My Blog

Category: South South

  • Delta Government Unveils Telephone Reporting System for Project Accountability

    The Delta state Government has recently introduced a proactive approach to ensure transparency in the utilization of funds allocated for the 2024 budget. 

    In a recent announcement made by Mr. Sonny Ekedayen, the State Commissioner for Economic Planning, the government has launched dedicated telephone numbers for Delta residents to report on the progress of ongoing projects within their communities.

    The essence of these telephone lines, as disclosed by Mr. Ekedayen in Asaba, is to supplement the efforts of the Ministry’s monitoring and performance evaluation team. 

    This initiative aims to ensure that all projects adhere to specified quality standards.   The provided telephone number, 09011862842, encourages residents to monitor contractors executing projects in their localities and submit WhatsApp messages with accompanying images or videos as evidence, without directly engaging or disrupting any ongoing work.

    Moreover, Mr. Ekedayen highlighted the upcoming year’s plans, distinguishing them from the distractions faced during the previous year due to election campaigns.  He emphasized the commitment of the Commissioners in driving the MORE agenda of the Oborevwori administration, stating that they had signed performance bonds with the Governor to ensure effective governance.

    Regarding the 2024 budget, Mr. Ekedayen emphasized the state’s determination to spend within the confines of the generated revenue without resorting to loans.  He stressed that the budget was organic and comparatively smaller due to its alignment with the state’s economic capacity.

    Explaining the funding sources, he mentioned that approximately eighty percent of the budget would come from the federation account, while the remaining twenty percent would be from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).  He projected a monthly revenue of N12bn, intending to boost the IGR to about N150bn, consequently increasing the budget appropriation figure for the fiscal year.

    The Commissioner sought the support and collaboration of the people of Delta, especially in monitoring projects and assessing their performance.  He assured that any reports received would be acknowledged, and the actions taken would be communicated to the respective reporters.

  • Otong emerges Speaker, Akwa Ibom 8th Assembly

    Mr Udeme Otong (PDP), representing Abak State Constituency, has emerged as the Speaker of the 8th Akwa Ibom House of Assembly.

    Also, Mr Kufreabasi Edidem (PDP), representing Itu State Constituency, emerged as the Deputy Speaker in the election preceding Friday’s inauguration of the house in Uyo.

    Otong, a two-term lawmaker, emerged after he secured 20 votes to defeat his only contender, Mr Ukpong Akpabio, who scored 6 votes.

    Akpabio (PDP) is representing Essien Udim State Constituency.

    The Speaker was earlier nominated and seconded for the position by Mr. Effiong Johnson – (PDP, Mbo State Constituency), and Mr Uwem Imo-Ita – (PDP, Mkpat Enin State Constituency), a first-timer in the house.

    In an inaugural speech, Otong thanked his colleagues for their support which, he said, saw him emerge as the speaker.

    He said that the members had placed a big responsibility on his shoulders and solicited for their support and cooperation to succeed.

    He also urged them and people of the state to cooperate with the new administration to move the state forward.

  • NDE disburses soft loans to traders in Akwa Ibom

    National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has commenced disbursement soft loans to petty traders, comprising youths and women, in Akwa Ibom.

    Coordinator of NDE in the state, Mr Obegolu Obiora, said on Wednesday during the orientation and loan disbursement exercise that the loans would be refunded after the three-month moratorium in order to allow others to benefit.

    The soft loan, which is under the Micro Enterprise Enhancement Scheme (MEES), will be given to 74 beneficiaries at N20,000 each, totaling N1,480,000.

    Obiora commended the Federal Government for the initiative, adding that the funds were given to only those who were already in business to help strengthen its financial flows which would lead to business expansion and job creation.

    He said that the Director-General of NDE, Mallam Abubakar Fikpo, had assured of continuous implementation of the laudable empowerment programmes that would help in raising the employment index in the country.

    “This initiative is part of the federal government’s efforts at addressing the continuous rise in the unemployment rate in the country.

    “The director-general has reiterated the commitment of the directorate to its mandate through the implementation of empowerment programmes, aimed at generating jobs, creating wealth and enhancing capacity building for unemployed persons.

    “This move will boost the economy through access to finance for petty traders and other small business owners, and enhance the operational capacity of existing micro enterprise owners to expand their businesses and, in turn, improve their earnings.

    “The director-general declared that 74 youths and women-beneficiaries will go home with N20,000 each, totalling 1,480,000, and further advised them to make judicious use of the fund to expand their businesses,” he said.

    One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Abasifreke Handson, thanked the federal government for the loan, saying that the fund would help in boosting her perfume and bag-making business.

    Another beneficiary, Mr Kenneth Bassey, also commended NDE and the federal government for their efforts at tackling unemployment in the country.

  • NSCDC parade suspected child rapist, vandal in Cross River

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps on Wednesday in Calabar paraded a man suspected to have raped two siblings aged six years and 11 years.

    The Commandant of the NSCDC in Cross River, Mr Samuel Fadeyi, told newsmen that the suspect was arrested following an alarm raised by neighbours.

