Jubilation, as Firm Averts Water Crisis at Calabar Prison

By Mike Odiegwu

When the Cross River State Water Board disconnected Afokang Prison, Calabar, from public water supply, little did it know the implication for the prison system, until a private firm rose up to save the situation.

Mike Odiegwu reports

The authorities of Afokang Prison, Calabar, Cross River State, have been tough. It is true that the prison is not battling with any form of jailbreak; neither is its wall begging for fortification. Besides, no security threat has been uncovered in the ancient concentration camp, as heavily armed and combat-ready security officials are seen manning its iron gates built with multiple locks. But, like every other government-owned establishment, the congested Afokang Prison has its own share of avoidable problems.

Apart from other challenges making the administration of the prison difficult, scarcity of water appears to have made life difficult not only for the prison authority but also for the over 600 inmates. The Superintendent of Prison, Mr. Ibe Mba, said inadequate water supply to the penitentiary has been a source of headache to prison officials. The development also portends a threat to the health of the inmates.

Despite how common the average person considers water to be, Mba said it remained the life wire of any detention centre. He maintained that it was so important that when it was consistently unavailable, the inmates could revolt. "Water supply in prison is a very important aspect of the prison administration in terms of inmate management. Where there is no water, be ready for riot because there will be no water to cook, no water to drink and bathe and that affects not just the inmate personally, but it affects his health," he said.

Mba traces the origin of water scarcity in the prison to the time the facility was disconnected from public water supply by the Cross River State Water Board. The disconnection was carried out because the penal complex could not pay its debt to the board. "From then, getting water for prison administration became a difficult matter. We had to device a means to survive," he said.

To survive water scarcity in the prison, the administrators resorted to the use of hand pumps. The conventional hand pump was palliative, as the problem of water scarcity in the secure unit was far from being solved. The system was replete with crisis, leading to increased cost of maintenance. "The conventional hand pump had its own problem because, with over 600 inmates, the continual use caused occasional breakdown. We recorded a breakdown every two months. So, we were always running to engineers to come for repairs," he lamented.

But Mba said things had changed remarkably following an installation of pb aquasolar hand pump in the prison yard by water engineering firm from Germany, German Water and Energy Company. He described the gesture by the company as humanitarian and surprising. What has also baffled him was that such intervention was not solicited for. Perhaps, officials of the prison will not cease to be amazed by the uniqueness of the hand pump, which is the first to be installed in any part of the country.

It was indeed surprising for them to see a hand pump with fully automated operation and completely capsulated solar motor unit. What confounds the officials is that the made-in-Germany hand pump depends on solar and does not need any physical pressure to extract water underground. Apart from having a solar panel, it pumps water into an elevated tank superstructure for storage in case of crisis situation. Besides the fact that the tank can be manufactured locally, it allows water to be circulated within the facility by means of pipes.

The excited Mba said: "Even during extreme weather when the sunshine is not enough to generate solar energy to power the hand pump, it has a flywheel that can be operated with minimal force to generate water. So, water supply is available at all times. Besides, we have been assured that it requires little maintenance."

He said the Export Manager, Overseas of the company, Mr. Stefan Ernst, was led to the prison by the Project Manager of an indigenous water engineering company, Bayong Ventures Limited, Mr. Victor Edoghe. While profusely thanking the company, he said: "With what has been installed by Bayong Company in collaboration with the German company, once there is sun, the solar hand pump powers itself and brings out the water. So, the stress is taken away. Once there is sun we are sure of good drinking water for the inmates.

"So, the stress is taken away from the officer in charge, the staff and the inmates. Also, the chances of this one getting spoilt like the previous ones are reduced. We have not paid anything. It is a good intention of the persons involved. The gesture is humanitarian. It shows a good sense of love, commitment to humanity. It is a deep sense of concern to humanity."

Edoghe said that the gesture was spurred by the perennial water problem in the prison. According to him, the action was prompted following a series of reports that the prison officials were having hectic time managing the facility without water.

"So, when I learnt that our partners in Germany have designed an easy-to-operate hand pump, I pleaded with them to come and install one in Afokang prison where water is lacking. This is the first scheme in the whole country. The company has chosen this place because prison yard is the most neglected place in our country. We decided to bring it here so that we can alleviate the water problem of this prison. It is a donation," he explained.

