Rt. Hon. Legor Idagbo on Oversight Visit to Oil And Gas Park, Odukpani, Urges Early Completion To Create Jobs For Cross River State Citizens.
Chairman of the House committee on Content Development And Monitoring and Member representing Bekwarra/Obudu/Obanliku Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Legor Idagbo paid an oversight visit to the National Oil And Gas Park at Odukpani, Cross River State on Wednesday 15th of July, 2020.
The Chairman was received by contractors, consultants and workers at the project site in Odukpani.
Speaking on behalf of the contractors and consultants, Engineer Sunday Adebayo said the first phase of the project commenced in 2018 while the second phase of the project commenced in August 2019.
He said the first phase of the project included the perimeter fencing as well as the land filling while the second phase of the project was the infrastructure development including road network and drainage, construction of the administrative building, capacity building and training centre as well as the hostel/accommodation.
He said the various components of the second phase of the project were at various stages of completion ranging from ninety percent for the gate complex to seventy percent for the buildings and forty percent for the infrastructure, including roads and drainage.
In his response, Rt. Hon. Legor Idagbo said the National Oil And Gas Park was conceived to build capacity and local content in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria. He said his committee was committed to the speedy completion of the park in order to create jobs for Cross River State citizens.
He added that he was impressed with the pace of work at the project site while commending the contractors and consultants for keeping to specification. He promised that appropriation for the next phase of the project will be done in due time while thanking all for the reception
The Cross River State Police Command has paraded four suspected kidnappers and rescued one Cecilia Onyago, 38 years.
Parading the suspects at the State Police Headquarters, Diamond Hill in Calabar, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Irene Ugbo, said the breakthrough was recorded by the Command.
She said that the victim, one Cecilia Onyago ‘F’ 38 years was rescued without a ransom paid.
“We are working to make sure that kidnapping is no more in the State. We urge Cross Riverians to provide us with information which would enable us work harder and pick these hoodlums wherever they may be.
She said that on July 10th 2020, in Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State, a husband and wife were going about their normal businesses when armed kidnappers came in and kidnapped the woman.
“The Police got a distress call from the people and we swung into action. In a bid to know the location where the woman was taken to, we got one suspect which led us to the arrest of other gang members.
“Right now, the suspects are in our custody, a lot of items have been recovered including two vehicles, Toyota Camry with registration number NEM 828 AY and Jetta car no LSD 879 AV and several local guns.”
DSP Ugbo said that the suspects are with the Police and they have given the Police useful information, adding that as soon as investigations were completed the suspects will be charged to court.
“We are very happy about the success recorded because Cross River State is noted for being a place people come and relax and Police is working tirelessly to make sure the hoodlums are brought to book.
“Every evening, we have a team of Police officers at different locations doing stop and search; it is a regular exercise which the outgoing Police Commissioner put in place.
“We urged all Cross Riverians to corporate with us, give us useful information to make sure that these bad boys are apprehended, we want timely information that will help us reach these bad boys.”
The Cross River State Commissioner for Youth Development and Skills Acquisition, Hon. Signor Omang Idiege has reiterated the essentiality of Skills Acquisition and admonished youth in the State to acquire skills, noting that with daily global rise in youth unemployment, there is a constant need to remind youth and Governments world over of the indispensability of Skills Acquisition by the youth towards personal and national development.
Speaking while addressing youth in a press release to celebrate the 2020 World Skills Day, Signor Idiege informed that “with the 2020 theme focused on ‘Skills for a Resilient Youth,’ it is important to State that this has been the heartbeat of the Governor Ben Ayade’s administration; building resilient youth in Cross River State has been the driving force behind His Excellency, Sen. (Prof.) Ben Ayade’s institution of the Construction and Fabrication Academy of West Africa, aimed at training youth in various Skills of their choice.
