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  • Full Text Of Address By The Chairman Of NIgerian Ports Authority, Chief Akin Ricketts At The Board’s Inauguration

    Full Text Of Address By The Chairman Of NIgerian Ports Authority, Chief Akin Ricketts At The Board’s Inauguration

    By Chief Akin Ricketts 

    Protocol

    The Honourable Minister of Transportation, the Honourable Minister of State for Transportation, the Permanent Secretary, the Director, Maritime Services, other Directors, invited guests, members of the press, distinguished ladies and gentlemen.

    As is the tradition with this kind of occasions, we are privileged to have been carefully chosen to contribute our quota to the development of our country but in this case, in a strategic area of our national life; the maritime industry.

    On behalf of my other colleagues on the Board, I will like to assure Mr. President, through you Honourable Minister that we would do our utmost to ensure that his confidence in us is not misplaced and would not be abused. As a serious Government on a National Rescue mission, we assure you that we will immediately commence discharging our responsibilities without let or hindrance.

    As an organisation that has been in existence since 1955, we are sure that NPA wouldn’t have its share of challenges and issues that need to be resolved or need immediate attention. We will do that in conjunction with the Management and all relevant stakeholders. We will ensure that we give every issue and matter that comes to our attention the consideration it deserves and deal with it fairly and objectively, without favour or ill will.

    Let me assure the Honourable Minister that this Board does not and would not consider itself an alternate Management nor be in competition with the Management but will synergies with and perform effective oversight of the Management to ensure that the mission, vision and strategic objectives of NPA are achieved.

    We will create an atmosphere where employees would be given the opportunity to air their views and express dissent on any policy or action they feel strong about. And we will ensure that measures are emplaced so that this process is not unduly abused. We will ensure that feedback mechanisms are in place from our major stakeholders and port users so that we improve on service delivery, efficiency and capacity.

    Honourable Minister sir, the major issues confronting our ports today are capacity utilisation and evacuation corridors. While the ports in the East are being grossly underutilized due to many factors, the efficiency of the ports in Lagos is hampered by inadequate evacuation corridors that lead to congestion on the road, which ultimately affects prompt service delivery. This is a challenge that we intend to confront head-on in conjunction with other stakeholders, with a view to ameliorating the sufferings of port users and ease business in the port, as envisaged by the Federal Government.

    May I on behalf of other Board members extend our appreciation to Mr. President for considering us worthy of this appointment and assure you that we will be willing partners in the task of Nation building and ensuring that you leave this country better than you meet it.

    Thank you and God bless.

  • Egbara Hails Ayade For Inaugurating ACPM In Cross River State

    Egbara Hails Ayade For Inaugurating ACPM In Cross River State

    By Elijah Ugani – Calabar

    The Commissioner for Humanity and Social Welfare, Mrs. Blessing Egbara, has commended the state Governor, Senator Professor Ben Ayade for the inauguration of  the Cross River State  Advisory Council on Prerogative Of Mercy ACPM, at the Ministry of Justice, Calabar the Cross River State Capital.

    Egbara, who is also a member of the Council stated that “the inauguration of the body by the State Governor is a clear indication that Ayade is a great humanitarian who is committed to changing and touching the lives of his people at all levels”

    The Commisioner also disclosed that “the role of the Council is basically to look into the cases of those qualified to be granted mercy in our Correctional Centers and ensure that they get the mercy of His Excellency, who as a  father believes in giving people a second Chance, it is also a way of decongesting our correctional centers in the state”

    She used the occasion to assured His Excellency, the Governor that her ministry will do all it can to ensure the realization of his Vision towards a better deal for Cross Riverians and to positively touch many lives.

    The Council consist of Barrister Emmanuel Enamhe, as Chairman, Mr Elias Ayeshung Secretary; Very Rev. Fr. Malachy Ephraim  Dr Yosef Effiom, Compol Lawrence Eko Alobi. Rtd., Hon. Blessing Egbara, Mr Emmanuel Bekeh Udama and Adjah Enun Adjah, are to serve as Members.

