the judgement delivered by the Federal High Court Abuja, sacking 20 lawmakers from Cross River State who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress as a landmark judgement and victory for the electorates in Cross River State.

    The judgement which was delivered by Justice Taiwo in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/975/2021 filed by the PDP, held that the defendants, having decamped from the Political party that sponsored their election before the expiration of the period for which they were elected have by virtue of the provisions of Section 68(1)(g) and Section 109 (1) (g) of the Constitution of the federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) respectively, vacated their seats and are not entitled to continue to occupy the various seats or offices into which they were elected. The court also made an order of mandatory injunction compelling INEC to accept from the PDP, the list of its members for the purpose of filling the vacancy created by the exit of the lawmakers.

    In view of the judgement, the Peoples Democratic Party Cross River State congratulates the electorates for standing formidably with the PDP, assures them of more victories ahead.

    Reacting to the judgement, the State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Barr Venatius Ikem called on other members of the All Progressives Congress to take advantage of the “April Transfer” season and return to the Peoples Democratic Party. The State Chairman expressed optimism that the judgement of the court will be implemented and upheld by the appellate courts.

    The Peoples Democratic Party enjoins party faithfuls to remain steadfast and committed to the party in the quest to reclaiming the party’s mandate stolen by APC.

    God bless Cross River State.

    Signed:
    Prince Mike Ojisi
    (State Publicity Secretary)

  • Caterpillar Movement Congratulates Usibe, Expresses Confident That Justice Will Be Done To This Grave Injustice Perpetuated By The Government Of The Day

    Caterpillar Movement Congratulates Usibe, Expresses Confident That Justice Will Be Done To This Grave Injustice Perpetuated By The Government Of The Day

    CATERPILLAR MOVEMENT
    28th Feb, 2022

    Dear, Hon. Michael Ede Usibe
    Member Elect,
    Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency,
    Cross River State

    CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR EMERGENCE
    On behalf of our principal Sen Sandy Onor and the entire Caterpillar Movement political family we wish to Congratulate you on your resounding victory at the just concluded By-election in your Federal Constituency held on the 26th February, 2022.

    Despite the militarisation and violence that was unleashed to intimidate law abiding, harmless and armless voters, your people spoke with a loud voice through the ballots that, they have great confidence in your leadership and our great party, the PDP. We are confident that justice will be done to this grave injustice perpetuated by the government of the day. Not too long, you shall assume office as the elected representative of your people.

    We, the Caterpillar Movement family will continue to support you and your people to ensure that the dividends of democracy is enjoyed by all and sundry. Do accept the assurances of our warm regards as you proceed to rendering effective representation.

    Once again, Accept our congratulations.

    Joe Obi Bisong Hon Chief
    Director General

  • Ayade’s Plan To Use Military And Police To Disrupt By-election: An Act Of Political Banditry – PDP

    Ayade’s Plan To Use Military And Police To Disrupt By-election: An Act Of Political Banditry – PDP

    PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY CROSS RIVER STATE

    24th February 2022

    Press Statement:

    Ayade’s Plan to Use Military and Police to Disrupt By-election: An Act of Political Banditry

    We have received intelligence information about the plan by the failure-ridden APC to collude with the military and some Units of the Police Force to disenfranchise voters and cause mayhem in Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency and Akpabuyo Local Government Area. We have it on good authority that the Governor is currently mobilizing the military, Operation Akpawu and the Sting Unit attached to the Governor’s office to militarize the by-election and dissuade eligible Voters from coming out to vote.

    Aware of the imminent failure awaiting the APC, the Governor and his bloodthirsty party has resorted to Political banditry against the good people of Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency and Akpabuyo. To this end, we call on the Security agencies, especially the Army and the Police to show high level of discipline and professionalism in the discharge of their duties and resist any attempt to be use by self-serving Political bandits to carry out anti-people and anti-democratic electoral malpractice. We call on the good people of Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency and Akpabuyo Local Government to resist any attempt by the broom-wielding bandits in APC to disenfranchise them or rig the election.

    As a party, we are confident that power revolves around the people and we call on the people to come out and vote massively for the people-oriented PDP. Cross River State belongs to all of us and together we shall rescue, reclaim, rebuild and restore it.

    God bless Cross River State.

    Signed:
    Prince Mike Ojisi
    (State Publicity Secretary)

  • Cross River State APC’s Position on Governor Nyesom Wike: Hallucinations Of Defeat. – PDP

    Cross River State APC’s Position on Governor Nyesom Wike: Hallucinations Of Defeat. – PDP

    PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY CROSS RIVER STATE

    23rd February 2022.

