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  Amidst cheers and fanfare, former PDP Political leaders of Odukpani LGA led tens of thousands of their supporters to the APC, reaffirming their support for the Governor, His Excellency Senator Prof Ben Ayade. The leaders include, Commissioner for Finance, Mr Asuquo Ekpenyong, Commissioner for Transport, Hon Oqua Edet Oqua, House of Assembly Member, Hon Francis Asuquo, Odukpani LGA Chairman, Hon Justina Edem, Director General CRS Water Ways, Hon Bobby Effiom Ekpenyong, Director General of Primary Healthcare, Dr Janet Ekpenyong, MD Waterboard , Mr Victor Effiom Ekpo, Mr Ekanem Ekpenyong, Mr Udiba Udiba, MD Summit Hills, Mr Joseph "La Shakara" Edet etc.  They were received into the APC fold by the State Caretaker Committee  Chairman, Senator Mathew Mbu Jr. ably represented by the Vice Chairman, Southern Senatorial District, Elder Effiom Olory,  Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, Ntufam Ekpo Okon, Etubom Amb. Nya Asuquo, Barrister Eyo Nsa Ekpo, Elder David Okon amongst other stake

  By Emmanuel Onwuka The International Association of Lions Clubs, Calabar Doyen Lions Club, District 404A2 Nigeria has conferred the 2020/2021 Appreciation Ward and the One Star Gold Award on the wife of the Senator representing Cross River South and founder Embrace Africa Empowerment and Development Initiative, Dr. Chioma Gershom Bassey for her humanitarian activities and exemplary leadership. The award was presented by the District Governor, Lion (Elder) Soni Eloma MJF FCA at the commissioning of the PHC NYSC/Community Based Health Centre (CBHC), Ironbar community, Calabar South, Cross River State. The construction of the health facility is sponsored by the Calabar Doyen Lions Club Signature Project in partnership with Embrace Africa Empowerment and Development Initiative and Commissioned by the Distinguished First Lady of Cross River South, Dr. Chioma Gershom Bassey. Dr Chioma thanked the Lions club for seeing her fit for the award and prays for more grace and energy to carry on th

The CRS School of Nursing and Midwifery located at Moore Road is today wearing a new look many years after courtesy of our Digital and Health pro Governor Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade, the workaholic Health Commissioner Dr Betta Edu and our reliable development partner UNFPA. The School which produces outstanding Nurses and Midwives that are of immense service and support to the health sector needed a total over haul, even more following the recent rain storm in Calabar which further worsen the already bad state. Today that has been successfully accomplished. During the opening/commissioning ceremony, the State Commissioner for Health Dr Betta Edu reiterated the commitment of Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade to bring about a revolution in the health sector, beginning from the Health facilities to our Health institutions, giving our health Students a comfortable learning environment. The Honorable Commissioner in her speech emphasized on the importance of Improving the qualityof learning for health workers

   The former Governor of Cross River State,  Sen. Liyel Imoke has taken a swipe at his predecessor, Mr. Donald Duke insisting he has no regrets for his “autocratic style of leadership” as earlier characterized in Mr. Duke’s widely circulated “Statement of Return” to PDP. In an interview with Vanguard Newspaper on Sunday, Imoke who was elected governor of Cross River State in 2007 and 2011, and whose tenure was largely characterized by little or no growth stated, "I have no regrets; as I said, the only authority that has the benefit of hindsight is God. So you can't say I regret or I don't regret, no; certainly not", I have no regrets! "I believe this to be the key to our success, which has been acknowledged beyond the party and the state and even by Donald himself as evidenced by his return to the party” The last few weeks has witnessed a seismic shift in the political landscape of the state with defection of the current Governor, Senator Benedict Ayade and a ma

The recent determination of Governor Ben Ayade’s administration to end quackery in Medical Practice, health sector and Food safety area across the state have been heightened following the timely intervention of Health Commissioner Dr Betta Edu and her health team who have stopped and bursted illegal manufacturing of food and drink items as well as fake drugs in Cross River State.  The ministry is much interested in the wellbeing of cross riverians starting from what they consume as food to what they consume as drugs. This has been further proven as she led the Food Safety Taskforce round the State in search of quack/fake producers of major consumable items. Today, luck ran out of one Mr Bassey Gideon Attah a resident of No.5 Akekong Lane Off Douglas Bassey, State Housing Estate who owns a Zobo production firm that is way below standard and doesn't meet any of the criteria of food safety regulations. Mr Attah who has been producing fake and unhygienic Zobo for public consumption for