    End.

  • Mediatrix Doles Out 20 Marriage Anniversary Cheers To Her Board Secretary, Fred Abua

    Mediatrix Doles Out 20 Marriage Anniversary Cheers To Her Board Secretary, Fred Abua

    By Elijah Ugani – Calabar

    The President/Founder, Board Members, Management and staff of Mediatrix Development Foundation MFD, felicitates with the workaholic Board Secretary, Mr. Fred Abua as he marks 20 years of his marriage anniversary.

    A release made available to THE LUMINE NEWS and signed by the Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Jeffrey Adamade indicates that MDF identifies with the family of Mr. & Mrs. Fred Abau on this auspicious occasion of their 20th marriage anniversary.

    The release reads in part “your commitment as Board Secretary to Mediatrix Development Foundation is a reflection of the peace enjoyed in your home and the support of your spouse, which translates to your building MDF together with other board members.

    “On behalf of the President/Founder, Board Members, Management and staff of MDF, I write to commemorates with you on this auspicious day of yours. The love, joy, trust, togetherness, and loyalty you have enjoyed 20 years ago which nourishes you and makes you look younger should continue to bind your home as well as strengthen you for effective service delivery to MDF in Particular and the society at large. Once again, Congratulations”

  • Mediatrix Donates Relief Materials To UNHCR

    Mediatrix Donates Relief Materials To UNHCR

    By Elijah Ugani – Calabar

    A pet project of the wife of the Cross River State Governor, Dr. Linda Ayade, Mediatrix Development Foundation MDF, has taken a bold step to donate hand sanitizers to help contain the spread of corona virus and sanitary pads meant to aid the Cameroonian adolescent refugees maintain personal hygiene.

    Speaking during the presentation of the items at the Ogoja sub office, the Chief Operating Officer of MDF, Mr. Jeffrey Adamade, noted Mediatrix is committed to the welfare of the the people especially the vulnerable, and the reason the organization has decided to reach the refugees through the UN refugees agency, UNHCR.

    The COO stated that “This gesture is a deliberate effort of the President/Founder of MDF, Dr. Linda Ayade to mitigate the spread of corona virus among the Cameroonian refugees.

    “Let me also extend Her Excellency’s goodwill to UNHCR for the coordination of the refugees in Cross River State”

    Adamade who was represented by the Human Resource Officer, Doris Etta, use the opportunity to call on the refugees to maintain personal hygiene and social distancing, regular washing of hands, use of hand sanitizer and face mask as well as the stay at home policy.

    Responding on behalf of UNHCR, the Senior Health Associate, Dr. Ernest Ochang commended the gesture of Mediatrix to donate the items to support the fight against the virus.

    Ochang noted that “On behalf of UNHCR, Ogoja Field Office, I receive these items and will communicate same. May God continue to enrich you so that you will continue to do more especially for those that are in dare need of this benevolence”

    Items presented include 328 pieces of hand sanitizer and 627 pieces of sanitary pads.

    Mediatrix Development Foundation is the UNHCR implementing partner for Peaceful Coexistence of Refugees with host Communities/ Distribution of Core Relief Materials for 2020.

    In 2018 – 2019, Mediatrix was the Livelihood implementing partner and trained over 1500 Cameroonian Refugees and a few host community members on different skills aimed at making them self reliant, including adolescents who were trained on peer mentorship.

  • UN Agency Alerts Nigeria On Impending Terrorist’s Attack

    UN Agency Alerts Nigeria On Impending Terrorist’s Attack

     

    By Kelvin Obanbom

    The United Nations Department for Safety and Security (UNDSS) has alerted Nigeria on the looming complex and coordinated attacks on the nation’s critical infrastructure, calling for urgent review and implementation of anti-terrorism measures.

    According to the UNDSS Nigeria, information received indicated an increased likelihood of terrorists activity, including the use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and complex attacks against critical national infrastructure and High-Value Targets (HVTs) in Nigeria.