    Press Statement:

    Cross River State APC’s Position on Governor Nyesom Wike: Hallucinations of Defeat.

    Yesterday, 22nd February 2022, we watched with amusement the lamentation treatise sent out by the loquacious factional Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Cross River State, Alphonsus Eba, in which the cheap braggart inexplicably accused Governor Nyesom Wike of several baseless, tenuous, unsubstantiated imaginations of his not-so-fertile brain of conspiracies to destabilize Cross River State. The utter disrespect which underlines the press briefing granted by the factional Chairman of APC, Alphonsus Eba, establishes, beyond doubt, the pre-election trauma being faced by the failure-ridden APC ahead of the by-election on Saturday, 26th February, 2022.

    Aware that Governor Nyesom Wike’s visit to Cross River State on Saturday 19th February for the PDP by-election flag-off rally ruffled not a few feathers in APC, we understand the pain and agony in the camp of the APC, which has resulted to an expression of schizophrenia and defeatism.

    We challenge the APC chairman to organize a similar event and attract such a personality like Governor Nyesom Wike in his party to attend. We challenge them to invite their party leaders in South-South to Cross River State.

    It is incongruous that Alphonsus Eba in his howler and humdrum ridden press briefing had the temerity to accuse Governor Nyesom Wike of trying to import Political “cannibalism” into Cross River State. Pray someone should please interpret what exactly this means in English language. I thought cannibalism refers to species that feed on their type, in simple language.

    For a green-horn in Party administration that was imposed on the party by Governor Ayade without any experience whatsoever in political party administration, who is only pretending to be running the party because most of the prominent stakeholders have been sufficiently intimidated into submission to Governor/Emperor Ayade, how would such an uncouth fellow be elevated to such a position? That APC Leaders in the state have been reduced to grovelling sycophants is why a greenhorn monster like Alphonsus Eba so enthused in empty, boisterous talk and bitterness over his loss of the Party chairmanship position in PDP can prat around for lack of knowledge as to what to do to win an election and resort to unproductive press conferences.

    Alphonsus Eba should be reminded that at his so called reception in his ward there was bloodletting that remains unexplainable until date because of his alleged predilection to occultism and consequential bloodletting, which he could not even spare his kinsmen in his desperation for power and money.

    That a man who sleeps with, eats and breathes violence and cannibalism, can have the temerity to accuse his superiors of “cannibalism” is a display of his bad upbringing and unfitness for a public office that entails leading and persuading responsible citizens into believing in his party platform. We find such pedestrian remarks about Governor Nyesom Wike, highly condemnable and unnecessarily inciting and we hereby condemn such.

    We further condemn in strong terms the attempt by APC to stoke the embers of anarchy and violence in the State at every point during the campaigns towards the by election of February, 26, 2022. We call on all security agencies to note the consistent attempt by the APC in Cross River State to incite violence in the belief that they can use the machinery of Government and official security outfits to intimidate the PDP because they are conscious of the fact that they cannot win the by-election in a free and fair contest.

    It is further instructive to say that those who the gods have destined to destroy, they first make mad. For Okadigbo, whose life is characterized by thuggery and criminality to address Governor Nyesom Wike as a “motor park tout” shows the depth of his mental and intellectual ineptitude. We are bemused that a party like APC, with Governor Ben Ayade that superintended over the killing of Cross Riverians at Ogoja and Yala local Government Area during the Northern Cross River Senatorial by-election primaries could have the moral rectitude to talk about Political “cannibalism”. It is on record that a young Cross Riverian was shot and killed inside the house of a serving APC Commissioner in Yala Local Government Area, while Alphonsus Eba ordered the sporadic shooting of his own kinsmen at Echomofona. What else can be more cannibalistic than shooting your own kinsmen for Political relevance?

    As we approach the by-election day, we call on Cross Riverians, especially the good people of Ogoja/Yala to remember the many sins of APC in Cross River State and resist the occultic party by voting overwhelmingly for the people-oriented PDP.

    As a party, we refuse to be intimidated by the unwholesome shenanigans of the occultic cabals in APC, whose god is their belly.

    On the laughable attempt to label Governor Nyesom Wike— a sitting Governor with immunity— a Security threat in Cross River State, we call on the APC to stop embarrassing rational and reasonable Cross Riverians by their show of gross ignorance and pettiness. Who is Alphonsus Eba to declare a sitting Governor a security threat? Must Alphonsus Eba dance naked in the market square always just to ingratiate Governor Ben Ayade before he can qualify for crumbs off Governor Ben Ayade’s table?

