Niger Delta

Eno Flags Off One-Project-Per-LGA In Uyo …Tasks Contractors On Compliance

Published

1 year ago

November 17, 2023

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has laid the foundation for the construction of a Primary Healthcare Centre, flagging-off of the government’s “One Project-Per-Local Government Area” programme in Uyo Senatorial District.
He charged contractors handling works in the programme to ensure strict compliance to the models and specifications for the projects in line with the rural development goals of the ARISE Agenda.
Eno gave the charge at Oboyo Ikot Ita, Nsit Ibom LGA where he laid the foundation for the construction of Primary Healthcare Centre.
He clarified that the choice of the healthcare facility project for Nsit Ibom was the collective wish of the Nsit Ibom stakeholders in line with his administration’s rural development goal of availing communities in the state with functional primary healthcare facilities.
The Governor assured of government’s commitment to funding the project to ensure its completion within record period of 12 weeks, saying that this will be dependent on attainment of measurable milestones and strict compliance with specifications and that machinery has been put in place for monitoring and evaluation.
“We are so happy to be here today to flag off one of our rural projects in Nsit Ibom, using this to flag off others in Uyo Senatorial District.
“We are ready to fund this project as you meet the milestones. We expect that this projects will take just twelve weeks. So, from today, and the next twelve weeks, we should come and commission this project.

“Please note, we have Projects Monitoring and Evaluation Team from the Governor’s Office and we have the Ministry for Special Duties monitoring this project.

“Those two groups must endorse your IPC before one Naira is released. They will come for assessment. Please stay within the specifications”, Eno charged.

The State Governor informed communities across the state that government will only undertake projects selected based on collective interest and resolution of stakeholders in the area, which must be within the budget size appropriated for the One Project-Per-LGA Programme, while urging Council Chairmen to take responsibility for projects sited within their domains.

“I would like to say again that this projects are chosen by the stakeholders. We have given power back to you so that you can also know how power is.

“All we are asking is, sit down together, bring everybody together and choose one project for your Local Government. If you cannot choose, then don’t blame the Governor. The days have gone when one man will answer we. ‘We’ must be total of all the stakeholders in a community.

“Don’t expect the Governor to be involved in a situation where one person who has access to the Governor will appeal to him and bring one project and then brag tomorrow that he brought the project. Let it be ‘us’ that brought the project. That is what I want across this state”, he stated.

The Akwa Ibom State Governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to furthering the agriculture component of the ARISE Agenda towards achieving food sufficiency and therefore solicited the cooperation of communities with the State Government in providing lands for the Ibom Model Farm Projects.

Presenting an overview of the project, the Commissioner for Special Duties and Ibom Deep Seaport, Dr. Bassey Okon, said the Oboyo Ikot Ita Health Center upon completion will be equipped with male and female wards, injection room, a pharmacy, kitchen, restaurant, two semi-detachable bungalows and the premises furnished with a good landscape and good parking space for the staff and patients.

Stakeholders, including the Member representing Nsit Ibom State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Hon. Eric Akpan, and General Paul Isang rtd., in their goodwill messages, expressed the profound gratitude of the people of the area to the Governor for favouring Nsit Ibom as starting point for the programme for Uyo Senatorial District.

They acknowledged the siting of the healthcare facility in the rural Oboyo Ikot Ita Community as a timely response to the yearnings of Nsit Ibom people.

By: Christopher Tom, Uyo

Niger Delta

Fouchee Celebrates Asari’s Recognition

Published

5 days ago

January 10, 2025

The Tide

The Amayanabo of Fouchee Community in Degema Local Government Area, Rivers State, HRH. A.C.Blakk-Iwerima, says the recognition of Alabo, Alhaji Mujaheed Dokubo Asari as the Amayanabo of Torusarama Piri is the icing on the achievements of the Rivers State Governor in 2024.

HRH. Blakk-Iwerima, who was speaking recently to newsmen after the annual thanksgiving service of the Fouchee Community, said the recognition of Dokubo Asari was fit and proper and sounds like music in the ears of all people of Ifoko ancestry.

He commended the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminialaye Joseph Fubara, for the recognition of Dokubo Asari, whose leadership role, he acknowledged, stands out.

He also commended the Governor for the many steps being taken to restore sanity in governance and dousing desperation through people-centered policies in the State.

According to him, “the Kings, Chiefs and people of Fouchee and Ifoko Communities in the Kalabari ethnic nationality are very proud of Alabo, Alhaji Dokubo Asari, whose links with Ifoko has been most rewarding”.

