Council Boss sets to Partner Gov Eno's aide to promote Peace, security in Akwa Ibom

The Mkpat Enin Local Government Area Transition Chairman, Hon. Mercy Bassey has declared her readiness to partner with the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor Umo Eno on Youth Matters in order to curb insecurity and promote peace in the council area of Akwa Ibom state.

Bassey stated this over the weekend while she played host  to the SSA to the Governor on Youth Matters, Mr. Iniobong Akpan at the council secretariat with the  village youth presidents and heads of security agencies in Mkpat Enin Local Government.

She applauded the Governor's Aid for putting up a timely meeting to compliment  her efforts of combing out criminality in the council area, added  that security is priority in Governor Umo Eno's ARISE Agenda and therefore becomes a priority for her administration, noting that she is open to multidimensional collaborations with security agencies and other groups genuinely committed to fostering peace and security in Mkpat Enin. 

"I wish to commend the SSA to the Governor on Youth Matters for coming up with this meeting. In the past we have held similar meetings with Village Youth Presidents and we achieved lot of positive gains. Mkpat Enin and ofcourse Akwa Ibom State has never been known for criminality.

"So far, we have invested a lot of resources to weed the bad guys out of our midst and I can assure you that very soon all these unfortunate happenings will be a thing of the past. The governor has been very particular about keeping the state safe for all and as the Chairman of Mkpat Enin, I can say that we will not relent in replicating these policies in our various communities".

In his remarks, Mr. Akpan emphasized the need for partnership between community youth leaders and security officers in maintaining peaceful and safe environment, where citizens can go about their legitimate businesses and sleep with their eyes closed.

Comrade Akpan said the meeting became imperative because of the recent happenings in many of the localities, urging the youth leaders to be more patriotic in safeguarding their communities and reiterated the importance of teamwork approach at a time when security maintenance is an integral part of governance as encapsulated in the ARISE Agenda.

"As we know, the security situation has been bad and we know that as youth presidents you are the security officers of your respective villages. There is no way people will perpetuate crime in your villages and you tell me that you are not aware. It is not about being called  youth presidents when you cannot even sleep in your various houses and close your two eyes. 

"We have to take back our communities from hoodlums because these vices does not represent who we are at all. Today, we have a governor who is very deliberate about development and employment. There is no way  we can have meaningful development when all you do is kidnap people sent to work in your villages.

"It is our duties to protect our communities and government investments because development cannot thrive in the midst kidnapping, murder, violence, stealing and so. Today's meeting is to mandate you to be ARISE Ambassadors, we have to work closely especially in the area of information gathering. 

"You have the security agencies here, the council chairman who is very active and responsive, myself and other leaders to partner with so that we can purge our various communities of these criminals. We all know that security is an integral part of the  ARISE Agenda of His Excellency and we have to be partners so that we can help him actualise his administration goals".He concluded 

Hunger Crises: CHRAN urges A'Ibom Govt., LG Chairmen to account for monthly allocations

 

By Freshgist 

At the peak of hunger Crises, The Center for Human Rights and Accountability Network (CHRAN) has urged The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno to account for monthly allocations received from the federal government for almost 9 months .

In a statement jointly signed by the State Director of CHRAN, Otuekong Franklyn Isong and his Secretary, Barrister Chris Ekpo and made available to newsmen in Uyo yesterday, called out the 31 Local Government Areas Transition Committee Chairmen in the State to follow suit by accounting for the monthly allocations to their Local Government Areas from the Federation Account Allocation Committee since their assumption of office in December 6, 2023 respectively.

CHRAN stated in parts  "the call is in fulfilment of its civic responsibility and core mandate of holding public office holders accountable to the people and ensuring good governance in the country.

"That it is aware that the Federal Government of Nigeria, sequel to the fuel subsidy removal, has increased the revenue allocation to the States and the Local Government Councils in the country.

