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General news

COVID-19: PHED promises electricity during stay at home period in A’Ibom

COVID-19
By Sunday Bassey 08029472002
Eket (Akwa Ibom), March 30, 2020 (NAN) Dr Henry Ajagbawa, the Managing Director, Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution (PHED), has assured its customers of power supply during the period of stay at home due to the COVID-19.

Mr John Onyi, the Manager, the Corporate Communications made this known in a statement in Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom on Monday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the stay-at-home directive was issued by governors in the four states of the PHED operations as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.

Ajagbawa assured that power supply received from the National Grid would be evenly distributed to Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River and Rivers states, during the period.

“We promise Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River and Rivers states electricity  during the stay at home period arising from COVID-19 pandemic as directed by states government, power supply received from the National Grid shall be distributed accordingly.”

He said that the essential workers would fix any fault that might impede power supply to customers during the stay at home.

“Our technical crew will be on ground to fix any fault that may occur in order to ensure that it is distributed accordingly.

The Managing Director said that adequate logistics had been put in place with a view to achieving safe and seamless service delivery.

He stressed the need for maintaining the social distancing aimed at keeping both the employees and customers safe, especially at this time of COVID-19 pandemic.

He, however, advised customers not to speculate but to report any loss of supply electronically to www.customercare@phed.com.ng: or call 24 hours  on 070022557433 and whatsApp on 09085555055.

“These are some of measures aimed at minimising physical contact,” he said. (NAN)
SDB/FHO/GY
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Edited by Hawa Lawal/Grace Yussuf

Health

COVID-19: Council chairman donates preventive materials

COVID-19: Council chairman donates preventive materials

COVID-19

By Sunday Bassey

Eket (Akwa Ibom), March 26, 2020 (NAN) Mr Frank Archibong, the Chairman, Eket Local Government Council of Akwa Ibom, has donated preventive materials to check spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in the area.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that items donated are: hand sanitisers, face masks, infrared thermometer, high blood pressure measuring apparatus, test kids, hand bills, among others,

At a meeting with stakeholders, comprising the clergy, paramount rulers, village chiefs, councillors, supervisors, youths and market women on Thursday in Eket, Archibong said that the materials should be distributed to all health centres and public places in the area.

The chairman advised all the stakeholders to take the campaigns to their constituents and assured of government’s support to ensure that the campaign succeeded.

“In compliance with the federal and state governments directives, preventive measures like social distancing, regular hand washing and use of sanitisers should be adopted.

“I urge all stakeholders to commence awareness campaigns and sensitisation on precautionary measures against the pandemic in Eket and its environs.

“These fliers are to be pasted at every nook and cranny of the local government,’’ Archibong said.

He said the governor has instructed local government chairmen to set up task force to monitor their local governments, adding that he would head the taskforce to ensure strict compliance with safety measures.

“I admonish members of the team to report daily to me even if there is no suspected case of COVID-19 at the end of the day,” he said.

Mr Uwem Akpan, the Director of Health, who spoke, thanked the chairman for donating the preventive materials and for his prompt response against the pandemic and appealed to stakeholders to take sensitisation campaigns seriously.

Mr Udeme Pius, the Disease Surveillance Notification Officer, said that the area has not recorded any case of COVID-19.

He urged the people to comply with all safety measures and  thanked the chairman for keying into the drive of Gov. Udom Emmanuel. (NAN)

SDB/OIF/OU

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Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Obike Ukoh

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Health

Nigeria Correctional Service takes measures against Coronavirus

Nigeria Correctional Service takes measures against Coronavirus

Coronavirus
By Sunday Bassey
Eket (Akwa Ibom), March 24, 2020 (NAN) The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS), in Akwa Ibom said it had taken measures to check the outbreak and spread of the Coronavirus across centres in the state.
Mr Alex Oditah, the Controller of Corrections, Akwa Ibom Command, stated this when he visited Ikot Abasi and Eket Correctional Service Centres on Tuesday.
Oditah said that he came to the centres to sensitised the staff members and inmates to the pandemic.
“We have come to sensitise both the inmates and staff to the need to be conscious of the virus ravaging the world and to keep the environment clean at all times,’’ he said.
He said the Controller-General, Alhaji Ja’Afara Ahmed, had directed that water, soap, sanitisers, and infrared thermometers be made available in all Correctional Service Centres in the state as preventive measures against coronavirus.
Oditah explained that the he had visited Uyo, Ikot Ekpene, Ikot Abasi and Eket centres in compliance to the directive of the Controller-General.
“I have visited the Correctional Service Centres to ensure that they comply with the directive.’’
Oditah said henceforth, anybody who refused to use hand sensitiser or check his/her temperature would not be allowed access to the facilities.
He said that visitors to inmates and staff members were being restricted in all the Correctional Service Centres across the state.
Also speaking, the Deputy Controller of Corrections in charge of Eket, Mr George Njoku, said that he had complied with the directive of the command.
“The Controller had directed me to put necessary measures in place because he wants to protect the workers and inmates against contracting coronavirus,’’ he said. (NAN)
SDB/JEY/DCU
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Edited by Johnson Eyiangho/Donald Ugwu