According to him, the Governor Ben Ayade’s administration through the Ministry of Youth Development and Skills Acquisition is poised to raise conscious youth who instead of waiting for ‘ready made’ jobs will be innovative entrepreneurs, creating jobs and solving societal problems aimed at the overall development of the Nation, adding that the Construction and Fabrication Academy initiative of the ever youth friendly and proactive Governor of the State is to build a myriad of youth who are self-reliant and who can fit perfectly into a changing and dynamic world.
Commissioner Idiege also urged youth to be delibrate and conscious towards skills acquisition irrespective of academic qualifications and societal status, stating that Skills Acquisition creates wealth and propergates equitable, inclusive and sustainable economic growth. “The materialization of this consciousness will no doubt inculcate in the youth, skills for employment which will contribute to addressing the multiple demands of economic, social and environmental development,” he said.
He however called on the youth to strive to be partners in the development of every sector of the economy and be solution providers through acquired skills.
Celebrated July 15 every year, the ‘World Youth Skills Day’ provides an avenue for Governments all over the world, private institutions and corporate organizations and individuals to acknowledge and celebrate the importance of equipping young people with skills for employment and entrepreneurship when making conscious efforts towards creating an enabling environment for skill development.
By Esther Okoi, CRS-MOI Officer reporting from Ministry of Youth Development and Skills Acquisition
The Governor of Cross River State, Sen Prof Ben Ayade, has said that he will not relent in his effort to make all Cross Riverians, feel the impact of his administration by improving the lots of the aged, poor and the vulnerable persons in the state.
Ayade who stated this during the Day-2 of the distribution of palliatives, to the people of Urban 1 and 2, Angiaba/Begiaka, Alage/Ubang, Ipong and Utugwang Central Wards of Obudu Local Government Area, maintained that not even the unfriendly weather as being experience will deter his leadership from fulfilling his desire for the people.
The governor who was represented by the Commissioner for Humanity and Social Welfare, Blessing Egbara, asserted that “the weather can’t stop us. We are more than determined to forge ahead with the distribution of the palliatives to the remaining five Wards of Urban, Urban 2, Angiaba/Begiaka, Alege/Ubang and Utugwang Central Wards of Obudu.
Ayade is ever determine to continue to give succour to the poor and vurenable persons,” the commissioner for Humanity and Social Welfare said, and added that “Ayade has vowed not relent until he lift the poor in the state to a comfortable position and economic status.”
The Cross River Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Tina Banku Agbor standing on the trajectories of knowledge, experience and courage has in the last one year of the second tenure in office of His Excellency Sen. Prof Ben Ayade, Governor of Cross River State brought grandeur, prestige and fame to the office of the SSG as she continue to discharge her assigned duties and responsibilities of that office with absolute sophistication.
The office of the secretary to the state government is the live wire of the government as it is the starting point and end of all political activities ranging from appointment of political office holders to crafting and ensuring proper execution of polices and programs.
The office also exercises control and supervision of the executive council Secretariat, which is equally a very important arm of that facilitates executive council meetings and ensure proper communication of council’s decisions to relevant agencies and authorities for implementation.
Barr. Tina Banku Agbor, an erudite amazon recorded a major milestone as the first woman to be appointed to that exalted office in the history of the state and the first to do that back to back following her reappointment by Gov Ben Ayade in 2019.
Going by the popular saying that to whom much is given, much is also expected and oblivious of the enormous responsibilities on her shoulders Barr Tina Banku Agbor, a lawyer by profession with specialisation in property development and management couple with a wide range of business acumen including politics has within the period proven that she is eminently qualified for her present job.
Within the last one year of her reappointment having excellently acquitted herself in the first tenure, she has continued to carryout the responsibilities of her office to admiration of all thus impacting positively in the day to day administration of the state.
She has coordinated the activities of agencies of government advancing solid positions based on extant laws and constitutional provisions. Aside from exhibiting thoroughness in her work, dedicated, honest and loyal she has proven to be most suited for that dignified position.