"That the Federal Government had released the sum of N5 billion and 3,000 bags of rice to the Government of Akwa Ibom State for the people of the State as palliatives to cushion the effect of the withdrawal of fuel subsidy.

"That Governor of Akwa Ibom State to account for the N5 billion and the other palliatives released to the Government of Akwa Ibom State by the Federal Government.

CHRAN also requested for information from the Government of Akwa Ibom State on the mass transit buses that the State Government proposed to provide from the N5 billion to mitigate the transportation challenges afflicting the people of the State as a result of the volatility of fuel price and galloping inflation.

CHRAN further requested the Government of Akwa Ibom State to account for the hundreds of billions of Naira received from the Federation Account Allocation Committee, including the 13 percent derivation funds to the oil producing states in the Niger - Delta which Akwa Ibom is a beneficiary.

CHRAN stated that, it has appraised the various Local Government Areas in Akwa Ibom State and has noted the dearth of development projects even in the face of the huge funds released from the Federation Account Allocation Committee to the Local Government Areas in the State. CHRAN requested for information and account.

"That it is alarmed by the prevailing exclusive class development in the State, where only those in high places with affinity to the government enjoy the commonwealth of Akwa Ibom State leaving a sizable number of the people to scramble for crumbs and pushing the poorest of the poor into the abyss of abject poverty.

"That being a pro-people organisation, it is bothered by the prevailing negative trend of neglect and lack of transparency and accountability by governments in the State and urged Governor Umo Eno and the Chairmen of Local Government Transition Committees to account for the monies that they have received as heads of governments within their tenures so far and to strive to ensure that visible development is delivered expeditiously to the people.

"That it is aware of a recent widely published statement credited to the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, to the effect that apart from the first tranche of funds given to State Governments, an additional N30 billion has been given to each State of the Federation through the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), different from allocations from the Federation Account.

"That, there being no rebuttal from the Government of Akwa Ibom State, CHRAN urged the Government of Akwa Ibom State to account for the said disbursement from the FIRS".

CHRAN applauds A'Ibom Assembly over Ibom Oil and Gas Corporation Bill

 

By Freshgist 

Rights group under the aegis of Center for Human Rights and Accountability Network (CHRAN) has applauded the sponsors of the Bill for a Law to Establish the Ibom Oil and Gas Corporation and for Other Purposes Connected Thereto.

In a press briefing organised by the Center in Uyo, the CHRAN Director, Mr Franklyn Isong disclosed that the Bill was long overdue in the State, describing the state as one of the top crude oil producing States in Nigeria.

 The CHRAN flanked by the Secretary, Barr Christopher Ekpo, and other members, noted that the Bill, when passed into Law, will position the State in top reckoning as an oil producing State within and outside the country.

CHRAN lauded the Bill on its objectives, which include engaging in oil and gas upstream activities, including exploration, drilling and production; investing for the purpose of participating in oil and gas bid rounds and seeking the allocation of marginal oil fields; acquiring old and new exploration and drilling prospects and prospecting abandoned oil wells in Nigeria and overseas and optimising the benefits of the petroleum policies of the federal government;

Others include liaising with federal government agencies or private and multinational companies to deliver petroleum products to the State in the most effective and cost efficient manner, investing in downstream oil and gas activities including gas processing businesses, petroleum products retailing, gas retailing, gas pipelines deployment, acquisition of petroleum products tank farms and other distribution facilities, and investing in refineries, petrochemical processing or other production processes. 

CHRAN noted that the Ibom Oil and Gas Corporation, envisaged in the Bill would create employment for the teeming unemployed Akwa Ibom indigenes, generate revenue for the State and serve as a vehicle for economic growth and regeneration while harnessing and consolidating the huge oil and gas potentials of Akwa Ibom State. 

The beauty of the Bill, according to CHRAN, is that it is concise and purposeful in that it provides for both upstream and downstream activities by the Ibom Oil and Gas Corporation.  In that wise, the CHRAN believes that the acquisition of petroleum products tank farms and other distribution facilities, envisaged in the Bill, will go a long way to ensure the availability of petroleum products in the State.  

