GNO – Page 3 – NAN Archive

GNO
Mar, Fri, 2020

C/River gov’t cautions IPMAN against adulterated products

Adulteration
By George Odok
Calabar, March 13, 2020 (NAN) The Cross River State Government has cautioned members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) against selling adulterated petroleum products to members of the public.

The Commissioner for Petroleum Resources, Mr Itaya Asuquo, gave the warning when the leadership of IPMAN paid him a courtesy call on Friday in Calabar.

Asuquo told the leadership of IPMAN that government would not hesitate to sanction any erring member of the association caught selling adulterated product.

He enjoined members of the association to close ranks with one another, advising them not to aggravate the sufferings of their customers.

“We are delighted that the association has come together to pursue a common interest and promote business in the state.

“But we must warn against sales of any adulterated product as government would not hesitate to drop its sledge hammer against erring members of the association.

“As government, we will do everything humanly possible to ensure all levies are harmonised so that people coming to extort cash from marketers would not succeed,” Asuquo said.

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of IPMAN in Cross River, Mr Robert Obi, said the leadership would soon set up a committee to interface with government agencies for revenue receipt.

Obi said the streamlining of taxation would help solve the problems of multiple taxation, adding that marketers should not be subjected to unneccessary suffering.

He decried the incessant harassment of their members by various government agents and “touts” who extort them.

He called on the government to provide security around the depot as miscreants and other gunmen have been terrorising their members especially at the early hours when truck drivers are moving their products to various destinations. (NAN)
GNO/FF/ISMA
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Edited by Fela Fashoro/Ismail Abdulaziz

GNO
Mar, Fri, 2020

General news

NMA urges Buhari to address spate of kidnapping in C/River

Insecurity
By George Odok
Calabar, March 13, 2020 (NAN) The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Cross River chapter, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency on security in Cross River.

Chairman of NMA in the state, Dr Agam Ayuk, made the call on Friday during a peaceful protest to demand the release of the wife of their colleague, Mrs Christian Ekanem.

Ekanem is a staff of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital and was kidnapped on March 10 in her home in Calabar.

Ayuk said that from 2017 to date, no fewer than 15 medical doctors and their dependents have been kidnapped within the state.

Ayuk explained that the association took a resolution to withdraw its services without notice, following the increasing rate of kidnapping of its members after its emergency meeting in 2018.

“We are calling on Buhari and the Inspector General of Police as a matter of urgency to declare a state of emergency on security in Cross River.

“We also call on the Federal Government to mobilise the needed manpower and resources to help in curbing the rate of insecurity in the state.

“Security forces have the capacity but they cannot work with their hands, it is an open secret that they do not have all they need to do the work they are supposed to do.

“We call on Buhari, who is the Commander-in-Chief to mobilise the resources at the centre and also help the state,” he said.

The chairman said that members of the association in the state had withdrawn all medical services until the wife of their colleague is released unconditionally.

“This 14 kilometre walk is to seek for support and also ask the government to do more in protecting lives and properties in the state.

“We are not safe anymore; we believe that the government can do more in using the necessary machination to ensure that we have a safer Cross River.

“Cross River as a state used to be a place where people come to live and be at rest; we want it to go back to where it was.

“We are out here to tell the public that enough is enough. We call on Non-Government Organisations and Civil Societies to join in the struggle for a safer Cross River,“ he said. (NAN)
GNO/JPE/ISMA
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Edited by Joseph Edeh/Ismail Abdulaziz

GNO
Mar, Thu, 2020

Defence/Security

Maritime security: House wants naval air base in Calabar

Security
By George Odok
Calabar, March 12, 2020 (NAN) The House of Representatives Committee on Navy has called for the establishment of a Naval Air Base at the Headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command in Calabar.

Rep. Yusuf Adamu-Gagdi, Chairman, House Committee on Navy, said this on Thursday in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar.