The People's Democratic Party (PDP) in Akpabuyo LGA was depleted on Wednesday as its members, Barr Mrs Rosemary Archibong Commissioner for Commerce, Hon Edem Okokon Effiom Commissioner for Social Housing, Hon Emmanuel Bassey, the Local Government Chairman, Hon Abigail Duke, Vice Chairman, Councillors, High Chief Dr Genevieve Barnaby, DG Ayade Home Healthcare, Dr Emmanuel Duke, Special Adviser Infrastructure, State Appointees and over 15,000 others defected to the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC in the state. The  PDP defectors were received by High Chief Edem Duke former Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Chief Ntete Duke Caretaker State Working Committee Secretary and handed them over to the Chapter of APC in the Local Government. Speaking at the event, the former Minister, High Chief Edem Duke said he was glad to welcome the defectors to the APC fold as they in APC  have decided to partner with Governor Ben Ayade after taking a cursory look at the economy of the s

 * By Emmanuel Onwuka The Senator representing Cross River South Senatorial District, Sen. Gershom Bassey has facilitated the disbursement of the Agri-Business Small and Medium Enterprises Investment Scheme (AGSMEIS) loans to over 100 members of his constituency who received between N2,000,000 (Two Million Naira) to N10,000,000 (Ten Million Naira) each to enable them grow and enlarge their businesses in the constituency. AGSMEIS is an initiative of the Bankers' Committee in a bid to support and complement the Federal Governments' efforts at promoting Agri-businesses/Small and Medium Enterprises as a vehicle for sustainable economic development and employment generation. The Senator said what he is doing is one of his campaign promises to the good people of Cross River South who lined up in the scorching sun to cast their votes for him that earned him the seat as a Senator of the National Assembly from Cross River State. Gershom mentioned that he has carried out several empowerm

  The World Refugee Day , a day set aside by the United Nations to Celebrate the courage and strength of Asylum seekers  across the globe and to recognize the contributions of host governments in creating a harmonious coexistence between locals and refugees is marked on June 20th of every year. The day which was marked in Cross River's city of Ogoja had the presence of both Cross River and Benue states Government, the United Nations, implementing organizations who are charged with the welfare of the over 36,000 Cameronian refugees in the state with all and sundry calling for an end to segregation between members of host Community and the foreigners. Director General of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Janet Ekpenyong while delivering her remarks praised the state Governor, His Excellency, Senator Prof Ben Ayade for accepting to host the refugees across 11 Local Government Areas of the state with a guaranteed protection of their lives, livelihood and p

The Governor of Cross River State, Senator Prof Ben Ayade represented by Mr Asuquo Ekpenyong, the State Commissioner for Finance says the present administration is committed to exploring every ingenuity to ensure that her resources are effectively harnessed to create revenue generating industries in all parts of the State. Governor Ayade stated this while declaring open a two day South South Zonal Technical Workshop on the Medium Term National Development Plan 2021-2025 held at Channel View hotel, Calabar. The workshop participants included the Federal Government, Akwa Ibom State, Bayelsa State, Cross River State, Delta State, Edo State and Rivers State Government. Governor Ayade further expressed his administration’s willingness to embark and key into the Federal Government’s Medium Term National Development Plan 2021- 2025 aimed at engendering private sector growth hinged on job creation and poverty reduction. Ayade pointed out that the administration has prioritized Health, Agricult

  Passionately committed boosting academic performance and excellence of students of the state, the Cross River Government under the leadership of Senator Professor Ben Ayade has gone into collaboration with Plide and Asuquo Ekpenyong Foundation, donates learning materials to 1000 students from 5 different Governments secondary schools in the state.  The Exercise which took place at the West African Peoples Institution WAPI, is one of the various mediums in which His Excellency Senator Prof Benedict Ayade extends his support to the school children in the state and had in attendance beneficiaries from Big Quo Girls Secondary school, Government secondary school Ikot Ansa, West African peoples Institute, etc.    Speaking during the Outreach exercise held at The West African People Institute, Calabar, the country Representative Of PLIDE Mrs Olubukola Adeyemi expressed appreciation to the state governor, Senator Professor Ben Ayade for having the interest of the future leaders of the state