"The foresight of the sponsors of the Bill reflects in the provision in the Bill for expansion of the Ibom Oil and Gas Corporation to make for investment in existing companies or consortia and acquisition of old or abandoned oil wells and exploration and drilling facilities in the country and overseas." It said.

CHRAN advocated for support for the Bill by all members of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, the Executive Arm of the Akwa Ibom State Government and indeed, all Akwa Ibomites to ensure a quick passage of this important Bill and timely assent to the Bill by the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, in due course.

It commended the lead sponsor of the Bill, Prince Ukpong Akpabio, and the co-sponsors of the Bill: Hon. Sunday Johnny, Rt. Hon. Effiong Johnson, Hon. Udobia Friday, Hon. Nsidibe Akata, Hon. Kenim Onofiok, Hon. Selinah Ukpatu, Hon. Precious Selong, Hon. Uwem Imoh-Ita and Hon. Sampson Idiong.

DSS woos Akwa Ibom journalists for crime fighting

 

By Freshgist 

The Department of State Services (DSS), Akwa Ibom State Command has called on journalists in the state to join the agency in crime fighting to make the state a safe haven for development.

The State Director, Dr. Doyin Adetuberu made the call in Uyo on Tuesday when he received the new Executive members of the Correspondents' Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Akwa Ibom State on a courtesy visit.

He said, the society in general is prone to crime but, if every family can cooperate with the security agencies in the state, crime would be reduced to its barest minimum.

This he stated can be achieved when the people volunteer intelligence to rid the state of bad elements.

Dr. Adetuberu also disclosed that, already arrangements have been concluded by the DSS to arraign suspected kidnapping, cultism, murder and armed robbery suspects in court arrested in connection with crimes in various part of the state.

He said, the arrest of the criminal suspects was achieved through intelligence working in close collaboration with other security agencies, the civil society and members of the public.

The DSS boss further stated that, the suspects were arrested at various locations within Uyo metropolis and the environs adding that, with more collaboration, the DSS would extend it's dragnets to other criminal hideouts to nib the menace of cultism, kidnapping etc.

According to him, "in no distant time, you will be proud of security agencies in the state and, my regime in crime fighting would be people - centred with security stakeholders, the media and ordinary citizens as key participants.

"I am bringing my experience to bear in tackling security challenges facing the state" and, charged the media to help the agency do it's work well through constructive criticisms and responsible journalism.

Chairman of Correspondents' Chapel of the NUJ, Comrade Anthony Bassey told the DSS Director that, the visit was to introduce the new leadership of the Chapel of NUJ to him for effective and collaborative synergy, devoid of rancour that could arise from lack of adequate information.

He said, journalists in the Correspondents' Chapel in the state are professionals who are ready to give the agency the media mileage it deserves adding that, members of the Chapel abhor adversarial journalism.

World Radio Day: Eno Celebrates Radio Journalists over unbroken service delivery

 

By Freshgist 

Akwa Ibom State Governor His Excellency Pastor Umo Eno, has congratulated the media professionals, especially the On Air Personalities OAPs for their unbroken services rendered all over the world.

In a message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Ekerete Udoh and made available to journalists in Uyo on Tuesday, Eno commended radio professionals for the great work they used their medium to perform since the radio airwaves was established more than one hundred years ago.

“Radio has been a critical medium to reach a large swathe of the population.

“Through the medium, policies and programmes of government have been disseminated to people across social/ political strata.

“I am proud of the cooperation my administration has enjoyed from you, and I pledge my willingness to continue to partner with you, as we galvanize our people to Arise and shine.

“Once again, congratulations on this great occasion of ‘World Radio Day’ celebration”.

Lawmaker urges Gov. Umo Eno to bring back Government Technical College

 

By Freshgist 

Akwa Ibom lawmaker representing Ibiono Ibom State Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Moses Essien has called on the State Government to return the remodeled Dakakada Skills Acquisition Center to it's original status.