Adamu-Gagdi led other members of the committee on an oversight function to Navy formations under the Eastern Naval Command.

He said the call for the establishment of a naval air base in Calabar became necessary to increase maritime security surveillance.

The chairman said that having gone round the Eastern naval command with members of the committee, he was satisfied that the Nigerian Navy was doing well.

He lauded the Navy for the quality of work done on its projects, saying that the service was known for standard and quality.

“We will make sure that the Navy, in all the three commands, just like the Western Naval Command has a naval air base; I think there is a need for the Eastern Naval Command to have that base established in order to increase maritime security surveillance.

“There is need for them to have platform like helicopters in order to ensure quick interception of ships and vessels on illegal activities within the maritime corridor.

“If you have things like helicopters and trained Navy personnel to go round and ensure that they got those things, be rest assured that the Navy will function beyond our imaginations.

“In the Eastern naval command, they have gone digital, the Flag Officer Commanding has done well with his own tactical commanders for establishing e-administration; we have not seen files in their offices.

“We can equally see some of the projects initiated by them through their little savings. Some agencies will have those savings and will not use it for any project; Navy in the Eastern naval command is doing well,’’ he said.

He assured the Navy that the House of Representatives under the leadership of the Speaker, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, would reward its efforts accordingly. (NAN)

GNO/JEY/EAL
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Edited by Johnson Eyiangho/Ekemini Ladejobi

GNO
Mar, Wed, 2020

Defence/Security

House of Reps lauds navy for maritime security

Navy
By George Odok
Calabar, March 11, 2020 (NAN) The House of Representatives Committee on Navy has commended the Eastern Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy for maintaining steady presence at sea and protecting Nigeria’s natural resources and maritime businesses.

Rep. Yusuf Adamu-Gagdi, Chairman House Committee on Navy, gave the commendation on Wednesday in Calabar during a stakeholders’ meeting with the Nigerian Navy and maritime operators in Calabar.

Adamu-Gagdi said that navy’s presence at sea had been of great help in the arrest of suspected oil thieves, pirates and illegally imported rice, among others.

According to him, the navy needs to recruit more personnel to help the force police the maritime corridors and collaborate effectively with all the stakeholders for improved management of the nation’s natural resources.

He said that the stakeholders meeting was organised to dialogue with relevant maritime operators with a view to curb maritime crime and foster operational efficiency.

“From available record, the crime in the maritime industry is depreciating. The issue of oil theft to other countries has reduced as well.

“We need to sustain this tempo in reduction of crime rate in the command. As an assembly, we would do our best to support the navy with basic required facilities.

“We have seen the quality of projects and programmes that have been put together by the navy.

“We have identified challenges of recruitment and also seen the need to make sure that jetties are provided for maritime patrol,” he said.

He also commended the command for its e-administration capacity level and gave an assurance that the House would continue to propagate better policies to improve its operations.

Earlier, the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral David Adeniran, said the committee’s visit would afford them the opportunity to assess the challenges of the navy in the maritime environment.

Adeniran said that the job of securing Nigeria’s maritime environment should be a collective responsibility of all maritime operators.

“The job of securing the maritime environment to move Nigeria forward is not one man’s show. All hands must be on deck.

“I commend the committee for bringing all of us together to put heads together to solve the problem in the maritime environment,” he said.

News Agency Nigeria (NAN) reports that stakeholders in the meeting included representatives of Nigeria Port Authority, Customs, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency and Calabar Free Trade Zone. (NAN)
GNO/USO/ISMA
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Edited by Sam Oditah/Ismail Abdulaziz

GNO
Mar, Tue, 2020

General news

C/River College of Health Technology embarks on indefinite strike

Strike
By George Odok
Calabar, March 10, 2020 (NAN) The Cross River College of Health Technology has started an indefinite strike over suspension of its Consolidated Polytechnic and Colleges of Education and Academic Salary Structure by the state government.