On the social front, she is always in the vanguard for the well being of the girl child whose course she has floated a foundation to give support to the less privileged girls in her home community of Oku Borum ward, Boki local government area as well as succour to sons and daughters of the area through political exposure which has enabled to contribute meaningfully to the development of the state for this and many other achievements she is held in very high esteem.
In recognition of her sterling leadership and organisational qualities and contributions many groups and organizations have bestowed several awards of excellence on her and many more have indicated their interest to do so in no distance time.
Even in the fight against Covid -19 in the state, she played a key role by mounting road blocs around MCC by Effioete roundabout to enforce the no mask no movement order. She was later made the Chairman of covid-19 resource mobilisation committee to source for funds and assistance to aid the state in the fight against the pandemic.
As we enter the next phase of the covid-19 and the efforts of Gov. Ben Ayade to restart the state’s economy Barr. Tina Banku Agbor remains a fountain whose of source of intellectual capacity will nurture to fruition the Ayade’s dream of an industrialised cross river state.
The Hanged Gem and Our Suicides (For Effiong, the only male child who hung himself on the 10th anniversary of his dad’s demise over a girl called Blessing who jilted him and all who mourn in similar circumstance) All tales have origin from life realities Your kind of death is strange to our climes, your deep and somehow strange expression of love cruel to our senses. No one knows his pains, his fears, his worries and his depression. No one cared to deeply find out about his anguish, who cares in a world of self quest and satisfaction? Where were his friends when he needed someone to talk to?
A world where you are mocked for your weaknesses and blackmailed for your strength… Have you lost something so precious and irreplaceable? Have you ever thought of what it means or feels like to die or lose something so dear without a substitute?
No one knows his shoes, let us pray for his soul. Let no man judge for no one knows what tomorrow holds… What if he was your brother…will you call him foolish? I have felt suicidal and those of us who are emotional beings know how and what it feels like… We all have committed suicide, denials to help when you could; Our greed, the hidden guilt, our abortions, our adultery and fornication; That pothole from a poor construction that caused their deaths, the hidden rapes;
Our strikes that cost lives, the hunger and starvation, malnutrition and unemployment; Misrepresentation of what we say and that which is right, our unknown addictions. Let no man judge but let all men pray and work for their own salvation, and those of his neighbours both departed and living. We all have our suicides but we are opportune to be alive, but we must not take what we didn’t create. Let us act cautiously, for every action has it effect on the others Let us treat our suicidal ropes like Peter not Iscariot! Yet God is not man!!
As part of deliberate efforts to meet the Needs of vulnerable Cross Riverians, the administration of Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade, has commenced the distribution of Palliatives to the Vulnerables in the northern senatorial Districts of Cross River State.
The Commidsioner for Humanity and Social Welfare, Blessing Egbara, stated this in Obudu as her Ministry commenced the distribution of palliatives to Widows and the Aged in Begiading, Ukpe, Utugwang North and Utugwang south Wards Of Obudu LGA.
Hon. Blessing Egbara disclosed that the palliatives is targeted at distributing food items to the poor, Aged, and Vulnerable of the society in all the Local Government Areas in the state starting from the North Senatorial District.
The Hon Commissioner for Humanity and Social Welfare, disclosed that the project is one of many great humanitarian projects of His Excellency, Prof Benedict Ayade aimed at making life bearable for the poor, aged and the vulnerable of our society.
Flagging off the Project tagged “Operation Feed the Vulnerable, Aged/Widows ” in Obudu on day-1 of the exercise, the Hon. Comissioner handed over thousands of food items to the Vulnerable persons and the aged in Begiading, Ukpe, Utugwang North and Utugwang south Wards of the Local Government.
While addressing the Vulnerable persons and beneficiaries of the palliatives courtesy of the gesture of the Governor, Hon Blessing Egbara, stated,”Your Son, Professor Benedict Ayade has sent me down here to distribute this relief materials to you all, I’m but a messenger, The Governor has seen and heard your cry during this pandemic and has sent this relief materials to help you through this tough times. The Governor assures you that this won’t be the last and more will come”
Moved and touched by the number of persons who turn out and number of Vulnerable persons she saw, in those Wards she visited, she Promised to buy two wheel chairs for two Cripples (mother and son) in Ukpe Ward.
