Paradise News

Category: Politics

  • 7 Most Critical Things Buhari’s Request for Emergency Powers should tackle

    Don’t you agree that the President should be granted the powers in view of the prevailing economic downturn? Well, let’s take a look at the critical thongs to be tackled below…

    1. MORE FUNDS FOR STATE GOVERNMENTS

    According to The Nation, the bill seeks to amend certain laws, such as the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Act 2004.

    The UBE Act states in section 11, sub-section 2, that “for any State to qualify for the federal government block grant pursuant to sub-section (1) of this section, such State shall contribute not less than 50% of the total cost of projects as its commitment in the execution of the project”.

    With most states cash-strapped, the bill seeks to overrule this section, and allow states access about N58 billion “stuck” in UBEC’s coffers.

    If the bill sails through, interested states would have N58 billion to spend through this economic crisis.

    2. BOOSTING THE FOREIGN RESERVES

    Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves fell to an 11-year low on August 19, 2016, standing at $25.7billion.

    With such depleting reserves, following a plunge in crude oil prices, the government is seeking to get emergency powers to sell and/or lease government property to raise $50 billion to shove the reserves.

    3. STRENTHENING THE NAIRA

    With reserves in good shape, it would become immediately easier for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to defend the naira, and shore up its value in the face of dwindling oil prices.

    A vote for this bill by the national assembly, should lead to a stronger naira against the dollar, an end to forex scarcity, and some stimulation in the Nigerian economy.

    4. CREATING EMPLOYMENT

    According to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics report for the past three quarters, at least 1.5 million Nigerians have become unemployed.

    The president and his team promised employment, and had not effectively delivered on that.

    However, with the new bill, funds will be allotted for many capital projects, which will in turn generate employment.

    With states having access to the UBE fund as stated in the bill, the school feeding programme of this administration may kick off and create employment in Nigeria’s vibrant informal sector.

    5. EASIER PROCUREMENT

    The Nigerian procurement act has been reported time and again as cumbersome, stalling the speed of implementation of government projects.

    This bill seeks to also “support stimulus spending on critical sectors of the economy; make orders to favour local contractors/suppliers in contract awards”.

    6. DUBAI-LIKE VISA PROCESS

    Nigeria is desperate for foreign investment; foreign portfolio investment had declined by 86 percent in the past year, while foreign direct investment had plummeted by over 50 percent.

    Osinbajo, who confirmed this at a presidential policy dialogue in Lagos, said the government was working on policies aimed at reducing fiscal and forex imbalances, boosting dollar liquidity, lending to the real sector, and increasing “FDIs and FPI by sustaining enabling policies”.

    The bill, according to reports, seeks “to embark on radical reforms in visa issuance at Nigeria’s consular offices and on arrival in the country”.

    This visa process, similar to that of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Ghana’s newly-adopted system, is to ensure ease of movement by investors into Nigeria.

    7. BETTER EASE OF DOING BUSINESS INDICES

    Nigeria has lagged many developing countries on the ease of doing. The bottlenecks are enormous, the laws are strenuous, the tax policies are repetitive.

    The bill seeks to address some of these issues and improve the ease of doing business in Nigeria.

    Culled from Cable.

  • SA Charges 1st CRUTECH NACRISS WW President to put his Team together to Break new Grounds

    The Special Assistant to the Governor on students’ affairs and youth mobilization Prince Michael Abuo has charged the newly elected president of the apex students’ union body in the state (NACRISS WW) Comr. Romeo Ojong Lawrence to instill the spirit of unity in his led team to enable him achieve the core objectives of the union for the interest of Cross River State Students.

    Prince Abuo made the charge in a congratulatory message to all the newly elected executive members in the just concluded NACRISS WW 2016 general elections held on 20th August 2016.

    Excerpts:
    “Congrats To The New Leadership of National Association of Cross River State Students World Wide, NACRISS WW
    Congrats to all those recently elected into the leadership of the apex student body in the state (National Association of Cross River Students-NACRISS WW).

    As shown by the evidence below in terms of the endorsements by the critical stakeholders and leadership of the organization indeed no matter how small truth is it will always conquer the biggest lies.

    This administration is willing and ready to positively turn around the fortune of Cross River State Students and will work closely with relevant stakeholders including NACRISS WW to ensure that our believe of an academically and socially advanced state is achieved.

    To Comrade Romeo Ojong Lawrence a student of the faculty of education in the Cross River State University of Science and Technology, CRUTECH who emerged as President so much work is on ground for you and you must be able and willing to put your team together to break new grounds in terms of meeting the needs of students in the state. An office is inconsequential without impact.
    Congrats once again!