Mr Okon Etim, the Chairman of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), College of Health Technology, Calabar branch, said on Tuesday that the two weeks warning strike given to the state government to reverse the salary structure had elapsed on March 2.

Etim explained that the consolidated salary structure was implemented for all Colleges of Health Technology in 2011 by the Federal Government.

According to him, the Cross River government only implemented the new salary structure for the college workers in Sept. 2018.

He lamented that one year after implementation and payment of the salary structure, the state government had to suspend the structure in Nov. 2019.

He said that workers in the college were shocked to see from their pay slips that their salary structure had been changed.

The ASUP chairman said that all efforts to get the state government to correct the abnormally proved abortive.

“We are here to express our displeasure for the kind of treatment that some government functionaries have treated this school.

“The issue at stake is selected treatment; the issue has been forceful withdrawal of the salary structure of this college.

“We have two salary structures for the college; Consolidated Polytechnics and Colleges of Education and Academic Salary Structure for academic staff and Consolidated Tertiary Education Institutional Salary Structure for non-academic staff.

“A committee was set up by the state government to look into all this abnormally and the new minimum wage structure, but to our surprise, our salary structure was removed,” he said.

He said that the college offered National and Higher National Diplomas and its graduates also participate in the National Youth Service Corps Scheme.

He said that the college would not shift ground on the position of indefinite strike until the salary structure was restored.

Mr Emmanuel Enyiegor, the Deputy National Secretary, Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics, said the reason why the institution had not embarked on strike over the years was due to its peculiar nature.

“We hardly go on strike in this college because we produce health professionals whose examinations are regulated by the West African Health Examination Council.

“When dates for this examinations are fixed, if we embark on strike, the students will miss the examination and will not have the opportunity to write them again until a year after when they would have done another fresh registration,” he said.

He said that the union was not happy embarking on strike, adding however that it appeared the state government would understand the action of the effect of the strike better.

He described the institution as one of the best in Nigeria, adding that the college was known for its quality education and discipline.

He urged the state government to do the needful by restoring the consolidated salary structure for workers of the institution. (NAN)
GNO/FF/GY
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Edited by Fela Fashoro/Grace Yussuf

GNO
Mar, Fri, 2020

Defence/Security

Police arrest 3 suspected kidnappers, rescue victim in Calabar

Arrest
By George Odok
Calabar, March 6, 2020 (NAN) The Cross River Police Command has arrested three men suspected to be kidnappers in Eta-Agbor area of Calabar Municipality on Friday morning, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

The State Commissioner of Police, Mr Nkereuwem Akpan, who led operatives of the Anti-Cultism and Kidnapping Squad, also rescued one victim, Mrs Grace Adams.

Akpan told newsmen that the command had received a petition of the illegal activities of some hoodlums in the area, including alleged raping of girls by the gang members.

He said that the command swung into action in the area at about 4 am to cordon the vicinity of the suspects.

“The victim was kidnapped last night, March 5, in Calabar metropolis. We never knew she was kidnapped. We only got information that the said building is used by kidnappers.

“When we struck, we found out that a lady has been kidnapped and kept in their custody and we immediately rescued her.

“If we can have the system that is going on in Anambra where any building that harbours kidnapped victims is demolished, I think it will be better because it will discourage people from going into kidnapping in Calabar.

“Just last month, we recovered a stolen vehicle close to the building and we suspected the vehicle to have been used for most of the kidnappings that have gone on,” he said.

The commissioner, who described the arrest as a breakthrough for the command, said efforts were on to arrest four other suspects that fled during the operation.

Akpan said that the suspects would be immediately charged to court for justice to be served.

He gave an assurance that all pending cases of kidnapping would be handled efficiently with a view to sanitisng the state.

“We are partnering the communities and that is why we are getting results; anyone caught in any act of kidnapping or illegality would face the wrath of the law,” he said.

One of the suspects told NAN that his gang had earlier demanded N30 million ransom from the family of the victim before the arrest.