  Ahead of the 2023 general elections in Cross River State, student leaders in the state have joined the growing list of supporters for the candidacy of the Senator Representing Cross River South, Sen Gershom Bassey, for the gubernatorial position. Speaking during a solidarity visit by Students leaders in Cross River State, the National Association of the Nigerian Students (NANS) JCC Chairman Cross River State axis, Com Icha Godswill, thanked the Senator for investing in education through numerous student grants for educational activities.  The NANS chairman said notebooks were shared across campuses courtesy of the Senator and his growing supporters, as more empowerment are being prepared for students across the state. The Chairman urged the Senator to get more students involved in accessing the grants he is facilitating for his constituents. He also acknowledged that he is pushing for the campaign amongst students for them to get their PVCs seamlessly for the 2023 elections. The form

  By Kingsley Agim  Stakeholders at the ongoing National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), South-South Zonal Media Roundtable have advocated for greater responsiveness from the media to issues relating to HIV/AIDS in the country. The Media Roundtable which is aimed at creating space for the media on emerging HIV/AIDS-related issues, priorities and trends; mutually reinforcing perspectives on the different dimensions of HIV response among partners in the South South Zone; as well as development of a reference package for correct HIV/AIDS information is holding in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. Declaring the event open, the Chairman, House Committee on Health and Member representing Emohua Constituency in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Samuel Ogeh, who regretted the unfortunate relegation of other health issues to the background arising from the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, rather charged media practitioners to reawaken the people’s consciousness to the fac

It was a dream come true for the good people of Adadama Ward and  the Honorable Commissioner for Health Dr Betta Edu as she completed the renovation, upgrade and equipping of a standard Primary Health Care facility in Adadama. like its always being said 'Charity begins at home', Dr Betta Edu has today proven that, as she unveils one of the best equipped primary health facilities in the State during her visit to Adadama Ward. Speaking during the commissioning exercise which witnessed political leaders, thousands of Adadama Youths, Health Workers, Mothers and Traditional Rulers, Dr Edu expressed her satisfaction as she can now sleep well. "The renovation of this facility is a dream come true for me as a couple of years back when i visited the village, i visited this health center for treatment and i was ashamed and embarrassed with the state of things, there was no light, no water, no consumables and indeed no life in it at all. "I took a vow within myself that in my ne

The headquarters of the so called nationals, Atimbo East has been taken by a formidable princess from Duke Town House and in extension Etim Effiom Royal House of Akpabuyo, High Chief Dr Genevieve Barnaby, Nee Umo Edem Adam Ephraim Tete in a grand defection rally held at Atimbo East Ward of Akpabuyo on Monday. The Director General of Ayade Home Healthcare who is a recipient of a referred title " Ada idaha ke Efik Eburutu" conferred on her by the late Obong of Calabar, Edidem Boco Ene Mkpang Cobham disclosed that her defection to the All Progressive Congress from PDP is not personal but for the developmental strides of Cross River State which is bond out of her desires for good governance and youth development which His Excellency Senator Prof Ben Ayade is extremely doing great. According to her this is not time to abolish such ideology which is a pathway to youth development which she supports. She noted that the entire Atimbo East have officially defected to APC and as such w

The Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Eteng Jonah Williams says a total of seven bills, three motions, twelve resolutions, four matters of public importance and four confirmations were received for legislative actions in the last one year. The Speaker, who disclosed this at a press conference on Tuesday in Calabar to mark the second anniversary of the 9th State House of Assembly, said the second Legislative Year has not been without major hiccups. The COVID-19 Pandemic and destruction caused during ENDSARS Protest.  The Speaker listed the seven bills passed by the House to include, the Cross River State Legislative House and Fund Management Bill 2020, the Cross River State Appropriation (Amendment) Bill 2020, the Cross River State Due Process and Price Intelligence Bureau for Public Procurement (Amendment) Bill 2020.  Others are, the Cross River State Polytechnic Bill 2020, the Cross River State Appropriation Bill 2021, the Cross River State Bureau of Statistic

  In line with the World Health Organization (WHO), the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion have yesterday marked World Blood Donor Day with the theme: “Celebrating the Gift of Blood - _Give Blood and keep the World beating”._ Speaking in an interview, a Consultant Haematologist, Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Dr Bassey Bassey said, “Today June 14, first celebrated in 2005, as a day to raise awareness for Blood Donation, was set aside by the World Health Organization to appreciate regular voluntary or unpaid blood donors. “We want to end commercial donation and reduce family replacement blood donation which are in high occurrences in Africa; voluntary or unpaid donation is the safest mode of getting blood for all patients who need blood, he said. Continuing, Dr. Bassey said, “we encourage voluntary blood donations for people who suffer from chronic conditions li