Speaking, one of the Villagers, Utsu Adie Ufom, expressed Joy and thanked the governor for remembering them in a time like this, just as the villagers sang and dance in praise of the governor for what he is doing for them.
“Honestly this is the very first time something like this is happening to us, it has never reached us the villagers and for us to recieve this items today by ourselves means a lot, I pray that God Almighty Continues to Bless Governor Ben Ayade and protect him for us, ” Utsu Adie stated.
The Commissioner for Humanity and Social Welfare Hon Blessing Egbara will continue the distribution of the palliatives to the remaining 6 wards in Obudu on Day-2 of the exercise before proceeding to the other remaining four Local Governments In the North.
A woman has told of how she married a Twitter user who sent her a DM in 2019.
She said they got married one year after the DM. According to her, when she got the DM in February 2019 from a Twitter account without a profile photo, her first thought was “who is this one?”.
However, she responded to his message. In November 2019, he proposed to her and they got married in March 2020.
The Cross River State commissioner for health, Dr Betta Edu has lauded UCTH for successfully carrying out brain surgery on Miss Comfort Effe, a 27 year old indigent woman who has been through 5 years of agonising suffering.
It started as occasional seizure disorder which her family blamed on which craft. Comfort was admitted into UCTH in Feb this year when her illness became complicated with blindness, paralysis, poor hearing and inability to control urine which developed by the end of year 2019, about three months earlier before she was admitted into hospital.
In UCTH, she was diagnosed with a brain tumour called meningioma and was initially referred for surgery in Enugu state, a journey she couldn’t make due to lack of funds.
Leading the Commissioner for health to the patient’s bed in the female orthopaedic ward of the hospital where miss Comfort was on admission, the Special Adviser to Gov Ayade on Health, Dr Ushie David explained that Comfort is a pauper from her native village in Bekwarra, northern CRS and also that she has been funded mostly by goodwill contributions for her medicare and upkeep since her admission in UCTH from Feb, 2020.
Dr Ushie extolled the Commissioner for her timely intervention, notting that, Comfort’s life depended on the strong and persistent commitment that the Commissioner offered without which he could not have singlehandedly afforded the needed surgery for Comfort.
Dr Ushie acknowledged the CMD of UCTH, Prof Ikpeme A. Ikpeme, for assembling all the experts and providing the needed materials for the surgery. Without the CMD’s hands-on commitment on that, the surgery would have been hard to pull off because of the numerous challenges bothering on personnel and instruments for the special surgery.
He concluded that although so much money has been spent already, Comfort is in need of more money to pay up outstanding hospital bills including, payment for her much needed physiotherapy.
On her part, Dr Betta Edu congratulated miss Comfort and wished her speedy recovery. She expressed satisfaction with the hospital management for the uncommon fit. Neurosurgery, she said, is not bread and butter. I am very excited that we can have this level of care delivered in our state.
She promised the support of the government of governor Sen Prof Ben Ayade for the giant step of carrying out a successful brain surgery, especially on an indigent patient who cannot afford hospital bills. Dr Betta further assured that she will reach the UCTH management to identify areas of assistance with key surgical instruments that can enable the hospital provide such level of expert care to more Cross Riverians who may be in need for brain surgery services from time to time.
The hon commissioner reiterated her mandate of encouraging and supporting the UCTH and other tertiary healthcare facilities in ways to help meet Gov Ayade’s vision of a healthcare system that meets the needs of Cross Riverians from all works of life. This, she added, will be achieved by strengthening the primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare levels in the state through investment in personnel, training, facility upgrade and equipment.