Defence/Security

Nigerian Navy seizes 94,800 litres of illegal AGO in Akwa Ibom

By Sunday Bassey

Mbo (Akwa Ibom) March 12, 2020 (NAN) The Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB) at Ibaka, Mbo Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom, has seized 94, 800 litres of illegal Automative Gas Oil (AGO) at Agbani Offshore in Rivers.

 

Captain Peter Yilme, the Commanding Officer of FOB, stated this while handing over the items to Bodinga Bawa, the Assistant Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Mbo, Akwa Ibom on Thursday.

 

“I hand over 316 drums of illegal refined AGO (containing 300 litres each) today to NSCDC,” Yilme said.

 

According to Yilme, the illegal AGO and the wooden boat were seized on March 8, 2020 during routine patrol by FOB Ibaka gunboats and that the product was being conveyed to the Republic of Cameroon.

 

“The seized drums of illegal AGO which contained 300 litres each were apprehended at about 0400 hours during a routine patrol by Navy gunboats.

 

“On sighting the Navy gunboats, the suspects abandoned the medium sized wooden boat used in attempting to convey the product to the Republic of Cameroon,” he said.

 

 

He lamented that the smugglers had continued with the illicit trade in spite of the FOB’s efforts in making daily arrests of suspected rice smugglers in the state.

 

He stated that the base would not relent in its efforts to rid the waterways of all forms of criminal activities in order for legitimate economic activities to strive.

 

Yilme warned those involved in the illicit trade to repent and embrace legitimate businesses else they would face the wrath of the law.

 

“I strongly warn and advise those into illicit trade to turn a new leaf and embrace legitimate business activities,” he stated.

 

He commended the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas, for providing the necessary logistics to the base which had enabled in making numerous arrests and seizure of smuggled goods.

 

He noted that without the support of the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral David Adeniran, the base would not be able to achieve its operational mandate.

 

“The unrelenting drive by smugglers in continuing their illicit acts persists though the FOB Ibaka continues to make arrests almost on daily basis,” he said.

 

Responding, Bawa thanked the FOB for being in the fore front of ensuring the border closure ordered by the Federal Government was maintained within its area of operations.

 

He urged them to ensure that no goods were smuggled out or and into the country.

 

He added that the necessary court processes would be duly followed and the outcome relayed back to the FOB. (NAN)

SDB /VIV/EAL

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Editing by Vivian Ihechu/Ekemini Ladejobi

Politics

Akwa Ibom PDP to hold congresses, promises transparency

Akwa Ibom PDP to hold congresses, promises transparency

Congress

By Sunday Bassey

Uyo, March 5, 2020 (NAN) Obong Paul Ekpo, Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Akwa Ibom, says the party will commence the process of electing new leadership on March 7.

Ekpo, who stated this at a news conference in Uyo on Thursday, said that the party would ensure utmost transparency, fairness and equity in the process.

“The ship of our party which set sail four years ago is nearing the harbour to berth, as it is customary, congresses must commence, he said.

He said: “The process will begin with elections into the ward executives, we shall then hold elections into local government areas and later the state executive.’’

The PDP executive further stated that the elections would be conducted in accordance with approved amendments to the party’s constitution.

According to him, six executive positions will be reserved for women at both the ward and the local government levels.

“At the state level, 13 out of the 39 executive positions will be reserved for women, while three out of the 10 positions at the zonal level will also be reserved for women,” he said.