“A friend of mine by name Ubong, who is our master, called me to join them in the act; he promised to give me a percentage after the deal.

“When we kidnapped the woman, we demanded N30 million from the family before the police arrested us.

“I am an unemployed graduate of Electrical Engineering from Cross River University of Technology. If I am released, I won’t be involved in crime again,” he said.

The rescued victim, a business woman, said she was abducted in front of her gate at about 7.45pm on Thursday night as she stepped down from her husband’s car after close of work.

“They took me away from my gate at Joseph Mkpang Street in Ikot Ansa area of Calabar Municipality.

“I want to commend the police for this swift response that led to my rescue. I give God the glory that I am free now,” she said. (NAN)
GNO/ESAN/OJO
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(Edited Abiodun Esan/Mufutau Ojo)

GNO
Mar, Thu, 2020

General news

Cross River shuts medical facility over alleged quackery

Quackery

By George Odok

Boki (Cross River), March 5, 2020 (NAN) The Cross River Ministry of Health has shut down a medical facility in Boje community of Boki Local Government Area over alleged quackery and sub- standard operations.

The state Commissioner of Health, Dr Betta Edu, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Calabar.

Edu said that the state government had warned against the use of healthcare facilities for unapproved health outreaches across the state.

According to her, government would no longer condone operators of illegal hospitals and pharmaceutical stores in Cross River.

Edu added that the state government had taken steps to ensure strict compliance by Private Health Facilities operators.

“The state government is set to curb the activities of quacks and completely eradicate quackery in the health sector.

“We have issued warning to some others to comply with the regulations as laid down by the state government and the Health Ministry.

“As a ministry, we are going to prosecute the owner of the facility to serve as a deterrent to others.

“Apart from the failure of the owner of the clinic to properly register the facility, he was said to be carrying out health outreaches and surgeries even on rumbling stomach and other petty complaints in the clinic with unqualified personnel,” she alleged.

The commissioner noted that the state had been a cynosure of all eyes in the health sector, and would not hesitate to deal with any operator of illegal hospital.

She said that the ministry had received complaints about the increasing unprofessional practices in the area.

“The illegal clinic was established by the owner without following the laid down regulations; the owner failed to register the hospital with the state’s Ministry of Health.

“The state government will not allow the lives of the people to be endangered,” the commissioner added.

She, however, warned patent medicine stores operating as hospitals and treating patients to desist from such act, adding that such posed great threat to the well-being of the society.

Edu said that anyone caught would be made to face the wrath of the law.

She also called on members of the public to report quacks to the state Ministry of Health for possible arrest and prosecution. (NAN)
GNO/ENN/IU
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Editing by Edwin Nwachukwu and Isaac Ukpoju

GNO
Mar, Wed, 2020

General news

Foundation empowers 326 Cameroonian refugees with skills in C/River

Empowerment

By George Odok

Ogoja (Cross River), March 4, 2020 (NAN) No fewer than 326 Cameroonian refugees are undergoing various skills acquisition programmes at various settlements in Cross River, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

The Cameroonian refugess, drawn from different camps across the state, are being trained in Information and Communication Technology, pastries and catering, aluminum work, tailoring and fashion design, among others.

Speaking with newsmen after the launch of one of its ICT Career Empowerment Centre at Adagom settlement in Ogoja on Wednesday, the Chairman, Board of Directors, Community Refugees Relief Initiative, (CRRI), Dr Celestine Atangcho, said the aim was to give the refugees hope, as well as show concern and empathy.

Atangcho said the idea behind the empowerment was to give the people from the Southern part of Cameroon a sense of belonging and hope to carry on in life.

“We believe it is better to empower the people in the various camps instead of just giving them food items and medicines, which is equally important.

“We are carrying out this training and empowerment in six camps in Cross River, and we have others in Taraba State too which we believe will reduce a lot of dependency and create durable solutions for the people.

“We want the people to acquire skills so that they can have something to fall back on when the crisis at home is over.