Given that the state has direct responsibility for healthcare delivery services at the primary and secondary healthcare levels, Dr Betta added, it is only necessary that we support the preparedness of the tertiary facilities for optimal referral service delivery to our citizens in those areas where the primary and secondary levels lack the requisite skills.
Finally, Dr Betta advised the patient to forward her outstanding hospital bills for financial assistance from the CRS.
Comfort is currently recovering in the female orthopaedic ward of UCTH as she awaits arrangement for physiotherapy and other rehabilitation care.
On her part, Comfort’s mother, Mrs Omali Effe, thanked the Commissioner for health for all the assistance, Dr David Ushie and the UCTH management for all the support.
The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, has reacted to the allegations made against him by Joy Nunieh, a former Acting Managing Director of Interim Management Committee of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.
Nunieh recently made some damning revelations about the Minister and former Governor of Akwa Ibom State on his handling of the Ministry.
Addressing the press after she appeared before Senate adhoc Committee investigating NDDC, Mrs Nunieh recounted her ordeal at the hands of the Minister before she was removed as the NDDC MD.
Among other claims, Mrs. Nunieh said:
“Nobody makes any payment in NDDC without Godswill Akpabio’s approval. When we first came, on the day of the inauguration, he said to me in the car, ‘Madam MD, if you don’t do what I say, the same pen with which I used to sign your paper is the same pen I’ll use to remove you.
“He said the first thing I should do when I get to Port Harcourt is to change the dollars in the NDDC account. I was scared to do that and he claimed that I have a poverty mentality that I’m afraid of money. All of you knew that he accused me of refusing to spend money. It is strange today, it’s about money.
“After that, he came to Port Harcourt two days after the inauguration and told me that the first thing I should do was to change the dollars.”
But reacting in a television interview that has gone viral on social media, Akpabio said the former NDDC MD has character problem.
The Minister also charged his interviewer to bring the four husbands of Nunieh, whom she had alllegedly divorced, to the studio to attest to her temperament.
According to him:
“I don’t want to discuss her because that’s not the job of a Minister.
“The last MD you mentioned, Joy Nunieh, I wish she can go to hospital, see a doctor take some injections and relax.
“I’m not saying that there’s something wrong with her, but I’m saying there’s something wrong with her temperament. Remember she had about four other husbands that she married.
“You also need to bring all the other former husbands to the studio so that you ask them questions one after the other because it looks like character.
“They will have answers to her problem. Not a professional conduct, is she a professional?
“They will tell you about her characters because what I’m seeing here if somebody comes up and say something on television channel then the whole world Nigerians love bad news and my job is to protect the citizens of the country and the administration of Mr. President .
“I must tell you that even Mr. President, President Buhari was not aware of all these things because I did not want to bother because he will be shocked.”
The member representing Ogoja/Yala federal constituency, Rt. Hon Jarigbe Agom, yesterday met with some delegates from Obudu and Obanliku Local government areas in Obudu at the instance of Mr Mike Union and Barr Venatius Ikem, Former National Publicity secretary of PDP and frontline aspirant for the PDP, Cross River State chairmanship position.
The meeting which was Moderated by Mr Mike Udien had in attendance, stakeholders and other party faithfuls.
While addressing them, Barr Venatius Ikem stated that, the MP was/is a dependable ally and the only aspirant in the Cross River North senatorial race that could change the narrative of political representation especially for those of them in the Obudu/Obanliku/Bekwara Federal Constituency. He further added that the MP was ready to take the party to greater heights.
Rt.Hon. Jarigbe while speaking, Expressed his gratitude to the elders and stakeholders of the party who have displayed their unwavering loyalty to the party.
The MP added that, he has been serving the Ogoja/Yala people with God’s ability and he wish to extend the Largess being enjoyed by his constituents to the people of Obudu/Obanliku/Bekwara federal constituency.