    The UN agency, in its latest Security Threat Information (STI) and Advisory report on Nigeria said based on the information at its disposal, Boko Haram was likely planning to exploit the momentum of the host government’s strain due to COVID-19 spread to conduct a series of coordinated simultaneous attacks and so weaken the government’s efforts, to disturb and distract military activities in the North-east and to gain greater local and regional attention and acceptance.

    A copy of the report released on Wednesday by the Chief Security Adviser (CSA) and UNDSS Representative to Nigeria, Mr. Robert Marinovic, said: “It is assessed that we are at the beginning of the security crisis characterised by a wide spectrum of interconnected crisis (civil unrests, crime and the increasing threat of terrorism), that were fuming for quite some time and now released by COVID-19 impact on the government and population.

    “In this context, the critical infrastructure are considered any of economic or security entities and their premises (petrol industry installations, banks, governmental facilities, shopping malls, hotels, etc), at any location in the country, especially state capitals, including Lagos and Abuja.

    “Though the UN in Nigeria is not the primary target for the terrorist activity, it is assessed that the UN can be impacted as collaterally (while visiting governmental installations, banks, shopping malls, e.t.c.), but also as the target of opportunity, if seen to be less protected (‘soft target’).”

    The UNDSS added that it had already assessed the likelihood of such terrorist activity and included it in all respective areas of UN Security Management Systems’ (UNSMS) Security Risk Management (SRMs) in Nigeria, stressing therefore that, the strict implementation of and compliance with standing security measures are of paramount importance.

    However, the UNDSS recommended among others that Nigeria should ensure that all SRM measures, especially those against terrorism threats, are urgently reviewed and fully implemented.

    It directed its Security Focal Points (SFPs) to alert security guards and host government security in and around UN compounds, on the above-described threat so to be vigilant against possible hostile surveillance (that usually precedes terrorist attack).

    It said UN personnel should patronise only neighborhood markets and Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), rather than big shopping malls or banks, to avoid unnecessary risk.

    It also advised that emergency phone numbers (emergency contact card distributed by UNDSS SWA) should be kept handy at all times; while respective Security Operations Centres (SOC) should be informed of all suspicious movements/observations.

    It also urged SFPs to circulate and disseminate the message to their respective personnel.

    Source: ThisDay

  • Ekpenyong Declares Open A Three Day Virtual Training For Health Workers Open In Calabar

    Ekpenyong Declares Open A Three Day Virtual Training For Health Workers Open In Calabar

    By Simon Ushie – Calabar

    The Director General, Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Janet Ekpenyong has flagged off a 3-day virtual training for health workers in the primary Healthcare Development Agency on how to manage the Covid-19 pandemic in the state.

    The DG in her opening remarks, thanked the Executive Director of National Primary Health Care Development Agency Dr Faisal Shuaib and other staff of the agency for the timely support of training health workers who are the frontliners in the fight against Covid-19.She urged the health workers to prioritize the training and develope their capacity for efficient service delivery.
    She urged them to be mindful of
    their healths by observing simple precautionary measures while attending to patients in their various facilities.

    Dr Ekpenyong said the state cannot afford to slow down in its approach in preventing the spread of the pandemic after getting nods up from the federal government (Federal Ministry of Health, National Centre for Disease Control, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency) for best practices in Covid-19 and other infectious diseases.

    She further commended the workers for their dogged nature in ensuring that all communities irrespective of barriers are reached through practical demonstrations of various preventive measures like hand wash, use of personal protective equipment and other forms of preventive measures.

    In his remarks, representative of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Oteri praised the coordination of the Director General and her team whose responses proved valuable and a confirmation of a Zero incidence case on Covid19.

    “These Cross River people are doing very well, they have eluded my expectations, all of your responses have shown that the Director General, Dr Janet Ekpenyong has done a very good job for the agency and for Cross Riverians as well.