“We know the crisis will not last forever, so our people need to start up from somewhere as a lot of them have lost their homes, jobs and families,” Atangcho said.

On his part, Mr Ayaude Adetoye, the UN High Commisioner for Refugees Livelihood Officer, said the intervention would reduce the burden on both federal and state governments.

Adetoye said the initiative by CRRI was laudable because it would give the people hope and something to fall back on in the nearest future, especially when the Cash Based Intervention ended.

“If other groups follow suit, the refugees will be easily rehabilitated. The Cash Based Intervention will not last forever, so the empowerment will make a lot of them self reliant.

“We really commend the gesture by CRRI, and we appeal to other organisations to take this kind of initiative to reduce the burden on government,” Adetoye said. (NAN)

GNO/DOR

Edited by Nyisom Fiyigon Dore

GNO
Mar, Tue, 2020

General news

Gov. Ayade swears in Acting Chief Judge of C’ River

Judge

By George Odok

Calabar, March 3, 2020 (NAN) Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River has sworn in Justice Maurice Eneji as the Acting Chief Judge of the state.

This followed the non-confirmation of Justice Akon Ikpeme as the substantive Chief Judge of the state by the Cross River House of Assembly on Monday.

Ayade said on Tuesday in Calabar that the swearing in of Justice Eneji was imperative as law and nature abhored vacuum.

He congratulated the acting chief judge on his appointment and urged him to dispense justice without fear or favour.

“I urge you to dispense justice without fear or favour. You need to have fairness of mind. The law is blind and should not be sensitive to religion, ethnicity, colour or any other affiliation.

“We ask that the leadership of the judiciary under you should be very exemplary and should be such that every other state would like to emulate.

“We know your background and believe that you are competent, capable and worthy of this office.

“Cross River is known for fairness and equity. We are opposed to anything that is repugnant to natural justice. Our people are not known for bias and prejudices,” he said.

Ayade said as governor, he had taken several decisions in the past to ensure equity and fairness in the distribution of government positions.

The governor said such decisions were taken so as to have a balanced representation across the senatorial zones in the state.

Responding, the acting chief judge pledged to carry out a number of reforms that would aide justice delivery in the state.

“My appointment came to me as a beautiful surprise. I am coming to the office with a mind to listen.

“The sacred duty of a judge is to listen before adjudicating. I will listen at all times to ensure that justice is served at all times”, he said.

Justice Eneji also promised that the judiciary under him would be tough on criminals. (NAN)

GNO/EMO
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Edited by Ejike Obeta

GNO
Mar, Mon, 2020

General news

32 political parties laud Ayade on performance, salute him at 52

Performance
By George Odok
Calabar, March 2, 2020 (NAN) No fewer than 32 political parties, under the aegis of Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), on Monday, felicitated with the Cross River Governor, Sen. Ben Ayade, on his 52 birthday.
The CNPP in a statement by the officials of the 32 political parties, including the Chairman, Mr Sunday Michael, paid glowing tribute to the governor, describing him as a ‘child of promise’ and ‘father of modern Cross River.’
“Blessed be the day that a child of promise was ushered into our world by the host of heavens to shape and reshape events to your glory.
“The dexterity with which you have manipulated the wheels of destiny, to ascend the ladder of prominence, even from your widely-known humble beginning, reflects of you, not only an image seemingly invincible, but also a human of outstanding personality,” it remarked.
The body noted that Ayade’s sterling performance in office had continued to speak for him and had earned him global recognition, stressing that the world had taken notice of him.
“Nigeria and indeed, the world have come to know you as a rare gem, whose intellectual prowess transcends the ordinary, based on the inspiration you continue to dish out to us all.
“You have sustained an impeccable track record of service in leadership, as you allow opposition with no issues to rise and have rather turned them to your students, as they have long preoccupied themselves studying your enigmatic and dexterous acts,” CNPP said. (NAN)
GNO/WAS
Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq

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