The Skills Development Center, it can be recalled was hitherto an abandoned Government Technical College at Ikot Ada Idem in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area of the state but, remodeled and converted by the Udom Emmanuel administration into skills center that never been put to use.

Essien, worried by it's abandonment urged Governor Umo Eno to consider the recent resolution passed by the state legislature on the need to establish more technical colleges in the state and return the center to the former status.

 He said, such decision would favour Itu/Ibiono Ibom, Ukanafun and Ikono/Ini federal constituencies, where many students from the affected areas have been denied technical education due to the absence of technical colleges.

Essien, who is a YPP lawmaker made this known in Uyo, while presenting his Certificate of Return to the Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State of Assembly after winning a By-election recently.

He regreted that many of his constituents who initially would have loved to pursue careers in the fields of engineering, science and technology have been denied such opportunities due to the absence of technical college in the constituency.

He also lamented that, years after the college was taken away from the area, and months after the Government Technical College, Ikot Ada Idem was renovated and converted to a skills’ acquisition centre  by the immediate past administration, nothing has happened to show any seriousness.

According to him, "I am so worried that the people of Ibiono Ibom were not comfortable when that decision was taken by the immediate past Governor, and they are not still comfortable that months after, nothing is happening to show any seriousness. The people of Ibiono Ibom believe that they would be better with the technical college, and I believe so with them.

“I don’t know what was the intention of the past Governor, Udom Emmanuel so, I am urging the present government to return the centre to its former institution as a technical college, and that is the mindsets of the people of Ibiono Ibom state constituency as we need a technical college in Itu/Ibiono Ibom federal constituency”.

While dedicating his recent victory in the rerun election to God and the people of his constituency, he promised to champion the development cause of Ibiono Ibom State Constituency.

NDDC sets to adopt 3-Ts development strata to transform Niger Delta

 

By Freshgist 

The Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC, has declared their readiness to adopt  3-Ts development mantra to transit from hitherto transaction approach to the transformation model, describing the agency as a palliative to the people of the region.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) of NDDC, Dr. Sam Ogbuku disclosed the new philosophy of development of the oil rich Niger-Delta region during a two-day board and management retreat of the Niger Delta Development Commission with the theme, ‘Renewed Hope: A New Era for Vitality, Peace and Development,’ held at four points by Sheraton Hotel, Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State.

Dr. Ogbuku, who spoke the topic, "NDDC: The Journey So Far and the Road Ahead" mentioned that, though critics see nothing good about the establishment of the NDDC 25 years ago, affirmed that, the commission over had taken it's core mandate of development of rural communities in the area very crucial to change the way of life of the people.

He said so far, NDDC has undertaken the construction of about 4,151 roads/bridges, 2,323 rural electrification projects, 1,723 building projects and 642 water projects in the Niger Delta etc.

In addition to the above, he stated that the agency also embarked on medical outreach programmes, post graduate programmes for top level manpower development to meet today and tomorrow's needs, while concluding plans to embark on Project Hope to engage the youth population in transforming their lives.

He appealed to the federal government to consider the bulk release of funds to the NDDC as projects require radical approach to delivery, as well as remove NDDC from the Treasury Single Account financial framework (TSA) to enable it achieve optimal performance and efficiency.

On his part, the Minister for Niger Delta Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, has called on the commission to intensify engagements between its stakeholders and the NDDC in order to achieve sustainable development in the Niger Delta region.

He gave the charge in his keynote address during a two-day retreat of the Niger Delta Development Commission tagged, ‘Renewed Hope: A New Era for Vitality, Peace and Development,’ held at four points by Sheraton Hotel, Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State on Friday disclosing that, the collaboration was  necessary for the goal of NDDC and the ministry to be achieved.

According to him, “The harmonisation of the existing development plans in the Niger Delta region was one of the ten deliverables the president gave to the ministry for implementation between 2024 and 2027.