    The virtual interactive training section had over 150 participants who will serve as trainers and coaches including heads of various units, Disease Surveillance and notification officers, Local Immunization Officers, infectious Disease officers across the 18 Local Government Areas of the state which lasted for 9 hours.

  • I Don’t Want To Join Issues With All These Unnecessary Accusations And Attacks – Odey

    I Don’t Want To Join Issues With All These Unnecessary Accusations And Attacks – Odey

    By Elijah Ugani – Calabar

    The Chairman of the Cross River State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. Stephen Odey has stated that he does not want to join issues with all the unnecessary accusations and attack on his person since he indicated interest to replace the late Sen. Rose Oko at the Red Chambers.

    Odey made this known to THELUMINENEWS on a telephone call when contacted to clear the air on the document in circulation by the leadership of Northern Cross River State Students World Wide, alleging that Dr. Odey invited them and World Wide Presidents of the five LGAs that made up the Northern Senatorial District, through the Special Assistant to the Governor on Student Affairs, Comr. Abang Ogon but later abandoned them as some were said to have traveled from Jos to Calabar.

    Odey who is a front line contender in the People’s Democratic Party PDP, to replace the late Sen. Rose Oko, if given the party ticket will need these students leaders to mobilize support for him is however perturbed that he did not invite any person or group of persons to meet with him when he is aware that INEC has not made any pronouncement about the bye election.

    His words “My brother, I don’t want to join issues with all these unnecessary accusations and attacks. That me I invited students to Calabar and I will abandon them, from where?.

    ” Everybody is just trying to come and extort money because they hear I’m running election. I came back yesterday from my inauguration without any notice, and somebody said there is one SA that is in my office who wants to see me and I told him that I’m not yet ready for any campaign, nothing has been said INEC has not even brought out timetable, he said the SA came with one or two or three persons, and I said call the person who came with those persons, even without my notice and again, I told him I’m not ready for any campaign.

    “You people should leave me and I gave him #15,000:00 for launch in my office yesterday. How can you just go and mobilize people and bring to me by force.

    “Call the SA and confirm what I’m telling you, whether I have ever told him to bring anybody to me anywhere. There is nobody that can get me in whatever plan they are trying to do, nobody.

    “He has been chatting with me that he wants to see me, I now invited him to my office and say look, campaign has not started, cool down, when it is time, I’m the one that will look for all these groups and meet with them, so right now, no decision has been taken, INEC has not even made any pronouncement.

    “That he wants to hit the ground running and I said how? What I’m doing now is just private consultation, and I put my hands in my pocket and gave him launch and he left. I didn’t see anybody. So can people come to my office without my invitation or can I invite people to my office without attaining to them?”

    When contacted, the Special Assistant on Student’s Affairs to the Governor, Comr. Abang Ogon stated that “that document is fake, I don’t know where it is coming from, it is a very very fat lie. I am doing something to that effect. That document I don’t where it is emanating from. Dr. Just called me.

    “I have asked them to drop that thing, what happened is that I had a meeting with Dr. by 2:00pm, I went there and I saw Dr. in his office yesterday, so I don’t know where this is coming from”

    When asked whether he went to see Dr. Stephen Odey with NANCRISS and the five LGAs Presidents, Abang said “they came with me, I had a meeting with them and thereafter met with Dr, when I came back I told them”

    On his part, the President of Northern Cross River State Students NANCRISS, Comr. Frank Odey stated that “Dr. didn’t ask us to come, someone told us that Dr. wants to see us. We left our various LGAs down to Calabar, you understand my pains. Some people left from far places say Dr. wants to see us. I don’t want to call his name.

    “We are trying to resolve it in the middle of where it is now. We say we should give him a listening ear as someone we liked. When we got there at 11:00am, and waited till 3:00pm, and we didn’t see Dr., we were shocked that is it not Dr. that asked us to come? Everybody was blaming me as the NANCRISS Chief that I called them for something I didn’t even understand.

    ” Though we left, Dr. sent the secretary that he don’t want to see us, we were surprised that why will Dr. send for us and turn round to say, he does not want to see us.

