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With the present demand of the society now, when you are talking about who gets worth HON. ALPHONSUS EBA is worth the mantle of taking our great party/family (PDP) to the promise land. He has been tested, trusted and found worthy of leadership therefore I will beckon on everyone to give him their total support on the forth coming congress of our great party. The pragmatic leader we know has been tested in various ramification and he has never failed in delivering his duty and he can never fail in this aspect. PDP as a party /family has been blessed to have someone like you who is willing to take upon yourself the responsibility of piloting the affairs of our dear party at the state level and we pray that he grant you the strength and wisdom to serve even as you are about to take us to our destination. Sighed AKOROKPOR LINUS

Today, it is with a heavy heart that I join you to mourn our colleague and brother, Hon. Godwin Akwaji, Member representing Obudu State Constituency in the Cross River State House of Assembly. The greatest pain is not the one received when we are physically hurt. Neither is it the one received when we are down and out. But it is the one received when one so dear and so close is taken away from us. Death is painful and comes with grief. It is in this grief and melancholy that we mourn one of us. The sudden demise of our brother, friend and colleague, Hon. Godwin Akwaji is traumatic. Each time death occurs, it tinkers with the oneness, corporate spirit, togetherness and love that bond us in this House. Death is inevitable but whenever it occurs, we are taken by surprise. Although he was a man with exceptional achievements, he never boasted about his achievement and contributions to his community and the society at large. He was a silent achiever who provided succor to many in his communi

By Blessing Enagu Cross River Commissioner for Climate Change and Forestry, Ntufam Donatus Etim has described the death of Ntufam Edet Okon Asim as “a colossal loss to the State,” and  would be greatly missed, especially in the Forestry Cluster where he served primarily as the Special Adviser to the Governor on Forestry, Biodiversity and Conservation, until his demise. Ntufam Donatus Etim gave the eulogy when he led a team from the Forestry Cluster in the State on a condolence visit to the family of the late Special Adviser who passed on recently in Calabar. The Commissioner prayed for the repose of the dead, while also praying God to grant the family the fortitude and grace to weather such monumental storm. Also speaking, the Chairman, Cross River State Forestry Commission, High Chief Tony Undiandeye, described Asim’s death as shocking, noting that it could not have happened if God did not approve it. He encouraged the family to take solace in God and prayed for strength for the famil

By Itam Offor Cross River Legislators have on Tuesday passed the State's Appropriation Amendment  Bill 2020 into law during plenary at the Assembly Complex, Calabar. The 2020 revised budget has a budget size of N147,130,166,966, which shows a downward review of N953,038,340,721 from the 2020 approved budget size of N1,100,168,507,687. Outlay of the 2020 revised budget shows recurrent revenue has been reviewed downwards from N121,461,868,952 to N66,085,762,847 indicating a variance of N55,376,106,105 while recurrent expenditure which was earlier approved at N184,900,048,007 has been reduced to N76,336,396,298 showing a decrease of N108,563,651,709. Similarly, capital expenditure has been reviewed from N915,268,459,680 to N70,793,770,668 showing a decrease of N844,474,689,012. Earlier, the Clerk of the House, Barr. Bassey Ekpeyong had read a correspondence from the State Government which requested the Assembly's consideration and passage of the revised budget. The Lawmakers who h

Currently, there are said to be over 300 million people living with Hepatitis globally with about half of the number not aware of their status due to little or no access to a testing facility. This year's event which was marked across the globe on July 28th 2020,with the Theme Hepatitis Free Future was commemorated in all countries of the world targeting new born babies as the focus was to halt transmission from mother to children. In Calabar,the Cross River State Capital,the event was marked with Street rallies which featured awareness creation using songs and dances,free testing, free vaccination and well as the distribution of Condoms as a preventive tool. Flagging off the campaign in Calabar,the Cross River State Capital,Director General of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency,Dr Janet Ekpenyong said ,it was time to raise the level of  awareness on the dangers of Hepatitis which she described as one of the World's most deadly and fastest killer  disea