Ekpo said that the party’s desire was to get more women involved in the party’s leadership, adding; “I implore all stakeholders to abide by the stipulated guidelines”

He said that the party had already appointed local government and state coordinating committees for the election. (NAN)

SDB/AZU/

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Edited by Azubuike Okeh/Nyisom Fiyigon Dore

Environment

A’Ibom govt warns against illegal mining

 

Mining

Sunday Bassey

Mkpat Enin (Akwa Ibom), Feb. 28, 2020 (NAN) The Akwa Ibom Government has warned against illegal mining in the state to avoid environmental hazard.

The Commissioner for Environment and Petroleum Resources, Mr Ekong Sampson, gave the warning after inspection of mining site at Ikot Ekong, Mkpat Enin Local Government Area by a joint special team on Friday.

Sampson said that government would take appropriate steps in checking the activities of illegal miners in the state as they posed serious dangers to the environment.

He said that if the activities of the illegal miners were not checked, families and the communities would become extinct in the future.

“The Akwa Ibom Government cautions illegal mining operators in the state to desist from the act of unauthorized activities, which constitute economic and environmental sabotage and are punishable under the law.

“The people should refrain from selling or leasing out their lands for such activities,”he said.

He, however charged miners in the state to ensure compliance with the laid down rules and regulations in carrying out their activities.

The commissioner appealed to traditional rulers across the state to support the efforts of government in fighting the menace by enlightening the people on the dangers of illegal mining.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Petroleum Resources, Mr Nsudo Nsudo, said that the ministry would take inventory of all the illegal mining sites in the state in order to assess the impact of the act.

Nsudo said that the ministry has set the regulatory framework to ensure that the activities of the miners do not have negative effects on the affected communities and the people.

In his remarks, the Head of Solid Minerals in the State, Mr Emem Ibok-Ette, called for collaboration between the Federal and State governments to stop illegal mining in the country.

According to him, this would avert environmental disasters posed by the illegal mining acts, stressing that their activities have left the environment unsustainable for future generations.

The team led by the commissioner also inspected sites at Ibesikpo and Onna Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom, where they appealed to the Paramount Ruler of Onna Local Government Area, His Majesty Edidem Raymond Inyang, to support the efforts of government in fighting the menace by enlightening the people on the dangers of illegal mining and enforcing such act are stopped in the local government.

Responding, the monarch commended the team for taking such steps and  assured the team of his readiness to partner government effort to curb the  menace. (NAN)
IE/SDB/KOLE/IU
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Edited by Remi Koleoso and Isaac Ukpoju

General news

42 illegal gas stations sealed in Akwa Ibom – DPR official

DPR

 By Sunday Bassey

Eket (Akwa Ibom), Feb. 18, 2020 (NAN) The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in Akwa Ibom sealed 42 illegal gas stations for safety reasons between January and February.

Mr Tamunoiminabo Kingsley-Sundaye, its Operations Controller, said the department had also forced 80 per cent of illegal gas stations off the streets in the state.

Kingsley-Sundaye said this on Tuesday during an interactive session with newsmen in Eket Local Government area of Akwa Ibom.

He said that most of the illegal gas operators had left the streets because they could not meet up with the required operational standards.

“Those that are doing illegal refilling points, over decorating their shops without ventilation are visually off the streets of Akwa Ibom.

“There are positive response for re-sellers, if you go to Uyo, you will see good a number of gas plant operators doing cylinder exchange instead of discounting which is illegal and not required by any standard,” he said.

Kingsley-Sundaye said that a good number of those doing illegal gas stations had left the business to venture into other areas.

He said that the department made them to understand that refilling of gas cylinders stops at the depot and not shops on the streets.

The operations controller said that illegal gas stations were not springing up or expanding, but their business were getting smaller.

“The good thing is that the market is not spreading again, we are trying to resolve the problems that is already created by their increase.

“The department goes to them to enlighten them on the inherent dangers of their operations and we are getting results,” he said.

Kingsley-Sundaye said the department had sensitised Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) operators to ensure that their facilities were constructed, operated and maintained in accordance with the approved technical standards.

He said that henceforth, applications of LPG operators and gas owners would be done online to ease their registration.

He said the department would visit facilities of gas operators to check access and check their safety in the state in the second quarter of the year.

“We will access them and look at the safety provision that are there that will enable them operate safely and the ones that do not meet up the standard, we either ask to upgrade them or ask them to stop for the time being until they do the right thing,” he said.

Kingsley-Sundaye advised landlords to stop giving shops to people operating illegal gas stations in order to guard safety of life and property. (NAN)

SDB /NNO/TA
Edited by Nick Nicholas/Tajudeen Atitebi