    “When we left, the person now sent us a text massage to thank us for coming and that Dr. said we should come back next time not knowing that the person was looking for an opportunity to see Dr. using our own subhead.

    “That is why we were angry and wrote that, I have deleted it, I will write another one to that effect, I will send Dr. Odey a text massage”

    Below is the extract of the document that was written and shared to some platforms on the alleged insult on Northern Cross River Students and Presidents of the five LGAs in Northern Senatorial District of Cross River State.

    The document reads “A group of students berated by Dr. Odey during a visit. The SUBEB Chairman, Cross River State did this during a visit called by himself to see the students leaders of the five Local Government Areas that made up the Northern senatorial district.

    “The call which was organized by the SA to the governor on Students
    Affairs was honoured by the World Wide presidents including the NANCRiSS World Wide President earlier today in his office, Calabar.

    “Today being the 20th of May 2020 a movement was organized by the SA to Governor of Cross River State on students matters for a visit to the the SUBEB chairman, Dr. Stephen Odey. The students representatives of the Northern LGA, through the office of the SA students Affairs, went there.

    “As students leaders that are committed to the growth and development of our areas ; and haven got reverence for leaders and elders, we left our various places of residence – Jos, , Ogoja, Yala etc, to honour his invitation. Only to be humiliated and abandoned right in his office.

    “One wonders what a leader that has no single courtesy for students. We left our LGAs and other places to listen to him as someone we have respect for.

    “Someone that students can look up to as mentor, but it seems he has decided not to be a role model to the students. It shows that he is not willing to be accommodative and receptive to those seeking his attention.

    “This happened to us in the company of our wonderful SA Students Affairs who has the interest of the students as his number one priority. An invitation turned out to be and insult to him and the students body.

    “This is the very first time an individual would look on students with such disregards. Inviting students from far and near and not giving them audience is an insult, it is a show of lack of capacity and receptive mind that leaders in growing democracies like ours should have.

    “We spent six hour of our time waiting for Dr Steven odey to attend to us as planned by him. Sadly, his Secretary after waiting that long came out and told everyone that : “the executive chairman said he is not ready to see any body.”

    “Dr. Stephen Odey did this to us not minding where we came from. He kept us stranded in Calabar without food, water or shelter during this period of COVID-19 . We have given respect to a leader who doesn’t even deserved it. We have left him with this words: “Put yourself in this shoe if such is done to you will you be happy?”

  • C’River PDP Crisis: Court Restrains Edim Inok Edim from Altering The List

    C’River PDP Crisis: Court Restrains Edim Inok Edim from Altering The List

     

    By Admin

     

    The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Abuja Judicial Division had on May 18th, 2020 granted an interim Injunction restraining the PDP Chairman, Cross River State Chapter, Ntufam Edim Inok and his allies from altering or interfering with the list of elected Executives sent by the PDP National Working Committee with reference number PDP/DOM/GF.V/VOL.2/20-387B and signed by the National Organizing Secretary, Col. Austin Akobundu (rtd.).

    The interim injunction/ order was granted by the presiding Judge, Hon. Justice Jude O. OKeke.

    In the order sighted by THELUMINENEWS, some members of the party (Emma Odidi, Enang Omini Eyong, Michael Kajang Obaji, Asuquo Clement Raymond, Ibembe Ide, Peter Ogar and Dominic Omin) who were successful during the last ward and chapter congresses and emerged winners had dragged the PDP, its National Chairman, Prince Secondus and the Cross River State Chairman, Ntufam Edim Inok Edim before the court, asking the court to restrain the defendants or their privies from interfering or altering the list of the elected ward and chapter executive members of the party in Cross River State.

    The restraining court Order reads in part “The Court in exercise of its discretion under Order 43 Rule 2 and 3, being satisfied the application was filed along with Motion on Notice with number M/6887/2020 orders as follows:

    1. An interim Order of Injunction is granted restraining the 1st to 3rd Defendants/Respondents and/or privies from interfering or altering the list of elected executive members of the first Respondent in Cross River State containing the names of the Claimants/Applicants pending the hearing and determination of the matter on Notice.

