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Tag: A’Ibom

  • Stakeholders laud peaceful conduct of PDP ward congresses in A’Ibom

    Stakeholders laud peaceful conduct of PDP ward congresses in A’Ibom

    By Samuel Ogenyi, Uyo

    Stakeholders have commended the peaceful conduct of the Ward Congresses of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Akwa Ibom which held on Thursday across the 368 Wards in the state.

    This is even as reports from party faithfuls and independent monitors indicate a process long concluded by many wards who had before the Congress reached consensus on their representatives.

    In Ikono, a team of monitors reported that the election materials arrived Ikono Divisional Police Station at about 11.20am for onward delivery to the respective wards.

    In Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area, a monitoring team visited Ibiono Western 2, Ward 5, one of the newly created Wards by Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission, AKISIEC reported that the people of the Ward were thankful for the closeness of their new ward to them as they held their first Ward Congress.

    Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Rt. Hon. Ime Bassey Okon, thanked Governor Udom Emmanuel for the recognition he has given the area by appointing their son, Comrade Ini Ememobong as a member of the State Executive Council.

    The report from Ini Local Government Area indicated that materials arrived the Council Secretariat, Odoro Ikpe at about 11.40am for onward distribution to the 11 wards.

    State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Glory Edet commended the electorate for their peaceful conduct and urged them to continue in their support to the candidate even as the returning officer, Mr. Monday James Akpan described the process as peaceful and worthy of commendation.

    In Okobo local council, the monitoring team observed that materials arrived the Divisional Police Headquarters early enough and were distributed to ward officials for onward circulation to the wards.

    In Ibesikpo Asutan LGA materials for the local government arrived by 11:35 AM. After accreditation, agents and returning officers were admitted into the council hall, venue for the distribution of materials to various Wards.

    State PDP chairman Mr Udo Ekpenyong while addressing congress officials had reminded them that the PDP in the State has set for itself a reputation of conducting peaceful, credible and fair nominations, urging them to sustain the reputation.

    “As messengers of the Party we are asking you to ensure that everything you do conform to this present administration’s overall intention to lead a fair, and people-centric processes of nominations.

    “Everything that we have done since the commencement of this process have been transparent, fair and credible. As party Chairman, I will ask that you do everything to maintain this.” The chairman said.

  • A’Ibom LG goes tough on market revenue agents, touts after traders’ protest

    A’Ibom LG goes tough on market revenue agents, touts after traders’ protest

    By Samuel Ogenyi, Uyo

    The chairman of Itu Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom Mr Etetim Onuk has ordered security agents to arrest anyone seen collecting levies from traders in markets in the area.

    This is after traders from the popular Etaha Itam market took their protest against exorbitant and unauthorized levies by revenue agents and touts to Government House Uyo.

    In a statement in Uyo yesterday, Onuk said that the Council has not authorized anyone to collect income levies on its behalf after it banned the payment of levies to cushion the global economic strain caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

    “Also in compliance with the tax holiday magnanimously granted traders by the Akwa Ibom State Governor; Deacon Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, the Council had placed a ban on levies and taxation.

    “The Council frowns at the allegations as it has not authorized such levies. The prohibition of all kind of levies is still in force and as such taxation should not be collected until the subsisting ban on taxation is lifted.

    “The Council also warns that law enforcement agents have been placed on high alert to arrest and prosecute offenders and advises everyone to report suspected touts, cases of molestation and extortion to the market management committees, the Local Government Council or law enforcement agents.” It said.

    It would be recalled that traders, mostly market women and underaged children from the market on Tuesday protested over heavy and multiple levies on them by revenue collectors in the Market.

    The leader of the group, Esther Ekot lamented that after paying for a space at the road side between the sum of N15000 to N45000 depending on the size they were still compelled to pay daily ticket of N2,400.

    Ekott explained that each trader on Tuesday was forced to pay N3000 development fee as against N2000 they normally pay even without any sight of development in the market.

    She said the high taxations and daily tickets had made mockery of tax holiday given to them by governor Udom Emmanuel to cushion the harsh economic effects of the Covid 19 pandemic urging government authorities to come to their aid.

  • A’Ibom to bare civil servants without facemasks from office

    By Samuel Ogenyi, Uyo

    Akwa Ibom State government has said it would shut out civil servants without facemasks from their offices.