Maybe Afokang Prison will later be concerned with handling the delicate nature of solar panels and the problem of corrosion, which is common to most hand pumps. But, Ernst, who supervised the installation of the pump, was quick to allay such fears. He said the pump was manufactured with rural dwellers in mind, adding that the system was made with corrosion-free underground components.

He assured that the solar panel was designed to have little maintenance. And to further emphasise the durability of the system, he said the panel was built with a 20-year guarantee. Ernst, who has been in charge of the hand pump division of German Water and Energy Company, said the new system was manufactured to give rural population easy access to potable water.

"In 1980, the first United Nations water decade was held. It was aimed at ensuring that every person in the world had a minimum of 20 litres of potable water per day. After several years of making hand pumps, we developed the solar power hand pump, which will even extend the range of coverage to the rural population.

"The system is made of corrosion-free-below-ground components. There is very little maintenance. The solar panel has a guarantee of 20 years. I came here to assist in the installation. It is the very first one in Nigeria to be permanently installed."

But, beyond the humanitarian hand pump, prison officials have called on government to accord prison facilities their pride of place in the country. Mba also appealed to corporate organisations, concerned wealthy citizens and other philanthropists to assist in solving numerous problems plaguing prisons in Nigeria.
Source: Punch, 12^th September 2010.

Cross River State Govt Doles Out N10 Million to Eagles

Edem Edem

Calabar — Cross River State Government dolled out N10 million to the Super Eagles following last Sunday's performance. The team defeated Madagascar 2-0 in the ongoing African Nations Cup qualifier played at the U.J Esuene stadium in Calabar.

The deputy governor, Mr. Efiok Cobham, who made the donation on behalf of the governor, Senator Liyel Imoke Sunday night during a banquet organised for the team at the Peregrino lodge, Calabar, challenged the new team to step up their performance in order to regain the public confidence in them.

Mr. Cobham also called on the new board of Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to brace up for a more responsibility of improving on the performance of the new team, regretting that 100 years after, Nigerian football is till in the doldrums saying that at the level of the Super Eagles, Nigerians must see all round improvement to justify their support for the team and for football in the country generally.

The deputy governor also remarked that although, the past has been replete with a chequered history and abysmal performances, the future is still bright with the zeal and commitment of all the stakeholders in the success of the round leather game especially the players.

"I see the ability to rise again' 'Cobham said, adding that Nigerians expect the rebranded team to bring victory and glory to them in all outings. Mr. Cobham, who also reminisced on the history of soccer in the country as having started in Calabar in 1911 at Hope Waddell Training Institution, assured that the state government will do all within its power to keep the flag of soccer flying by introducing new ideals that will project the game of football to new heights.

He said that the government is making efforts to ensure that Calabar remains the melting pot of soccer stars in the country as it started years back with some members of the then Eagles coming from the state. He donated N10million cash to the team on behalf of the government.
Source: Leadership, 6^th September 2010.

NDDC plans N1.8tr Calabar – Lagos road

Joseph Jibueze

A 650-kilometre road running from Calabar, Cross River State, to Lagos is to be built by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) at N1.8trillion.

The road will reduce travel time from Port Harcourt, Rivers State to Lagos f three hours from about nine hours, NDDC Managing Director Chibuzor Ugwoha said yesterday in Lagos.

He said NDDC would require the assistance of all stake-holders in Niger Delta to complete the project.

Ugwoha said: "The coastal road design is ongoing. Later, we'll table it. It's going to be a significant milestone. We'll be looking at other partners – the Federal Government, oil companies, international donors, state governments and others for support. NDDC cannot do it alone.

"NDDC is committed to ensuring that it is done. It will go a long way in changing the economic fortunes of the Niger Delta."

Ugwoha was speaking with reporters at a ceremony to mark his first year in office.

NDDC, he said, had created jobs for 2000 graduates through its Technical Aids Corps (TAC) in the past one year.

According to him, despite being owed N500 billion by the Federal Government, NDDC would soon complete 45 projects valued at over N180 billion have been completed.

Ugwoha said 24 youths sponsored to South Africa by the NDDC, have obtained international certificates in welding. They will assist in training 700 more youths in the skill.

About 100 others are currently undergoing training in oil and gas in Norway; 65 are being trained in drilling.

On health, he said over 1.5 million people have benefited from NDDC's free health programme, adding that a dialysis centre and a world class hospital would soon be built.

Ugwoha said it was necessary to develop the region's human capacity in line with the local content policy to enable the people drive infrastructure development in the Niger Delta.