As it has become the norm every term for the last 5 years, Dr Betta Edu has religiously paid school fees for all the Children in Adadama Ward. The Children numbering about 803 from the register submitted by the head teachers of various Schools have received their fees for the last term in the 2020/2021 session. While handing over their fees to the various Head Teachers and principal she cautioned that no monies should be collected from their parents or the children for the same purpose. She equally distributed exercise books to pupils to reduce the burden on their parents. “I want to build the next generation of leaders that will take over from us! This year we are not only paying fees for children from Adadama Ward but we have expanded the scope to cover Jamb registration for students from Central senatorial District. We will also provide little Scholarships for those in Tertiary Schools soon. Let me echo the words of My Boss Sen Ben Ayade “We don’t give because we have enough we give

With the recent defection of the CRS Governor Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade to the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), the CRS Commissioner for Health Dr Betta Edu has shown her support and loyalty to her principal Sen. Ben Ayade as she believes in his political leadership, visions and ideas. Dr Edu officially has joined the All Progressive Congress (APC) in her Ward at Adadama village of Abi LGA. An event which remains an epoc one with a mammoth crowd of over 5,000 persons showing solidarity and support chanting 'APC is Betta with Ayade and it is Betta for all'.  Speaking during the defection exercise, Dr Betta Edu thanked the government of Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade for giving the youth a voice and for His Excellency's ability to always give cross riverians the best. "I want to use this opportunity to thank my Boss and Principal Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade for always leading us through the right path, joining the ruling party APC will bring a new change as we've been socketed into

   By Trinity Jesam The Speaker of Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Eteng Jonah Williams has cited his resolve to connect his constituency to the Centre for meaningful visibility as reason for joining the All Progressive Congress (APC).  The Speaker made this known in his ward (Mkpani-Agoi), yesterday, during a grand reception in honour of his defection to the APC. Williams formally defected from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Ruling All Progressive Party (APC) at a mega rally held in Mkpani in Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State. Addressing the huge crowd that greeted his reception, Rt. Hon. Williams said: “l decided to join the APC because of Mkpani. I want Peace to be restored in my community, so that our parents can sleep well during elections.” He added that APC is government Party and the ruling Party that would sweep poverty and impunity in our country. "My community is divided and all hands must be on deck to salvage the sit

  PROTOCOL Ladies and Gentlemen  The Press Today Friday 11th June, 2021 marks the second anniversary of the 9th Legislature of the Cross River State House of Assembly having been inaugurated on Thursday, 11th June, 2019. It therefore gives me great joy to observe that we as a House have remained committed to our Oath of Office and Allegiance to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) by making Laws for the peace, order and good governance of our dear State. This commitment has been exemplified by the quality of Bills passed, Motions and Resolutions taken and the openness of the House to public participation within the ambit of our Laws. This will not have been possible if Honourable Members and Staff had not exhibited the spirit of unity and oneness of purpose. I therefore wish to thank all Honourable Members for their various contributions and sacrifices either in Plenary Session or Committee that culminated in the achievements we seek to present to the p

The Special Assistant to the Governor on Security,Yakurr LGA,Mr Cyril Omini has attributed the massive defection from PDP to the APC in Yakurr LGA in appreciation to the Governor for the freedom he has given them from the hands Rt Hon Bassey Eko Ewa. According to the Governor's aide, until the coming of Ben Ayade, who gets what,when and how was a singular decision of one man,noting that they cannot continue to stay in the same party with a man who does not want another man's progress. Mr Omini who said this in an interview shortly after his official defection in his Ijom council ward described Rt Hon Hon Ewa as one of the worse thing to happen in Yakurr as his over 20years as a State and Federal legislator have had zero impact on the life of an average Yakurr man.  He said the erstwhile Federal legislator reign in Yakurr politics witnessed political thuggery,maiming and poverty with a history of abandoning people who stakes their neck for him in every election. "Should i b

  According to a national survey carried out, it was estimated that over 6 million children suffer from malnutrition in Nigeria, with only two in every ten cases receiving prompt intervention making it one of the most devastating causes of death in children with almost doubled that figure suffering from other effects of malnutrition. It is based on this alarming figures and matter of concern that technocrats, policy makers and government converged  recently in Abuja to discuss possible ways of drastically reducing these figures especially in rural Nigerian Communities. Seated in the hall are Director Generals/Executive Secretaries  of Nigeria's Primary Healthcare Development Agencies, state Commissioners for health and other stakeholders whose offices are saddled with the responsibilities of Managing malnutrition and making budgetary provisions for case management. For the Director General of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency,  Dr Janet Ekpenyong, it's