The Chairman of the COVID-19 Taskforce response team in Cross River State and the Commissioner for Health, Dr Betta Edu yesterday met with the commissioner for Local Government Affairs Hon Stella Odey and the 18 Local Government Chairmen at the Ministry of Local Government affairs in calabar in a long technical session to discus their new roles in the decentralized response strategy to COVID-19 in the state. The Commissioner for Health who congratulated them on their emergence as chairmen and the drive with which most of them have hit the ground running in their various LGA; introduced the new decentralization strategy for the response to COVID -19. The discussion centered on the Local Government Chairmen calling together the already existing COVID-19 Taskforce and Rapid Response team in their LGA to a proper coordinated response directly supported by the chairmen. She tasked them to hold health workers in their LGAs and the rapid response team accountable for sensitization, sample col

By Itam Offor The House of Assembly has in a resolution granted approval for the State Government to accept an offer of 120 days temporary over draft facility of N 2 billion from first bank. The request for the Assembly's approval was contained in a letter signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Tina Agbor which stated that the over draft facility was intended to ; "cushion the effect and consequences of the current corona virus pandemic which has affected the financial status of the State." According to the SSG; "the credit facility has become necessary because of a shortfall in both the Federal allocation and internally generated revenue which is making it difficult for the State Government to meet urgent needs and important demands". Members in separate remarks lamented the current economic challenges faced by not just Cross River but others States as a result of the COVID 19 pandemic and noted that the facility will assist the State Government

Cross River State Government on Monday during a joint press briefing by Ministry of Finance and Cross River State Internal Revenue Service at New Secretariat Complex Calabar unveiled a structured Tax Relief and Incentive program for Taxpayers and Business Enterprises aimed at mitigating the adverse economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic in Cross River State. Disclosing the list, the Executive Chairman of Cross River State Internal Revenue Service, Mr Akpanke Ogar said the regime of tax incentives has been provided by the State Government under the leadership of Senator Prof Ben Ayade as one of the many avenues to cushion the impacts of the novel Covid-19 pandemic now ravaging most parts of the world and Cross River State. According to him key contents of the package were developed  with the extensive participation of various Taxpayers segments and other stakeholders who have prioritised the areas of intervention required from government. In his welcome remarks, the State Commissi

 The National President of Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH) Alumni Association, Mr. Eyam Abeng yesterday emerged as the Vice Chairman of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) Lagos Zone for a renewable tenure of 3 years. The election which held yesterday at Ibadan, Oyo State with a total number of 81 accredited delegates from diverse oil sectors was keenly contested with it processes widely accepted and adjudge as being transparent, credible and fair. Mr. Abeng who pulled the highest number of valid votes scored 55 votes to defeat his opponent Mr. Austin who pulled only 24 votes, while 2 votes were declared invalid. Others who emerged victorious were Onovae Simon as Chairman,Owan David - Secretary,Ebiesuwa Segun -Assistant Secretary, Usman Umar - Treasuerer, Momoh Tahiru - Financial Secretary, Officer Musa Leroy - Industrial Relations, Adeyinka Tunde - PRO, Chinyelu Onuotu - Whip and Adams Stephen - Auditor. Speaking during the inaugura

The Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency and Akpabuyo Local Government Area are set to collaborate to build an effective and efficient healthcare system for the benefit of the people. This was part of the deliberation met when the Director General  of the Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Janet Ekpenyong paid a courtesy visit to the newly elected Chairman at the council's Secretariat in Ikot Nakanda. The DG who said for a healthy society and a functional system, all parties must work together in harmony to make policies which will provide first class health services to the people especially those in the grassroots. The DG who further admonished the Chairman to maintain the momentum already established in the area council on promoting quality and effective healthcare services urged him to lend his voice to the global pandemic which has hit the world and other diseases which is predominant in the area council. In his response,the Executiv

In another case of sexual molestation against a child, 31-year-old Musa Abubakar has confessed to officers of the Rivers state police command that he rapes his nine-year-old stepdaughter anytime his wife refuses to have sex with him. Abubakar who is from Jigawa state but resides in Rupokwu in Obio Akpor Local Government Area in Rivers state, told newsmen when he was paraded on Wednesday, July 22, that he decided to rape his stepdaughter as his wife always complained of weakness and refused to have sex with him. Narrating her ordeal in the hands of her stepfather, the victim said Abubakar started defiling her at the age of four by sticking a finger in her private part, adding that she was too afraid to tell her mother because the first time she did, the mother beat her up. “I told my mother the truth and I was examined by neighbours before the matter was reported to the Police,” the victim stated. Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the state police command, Nnamdi Omoni, said