    As a party, we sympathize and condole with the APC on the imminent loss awaiting them on Saturday, 26th February, our prayers and thoughts are with them in this trying moment of their political life.

    We call on our party faithfuls to remember our brothers and sisters beleaguered and beguiled in APC, in their prayers for God to open their eyes of understanding.

    We believe in the Cross River Project, and we are solely determined to rescue, restore, reclaim and rebuild Cross River State!!

    God bless Cross River State.

    Signed
    Prince Mike Ojisi
    (State Publicity Secretary)

  • Ayade’s Attempt To Stop PDP Flag-off Rally: A Joke Taken Too Far – PDP

    Ayade’s Attempt To Stop PDP Flag-off Rally: A Joke Taken Too Far – PDP

    PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY CROSS RIVER STATE

    19th February 2022.

    Press Statement:

    Ayade’s Attempt To Stop PDP Flag-off Rally: A Joke Taken Too Far

    We received with utmost dismay and consternation the news of the ignoble attempt by Governor Ben Ayade to stop the epoch-making PDP Flag-off Rally scheduled to hold today, 19th February 2022. As a party, we condemn in strong terms this bizzare act of Political intolerance, bullying and intimidation by the Governor. It is worthy of note to stress that the said flag-off rally has been approved by INEC and all the relevant agencies in the State, as such, we find the Governor’s attempt to stop the rally absolutely unbecoming, nauseating and undemocratic.

    Aware that the Governor is currently suffering from pre-election trauma sensing the imminent defeat awaiting the APC in the forthcoming by-election, we heartily sympathize with him and his failure-personified Political Party, while calling on him to retrace his step and follow the path of nobility, as we cannot be intimidated or cowed by his shenanigans.

    We call on Security agencies to rise up to the occasion and guarantee the safety of all PDP faithfuls. We call on all party faithfuls to remain committed and resolute, as this too shall pass. Cross River State belongs to all of us and nobody, no matter how highly placed can deny us the privilege of Political participation.

    God bless Cross River State!!

    Signed
    Prince Mike Ojisi
    (State Publicity Secretary)

  • N210Million Budget For Bye-election: PDP Clears The Air On The Intertwine Of Propaganda And The Sacrosanctity Of Truth

    N210Million Budget For Bye-election: PDP Clears The Air On The Intertwine Of Propaganda And The Sacrosanctity Of Truth

    PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY CROSS RIVER STATE

    18th February 2022.

    Press Statement:

    N210Million Budget For By-election: The Intertwine of Propaganda and the Sacrosanctity of Truth

    The Attention of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party Cross River State, has been drawn to a cheap, frivolous and scandalous ploy by the unproductive broom-wielding All Progressive Congress, aimed at arm-twisting facts and hoodwinking unsuspecting Cross Riverians into believing that the Peoples Democratic Party budgeted the sum of 210million Naira for the Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency and Akpabuyo State House by-election, when in essence, it is the APC that actually budgeted such humongous amount for a mere by-election. Aware that, with the by-election underway and the APC sensing her imminent failure, a lot of intrigues, manuvering, propaganda and intricacies are bound to emanate from the cocoon of the APC and with the information about the 210million naira now in Public domain, we understand this act of desperation by the APC to cover their heinous crime and rigging plan. It does appear once again that the days of lies, confusions and deceptions are back, as such we are not perturbed by the propaganda and distortion of facts coming from the APC and their faceless hirelings as they are known to be unapologetic liars and pathological rabble-rousers.

    Arising from the above, it has become apparently instructive that we address this issue squarely and puncture the many lies of APC and its fifth columnists. We have it on good authority that the Governor, through the Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, deducted the sum of 20million naira from each Local Government Account which is in excess of the sum of N210million, hence making it logical that they are capable of budgeting such amount for the purpose of rigging the February 26th by-election.

    Aware that it amounts to electoral breach to budget such humongous amount solely for election rigging, we invite the Security agencies to inspect our account and see if we have such money as opposition party. We call on all Cross Riverians to remain vigilant and resist any attempt by the APC to rig the by-election and truncate democracy in Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency and Akpabuyo Local Government Area. As a people-oriented Political Party, we will continue to stand with the people against the whims and caprices of the All Progressive Congress. We remain confident that there Shall be light at the end of the tunnel.

    God bless Cross River State!

