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‘C’River Got N1.7bn’ …Delisting As Oil Producing State
The Cross River State Government received the sum of N1.7bilion in June from the federation Account following its delisting as an oil producing state.
The Governor, Liyel Imoke disclosed this while receiving members of the children’s parliament during the international Day of the African Child celebration in Calabar
He said that of the amount N1.2billion was spent on salaries, N.3 billion to run the government while N.2billion was spent on infrastructure.
The governor observed that the only way out of the financial quagmire was for corporate bodies and citizens to pay their taxes to help in the provision of qualitative education for the children.
Imoke said that issues of street children should be handled collectively because a lot of children and parents do not know their rights, stressing that it is annoying to see children hawk as government would take punitive actions against parents or guardians who allow their children or wards to hawk on the street.
He disclosed that government intends to give mission schools some subventions to enable them provide infrastructure, but will not extend same to private schools and warned that private schools that do not meet Cross River Standard in Education will be closed down because they are expected to give good value for money collected.
The Governor said the State spends about N5 billion on the renovation of the first 60 secondary schools across the state excluding the provision of furniture, while the Special Education Centre in Calabar has been captured under 2006 renovation programme of UBE which Ministry of Social Welfare will also intervene, assuring that government will continue to keep promise made as it intends to undertake its programmes in phases
Imoke remarked that he was encouraged by the children’s performance and presentation which shows that there is hope for the country and congratulated those that participated in the interactive session because they have the right to ask questions.
Mrs Obioma Imoke wife of Governor Liyel Imoke in a welcome address, said the International Day of the African Child was inaugurated by the African Union (then Organization of African Unity) in 1991 to commemorate the killing of African children in Soweto, South Africa during a demonstration in 1976.
Mrs. Imoke, who was represented by Mrs Glory Efiok Cobham wife of Mr. Efiok Cobham, Deputy Governor called on stake holders to ensure the survival of children as well as engage in the fight against all forms of child abuse, adding that the state’s programme on A State Fit For A Child (asfac) has achieved tremendous success as the governor was one of the first persons to have responded to the plight of children because the challenge posed by the out come of an investigation carried out by asfac
revealed the need to invest in the child, adding that asfac in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs had rehabilitated many children.
Mrs. Imoke disclosed that a lot of programmes were earmarked for children across the state on varied issues of interest, adding that no amount spent on a child should be regarded as a waste because such an investment prepares them to be what they will become in future while urging parents to pull resources for the good of the children.
Mr. Endurance Agbo, Speaker of the Cross River Children’s Parliament commended the governor on the passage of the Child Rights Act into Law and his wife for initiating A State Fit For A Child (asfac) while calling on Stake holders to key into it to get it right.
Agbo urged the State government to publish the Child Rights Law for everyone to understand it as well as translate it into the local dialect.
Highlights of the celebration included an address by Master George Urunwoke, winner San Marino Award 2008, mock session by the Children’s parliament, Poetry by Hope Leaders Children Foundation, Calabar and a dance sketch by Young African Stars, Enugu,
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I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
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RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
News
Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman

The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.
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