    Prince Michael Nku Abuo, Special Assistant Student Affairs and Youth Mobilization”

    Reacting to the Congratulatory message from the SA on students affairs published on his Facebook timeline, the Sole Administrator of NACRISS WW, Comr. Georgebill Ajangson a student of the prestigious Faculty of Law, University of Calabar applauded the SA for demonstrating dexterity and unalloyed commitments in handling the affairs of students in the state.

    Similarly, the ELECO Chairman Comr. Ukam Ngwu also commended the SA for his pragmatic style of leadership and for being just in his dealings with student affairs.

    The NACRISS WW  2016 general election no doubt took a new dimension by saying no the statusquo of students of University of Calabar emerging as the president of the apex students union body in the state since her inception. Indeed the annals of NACRISS WW has something new to document as Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH) produces her first ever NACRISS WW president. Change has truly come to stay.

    God bless NACRISS WW
    God bless Cross River State
    God bless Federal Republic of Nigeria.

  • Dan Franklyn and others to get the Man who named his dog after Buhari released from prison

    Credit: Google.com

    Cross River State born and social Activist, Dan Franklyn is organising an arrays of legit bodies to help salvage the poor man who was charged to prison for naming his dog ‘Buhari’ in Abeokuta. 

    Dan who posted on his Facebook wall, said this: “We are never a tribal idiots. This is how far we are going on the man charged for naming a dog Buahri. Those of UA involved to get him released from Abeokuta prison are not from Igbo extraction, yet we are working for him without asking for a dime. Come September 19th, the next adjourned date we planned to storm the court for him.

    “I am trying to network with a number of lawyers to see if we can mobilise at least 100 lawyers as defence team for the man charged to court today in Abeokuta for allegedly naming his dog BUHARI. It’s a political trial and we should make the nonsensical case political. If that vexatious and embarrassing charge is not withdrawn before the next hearing, those of us who are supporters of this government would turn the case as a trial of the government.” Dan concluded. 

  • Photos: Chinese Agricultural Company gifting Governor Ben Ayade a gift on their meetings

    Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade was pictured receiving a gift from the Chairman of Wuhan Longfecund Agriculture Development Company Limited after an interactive business meeting in Governors office, Calabar on Monday 22nd August, 2016.

    Photo caption:

    (L) Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade with Chairman of Wuhan Longfecund Agriculture Development Company Limited, Mr. Yongsheng Cao, during an interactive meeting in the Governors office in Calabar. Monday

    (M) Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade with (R) Chairman of Wuhan Longfecund Agriculture Development Company Limited, Mr. Yongsheng Cao, and (L) Cross River State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Eneji Egrinya during an interactive meeting in Governors office, Calabar. Monday in Calaar.

  • NLC rallies round Calabar to Protest of non-payment of Salaries, reminds politicians of their pre-election promises

    Following the campaign made by the political leaders before the 2015 elections, every expectations gathered by Nigerians are now chattered within just one (1) year as the promises made are yet to be kept. With Nigerians yet to taste the savory of what they’d percept as CHANGE, the heat is already catching up with them and there’s no hope ahead but sufferings which has already started to befall them as the rain in dry seasons.

    Saying less; this has led to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) demonstrating their bitterness in a peaceful protest as they rally the main streets of Calabar, the Cross River State capital singing, playing music and carrying alongside with them placards with some vital inscriptions written on them. The music they played was familiar sounds from popular Nigeria musicians like Eedris Abdulkareem’s ‘Nigeria Jaga Jaga’ and lots more.

    The placards they carried had messages like, ‘Agreement is Agreement; Nigeria Police, Stop Gruesome Murder; We are Nigerians; etc.

    On the state of their protest, one of the Comrades who refused to tell Calabar Reporters his name said, the government of Cross River State has turned her back on them and has been giving them deaf eyes. He lamented bitterly that most of the state workers, pensioners and the Local Government workers have not been paid for about three months now despite the high cost of living in the state. 

    “Meanwhile, the government has been fueling more than 50 SUVs for convoys without paying the drivers and appointees. Even most of the allowances have not been paid”. He said.

    Calabar Reporters was unable to see the NLC state chapter chairman, Comrade John Ushie due to the large crowd and some convoy that was strolling the streets with them.

    Also, another woman, known as Mrs. Ekanem told Calabar Reporters that their protest is to remind the government of their promises which led to the masses casting their votes on them. “All the promise of change, creating jobs, feeding the poor, making life simple, stability of economy, etc, was what we are out here today to remind them.” She added.

    Watch Video Of Their Protest Below….

  • Chinese Firm to establish Feed Mill and Grow unique Specie of Maize in Akamkpa – Ayade

    Keeping to his promises, Cross River State Governor, Professor Senator Ben Ayade has made another remark as he signed another deal with a Chinese Firm in the agricultural sector.