    Signed
    Prince Mike Ojisi
    (State Publicity Secretary)

  • Postgraduate Students, NACRISS Passes Vote Of Confidence On UNICAL VC, Condemns Fire Incidents

    Postgraduate Students, NACRISS Passes Vote Of Confidence On UNICAL VC, Condemns Fire Incidents

     

    OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, CROSS RIVER STATE POST GRADUATE STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION (CROSSPGRASA) UNIVERSITY OF CALABAR, CALABAR.

    11/2/2022

    PRESS RELEASE

    In view of the recent happenings within the University of Calabar arising from unwarranted verbal, social media attacks and scandals directed on the personality of our Amiable Vice Chancellor and most recently the recurring fire outbreaks which we consider as arson ravaging the University.

    After carefully studying the event of recent weeks and after a comprehensive meeting between The Cross River state Community, Unical branch, Members of management staff, critical stakeholders of CROSSPGRASA, PGSG and NACRISS about the possible causes of this ugly and unfortunate trend which is condemable by all ramifications. The house have therefore resolved and recommended as Follows:

    1. That the fire incidents on campus is not a coincidence but a deliberate act by arsonists which the Cross State Community, CROSSPGASA, PGSG and NACRISS jointly and strongly condemn.

    2. That there should be flexibility in the implementation of the ‘No-Fee-No Examination Policy’ by creating an opportunity for those who could not meet the deadline to pay and have supplementary examination.

    3.Management should enhance confidence in the electoral process by providing cyber security for the online voting platform.

    4.Management should as a matter of urgency take a clear position aimed at alleviating the plight of students whose academic problems, probation and withdrawal were discoursed late and/or through no fault of theirs.

    5.There should be proper lighting and illumination of the entire campus.

    6.The security department should be motivated by giving them the required equipments to work with. Again, more security personnel’s should be recruited so as to increase the man-power.

    7.Student Union Leaders (SUG, PGSG, CROSSPGRASA, NACRISS and NANS) should be encouraged and motivated to work harder through veritable reward systems and empowerment.

    8.There should be regular and constant meeting between the Management, Cross River State Community, SUG, PGSG, CROSSPGRASA, NACRISS and NANS not only when there is crisis.

    9.Staff-students relationships especially the HOD’s and Examination Officers should be more cordial and collegial.

    10.University policies should be flexible and not rigid in order to enhance amicability when the need arises.

    11.Staff to staff relationship should be encouraged to be more collegial.

    12.University of Calabar and Cross River State should be put first before personal gains and also, more support should be given to management to succeed despite the slight adjustment in policies that are without doubt still for the good and benefits of the students and the University at large.

    13. CROSSPGRASA and NACRISS will no longer tolerate any form of assault on the personality of our Beloved mother (The Vice Chancellor) of our prestigious institution

    14. CROSSPGRASA and NACRISS believes in the Leadership qualities of our Esteemed Vice Chancellor; Hence pass a vote of confidence on her Leadership style.

    Finally, Cross River State Post Graduate Students’ Association, National Association of Cross River State Students and its parent body, the Cross River State Community, University of Calabar branch shall henceforth not tolerate any level of damage against the University or its Leadership, Especially, our Esteemed Vice Chancellor. Hence has immediately swung into action to bring perpetuators of this ugly and condemable acts into book.
    This is the Stand of all CrossRiverians In Unical!

    Long live University of Calabar!
    Long live cross River state!
    Long live our Amiable Vice Chancellor!
    Long live the Federal republic of Nigeria!

    Aluta continua….

    Comr. Ibok, Emmanuel Okon
    President, Cross River State Post Graduate Students’ Association, University of Calabar.

  • PDP State Working Committee Upholds Committee Report, Reaffirms Mr Patrick Kayang Position As Substantive Chairman Of PDP Obanliku Chapter

    PDP State Working Committee Upholds Committee Report, Reaffirms Mr Patrick Kayang Position As Substantive Chairman Of PDP Obanliku Chapter

    PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY CROSS RIVER STATE

    12th January 2022.

    Press Statement.

    PDP State Working Committee Upholds Committee Report, reaffirms Mr. Patrick Kayang position as Substantive Chairman of PDP Obanliku Chapter

    Arising from the State Working Committee meeting of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party, held on the 12th of January 2022 and chaired by the State Party Chairman, Hon. Venatius Ikem, the SWC members of the party upheld the Committee report on Obanliku Local Government Area. The Committee has Chief Austin Edibe (Vice Chairman North) as Chairman, Mr. Francis Ekeng, (State Organizing Secretary)as Secretary and Amb. Joe Esse (Assistant Secretary North) as Member.