"We discovered that we needed to refocus. We felt that solving the Niger Delta problem should begin with the people acquiring appropriate skills to develop themselves. Economic activities should be connected to the development of the individual person," he said.

On why it took long to complete some projects sometimes, Ugwoha said it was because of the region's topography. He said: "For instance, before construction is started, land has to be reclaimed. Then a special foundation has to be laid, all handled by different contractors.

"Hence, a project that would have been completed in 12 months elsewhere may be completed in four years in the Niger Delta, and may cost five times as much.

Ugwoha said the Niger Delta Master Plan had not been dumped. "We're operationalising the Masterplan," he said.

Sometimes, he said, people misunderstood the NDDC's role. "NDDC was created as an interventionist agency, to collaborate with other development agencies to bring about the much-needed development in the region."

The commission, he said, had not received any "undue pressure" from any governor to gain special advantage for the state.

On who benefits from NDDC programmes, he said: "You must not know anybody on the NDDC board to benefit from the commission's programmes. People who do not even know our head office have benefited by simply submitting applications online. If Nigeria must grow, we need to support merit. Everybody should be treated on equal basis."
Source: The Nation, 3^rd September 2010.

Women protest naked in C'River over LG election

By Mike Odiegwu, Calabar

Aged women from Erei, Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State on Monday stormed Calabar half-naked to protest what they called 'disenfranchisement and illegal arrest of their sons' during the local government election held in the state on Saturday.

The women, whose ages ranged between 50 and 80, arrived the state capital shortly after the Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission announced the results of the election, in which the Peoples Democratic Party won all the 18 chairmanship seats.

Announcing the results, the chairman of CROISEC, Mr. Patrick Otu, said his commission derived its powers to conduct the election and release the results from section 10 of the state's electoral laws.

 Seven parties that contested against the PDP did not present candidates in 75 councillorship wards and nine chairmanship positions. Thus, CROSIEC declared that most PDP candidates won unopposed.

CROSIEC also declared that the PDP won in all the wards, apart from three wards which were each won by Labour Party, Action Congress of Nigeria and All Nigeria Peoples Party.

But the aggrieved women, who were said to have travelled over 10 hours to get to the state capital at 6pm, complained that there was no election in their area.

The angry mothers arrived the state capital in three 14-seater buses, lamenting that the election in their area was marred by violence, intimidation and indiscriminate arrest of youths.

The Erei women, who were led by Mrs. Glory Owali, took their complaint to the headquarters of CROSIEC, the Governor's Office and the headquarters of the state police command in Calabar.

The women, in a thumb-printed statement, made available to our correspondent, appealed to the police to release 18 of their children, whom they alleged were framed up and arrested for trying to protect their votes.

They insisted that the youths were simply escorting electoral materials to polling units when 37 soldiers in pick-up vans arrested them.

They alleged that the incident took place because the youths had vowed not to support a PDP candidate sponsored by a top politician in their area.

The Chief Security Adviser to Imoke, Mr. Bassey Okim, who received the women, appealed to them to return home.

He promised that the state government would look into their complaints. The women, who broke down in tears on reaching the headquarters of the state police command, demanded to see the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Ahmed, and their detained sons.

They were, however, addressed by Inspector Yohanna, who told them that the commissioner had closed for the day. But he promised to convey their demands to Ahmed.
Source: Punch, 1^st September 2010.

Imoke to construct 1,800 housing units in
C-River

CALABAR—CROSS River State Government has concluded arrangements for the construction of 1,800 housing units on the basis of 1,000 units per local government area of the state.

Special Adviser to Governor Imoke on Mortgage Finance and Estate Development, Mrs. Rosemary Achonwa, who disclosed this, said the state government was collaborating with Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria, REDAN, and Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development to actualize the plan of constructing the housing units, beginning from the last quarter of this year.

She said government was finalizing contract documentation with new developers on the Akpabuyo Housing Scheme as the initial arrangement sailed through, adding that N151.43 million had been paid as compensation to the community.

Achonwa noted that N597.7million had been paid for roads and drains construction, N81.4million  for electricity and N25.4million  for water supply in line with required standard for the 610 housing units, adding that the state had also provided N200 million for its civil/public servants to fund 10 percent equity contribution, which is a prerequisite for loan approval under the National Housing Fund Scheme for beneficiaries.