HRH. Blakk-Iwerima promised to give all the support needed to enable the team working on the Fouchee Atlantic Project to succeed, and expressed hope that the Rivers State Government would also give the needed backing.

He further called on Asari to use the recognition to strengthen the Kalabari Se Kobiri and bring all aggrieved persons and communities to see the need to work together.

Niger Delta

Kalabari Media Forum Hails Recognition Of Dokubo Asari As Amayanabo

Published

5 days ago

January 10, 2025

The Tide

The Kalabari Media Forum has endorsed the recognition of Alabo, Alhaji Mujaheed Dokubo Asari as the Amayanabo of Torusarama Piri and the historical relevance of the award.

A communique issued after the 2024 end of year summit of the Forum also commends the Executive Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminialaye Joseph Fubara for the recognition which they described as the best end of year gift to the Kalabari people.

The Communique signed by the Coordinator of the Forum, Alabo Dagogo Clinton and the Secretary, Mr. Harry Awolayeofori Macmorrison states that the gesture should make the Kalabari people to get back to the drawing board and consolidate on existing inter and intra communal peace within the region.

According to the statement, Torusarama Piri was the first place where the founding fathers of Kalabari converged from different cultures, tribes and backgrounds. Adding that those saying that the Kalabari people are not united should think again.

” As the different founding fathers were able to form a formidable ethnic nationality, modern day Kalabari should be able to sink the differences between the constituent communities and with other non-Kalabari speaking neighbours to achieve the needed internal cohesion for development”. It states.

The Forum further congratulated Alabo Asari Dokubo on his recognition and urged him to use the opportunity to do even more for the Kalabari people and Rivers State as a whole.

According to the statement, the Forum is happy with the recognition of Dokubo Asari not because he is one of the patrons of the Forum, but because he is about the most Kalabari-centric figure living, who has also committed enormous resources for the protection of the Kalabari people.

They urged the Kalabari Se Kobiri and the entire people of the ethnic nationality to work with Alabo Dokubo Asari and put to rest speculations about Kalabari that some persons have exploited against the interest of the Kalabari people over the years.

Niger Delta

We’re Upgrading Tourism Sites Across C’River – Otu

Published

5 days ago

January 10, 2025

The Tide

Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has said plans were underway to upgrade tourism sites across the state to meet international standards.

Speaking with newsmen in Calabar, Otu said this was to attract local and international tourists to the state.

He said the state was also working on creating the needed infrastructure to boost tourism in the areas of transportation and accommodation among others.

“We are currently training personnel within the state and outside the country to upgrade our tourism sites. We are partnering with investors to bring some of them to 21st century standard.

“Currently, we are trying to ensure our roads are taken care of. We are not waiting on the Federal Government again because it has become clear that priorities are too many, so, we have to help ourselves.

“We want to ensure people easily access those tourism sites with very little difficulty and we are looking at stabilising our product pricing by making sure transportation is improved. We will explore gas, electricity and train.

“We are going to improve aviation as well”, he said.

Speaking on the just-concluded Calabar Carnival, Otu commended the competing and non-competing bands for their remarkable imput which culminated to the success of the event.

He appreciated everyone who worked behind the scene in the nine months preparation period for the carnival.

According to him, with guidance from renowned professors, researchers, individual artistes and many more professionals, the carnival was improved on.

He said in view of the need to bring back the international carnival, the state would work on ensuring world-class accommodation facilities are put in place ahead of the next edition.

He noted that the state would have a post carnival review to assess the areas to be improved on and other programmes to introduce.

Otu said depending on the outcome of the review, the state would be considering establishing diaspora bands in 2025.

“International carnival is not scrapped, we are looking at the prospect of established diaspora bands in 2025. This time, we are going to have a post carnival review to put things right.

“We are aware that three to four months ahead of the Calabar Carnival, hotels were already fully booked. So, we are trying to make sure we do not only have enough hotels but also ensure they are upscaled to international standards.

“This is because next Calabar Carnival will be a bigger picture with our international carnival in place.

“We already have international hospitality facilities that are moving here, we have hotels that are almost completed which can compete with any hotel across the world”, he said.

Otu, expressed excitement over the exhilarating performance of physically challenged individuals in the carnival.

He said the possibility of having a dedicated carnival band for them in 2025 would be explored.

“We do not see them as being limited by whatever challenges they face. We are looking at some of the things they have put to us but there must be a policy.

“We are looking at setting up a proper structure in their favour. So, to encourage them on the carnival front, the chairman of the Carnival Commission will check if they actually need their own band”, he said.