    It has also directed the State Commissioner of Police to increase the enforcement of compulsory use of facemask in all parts of the state, including rural communities.

    Secretary to State Government and Chairman, COVID-19 Management Committee Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem who announced this in Uyo on Monday said it has already coordinated village heads and council chairmen to ensure enforcement.

    Ekuwem warned lthat anyone caught defaulting the order would have to be detained for hours to serve as deterrent to others.

    “We have noticed with dismay, the manifest flouting of the regulation requiring the use of face masks. As a responsible government, we must act to curb the spread of the virus and protect our citizens and residents. To this end, the Governor has directed the State Commissioner of Police to order the monitoring teams to enforce this protocol to the letter.

    “We urge our citizens to take personal responsibility by properly wearing their face masks and maintaining social distancing. All citizens and residents are urged to comply with the AKSG/NCDC/WHO COVID-19 Guidelines and protocols. For emphasis, we must all note the need for:

    “We insist on Social distancing wherever people are gathered (churches, markets, schools, hotels, funerals, etc.); Wearing of face masks, Frequent washing of hands, Use of sanitizers.

    “Report any case of high body temperature (38oC and above), frequent sneezing, frequent coughing, loss of sense of smell, frequent stooling, breathlessness, etc. to the Isolation Centre in Ituk Mbang General Hospital or to the nearest medical facility”. He said

    Giving update on the spread of the virus so far in the state, Ekuwem said “Our statistics as at yesterday are: Total tests conducted – 1721, Total number of confirmed cases – 250, Total number of recoveries – 208, Total number of active cases – 34Total number of deaths – 8”.

    The SSG used the occasion to reiterate that the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom Emmanuel has been leading the battle against the pandemic from the frontlines, which accounts for the huge support all critical pillars of the fight have received.

    “He has spared nothing in this fight, but now is the time for individual responsibility- by maintaining high personal hygiene, keeping social distancing and proper use of face masks”. Ekuwem assured.

  • A’Ibom faults NBS high unemployment rating

    A’Ibom faults NBS high unemployment rating

    By Samuel Ogenyi, Uyo

    Akwa Ibom State Government has faulted latest report by the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS which listed it as the state with the second highest unemployment rate in the country.

    In a statement by state information commissioner, Barr Ini Ememobong in Uyo on Saturday, it described the NBS latest Unemployment and Underemployment Report unbelievable as it contradicted the reality on ground.

    The statement said that though the reality would not indicate the non existence of unemployment in the state, efforts made at industrializing the state and expansion of employment opportunities in the state civil service would counter such reports.

    “The reality on ground in our state is in contradistinction to the Bureau’s report. A juxtaposition of the said report with the reality of the existence and operation of the numerous industries in our state, the recruitment into the civil and public service, Public Private Partnership initiatives.

    “Also the award of direct Labour contracts, our airline and general aviation businesses, qualitative cash support and interest free loans to entrepreneurs, financial and input support to farmers.

    “The obvious conclusion will confirm that indeed the current administration has created quality jobs in an unprecedented manner. This reality is not attempting to deny the existence of unemployment-which is a global phenomenon worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic.” It said.

    The statement said the state government would engage the Bureau to ascertain the veracity of their processes and results and would seek answers to the some questions.

    “What was the sample size used in the survey?What was the spatial spread of the sample?What population figure did they use to obtain the percentage recorded for Akwa Ibom ?What quality assurance mechanisms did they employ?

    “What was the temporal spread of the data used in the analyses?
    In order to ensure trust and confidence in statistical output, with which agency of the state government was the data source authentication done?” It querried.

    Unemployment it said has its permanent corollary as increase in crime and youth restiveness wondering why the state could be one of the safest in the country, witnessed influx of industries and other economic activities, purveyed by local cum foreign investors and still be the state with the second largest unemployment percentage.

    “The role of data in a survey is to reflect the existing reality, not to project the imaginary.” The statement concluded.

  • A’Ibom market traders lament excessive levy

    By Samuel Ogenyi, Uyo

    Traders in major markets in Akwa Ibom have raised alarm over the imposition of multiple ticketing by the Local Governments and traders’ unions in the markets.

    This is against the State Government’s directive on tax holidays for all categories of taxpayers including traders in the State, to cushion the adverse effect of the Coronavirus on people and businesses.