The informal meeting had in attendance, HRH Utsu Samson ogar, Sen. Prof Sandy Onor(Senator representing Cross River Central Senatorial District), Rt.Hon. Daniel Asuquo(Member Representing, Akamkpa/Biase federal constituency),Mr Mike Udien, Barr Venatius Ikem(Former PDP National Publicity Secretary and PDP Cross River state chairmanahip aspirant),Hon Mike Usibe, Chief Austine Edibe, Jimmy Aninege, Joe Ulom, Inok solomon amongst others.
The virtues of Dr. Beta Edu (Cross River Commissioner for Health) has positioned her as the BELLWETHER of improved healthcare delivery in the world.
The choice of Dr. Beta Edu by his Excellency, Sen. (Prof) Ben Ayade remains the best ever for the health sector.
Her initiatives in healthcare administration has taken leads for a global disease free society.
She has incontrovertibly indicated leadership trends by using available resources in her disposal for effective health care delivery in the state.
Dr. Beta Edu displays a better feat of legerdemain in rural and urban health care development.
As a young woman, she has become the resonance between peoples health care affordability constraints and free medical delivery to all (no wonder she receive calls from all irrespective of class and time).
Dr. Beta is always accessible to all even in the midst of necessary office protocols. A feat that is rare in modern day politics.
Her availability and application of THE OTOBO’S THEOREM in health care delivery has brought a reduction in child, adult mortality rate, built health centres and provided free medical care across the towns and villages of the state.
This female icon should rather be celebrated than decimated.
The entire crux of the farrago on her personality on social media is an attempt to divigate her good intentions for a better health care delivery in the state.
There is a need for lovers of human lives to come together in prayers to ask God for more grace that will lead The Governor and Dr Beta Edu accomplished their God given purpose for the lives in Cross River State.
Even though he is no more alive, General Sani Abacha has been humorously describe as one of the ancestors of Nigeria who has been donating money generously to successive government from the land of the dead as his loot was outrageous.
It’s 22 years since Abacha died but his loot has been sustaining both the past and present successive government officials, just like many believe that if Abacha never loot, many greedy successive government officials would still be dancing in poverty.
Recall that there have been one military leader and four civilian president since the passage of the maximum ruler. General Abdulsalami Abubakar from June 8, 1999 to May 29 , 1999; President Olusegun Obasajo from May 29, 1999 to May 29, 2007; President Umaru Yar’ Adua from May 29, 2007 to May 6, 2010; President Goodluck Jonathan from May 6, 2010 to May 29, 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari who assume office on May 29, 2015.
Since the demise of Abacha, the recovered monies were principally stashed away in four major countries: Switzerland, Jersey Island in the United kingdom, United state, and Liechtenstein. During the Abdulsalami Era in 1999 $750 million was recovered, under Obasanjo administration, $1.2 billion was recovered in 2002, $149 million from Jersey Island, UK in 2003; $ 500 million recovered in 2004 from Switzerland and another $ 458 recovered in 2005 from Switzerland. During the Jonathan Administration, $1 billion was recovered in 2012 and $ 380 million in 2015, both trace from Switzerland . the Jonathan Administration also recovered $ 227 million from Liechtenstein in 2014 and $ 48 million from the United state the same year; mean while the government of Buhari recovered $ 322 million from Switzerland in 2017 and $ 308 million from Jersey Island, United kingdom in February 2020 which is the most current of the four list of recoveries. A total of 2.6 billion of the fun so far repatriated to Nigeria was from Switzerland while the other recoveries came from UK and USA.
Now comparing Ibrahim Magu to Abacha, Magu was appointed as the EFCC Chairman after Ibrahim Lamborde, who was earlier serve twice was sacked by President of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari. It is very clear that Abacha build a bridge for Magu to walk on, magu is the revised standard and combination of both Abacha and Hushpuppi.