BY Deji Lambo A lecturer at the Faculty of Education, University of Benin, Stella Okotie, has been killed by a commercial driver, Anu Adisa, around the institution located on the Benin-Lagos Expressway, Edo State. The deceased’s sales boy identified simply as Amos, who was also knocked down by Adisa when he reportedly lost control of the vehicle, was rescued and rushed to hospital for treatment. Punch Metro was given two accounts of the circumstances surrounding Stella’s death on Monday. Eyewitnesses at the scene of the crash, who were seen in a video, blamed a yet-to-be-identified policeman for the accident, adding that Adisa lost control of the vehicle as the cop was dragging the steering wheel with him because of N100 bribe. “Can you see what the police is doing in Benin, he was dragging the key with the driver, they have killed a innocent person but the guy is still breathing and has never died. Policeman was dragging the steering with the driver because of N100. How do you feel no

BY EKANEM, EKANEM-FAITH MOI OFFICER REPORTING FROM MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State has charged farmers in the state to avail themselves of the various agriculture development initiatives of government in order to ensure food security in the State and Country during the Covid-19 Pandemic period and beyond. The Governor who restated his commitment to revolutionized agriculture in the state spoke at the Flag off of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Anchor Borrowers Programme - "5-Star Cassava Project" in the State. Ayade who was represented by his deputy, His Excellency Prof. Ivara Ejemot Esu at the event, said that the essence of the programme was to support farmers production capacity and enhance their standard of living. He noted that Cassava Value Chain is a priority from production to the end Users. He disclosed that the State  in partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria has a Two Billion Naira facility, inputs as well as land for Famers,

By Uchino Amatey MOI Officer, reporting from CR-SUBEB The Cross River State Universal Basic Education Board (CR-SUBEB), has commenced the execution of thirty-three (33) projects in the State. The commencement of the projects kicked off with the handing over of sites for the 2019 UBE/CR-SUBEB Intervention projects to contractors across the State. Reiterating Governor Ben Ayade’s passion for the basic education sub sector, the Executive Chairman CR-SUBEB, Dr Odey said the state government will remain committed to improving the standard of education in the State. Some of the sites that were handed over by SUBEB include; St. Andrew P/S, Ishibori, Ogoja LGA, construction of 6 classroom block/offices/toilets, Government P/S, Bukemany, Obanliku LGA, construction of 4 classroom block, St. Peter’s P/S, Osina, Yala LGA, construction of 6 classroom block/offices/toilets, St Thomas P/S, Ekori, Yakurr LGA, rehabilitation of 4 classroom block, Community Sec.school, Etomi, Etung LGA, rehabilitation o

As part of effort to prevent community spread of Covid-19 in Cross River State, the government over the last 4 days have intensified active case search and sample collection at several Nigeria -Cameroon Border villages in Obanliku Local Government Area. Speaking against the backdrop of the State fight against Covid-19, Cross River State Commissioner for Health, Dr Betta Edu said sensitization of community members, engagement of key stakeholders holders and testing is critical to the State response as borders are open and restrictions lifted. "Our active case search is to limit transmission and improve surveillance in communities," the Health boss made this known at  Obanliku Local Government Area, noting that the response team would continue to build up its response capacity across the State. She stressed the need for Cross Riverians to take responsibility and support active case search for COVID-19 in their communities. If you find suspected cases please report to the neares

By Blessing Enagu Except for divine providence, the Cross River State Forestry Commission would have been thrown into mourning on Monday July 20th, as one of the massive trees fell into staff residential quarters and office blocks at the headquarters in Calabar. The Calamity which occurred in the wee hours of Monday caused serious damage which attracted prompt visitation and subsequent assessment by a team from the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), led by its Director- General, Princewill Ayim. Although no life was lost, properties worth millions of naira were destroyed and offices rendered inhabitable. Speaking to newsmen, the Chairman, Chief Tony Undiandeye described the incident as unfortunate, grieving that it occurred at a time when the management was faced with the challenge of providing good office accommodation for Staff. Chief Undiandeye expressed gratitude to God that the accident did not occur during office hours which could have been more devastating and called on t