    He said the suspect allegedly drugged the two minors who were hawking cow skin “Ponmo’’ by giving them soft drinks which he had spiked.

    He explained that immediately the drug in the soft drinks started having effect on the children, the suspect allegedly defiled them.

    “Luck ran out of the child rapist and when we tried to arrest him, his colleague, a suspected cultist and phone snatcher whom we had arrested earlier, tried to help him to escape.

    “The suspected cultist was arrested anew alongside the suspected rapist.

    “The suspected rapist, however, said he did not commit the crime though he had engaged in such activities in the past. He said he was being accused on account of past incidents.

    “We have taken the children to the hospital where they were confirmed to have been sexually-abused,’’ Fadeyi said.

    The corps also paraded a suspected vandal, aged 29 years who confessed that he committed the crime and that it was his third time.

    Fadeyi said the vandal was arrested in Calabar South for vandalism of electrical installations and theft of armoured cables which he sold to scrap metal dealers.

    “The suspected vandal confessed to the crime and he will lead us to his patrons.

    “He claimed that he vandalised the installations and stole the armoured cables to be able to feed and begged for forgiveness,’’ the commandant said.

    Fadeyi added that both suspects would be arraigned soon. 

  • New A’Ibom Gov promises enhanced security, welfare for civil servants

    New A’Ibom Gov promises enhanced security, welfare for civil servants

    Newly sworn-in Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Umo Eno has called on all Akwa Ibom people to join hands with him to take the state to enviable heights.

    He made the call after he was administered the oath of office by the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Ekaette Obot, at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.

    Umo promised to create an enabling environment for investors to lift Akwa Ibom people out of poverty as he assumed the mantle of leadership, whilst pledging to improve security, education, health, and the welfare of the civil servants a priority of his administration.

    He promised a golden era for Akwa Ibom, saying his government would usher in a new era of peace and security for the state.

    The governor urged the people to support his ARISE agenda to build on the legacies of the immediate past governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel.

    He said he would be the governor of all Akwa Ibom people irrespective of their political affiliations.

    “I am in awe of the grace that has located me. I am in awe of the grace of God upon my life. I am sure together, we will usher in the golden era for our state.

    “As we begin this government, we will invite all Akwa Ibomites to arise to the feat of greatness with our ARISE agenda from investment in agriculture, healthcare services, and education; we will ensure that we continue changing the narratives of our state.

    “We will continue to support our state civil servants, and we will ensure that their welfare becomes paramount. We will continue to build on the successes of Udom Emmanuel’s administration.

    “We will tackle insecurity and we will ensure that Akwa Ibom continues to remain peaceful. We are resolved to ensure we fight insecurity in our state because we have the assurance of the security agencies to continue and improve upon what they are doing currently,” he said.

    Eno, who commended Emmanuel for supporting him against all odds, applauded the people for their support of his candidacy.

    He appealed to Emmanuel not to desert him after he exits the office, as he would continue to seek his wise counsel.

    Eno said he never believed he could be a Governor of Akwa Ibom because he had no aspiration for the office of the governor, added that the grace of God has placed him in the current position to govern the state.

    The governor said he would ensure the development of agriculture, education and empowerment of Akwa Ibom youth.

    The Chief Judge also swore in Sen. Akon Eyakenyi as the Deputy Governor of the state. 

  • Police arrest kidnapper, drug peddling suspects in Delta

    The Police Command in Delta has apprehended a kidnap suspect and recovered arms and ammunition from him in the state.

    The spokesman of the command, DSP Bright Edafe, told newsmen on Thursday in Warri that the suspect was nabbed on Wednesday by operatives of the command’s Rapid Response Squad (RRS).

    Edafe said that the suspect was arrested at his hideout in Uvwie Local Government Area following intelligently gathered information about the hoodlum.

    He said that the RRS was led by its commander, Superintendent of Police (SP) Omouwuigbe Nosakhare.

    “Acting on credible intelligence about a suspect who hibernates somewhere in Warri but a member of a dreaded kidnap syndicate, SP Nosakhare, on May 24, 2023, led operatives of RRS and stormed the criminal hideout in Uvwie Local Government Area where the suspect was arrested.

    “A search warrant was executed in his premises where one English Berretta pistol and 15 rounds of 7.62mm AK-47 ammunition were recovered,” he said.

    Edafe said that an investigation into the matter was ongoing.

    In another development, the police spokesman said that the command had arrested a suspected drug peddler in Jeddo Community, Okpe Local Government Area of the state.

    He said that the suspect was apprehended on Wednesday by police operatives attached to the Orerokpe Division while on intensive stop-and-search/visibility patrol on Jeddo Road.

    “The operatives intercepted the suspect with a suspicious-looking bag. He was subjected to a search during which weeds suspected to be Indian hemp were discovered.

    “Other hard drugs in large quantities were found in his possession and packaged in mini rubber cups for sale. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody,” he said.

    Edafe said that preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect was a notorious drug peddler in Okpe and its environs, adding that efforts to arrest his accomplices are ongoing.