“NDDC must insist on the delivery of quality jobs so that the Niger Delta region will get value for money expended on development projects.”

He explained that though the importance of principles enshrined in the TSA policy such as transparency and accountability, however, such a financial framework has weighty limitations for the interventionist agency.

 “We are not just building roads and bridges. We are stitching together a vibrant tapestry of development, from healthcare and education to skills development and job creation.

Meanwhile, The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has called for collaboration between the Niger Delta Development Commission and the state governments in the region for better service delivery in line with the core mandates of the Commission.

The Governor represented by his deputy, Senator Akon Eyakayin said he was confident that the new board will uphold its mandate and core responsibilities as an interventionist agency for the development of the Niger Delta region, urging the team not to subvert its mandate for political reasons.

He promised to collaborate with the Commission for the delivery of dividends of democracy to the people of the state while charging the management on involvement of the state government in its interventionist programmes based on needs assessment to avoid replication of projects.

AKWA IBOM: CHRAN Lauds Clement Jimbo over Palliative

 

Hon. Clement Jimbo, member representing Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives

By Freshgist 

A civil society organisation in Nigeria under the aegis of Center for Human Rights and Accountability Network (CHRAN), has applauded the member representing Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and Deputy Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on National Planning & Economic Development, Hon. Clement Jimbo, for distributing to his constituents the consignment of rice and other items given to him by President Bola Tinubu for distribution as palliatives to his constituents during the 2023 yuletide.

In a press release signed by the group Director and Secretary, Otuekong Franklyn Isong and Barr. Christopher Ekpo, respectively over the weekend in Uyo and made available to our reporter stated that Clement Jimbo's gesture to his constituents in Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency came in the midst of refutations on the issue by some of his colleagues of Akwa Ibom extraction in the National Assembly.

The advocacy group vowed to continue to track the Presidential Rice even as it monitored the distribution of the palliatives by Hon. Jimbo.

The Center noted that the Hon. Jimbo's distribution exercise, which took place on Thursday, 8th February, 2024, at 67 Itu Road, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, was well attended by his constituents and was peaceful and successful. 

The Center stated that the rice, packed in bags, were distributed to constituents within the three (3) local government areas making up the federal constituency.

The group noted that apart from the rice palliative, the Federal Lawmaker also empowered four constituents drawn from the three local government areas constituting the federal constituency with one Toyota Camry car each while several sewing machines, hair-drying machines as well as business support grants were also distributed to the constituents.

The CHRAN noted that, so far, Senator Ekong Sampson, representing Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District in the Senate; Rt. Hon. Unyime Idem, representing Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency, and Hon. Clement Jimbo, representing Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency, have distributed the palliatives and given  account of the palliatives to their constituents while other National Assembly members from Akwa Ibom State are yet to give account of the President Tinubu palliatives to their constituents in the State. 

The group hereby called on other members of the National Assembly from the State, who are yet to distribute to their constituents the presidential palliative rice and other items, to borrow a leaf from their colleagues who have done so for the sake of transparency and accountability to their constituents.

The CHRAN further stated that it was sanguine that the President Tinubu Palliatives had been received by all the National Assembly members on behalf of their constituents, and so urged them to distribute same to their constituents without further delay, maintaining that it will soon organise a press conference to name and shame the National Assembly members who have not distributed the palliatives to their constituents. 

The group holds that it has reliable information to the effect that palliatives worth N57.8 billion had been approved for members of the National Assembly by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for onward distribution to their constituents and that same had been released and shared to all members of the National Assembly,  knowing that it has been reliably informed that N200 million worth of rice was given to Senators as palliatives for their constituents while N100 million worth of rice was given to members of the House of Representatives as palliatives for constituents.

It would be recalled that the Presidency, while showcasing Tinubu’s scorecard in palliatives disbursement to Nigerians, had revealed that each Senator got N200 million worth of palliatives for their constituents while each member of the House of Representatives received N100 million worth of palliatives for their constituents.