The justice Ayo Salami – led Presidential panel asked Magu to account for 380 houses and 7 vessels loaded with crude oil, the probe panel also grilled on him on the disposal of assets worth 37 billion. Magu is being grilled, following allegations raised against him by attorney – General of the federation and the minister of Justice , Abubakar Malami (SAN). The panel started quizzing Magu on Monday after his arrest by detectives in Abuja, on Tuesday, he was grilled on cash discrepancies said to be N539 billion realised from the sale of seized assets and N 504 billion declared by the commission.
Ever since since the arrest and detained of Magu many Nigerians have gone to facebook to make comment like
when the hunter has become the hunted,
Abacha is better than Magu,
Abacha build a bridge for Magu,
when you recover looted funds and the loot it again, it is called Aluta Continua.
My advice to the seated government and the power that be is to remember that Nigerians are now wiser than they think and our eyes are on them.
I am deeply moved by the expression of your confidence and trust in me by making sure that I earned your votes and supports that make me Vice Chairman NYCN CRS-Central. I therefore, thank you from the bottom of my heart and respectfully welcome you all to this platform/council.
I am immensely grateful to all the Central stakeholders who stood firm to making sure, this course taste reality, and I humbly ask for our entire collective efforts to change the narratives of NYCN, CRS-C.
It is indeed a truism, that the challenges that stand before us as a body and council is greater than anyone we’ve ever seen before. To this end, only an all inclusive leadership can record a 100% success in the conquest of these challenges and the achievement of our set goals and policies. Hence, my leadership is open to all for constructive criticism, and superior ideas.
Being an effective leader involves listening to constituents, translating their concerns into workable blueprints, and building consensus to implement them. In this light, the blueprint for the council activities in central will be presented to stakeholders and the general council for concrete perusal and follow up actions. Whereas, I can’t do this job without your involvement and openness, I therefore, call on you all to be active factors for the actualization of this work.
I would sincerely appreciate your willingness to discuss what really matters to you, for your concern is my priority.
Always remember that, not only have you entrusted me with the responsibility of deciding and speaking on your behalf as your representative and leader, but you also continue to provide me with the ideas and feedback I need to do it as it should be done. For that, I thank you once again.
I pray God’s grace to keep us amidst this pandemic period as I also employ us to take caution and observe all preventive measures set by the NCDC and CRS Government to ensure health and safety of our dear council and nation at large.
May God bless the NYCN at all zones.
Thank you.
Engr. Sunnyskipo Nchu Otu (MNICE,MNSE) V.C NYCN CR-Central
The two sister gencies in Cross River State, Calabar Urban Development Authority and the Greater Calabar City Development Agency recently held management meeting in Calabar aimed at strengthening their partnership to ensure that Cross River State is the cleanest and most visually aesthetic state in Nigeria and west Africa sub region.
Speaking at the meeting, the executive secretary of CUDA Mr. Joemary Ekeng lta highlighted that CUDA was established by an enabling law No. 8 of 2000, of the CRS with the responsibility of evacuation, sweeping of streets and road-ways, mowing of grasses in publicly owned parks and road way verges, planting of ornamental trees and shrubs along city street, high ways, conduct house to house inspection to ensure the sanitary condition of residential, commercial and lndustrial areas.
Also Speaking, the D.G of Greater Calabar City Development Agency, comrade Kingsley lta lkpeme highlighted the functions of the GCCDA as enshrined in enabling law No. 22016, which includes among others; the preparation and implementation of a master-plan for the development of the City.
Provision of Municipal Services, Regulation of Sanitation, Management of transportation and Security, the control of development and regulation of building standards. Ikpeme, stated that the collaboration is coming at a very crucial time when the world is battling the novel Covid-19 pandemic hence, the need for public awareness campaign to educate the citizenry on the essence of good sanitation habits in order to stay safe.
Also, in his remark, the chairman of GCCDA, Mr. Bassey Effiom thanked the management team of both agencies for their presence and called for synergy to ensure that the state is transformed to the cleanest and the most visually aesthetic state in Nigeria and west Africa sub region. He also called on Cross Riverians to support the move as keeping Calabar clean is a collective responsibility.