The Special Adviser who encouraged civil servants/residents to take advantage of the housing development initiative by government to own a house by forming housing co-operative societies, stated that in addition to the state's housing plan, the Federal Housing Authority had acquired 53.7 hectare of land at the local government area for the construction of 1,014 housing units of 2 and 3 bedroom detached and  semi-detached bungalows. 

She added that this was in addition to the 40 hectare which the state had also secured under Public Private Partnership arrangement starting this September.

On the owner occupier policies, Mrs. Achonwa said that the State government in collaboration with City Code Savings & Loans had secured approval of loans of N103,433,795 million for 57 civil servants to enable them purchase property sold by government at Federal Housing and Parliamentary Village, Calabar.

She promised to sustain the campaign for enlightenment of civil servants and the general public on the importance and benefits of contributing to the National Housing Fund and various home ownership opportunities in the state to check housing deficit which she noted is between 12 to 16 million units in the country.
Source: Vanguard, 31^st August 2010.

Large Voters Turn Out for Cross Rivers Council Polls

Kunle Johnson

THE council elections in Cross Rivers state Saturday was relatively peaceful save for a few skirmishes, with voters coming out enmasse to cast their votes to the candidates of their choice.

The elections which were scheduled to commence at 8a.m did not however commence until 10am due to arrival of voting materials.

Governor Liyel Imoke who voted at the Government Technical School, Itigidi, described the turn-out as very impressive stating that it was an indication that the people had totally embraced democracy.

There were however allegations by some opposition parties that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) hijacked the elections.

Leader of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Okoi Offem Obono-Obla whose party did not present any candidate for the elections said the PDP hijacked the election in Yakurr local government area.

Obono-Obla also said the Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission was not adequately prepared for the council elections.

However Deputy Senate Leader Chief Victor Ndoma-Egba said the turn-out of voters was very impressive in all the places he visited.

The state commissioner for Information Ntufam Edet Okon Assim who admitted that materials arrived few hours after schedule, however said voting went well.

"We initially experienced that in Calabar Municpality. We heard they arrived very late at about 2am and we had to make sure the northern part of the state got the materials before coming down to the south. But as at 10 or 11 materials had arrived and voting is going on very well. With the campaign the governor is mounting now, this concept of one man one vote. And it shows credibility and it goes a long way to ensuring that whoever is voted for is credible enough to representing the people", Assim said.

Mr. Edem Duke, the president of the Calabar Chambers of Commerce and Senatorial aspirant of the PDP, also scored election process high.

"The enlightenment programme of government has gone far and wide and people are anxious to exercise their civic responsibilities. There is therefore optimism that in the final analysis, the popular candidates who have fought persuasively for the mandate of the people would sail through", he said
Source: The Nation, 29^th August 2010.

Cross River govt approves $1.7m for GIS

In an effort to fast track the implementation of Cross River State Geographic Information System, CRGIS, the state's Executive Council in its 33th council meeting, approved the sum of $1.7m for consultants for the project.

Commissioner for Lands and Housing Development, Mr. Bassey Oqua, who disclosed this to newsmen shortly after the weekly meeting in Calabar, disclosed that an American firm, International Land System Incorporated, in partnership with Teq Bridge Nig Ltd. were chosen as the preferred bidder to the exercise after the technical and financial review of all the four companies that applied for the job.

According to him, the GIS when fully operational will address all challenges arising from land administration and management, adding that the ratification is the component of the phase II of the implementation process, which started with the setting up of a steering committee with the Governor as the chairman.

The project implementation committee was raised to fast track the process to meet up contractual agreements on delivery of certificate of occupancy in six  months. On the expansion of the urban street light project to Federal Housing Estate, State Housing and Calabar South Local Government Area to enhance aesthetics and security, the Commissioner for Works, Mr. Bassey Ekefre, disclosed that the sum of N2.7b had also been ratified by the council in favour of Miser Leliker Nig. Ltd. to effect an installation with a three and half years monitorium at N64,000  monthly payment.

He added that the contractor had already been mobilised to site as work is expected to commence soon, maintaining that with the new power plant now at the new Secretarial to power the street lights which was hitherto fed from Tinapa power plant, will guarantee uninterrupted power supply to the streets.

The Special Adviser, Mortgage Finance, Mrs. Rosemary Achonwa stated that the state in its quest to provide affordable houses to the citizenry was able to secure the sum of N1.5 billion from the Federal Government to boost the development process, adding that Cross River State Property and Investment Ltd. (CROSPIL)is working on a modality to disburse  the fund for development.