    2. This Order shall abate after 7 days from today unless extended by the Court in line with the provision of Order 43 Rule 3(1) to (3) of the Rules of the Court 2018.

    3. The case is adjourned to 21/5/2020 for hearing of the claimants/Applicants Motion on Notice for Interlocutory Injunction.

    4. The Claimants/Applicant’s Originating process, Motion on Notice and Hearing Notices are to be issued and served on the Defendants/Respondents.

    Recall that controversy had trailed the outcome of the March 7th and 21st ward and chapter congresses in the 196 wards and 18 local government area of Cross River State. Where two parallel lists were submitted to the National Secretariat of the PDP with one of the lists spearheaded by National Assembly Manners and the other by the State Governor, Sir Ben Ayade.

    The National Working Committee NWC, on behalf of the National Executive Committee NEC, of the Party ratified the list that emanated from National Assembly members and forwarded the list to the Chairman, Cross River State Chapter of the Party, Ntufam Edim Inok Edim and directed him to arrange for the inauguration of the executives in a letter signed by the National Organizing Secretary dated 26th April, 2020 No. PDP/DOM/GF.V/VOL/20-378B.

    The development which seemed not to have gone down well with the Governor and his supporters saw the emergence of a second list containing the list of the Governor which was however disclaimed by the National Secretariat of the party.

    The controversy also led to the audio inauguration of the list recognised by the NWC of the party following the refusal of the CRS Chairman to arrange for the inauguration as directed.

    The State Chairman of the party was rumored to have inaugurated his faction of the executives and was alleged to have called the National Working Committee unprintable names, a development which led to his suspension by his ward executive members and sent to the NWC for ratification.

    The NWC is yet to ratify the suspension of the State Chairman.

    Recall that the NWC had recently extended the tenure of the State Chairman of the party, for a period of three (3) months pending the conduct of the state congress in acting capacity.

  • Obudu Urban To Have A New Look Under My Superintendent – Adie

    Obudu Urban To Have A New Look Under My Superintendent – Adie

    By Elijah Ugani

    The Executive Secretary, Obudu Urban Development Authority BUDA, Lady Elizabeth Adie JP, has stated that she is determined to give Obudu urban a new face lift in line with the vision of Sen. Prof Ben Ayade.

    The Executive Secretary, BUDA stated this in her office when THE LUMINENEWS paid her an unscheduled visit to commend the work she is doing.

    In her words “I want to thank God, as well as the Governor of Cross River State, Sen. Prof Ben Ayade and his dear wife for this opportunity I have been given to serve my people. It is earnest desire to ensure that Obudud Urban have a new look under my superintendent as the Executive Secretary. Together with my Directors, we have an ample opportunity to contribute our quota to ensure that Obudu Urban is clean and green.

    “As part of our determination to give Obudu urban a new look, and in line with the saying, charity begins at home, we commenced the renovation of our offices, to make it habitable, we cannot go out to enforce sanitation when our office and its surroundings is un tidy.

    “When I came in, I decided to engage 80 road sweepers in addition to the ones that were on ground to ensure that they effectively discharge their duties, we divided them into various cells (groups), for easy monitoring and supervision, considering their residence (sweepers).

    “We will soon commence planting of flowers around the major streets in Obudu to give it a face lift”

    On refuse evacuation, the ES noted that “we met three trucks but were not functioning, with the approval from the governor to generate income, we were able to repair two and put to use, we are currently evacuating refuse within the urban daily at strategic points and hope to put the third truck to use soon and will ensure that the urban remain clean and green.

    “We had introduced the monthly environmental sanitation exercise every last Saturday of the month to ensure that residents engage in tidying their compounds and surroundings. We have to move from having environmental sanitation where people stay in their houses without being involved in the exercise.
    Under our watch, our taskforce will go out and monitor the urban and ensure that between the hours of 7:00am and 10:00am, everyone is engaged in cleaning the environment.