    The Committee report which was presented by the Vice Chairman North, Chief Austin Edibe recommended the upholding of Mr. Patrick Kayang as substantive Chapter Chairman of Obanliku . A motion for the adoption of the Report was moved by the State Youth Leader, Mr Boniface Brown and seconded by the State Publicity Secretary, Prince Mike Ojisi. The Motion was later countered by the State treasurer, Ntol Jack Robert and supported by the Financial Secretary, Chris Edadi. Following the counter-motion, the State Chairman called for voting over the Committee Report.

    Eight (8) out of Thirteen (13) members of the SWC present voted in support of the report while two (2) members absconded during voting. Following the result of the voting, the State Working Committee members upheld the report of the committee and consequently reaffirm Mr Patrick Kayang as substantive Chapter Chairman of Obanliku LGA.

    The SWC expressed the hope that this will finally lay to rest the issue of the replacement of the Obanlikwu Chapter Chairman, Mr. George Kayang one of only two chapter Chairmen who left the Party in solidarity with Governor Ayade’s defection.

    The working Committee also commended the Obanlikwu Chapter for remaining resolute in the past several months despite challenging infiltration of the chapter by busy bodies who had nothing to do with the replacement of their chapter Chairman. The Chairman of the Party Barrister Venatius Ikem also informed members of the SWC that he had extended an invitation to the Councillors in Obanlikwu Local Govt Council, who recently decamped back home to PDP to a meeting with the State Working Committee of the party to share solidarity with them and reassure them of the party’s appreciation for their exceptional courage as well as protection from the Council Chair person who is reported to daily harrass them with a view to intimidating them to return again to the APC.

    We urge all party faithful in Obanlikwu, to remain committed to the overall interest of the Party, even as we work assiduously and collectively to rescue, rebuild and restore Cross River State.

    God bless Cross River State.

    Signed:
    Prince Mike Ojisi
    (State Publicity Secretary)

  • Text Of Address By Linda Ayade During The First Anniversary of Global Strategy For The Elimination Of Cervical Cancer

    Text Of Address By Linda Ayade During The First Anniversary of Global Strategy For The Elimination Of Cervical Cancer

    A PRESS STATEMENT BY THE WIFE OF THE GOVERNOR OF CROSS RIVER STATE AND FOUNDER OF MEDIATRIX DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION, DR. LINDA AYADE, ON THE 17TH OF NOVEMBER, 2021, BEING THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE GLOBAL STRATEGY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF CERVICAL CANCER.

    One year ago, the Commissioner for Health and the Director-General of the Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency joined the Mediatrix Development Foundation team to celebrate the launch of the Global Strategy to Eliminate Cervical Cancer that was adopted and launched by the World Health Organization on the 17th of November 2020.

    The strategy, coded 90-70-90, implies that with this global strategy, the world must work to ensure 90% of girls are fully vaccinated with HPV vaccine by age 15 years; 70% of women get screened with high performance test by 35 years of age and again by 45 years of age; and 90% of women identified with cervical disease receive treatment.

    Available data shows that 19 out of 20 countries with highest burden of cervical cancer are in Africa. Therefore, implementing the global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer is of utmost importance as the burden of cervical cancer in Nigeria is one of the highest in the world. Every day, 41 women residing in Nigeria are diagnosed of cervical cancer most of which occurs at the late stage while another 29 women die each day as a result of cervical cancer complications. It is the second most frequent cancer among women between 15 – 44 years of age.

    About 3.5% of women in Nigeria are estimated to harbour cervical Human Papilloma Virus-16/18 infection at a given time, and 66.9% of invasive cervical cancers are attributed to the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) 16 or 18. Therefore the vaccination of girls against HPV remains the single most effective approach to eliminating cervical cancer as public health issue.

    Unfortunately, due to a global shortage of the HPV vaccine causing lack of access for us in Nigeria, we must take a closer look at our progress in the effort to eliminate cervical cancer and make new commitments while re-strategizing to ensure better access to HPV vaccine, sustainable screening programmes and adequate treatment measures.

    Through my NGO, the Mediatrix Development Foundation, I will continue to work with the Cross River Ministry of Health, Primary Health Care Development Agency, First Ladies Against Cancer, Pink Africa and other critical stakeholders who are engaged in the fight to end the menace of Cancer in Cross River State. We must all continue to spread the message about HPV Vaccination for every girl and woman.

    Let us unite with survivors, advocates, communities and partners to mark 1 year of the global effort. Join, be inspired, and #glowteal to eliminate #cervical cancer in your community and beyond.

    Dr. Linda Ayade,
    First Lady, CRS
    17th November, 2021