Niger Delta

SURE-P: C’River Targets 10,000

Published

13 years ago

January 11, 2013

The State Implementation Committee for the Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P) has assured that Cross River would target 10,000 unemployed people under the programme in 2013.

The state Chairman, Mr Agom Jarigbe, said this in Calabar at the inauguration of the Sensitisation/ Orientation Workshop for the implementation of SURE-P in the state.

Jarigbe said 5,000 unemployed people would benefit from the Federal Government’s SURE-P programme while 5,000 people would benefit from the state’s controlled SURE-P.

“Right now we are employing 3,000 and later we will take more 2,000 making it 5,000 but before the year runs out Cross River will have 10,000. “The SURE-P at the state level will employ 5,000; then under the Federal Government’s SURE-P we will have 5,000, ‘’ he said.

According to him, beneficiaries of the programme are expected to receive N10,000 monthly stipend and after one year they will be fully absorbed into another bigger endeavour.

He said that the beneficiaries were expected to carry out community work and advised them to work hard in order to justify the good intention of the government.

He said the Federal Government was targeting 370,000 beneficiaries across the country under the first phase of SURE-P.

Mr Eta Mbora, the Chairman, Calabar Municipal Area Council, said that the SURE-P programme was in fulfillment of President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign promise.

“You could remember that the president was here during his campaign where he promised to create Jobs for Nigerians.

“It was also part of the campaign promises of our State Government to create employment for the people,‘’ he said.

Eta said that the programme was purely meant for the unemployed and the vulnerable members of the society and advised the beneficiaries to avoid cheating. “You must be unemployed for you to benefit in this programme; there is no need for cheating; it is just like payment of unemployment allowance.’’

Earlier, representative of the Southern District of Cross River in the committee, Dr Offiong Ani, said the beneficiaries were expected to work for five hours each day of the week.

Ani said that the money was not meant for jamboree and called on the beneficiaries to brace up for the challenges of community service.

“You could be called upon to do anything five hours every five days of the week,‘’ Ani said.

Mr Nelson Egbuka, the representative of the United Bank for Africa, said that the bank was the custodian of the fund and responsible for its management and disbursement.

Egbuka said the beneficiaries were required to open account with the bank where their funds would be deposited.

One of the beneficiaries, Mr Effiong Bassey, a physically-challenged person, said he was happy to be among the first set of beneficiaries and thanked the government for the programme.

Niger Delta

Navy Pledges Improved Patrols, Welfare Boost For Personnel

Published

3 days ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, has pledged to ensure improved welfare for personnel and more patrols on the maritime corridors of the nation.

He disclosed this during an on the spot assessment of things at the Eastern Naval Command (ENC), Calabar, on Wednesday.

According to him, there is the need for officers to always be ready, by improving on their welfare, in a bid to keep the country secured.

“I am here for an on the spot assessment of our operations and like you have seen, I have also gone round to check the ongoing buildings.

”These are welfare issues and for us to be able to have our men ready and keep us secured, their welfare needs to be catered for.

“So, we are here to kill two birds with one stone, which are basically operations and welfare issues.

”I am happy with what the command is doing; it is doing well in terms of keeping the maritime environment safe.

“We will continue doing what we are doing and improve on that, which is patrol of the waters and increase in the area of surveillance”, he stated.

As part of his visit, Abbas commissioned the 12×1 Junior Rates Accommodation Block A and B, at the Navy Barracks at Atimbo in Calabar.

The naval chief also inspected other ongoing projects in the Akim Barracks, 1006 flats and the Navy hotel, all within Calabar.

Niger Delta

Delta Begins Uromi Junction Flyover Construction

Published

3 days ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

The Delta State Government says it has began construction work on the long-awaited Uromi Junction Flyover Bridge in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of the state.

Director-General (DG) of the Delta State Bureau for Orientation and Communications, Dr. Fred Oghenesivbe, confirmed the development to newsme in Asaba.

According to him, heavy-duty construction equipment have arrived the site, a project which is being handled by Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, one of the country’s leading construction firms.

Oghenesivbe, described the flyover as a massive infrastructure project with far-reaching socio-economic benefits for the area.

He said the project would significantly transform the Agbor metropolis by easing traffic congestion, improving the city’s aesthetics, and boosting commercial activities within the local government area.

He described the State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, as a promise-keeper and pragmatic leader whose administration remains committed to infrastructure development and economic growth across the state.

The DG expressed confidence in Julius Berger’s capacity to deliver the project within record time and according to the highest construction standards.

“The Uromi Junction serves as a major link between different parts of the country but has recently been plagued by severe traffic congestion, making vehicular movement increasingly difficult”, he noted.

He urged residents to cooperate with the contractor and safeguard construction materials and equipment to ensure the timely completion of the project.

Niger Delta

A’Ibom Rejects Ekid Ownership Claim Of Stubbs Creek

Published

3 days ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

The Akwa Ibom State Government has rejected claims by the Ekid People’s Union that it owns land within the Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve, describing such assertions as “false, misleading and a distortion of the judicial record.”

In a recent statement, signed by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Uko Udom, the state government said it was compelled to respond in the “overriding public interest,” despite a pending court case instituted by the same group.

The government stated that contrary to claims circulating in the media, the historic case of Ntiaro and Ikpak vs. Ibok Etok Akpan and Edoho Ekid, decided by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in 1918, did not vest ownership of Stubbs Creek land in any ethnic group or community.

“The final judgement merely dismissed the claims before the court and granted title to no party whatsoever”, the government stated, adding that “any assertion to the contrary is false, misleading and a distortion of the judicial record.”

According to the statement, the land was lawfully reserved by the colonial government under Forest Reserve Order No. 45 of 1930, later amended in 1941, 1955 and 1962, with “the principal rights of the land forfeited to the Government upon the change of status.”

It said the area has since been administered under applicable laws by the Akwa Ibom State Government, which “has at all times acted within its lawful authority in the management and allocation of land in the area for legitimate public and economic purposes.”

Citing the 1999 Constitution and the Land Use Act, the government stated that all land in the state is vested in the governor to be held in trust for the common benefit of Nigerians, noting that claims of absolute ancestral ownership are subject to existing laws.

The government “categorically denies allegations of fraud or misrepresentation” regarding Stubbs Creek or investments there and warned it would take “appropriate legal steps” against any individual or group publishing false or defamatory material capable of undermining public confidence or discouraging investment

The statement also assured the federal government of “full access and Right of Way” for the proposed Coastal Highway through any part of the state.

The government statement followed an earlier report in which the Ekid People’s Union accused Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State of making comments that allegedly linked the community to terrorism, while he was defending the Coastal Highway project passing through the Stubbs Creek.

Ekid People’s Union maintained that the people of Ekid are the original owners of the land known as Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve, arguing that their ancestral ownership predates colonial rule.

The group cited historical occupation, customary ownership and a 1918 Privy Council case, which it claimed affirmed Ekid rights over the territory.

The union also accused the Akwa Ibom State Government of misrepresenting history to justify taking over the land for commercial interests and the proposed Coastal Highway, an allegation the state government has denied.

The group rejected any suggestion linking the Ekid people to criminality or terrorism, insisting they were peaceful citizens defending their ancestral land through lawful and civic means.