    “In the process of monitoring, any compound that fails to participate in the sanitation exercise will have to be serve an abatement notice in line with the necessary laws.

    “Let me use the opportunity to call on members of the public to cooperate with us to ensure that we keep Obudu clean bearing in mind that this is the governor’s home town.

    “We are constraint by the lock down caused by Covid 19, we had concluded arrangements to distribute dustbin containers to collect refuse. We also considering recycling our waste, we hope to make this proposal to the governor, should he consider it, we hope to commence recycling of our waste”

    On the containers around the commercial cyclist park, the BUDA ES stated that “work was to commence there, but was held due to the Covid 19 pandemic. We allowed the containers there for the main time because, if we ask them to vacate the place and since there is no perimeter face for St. Stephen’s Primary School, Obudu, it will expose the school and may cause some nuisance there”

    In a separate conversation with the Chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers NURTW, Obudu branch, Comr. Martins Undie popularly known as (Makojor) and the Secretary, Hon. Sunday Inyali who is also Special Assistant to the Governor on Sport Development Obudu, when contacted to comment on the new face Obudu, the duo in their separate remarks, commended the ES, BUDA for her dogged commitment in keeping Obudu clean. They used the opportunity to pledge their Union’s commitment to works of the Executive Secretary and call on the members of the public to key into the developmental strides of the Obudu Urban Authority under Lady Elizabeth A die.

    THE LUMINENEWS can authoritatively say that Obudu Urban Development Authority office is having a face lift under Lady Elizabeth Adie JP. A walk around the Obudu urban, showed that the trucks were seen evacuating refuse from the streets as a confirmation of the ES earlier position.

    THE LUMINENEWS is poised and will bring you up yo date activities of Obudu Urban Authority.

  • CRSG Releases 14M For 6 Micro Projects In Two Communities In Calabar Under CSDP

    CRSG Releases 14M For 6 Micro Projects In Two Communities In Calabar Under CSDP

    By Admin

    The Cross State Government has approved and released the sum of Fourteen million naira for the immediate commencement of 6 micro projects across two communities in Calabar South. The Community and Social Development Project (CSDP) has handed over the funds as approved by the Governor, Sen. (Prof.) Ben Ayade, to support the multi sectoral micro projects recently approved for the two communities to also aid the communities fight the coronavirus pandemic.

    Speaking at the cash disbursement activity for projects, the Commissioner for International Development Cooperation, Dr. Inyang Asibong, said the release of funds is a highpoint in the CSDP cycle after completing the rigorous process of appraisal and capacity building that qualifies every community to access funds.

    The project is sequel to requests by the benefitting communities for support by the Government in areas of Electricity and Potable Water Supply to boost development. The projects include integrated LED street light system, concrete electricity pole erection and borehole with transformers to power the communities, she continued.

    Whilst acknowledging the State Governor for paying the needed counterpart fund which is a requisite for World Bank’s support, she charged the beneficiary communities to ensure prompt implementation of these projects with emphasis on global best practices, as she concluded.

    The  Chairman of the CSDP Board, Mr. Tony Ikpeme, encouraged the communities to continue to make wise use of disbursed funds as the Governor Ayade-led administration will not rest in its oars to bring development to the length and breadth of the State.

    On his part, the Ag. General Manager of the State Community and Social Development Agency, Mr. Fidel Udie appealed to the benefiting communities to carry out continuous supportive supervision of the project until it is completed, as this will attract more projects to the community and other communities. Others present at the event were HRH Etubom Efio Ita Effiom and Etinyin Ewa for Eyo Ita/ Edibe-Edibe community, while Chief Eyo Effiom Henshaw, Chief Bassey Ekeng Maurice Effanga represented the Ansa-Ewa community.

    The  event was well attended by relevant stakeholders who observed social distancing and other precautionary measures as directed by the State Government.