    Speaking to newsmen at the popular Akpan Andem Market in Uyo metropolis yesterday, a trader Mrs Ekong Okon explained that, despite efforts by the State Government to reduce economic hardship on them, some agents allegedly set up by market unions has continued to tax them.

    According to her, ‘‘here in Akpan Andem Market every shop is made to pay N500 for electricity, N700 for Uyo Local Government, N500 for security and N1000 as development levy amongst others.”

    Despite the collection of these levies for the aforementioned items, traders still experienced dilapidated shops, blackout and absence of development against monies collected by the revenue agents.

    Also, at Itam Market in Uyo, traders lamented the influence of splinter market unions saying that, the multiplicity of these unions contributed heavily to the high cost of food items.

    Worst hit are traders without market stalls who display their wares in the open and along roads near the markets as they are most times forced to part with monies not receipted for by some of the revenue collection agents.

    In one of such incidents last year, a pregnant woman died of injuries sustained while being forced to pay levy on a jerrycan of Palm oil she was bringing to Akpanandem market to sell by a revenue collection agent.

    Traders in other markets also visited such as; Afaha Market, Ikot Ambang Market, Urua Tor, Use Market, Etuk Street Market and Ikpe Market etc, complained of excessive levy and called on the State Government to intervene for them to feel the impact of the tax relief it granted.

  • Danger looms for returning students in A’Ibom over unhealthy school environment

    By Samuel Ogenyi, Uyo

    As exit students return to Schools in Akwa Ibom, there remained the danger posed by bushy school environment as most of the schools in the state are yet to be cleaned up in readiness for a academic programmes.

    This is even after the state government has said it would decontaminate and clean up the schools to make them habitable for students.

    A visit to some of the schools revealed that many have not be readied for school resumption with tall grasses growing in them with just few clean enough for safe academic programme.

    Snakes, and other reptiles are battling for space in most of the government owned Secondary schools following the five months forced closure prompted by the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic.

    With most of them day schools, there has been no human presence in most of the facilities except locals and security men with the attendant result that most of them have become quite dirty and overgrown with bushes.

    The schools were not fumigated before resumption as directed by the Ministry of Education and teachers were not trained on how to teach and relate in the wake of Covid-19..

    For instance in Community Secondary Grammar School , Ikot Essien in Ibesikpo Asutan local government area, media report say the principal Mrs Enobong Usungurua is said to have killed two snakes in her office as she resumed duty for Senior Secondary Three students who are preparing for West African Examination Council exams .

    At Cornelia Conelly College, Uyo only the football field and areas around the School hall where the SS3 students receive lectures and the part of the dormitory where they reside that have been cleared.

    It was however observed that the School only provided water without soap for students to decontaminate themselves.

    At Ukpaubong Community Secondary School, Itam in Itu local government area, pupils used the entire last week, one of the two weeks meant for revision before writing the West African School Certificate Examination to cut grasses in parts of the school around classrooms and administrative block.

    Schools like Government Technical School, Mbioto in Etinan local government area and Comprehensive Secondary School, Ikot Akpa Etok/Ediam among others were not given thermometers on the ground that their population were below 1500 pupils.

    Schools were given large plastic buckets by the ministry for hand washing as well as liquid soap while sanitizers were not made available.

    With the state of affairs observers believe that the health and lives of students are being put at risk as the general outlook showed a lack of preparedness by the state government for resumption of schools.

    Meanwhile the state Commissioner for Education, Dr Enobong Mbobo has bemoaned the lack of conformity to the COVID 19 protocols by students stressing that schools could be shut down if these protocols are not observed.

    Mbobo who visited Ikono Ibom Comprehensive School Ikot Anyan Ikono and Community Secondary Commercial School, Ikot Oku Ikono also expressed disappointment that some of the students have no desks or chairs for their lessons.

  • A’Ibom to cut School time on resumption

    A’Ibom to cut School time on resumption

    By Samuel Ogenyi,Uyo

    Always Ibom state government has said it would cut down on the number of hours students would be in School when schools are eventually allowed to reopen in the state.

    It has said that it has also acquired snacks to feed students especially those from poor homes in School as a way of cutioning the effect of the Coronavirus pandemic on their parents.