By Kingsley Agim Cross River Geographic Information Agency (CRGIA) has held a one-day capacity building training for its Management and Staff to improve efficiency and overall output of the Agency. Speaking to newsmen at the event held recently in the Agency’s auditorium, CRGIA’s Director-General, Sir John Odo, stated that as an office with professionals in every field in the land cluster, it was pertinent for periodic trainings and re-trainings for capacities of staff to be better developed to bolster productivity in the Agency. Continuing, the DG hinted that the training is one in a series lined up for stakeholders in the land cluster to remain abreast with recent trends and technology in land matters. With a sense of gratification, Sir Odo boasted that his Agency is replete with potent capacity building paraphernalia, consequently calling on institutions of higher learning to take advantage of CRGIA and send their students for industrial trainings in the field of Urban and Regional

The director General of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare development agency,Dr Janet Ekpenyong has admonished parents especially  nursing mothers on the need to present their children for immunization services  as and at when due. The admonission was  made in Utanga,Obanliku Local Government Area of Cross River State while on a working visit to supervise Primary Healthcare facility in the Northern part of the state. Dr Ekpenyong who said, immunization protects children from common diseases affecting children tasked members of the Hausa-fulani community to avail their children the opportunity to immuzed just like every other child in the country. She urged them to debunk every rumor and ideology portraying Immunization as unsafe  with negative implications to the health of their children but rather see it as the best form of protection for children against childhood killer diseases . Ekpenyong further assured them that ,no region,groups or individual will be marginalized or negl

The Nigeria Air Force has revealed the identity of the killer of Nigeria's first female combat helicopter pilot. At a briefing in Abuja, Ibikunle Daramola, air force spokesman, gave the name of the person who drove the car that killed Arotile as Nehemiah Adejoh. He said he is an ex-classmate of the deceased who died at the age of 24. “Mr Nehemiah Adejoh, Mr Igbekele Folorunsho and Mr Festus Gbayegun, drove past her in a Kia Sorento SUV, with Registration Number AZ 478 MKA,”. Daramola said while giving a report on the preliminary investigation. “It is noteworthy that Messrs Adejoh, Folorunsho and Gbayegun are all civilians who live outside NAF Base Kaduna, but were on their way to visit one Mrs Chioma Ugwu, wife of Squadron Leader Chukwuemeka Ugwu, who lives at Ekagbo Quarters on the Base. “Upon recognising their schoolmate, Arotile, after passing her, Mr Adejoh, who was driving, reversed the vehicle, ostensibly in an attempt to quickly meet up with the Deceased, who was walking in

19July, 2020 Your Excellency Sir, I send auspicious greetings and salutations and hope that this missive meets your personage in fine fettle. Sir, first and foremost the intention of this letter is not to flatter you but to show my profound appreciation, and that of my family  for the magnitude of your benevolence, contributions and support towards the down trodden in cross river  State and beyond. Secondly, I am happy and proud to  identify myself with a profoundly good man, a kindhearted and selfless leader, a man of peace and compassion, a man that history has already vindicated, a charismatic and a remarkable academician a man of taciturnity like you whom many have described variously as a man of purpose and foresight, a man who have silently and successfully inspired youth and  humanity, a mentor for all, a dynamic Nigerian and an advocates for peace and justice, a revolutionary politician as well as consummate administrator, and above all, a God fearing person. Sir, indeed you ar

Cross River State, Government has donated Palliatives to over five thousand widows, old and vulnerable persons as part of efforts to cushion the effect of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic in the State. The people who were full of joy, chanted and sang songs in honor of His Excellency, Prof Senator Benedict Ayade, saying, "we have never been gifted in this LGA by any Government". While presenting the items on behalf of the the Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, and addressing Ward Counselors at Obanliku LGA, the Commissioner for Humanity and Social Welfare, Honorable Blessing Egbara said it gives her Joy to see and know that People are Happy and cared for. It should be noted that the exercise tagged "Operation Feed the Vulnerables and Aged" in the State" had held in Obudu LGA has put smiles on the faces of the Vulnerables and Aged rural dwellers. According to Egbara, "this project reflects Governor Ben Ayade's true intentions for his people. "The exerci

A middle-aged woman, identified as Mrs Uchechi Okafor has been slaughtered in cold blood in her house in ihitte Uboma, Imo State. According to information gathered, her assailants are alleged to be some notorious youths who have reportedly been disturbing and terrorising the community. Reports have it that they stormed her apartment on that fateful day, beat her up mercilessly and raped her. It didn't stop there, they proceeded to snuff life out of her, after which they took some of her body parts. We also gathered that she wasn't alone in the house. Her daughter and her maid were with her during the attack. The perpetrators reportedly pouced on them as well. As at the time of filling this report, both daughter and maid were in critical condition and have been taken to a hospital. Copied from Nicole Kaima's blog