She pointed that the state government in  addition to Akpabuyo Housing Estate whose physical work is to commence in September, has acquired another forty hectares of land at Odukpani to further expand the development, maintaining that with the recent passage of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Bill 2010  into law by the Governor and successful procurement of consultants by the department, it is obliged to define accurately a housing delivery standard for Cross Riverians, attract donor funding offshore with a well articulated policy frame work which is now in place and defined housing development models.

Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Edet Asim, who moderated the session, pointed out that apart from the newly ratified projects, development projects like the massive rural road construction, electrification and upgrading of facilitates at the various tourism locations in the state are at various stages of completions.
Source: Vanguard, 20^th August 2010.

Cross River to upgrade Leboku festival

As an acclaimed tourism destination in Nigeria, the Cross River State government has stated its determination to introduce new innovations into one of its tourism products, the annual Leboku new yam festival in Yakurr, which it said, shall be the fusion of the people's culture and agriculture, with fantastic prizes lined-up for best harvesters and winners of the Leboku competitions.

In a statement  in Ugep, Yakurr Local Government Area of the state, Special Assistant to Governor Liyel Imoke on Administration, Mr.  Sunny Ude,  said government was ready to take the festival to great heights, considering its cultural and tourism importance.  He said events mapped out for the annual fiesta shall include female and male wrestling bouts, football competitions, inaugural lectures, exchange of visits and gifts.

Other features, Mr. Ude said,  will be the visitation to tourists' sites, sensitization campaign on HIV/AIDS, cultural display by different cultural troupes as well as beauty pageant contests for Miss and Mr. Leboku 2010.

He  said these shall culminate in  the grand  finale of the  festival, which shall take place on August 17,  2010

The Governor's aide described as enormous, the benefits of the event, and stressed that the festival has increased awareness on the need to return to  farming, apart from improving on the image of the nation and attracting investors to the state.

Also speaking, Paramount Ruler of Yakurr, HRH Obol Ubi Ujong Inah said Leboku is not a diabolic event but a celebration of God's love, and appreciation to Him for granting the Yakurr people good harvest, just few months after planting season.  He  appealed to Yakurr sons and daughters at home and in Diaspora to make use of the opportunity.

Co_sponsor of the fiesta, MTN, represented by Mr. Kester Ohahenye, Regional Manager, South_South said the festival falls under the company's Fest plat-form, and that MTN has always identified with Cross River State government in events of such magnitude, reiterating that the company seeks to tell the world that Nigeria is not the way it is painted outside.  He believed that the rapport between the company and the state government would be sustained.
Source: Vanguard, 13^th August 2010.

Ex-militants Praise Amnesty Training Programme

FROM ANIETIE AKPAN, CALABA

AFTER initial hiccups, ex-militants undergoing amnesty training programme at the Obubra camp in Cross River State, have settled down for lectures.

Many of them on Monday said the training programme was the best thing that has ever happened to them. They however appealed to the Federal Government to keep faith with the amnesty package by giving them further training abroad.

The ex-militants, who were busy singing religious songs while others were finalising their documentation, said any attempt to truncate the amnesty programme would send them back to the creeks.

The head of the expatriate training team and Chairman of the Global Non Violence Board and Senior Fellow of Emory University, Atlanta, United States, Dr. Bernard Lafayette, said with what is going on at the Obubra camp, "Nigeria is going to show the world how to come together and rather than use their arms to hold weapons, they are going to use their arms to embrace each other.

"Some of those who were causing disturbances came to us and said they were ready to pass the exams. We thought it was not going to be possible, but in just two hours, they had learnt everything. I could not believe it. We grilled them, we asked them questions and they answered very well. Nigerians are really smart. This is why I spend my time here as an investment to humanity and I predict that Nigeria would be the model and example for the UN to apply this approach to countries in conflict all over the world.

"Those who are going to help with the training would be Nigerians. We have Nigerians who would help us do the training. Seventy ex-militants have been hired now. They are working. We have 140 Nigerians who are in other professions working here too."
Source: The Guardian, 7^th July 2010.

Cross River Signs N8 Billion Calabar Market Contract

Calabar — Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State has given reasons why the popular Watt Market in Calabar South Local Government Area and Ika-Ika Oqua Market in Calabar Municipal council are to be relocated.