    Governor Udom Emmanuel who made this known at a radio interactive programme in Uyo last weekend however said that the state government would defog all schools in the state before students are allowed to return to school.

    ”When schools reopen, we will limit the number of hours spent in school by the students, we will also minimize break-time that students will go out to drink water or take a drink. We are experimenting on a whole number of things to survive this COVID-19 pandemic.

    “Let me also add that we have acquired a lot of soft drinks and biscuits that would be given to the student during those break time. The drinks and snacks are targeted mostly at the very poor students in the villages whose parents may not be able to provide them with good meal as they will be coming o

    “We can’t keep our students at home. So we are setting up a mechanism to first de-fog the schools. So afterwards we’ll announce resumption of schools. We are beginning with the JSS3 & SS3. We are limiting it to them because they are examination classes which is not controlled by the state government.” Emmanuel explained.

    The governor maintained that adequate care is been taken off patients with COVID-19 in all it’s isolation centres adding that the few deaths recorded were cases already in very bad conditions before they were brought into the isolation centres.

    Government, he said would also step up testing as soon as the state’s second IPR centre is certified by the National Centre for Disease Control, NCDC.

    “From the last time we were here on this programme, we have had an additional 4 deaths recorded in the state. It is not as if they all died in one day, but it is just because that is the time that NCDC decided to update their records. All those cases were brought in to our facilities when their conditions were very bad.

    “I am glad to inform you that the state has activated the second PCR lab and it is 100% ready. We are only awaiting NCDC certification. So be rest assured that we will soon step up the testings in the state. We won’t wait for people to show symptoms.”

    “We have taken delivery of 3 more containers of medical equipment. As I said, I want all the 10 Federal Constituencies to have a well equipped hospital. We have awarded work for that of lkot Abasi. All the other Constituencies have well equipped hospitals except Ikot Abasi and Ikot Ekpene. We are working on those two.” Emmanuel explained.

  • A’Ibom PDP defends cost of nomination forms for Councillorship, LG chairmanship aspirants

    A’Ibom PDP defends cost of nomination forms for Councillorship, LG chairmanship aspirants

    By Emeka Samuel, Uyo

    The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Akwa Ibom has said that the high cost of nomination forms for Councillorship and Local Government chairmanship aspirants was to enable the party fund and maintain its operations in the 329 wards in the state.

    This is as party members have continued to criticize the party for the high cost of the forms for councillorship and Local Government chairmen positions placed at N750,000 and N2.9M respectively including tax clearance and other sundry charges.

    But the state Publicity Secretary of the party, Barr In Ememobong in a radio programme in Uyo last weekend defended the action saying that the party also needed money to complete its permanent Secretariat.

    Ememobong further stated that this would also make it possible for aspirants collectively endorsed by the people to emerge adding that this would also discourage money bags from hijacking the process

    “The cost of nomination forms are justifiable. Political Parties the world over need money to remain afloat and pursue laudable programmes. Our Party the PDP is no exception. We run 329 ward offices in this state with at least 17 people working there.

    “And again, Politics is meant to be a contributory project. For a Councillor who wishes to vie for an office simply need at least 50 people in that ward to contribute to sending him to go and represent them. In times past, contesting an was a community effort.”

    “And no, I do not agree that money bags can hijack the process. This is because we have an electoral college which decides who emerges.

    “If you are arguing that someone who has money might sit back somewhere and sponsor a candidate, I ask you what if the person is not part of the electoral college? It is the ward that must decide who represents them.” He explained.

    However some members of the public have taken to social media to criticize his defense of the cost of the forms even as the party has halted the sale of the forms for administrative reasons.

    According to a resident, Emmanuel Timothy, “you say 329 offices across the state and at least 17 workers in each LGA and I haven’t seen any party office across the 13 wards in Oruk Anam not to talk of workers. Maybe ghost workers.Honestly, the cost of the form is too much for a common man who have the zeal to contest.”

    Another resident, Ututofon Ekpo expressed dissapointment over the party’s decision saying that,” I am really disappointed with Ini Ememobong’s justification. Too poor. Which ward office is he talking of? Which seventeen staff is he also talking of?”