By Blessing Enagu Staff of Cross River State Forestry Commission have been assured of better working environment for efficiency and maximum productivity. Giving the assurance during his visits to Charge Offices within the South West and South East Zones of the Commission, the Chairman, Chief Tony Undiandeye bemoaned the dilapidated office buildings and staff quarters, stating that work environments radiate lots of goodwill, and Staff are likely not to be productive under such deplorable conditions. He commended staff resilience and efforts towards improving the facilities, noting that ingenuity in tackling the challenges was needed as the government is financially constrained. The Chairman tasked them to think outside the box and device other legitimate ways of revenue generation which can be used to improve their working conditions as well as add to the state’s economy, pointing out that the sector has much potentials that can be harnessed. Inspecting Akpet Charge which was gutted by

By Blessing Enagu In continuation of his  working visits to forestry formations across the State, the Chairman of Cross River State Forestry Commission, Chief Tony Undiandeye recently paid homage to the Paramount ruler of Akamkpa Local Government Area, His Royal Majesty, Ntufam Clement Ekpe Emayip, at his palace in Mfamosing,  where he sought cooperation on sustainability and conservation of the forest resources within Akamkpa Local Government Area. Chief Undiandeye noted that Akamkpa which used to hold the largest forests in the State and hosts endangered primates such as Chimpanzees and gorillas is fast depleting as a result of indiscriminate deforestation activities in the area. He added that beyond the adverse effects of global warming, wildlife is also going into extinction because of noise pollution generated from saw engines operating in the forests. The Chairman also maintained that government will ensure strict compliance by the various companies operating in the area on their

Born on 13 December 1995 to the family of Mr and Mrs Akintunde Arotile in Kaduna, Flying Officer Tolulope Oluwatoyin Sarah Arotile, hails from Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State. She attended Air Force Primary School, Kaduna from 2000 - 2005 and Air Force Secondary School, Kaduna from 2006 - 2011 before she later gained admission into the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna as a member of 64 Regular Course on 22 September 2012. Flying Officer Arotile was commissioned into the Nigerian Air Force as a Pilot Officer on 16 September 2017 and holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the Nigerian Defence Academy. Flying Officer Arotile was winged as the first ever female combat helicopter pilot in the Nigerian Air Force on 15 October 2019, after completing her flying training in South Africa. She holds a commercial pilot license and also underwent tactical flying training on the Agusta 109 Power Attack Helicopter in Italy. Incidentally, she introduced the newly acquired Agusta 109

Etop Abara, The Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, has assured that, the House will do all within it's powers to support the State Investment promotion Bureau to increase investment opportunities in Cross River. The Speaker, gave the assurance when members of the Bureau lead by the Director General Barr. Rosemary Tutu Ekeng, appeared before the Committee on Commerce, Industries, Public Private Partnership and Privatization to present a position paper on the recent challenges facing the Bureau. Williams, maintained that there is an existing law covering the Bureau, haven been in the house since the 7th Assembly, but however assured that, the new request by the Bureau to include, the One - stop investment center, will be given due attention. Also Speaking, the Leader of the House and member representiing Ogoja State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, sought to know why the state Bureau that has been on the leading role is at the bottom now. The House Committee Chairm

An unknown mother has abandoned her twins at Goddie by Mayne Avenue Extension in a dustbin this morning the 17th day of July 2020 It was brought to public noticed by Randy Emmanuel, that published it on his Facebook wall this morning. The way young ladies are operating now is really bad and need urgent public interest.

*By Endurance Onun | CrossRiverDaily:* The 6th Yakurr Legislative House, yesterday, July 16th held its pioneer plenary with focus on the rehabilitation of the secretariate's facilities which they said was necessary to enhance their welfare and that of all rank-and-file. The lawmakers, in their separate contributions bemoaned the poor state of the council's buildings while moving for prompt measures to giving them a conducive legislating environment. Registering their fret over a possible collapse of the plenary chamber, the Councilors said that if nothing was done, especially soonest, the building might collapse on them while carrying out their judicious functions. Attributing their inability to hold a sitting since after they were inaugurated on 8th June, 2020, the members called on the Executive Chairman to expedite arrangements towards quick renovation of the premises. For the believe that lean financial resources are a reason behind the Executive Chairman's delay of act