According to Imoke "after the state government had signed an N8billion agreement with Blue Waters Development Company Ltd, on a new Calabar Central Market in Governor's Office, Calabar, Wednesday, it had earlier been noticed that the markets have become over crowded and out grown their infrastructure , which calls for a proper management, irrespective of their sanitation status as the cleanest markets in Nigeria."

He added that government embarked on a Public Private Partnership, PPP ,which is unique in many ways to carry along the consultant and market associations as stakeholders.

Imoke noted that the consultant has the capacity to finish the project because of its access to banks and financiers, which will entail it building and operating the markets within the stipulated time.

He explained that the new market is intended to tackle the challenges posed by Watt and Ika-Ika Oqua markets, with modern facilities as it will be monitored to ensure a classic PPP project, while assuring the total cooperation of government to ensure it is realized.

He described the signing of the agreement as significant to the state to deliver infrastructure for development because as Calabar metropolis expands, there is need also to provide it with a befitting market that meets the needs of the people.

Prof. Jerry Gana, Director Blue Waters Development Company Ltd and a former Minister, speaking on behalf of the company, described the proposed market as a well planned site, with beautiful structure, which will create wealth and generate jobs to make the city second to none in Africa.

He added that it will be made of 4,500 shops, which will include retail shops, cold rooms, warehouses, abattoir and a car park.

Gana said given the company's track record, it will build a modern market that will rival any modern market elsewhere, as they will not give anything less, adding that the present administration in the state will leave the project as a good legacy of pride.
Source: Vanguard, 24^th June 2010.

Cross River May Probe Councils Over N54b Allocated Revenue
From Anietie Akpan, Calabar

Chairmen and other officers of local governments in Cross River State, may soon be asked to account for over N54 billion paid to their respective treasuries in the past three years (2007 to 2010) from the Federation Account and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

Already, some of the council chairmen, the councillors and other officers are itching to go for a second term or higher offices but sources close to The Guardian said the state government may likely institute a probe panel to look into the affairs of councils in the past three years given their level of affluence and this may terminate their ambition.

Hint of the mass probe came, when the state governor, Senator Liyel Imoke addressed the Peoples Demcracic Party (PDP) caucus members in Calabar last weekend. He flayed the local government councils for not doing anything despite receiving more money now than ever before.

Visibly angry, Imoke said despite receiving such huge amount of money, "they are unable to show achievements, rather elected officers now build hostels, hotels and estates in cities and rarely show up in their constituencies, and when they do, they do so by sneaking in and sneaking out in the night."

Meanwhile reports from the office of the Auditor-General for Local Governments in the state have raised various audit queries against the councils in its report as at December 31, 2008.

The audit report signed by the Auditor-General for Local Governments in the state, Mr A. M. Ayine, also frowned seriously at the way and manner councils in the state spend internally generated revenue.

For instance, in the case of Calabar South, he said "it is worrisome that in spite of the great revenue generating potentials in the council area, only N8.383 million was recorded as Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for a whole financial year (2008)."

Accordingly, he said, "we recommend that appropriate structures/machinery be put in place by management, to efficiently and effectively collect and account for IGR in the council area, especially in the markets and motor parks."
Source: The Guardian, 29^th April 2010.

7 armed men attack The Nation's reporter in Calabar

By John Ighodaro

CALABAR — Armed men, in the early hours of Sunday, broke into the apartment of the regional correspondent of the Nation Newspapers, Mr. Kunle Johnson, in Calabar and robbed him of items worth thousands of Naira.

According to Mr. Johnson, the seven-man armed robbery gang had come to his residence at about 2.30 a.m. and remained in the apartment for well over one hour unhindered.

By the time the robbers left the apartment, Mr. Johnson's HP Pavillion lap-top, two Nokia handsets and 37 thousand Naira had gone with them.

The robbers, according to him, also went into his kitchen, helped themselves to his soup and also drank some bottles of malt in his fridge before leaving the apartment.

His words: "The robbers armed with AK-47 rifles and pistols scaled the high fence bordering the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, UCTH, side of the road into the compound.

"They then broke down the burglary proof on my kitchen door. How they did that, I do not know. That was how they entered my apartment.

"Inside the kitchen, they took time and forced the kitchen door open, headed straight to my bedroom where two other armed robbers pushed my window open and asked me to go and open the bedroom door."

for them".

"After following their instructions, they quickly tied my hands and legs and robbed me of about N37 cash, my HP Pavilion lap top (Notebook), and 2 Nokia handsets".