The Bakassi Local Government Council Secretariat at Ikot Effiom has been earmarked to become a befitting working environment.
To this end, both its surrounding and the building are to be given a facelift with provision of modern facilities to befit its status as an administrative headquarters of the area.
The Chairman of Bakassi Local Government Area, Hon Iyadim Amboni Iyadim, disclosed this while exchanging views with staff of works department of the council led by Mr Ekpo Edet after an inspection, emphasising that the overgrown grass within its premesis has to be mown regularly to reflect a sense of belonging amongst those that work there.
Iyadim, who said he would not wait for the executive arm of the council to kick start before he sets to work, stated that, ” Cleanliness is next to godliness, so we must keep our environment clean as well as improve on the aesthetic of the council at all times”.
He disclosed that slashing of grass, ferns, and shrubs along adjoining roads to the council secretariate had commenced, adding that economic trees found along the demarcated route will be felled.
The Chairman commended the legislators for working in not a not too conducive environment, and promised that, ” very soon things will be done right and the needed facilities provided to enhance productive”.
He assured staff of the council of a good working condition as well as tackle issues of their welfare with relevant government agencies and promised to intall internet services within the council premises to boost productivity which will translate into effective and efficient service delivery.
The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN ) was established in 1964. It is charged with policy formulation and implementation on issues bordering on youth development in Nigeria. It is the umbrella body and the mouthpiece of the Nigerian Youth. It was established and given legal recognition in 1990.
The NYCN has three branches, the National, Zonal and the State chapters. The NYCN is also affiliated to the world Assembly of Youth, Pan-African Youth Union . It has the Ministry for Youth and Sports Development as its supervisory body.
However, youth, according to the youth policy, acknowledged youths as persons between the ages of 18 to 35.
The National Youth Council of Nigeria has 36 State Chapters plus the FCT and 774 Local Government Branches. All chapters are led by a Chairman and Local Government branches are led by coordinators. The NYCN is managed and governed by 23 national executive committees (NEC) members headed by a President. It also has 104 Voluntary Youth Organisations registered to it from all over Nigeria.
The Chairman of Bakassi Local Government Area, Hon Iyadim Amboni Iyadim has assured physically challenged indigenes of the area that his administration will carry everyone along to create sense of belonging amongst the different strata.
Speaking while receiving members of the Nigerian Association for the Blind, Cross River State Chapter, led by its Secretary, Mr Esuk Etim Okon, during a courtesy call in his office, Iyadim disclosed that his administration , when fully constituted , will incorporate disabled persons into the scheme of things.
According to the Chairman,” there is ability in disability, and I intend to work with you because some of you have the capacity to render valuable services to the society in spite of your current conditions”.
He said the council when operational, will organise training programmes in various arts and crafts as well as open a desk office in the area to address their needs with the view of making them relevant to the society through skills acquisition.
Iyadim stressed that making them useful will not only boost their livelihood and policy thrust of government but will enhance the primary aim of setting up the local government which is to bring government closer to the people at the grass root level.
Speaking earlier, the Secretary, Nigerian Association for the Blind, Cross River Chapter, Mr Esuk Etim Okon, said the visit was to acquaint the council of their contributions and appealed that the be carried along in its programmes.
Okon, who is an indigene of Bakassi and a Master Degree holder, noted that the vulnerable and people living with disability can be coopted into the council’s developmental programs as many of them are trained in different fields of endeavour that can add value to the council.
He reiterated the need to open a Desk Office for the group in the council to aid coordination of activities of those living with disabilities liaise with the council, expressing that at federal and state levels, government has made provisions for them to articulate their functions and that same be replicated at the local level.
” This will create a space for us to be a part government and as now letters have been written to the local government councils in the state for us to be carried along as we will humble to be part of the system” he said.
Highlight of the visit was the presentation of copies of the Child Rights Law in Cross River State, 2009 edition to the Chairman.
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