  • A’Ibom Assembly screens, clears Gov. Emmanuel’s Commissioner/SA nominees

    A’Ibom Assembly screens, clears Gov. Emmanuel’s Commissioner/SA nominees

    By Samuel Ogenyi, Uyo
    Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly on Thursday screened and cleared  eight nominees from Governor Udom Emmanuel for appointment into the State Executive Council.
    The Commissioner and Special Adviser nominees cleared include Barr Ini Ememobong, State Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Acting Vice Chancellor of the Akwa Ibom State University, Prof Eno Ibanga.
    Others include the State Chairman of Associaton of Local Governments of Nigeria,ALGON, Mr Frank Archibong, Provost of the College of  Health Sciences at the University of Uyo, Prof Augustine Umoh,  Dr Ini Adiakpan, Mrs Enobong Mbobo, Mr Amanam Nkanga and Dr Imo Moffat.
    In a report presented to the House at the plenary on Thursday, the Chairman: House committee on Judiciary, Justice, Human Rights and Public Petitions, Mr Victor Ekwere , having screened the nominees at the committee level, described the nominees as intelligent men and women of proven integrity “who will add value to the administrative machinery of the state”.
    Of significant interest to the lawmakers was the encomiums which trailed the nomination of Ememobong, leading to a unanimous agreement by members of the house, led by the Speaker Aniekan Bassey, that he be exempted from questioning and be allowed to take a bow.
    Speaking on the nomination of the PDP Publicity Secretary, the member representing Ibiono Ibom State Constituency, Mr Godwin Ekpo described him as an image maker whose record surpassed those of other image makers of other political parties across Nigeria.
    “His is highly intelligent and I have no doubt that he is going to turn around the fortune of wherever he is posted to. As an image maker of our party, the PDP,  his record surpasses records of  image makers of all other political parties in Nigeria. He has, to a very great extent built a very reputable image for our great party in the state”. Ekpo said
    Also speaking, the Chairman, House of Assembly Committee on Information, Barr Aniefiok Dennis described Ememobong as an erudite, eloquent and competent lawyer, whose nomination,  would positively rob-off on Akwa Ibom people across sectors.
    The Assembly used the forum to applaud Governor Udom Emmanuel for painstakingly selecting seasoned technocrats of  proven integrity to help in piloting the affairs of the state.
  • A’Ibom youths threaten to expel oil company over breach of agreement

    A’Ibom youths threaten to expel oil company over breach of agreement

    By Samuel Ogenyi, Uyo

    Youths of Ibeno local government area of Akwa Ibom have threatened to expel AOS-Orwell Ltd, an oil prospecting company, over breach of agreement.

    The angry youths in a letter to the management of AOS-Orwell obtained by newsmen on Wednesday in Uyo accused the company of failing to abide by the terms of agreement it entered with oil bearing communities in the area on December 17th, 2018.

    In the letter signed by the Chairman of Ibeno Youth Presidents’ Forum, Comrade Akparawa Etia, the youths stated that the company had agreed to employ indigence and four community liaison officers(CLO) to represent the four local government areas that make ExxonMobil host communities.

    The youths also said the company agreed to execute communication development projects, implement competitive pay package with good conditions of service and capacity building development for the host communities.

    “All these were agreed on the basis of the fact that when AOS-Orwell has a contract with ExxonMobil, the agreement will be implemented. The copy of the said agreement is with us, officially signed by the two parties-the AOS-Orwell management team and the community representatives.

    “Presently, AOS-Orwell has signed and secured contracts with ExxonMobil (Provision of Finshing Toolbox and Services) where their operational locations are: Borr Drilling Rigs-Gerd and GROA, Shelf Drilling Rig-Trident, all situated in our community /state territorial waters.

    “Moreover, it is extremely amazing and disappointing that after securing contracts with ExxonMobil in our communities and after a lengthy meeting with the same management team on Wednesday 26th February 2020, they decided to renege on all the agreements we had.” They said.

    According to the youths, the management of AOS-Orwell in its reply, stated that it would not employ indigence of host communities as field workers and CLOs, reneged on community assistant projects, and pay package and condition of service.

    The youths in the letter maintained that AOS-Orwell must meet all the contractual terms namely, “employment for fieldwork-eight employment opportunities for the host communities of ExxonMobil, 3 CLOs representing Ibeno, Onna, Esit Eket local government areas, all trained and staffed with full entitlements.

    “Construction and equipping of health or educational facilities in 4 host communities of Ibeno, Onna, Esit Eket and Eket among others “.