Mr. Johnson said the robbers turned his apartment upside down as they searched for more valuables to take away.

He said his neighbours who got to know about the operation, alerted the police who arrived the scene after the robbers had left.
Source: Vanguard, 28^th April 2010.

C'River Communities Count Losses To Windstorm
From Anietie Akpan, Calabar

A WINDSTORM, the latest in the series of natural disasters ravaging central and northern parts of Cross River State has rendered 12,000 people homeless.

The latest incident, which occurred last Friday swept across six local councils in the Northern Senatorial zone and destroyed property worth millions of naira, including over 600 homes.

Public and private institutions such as schools, churches, council secretariats and electrical installations as well as communication masts were also affected.

The councils are Ogoja, Yala, Bekwarra, Obudu, Obanliku and Boki. In some of the schools and churches, people now learn and worship in the open. Some of the schools affected are Federal College of Education, Obudu; Iyie-Kunkan Primary School, Bekwara; Community Secondary School, Bamaji, Boki; Government Secondary School, Ukpa, Bekwara; Stadium parametre fence, Obudu and St. Peters Primary School Okuku, Yala.

One of the victims in Okuku, Yala Local Council, Mr. Oko Onah whose 25-room building was de-roofed said the storm had rendered about 55 occupants of the house homeless.

Onah, 68, said the storm had destroyed his only source of income and that he was incapable of rebuilding the house.

This pathetic scenario cuts across the entire affected villages. Another victim, Mr. Atinikongye Agianbede, who lost a 13-year-old son, Master Joseph to disaster when a building collapsed on him, said though he accepts disasters as an act of God, the family is heavily grieved by the loss of their promising boy.

Some farmers affected by the storm described it as a drawback in their economy having to contend with trying to put back their shelter and carry out their family activities with little or no resources. They appealed to the federal and state governments for assistance.

At the Federal College of Education, Obudu, about 21 buildings were damaged including sporting facilities, pavilion, offices and staff quarters.

The provost of the school, Dr. Joseph Effiom Edem Ntibi said the colossal damage was far beyond what the institution could cope with and called for government's help.

A combined team of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has already visited the affected areas.

The South-South Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, Mr. Umesi Emenike, who was represented by the Head of Relief and Rehabilitation, Mr. Godwin Tepikor said the disaster was a challenge to both the federal and state governments.

The Director-General of SEMA, Mr. Vincent Aquah urged the victims to view the incident as an act of God and promised that efforts would be made to bring relief to them.
Source: The Guardian, 24^th April 2010.

Imoke tasks Committee on land use, transparency

TOM MOSES, Calabar

Members of the newly inaugurated Land Use and Allocation Committee in Cross River State have been advised to ensure transparency in the allocation of land to members of the public.

Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River state gave the advice while inaugurating the six-man reconstituted committee in Calabar

He charged the committee to ensure the restoration of rights in land as provided for by the law to rightful owners at all levels and ensure enforcement of the Land Use Act.

Represented by the Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Mr. Bassey Oqua, Imoke said that land allocation issue had posed a serious challenge to government over the years and advised that land as one of the most sensitive resources available to man be handled with care to ensure that at all times, the overall interest of the people of the state was protected.

"The primary purpose of the committee is to facilitate the availability of land for development to all persons, corporate bodies, institutions and government. "The aim is also to bring about rapid socio-economic change in the state", he said.

He reminded them of Section 2(1)(a) of the Land Use Act, which stipulates that in the urban areas, all lands should be controlled and managed by the governor on the advice of the Land Use and Allocation Committee and charged them to discharge their duties within the ambit of the law.

The Chairman of the committee Mr. Gershom Henshaw expressed delight over the choice of members of the committee and assured that they would work assiduously to ensure that value was added to land in the state while appealing to government to give it a free hand to carry out its assigned duties.

The terms of reference of the committee include to advise the governor on matters concerning the management of land in urban areas of the state, advise the governor on matters connected with the resettlement of persons displaced from their abode by the revocation of their rights of occupancy on grounds of overriding public interest and to determine disputes that may arise as to the amount of compensation payable for the improvement on land upon revocation.

The six-man committee has Mr. Gershom Henshaw as chairman, Mr. Magnus Anya, George Neji, Innocent Icha, Livinus Ngboki and Aloysius Ene as members, while Mr. Joseph Adie is to serve as secretary.
Source: Daily Champion, 22^nd April 2010.

Back to Cross River Main Page