    His words: “When investors from Wuhan Long-Fecund Agriculture Development Company Limited, Republic of China visited. They are here to establish Feed Mill and grow a unique specie of maize to complement it. The location of the farm site to be given them are Uyanga and Akamkpa.

    “The history starts from when I was in the Senate, when I had contact with Professor Eneji, who was then a research fellow in China and I had emphasized that my commitment was to provide food bank for my people. I then, set up a food bank in Northern Cross River that I represented as a Senator because it was obvious to me that of these staple food were needed by our people on a daily basis, and as a Senator who was committed to eradicating poverty, I had focused on putting food on the table for the aged and those who can no longer fetch it.

    “Consequently, I sent Professor Eneji to China to find a way to collaborate with people who will come and grow maize in the state, then, when I was a Senator. Today, I am the Governor, all those dreams and plans, including the Garment Factory geared towards eradicating poverty are coming to fulfilment.

    “There is a clear vision long before I became the Governor that I had articulated an action plan to completely take poverty away from Cross River State and create a new industrial base which will be a stronger thing that will drive tourism than pleasure and leisure.” He concluded.

    Professor Ben Ayade, Governor of Cross River State. 

  • Tinapa Power Plant Consisting of 26 Megawatts to be Ready in 18 Months

    Governor Ben Ayade assures Cross Riverians that the proposed 26 Megawatts Tinapa Power plant will be ready in 18 months and will boost electricity supply to investors who are coming into the state after he signed an agreement between the state government and a Dubai based firm, Skipper Seil, to provide a 100kva solar lighting generating system.


    Also signed was an agreement for a 26 megawatts gas power turbine at the Tinapa Business and Leisure Resort, as well as the training of trainers in the Institute of Technology and Management, Ugep.

    At the agreement signing ceremony held at the Governor’s office, Calabar, President of the firm, Mr. Jitender Sachdeva said his firm chose to invest in the state due to the investment friendly policies of the Ayade-led administration and the fact that the state is peaceful and safe.


    “We will work very hard, fine tune all the activities and try to be on ground after the PPA in December. I want to assure you that the plant in Tinapa for 26 megawatts will give a boost to electricity and will be completed in 18 months time,” Sachdeva stated.

    On the Institute of Technology and Management, Ugep, the President, Skipper Seil group disclosed that “in addition to our Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR), we have sent our team for the study of the technical Institute here in the state, and I can, with pride say, we are going to associate with your state in education as the Institute is now fully geared to start.”

    Responding, Governor Ayade disclosed that the 100kvm solar power intervention will serve as a grid for industrial zones across the 18 LGAs in the state.

    According to him, “solar power is the new way to go, because it is one way of reducing carbon emission to the atmosphere. It also creates new job opportunities for young people who are now interested in going into solar energy.”

    Culled from CrossRiverWatch.Com

  • PHC’s Renovation: Mkpani To Benefit, This Is What We Have Been Yearning To Hear – Community Chiefs

    By Prince Charles

    The ongoing renovation and refurbishing of Primary Health Centres across the state by Cross River Governor, Professor Ben Ayade has been commended by the chiefs and people of Mkpani in Yakurr local government area.

    The Obol Lopon and Clan head of Aduma in Mkpani political ward stated this when the Director General of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency (CRSPHCDA) Dr. Betta Edu paid him a visit while on an inspection tour of Primary Health Care facilities Saturday, in Mkpani.

     “It has been long we have been yearning for this kind of thing” Obol said. “You are welcome and we are happy that you are here to check how you can fix our health centres and we commend you for doing so”.

    Earlier, Dr. Betta had pointed at the governor’s passion about the health of Cross Riverians as the main reason why he was doing his best to renovate and refurbish health centres across the state despite the lean financial resources available.

    Dr. Betta who later visited the Health Post Ajere, expressed satisfaction with the work rate and ethic of the Officer in Charge of the facility, Okam Bassey Khompson who improvised means to ensure the people patronise the facility.

    Speaking to a crowd of people who braved the rains in the visit facilitated by Honorable Eteng Jones, the member representing the constituency in the house of assembly, Dr. Betta marveled at the number of deliveries with 10 recorded for the month of July while 3 deliveries were carried out almost simultaneously on August 16, 2016 and called on the villagers to always encourage each other to register for ante natal care at Primary Health Centres as well as adopt family planning methods so as to be able to cater for their family especially in the face of dwindling economic fortunes.

    She advocated for the proper use of Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets to prevent mosquito bites, urged the community to stop open defecation and regularly visit Primary Health Centres or health posts for their children to be vaccinated against diseases such as polio and many others.

    “The Governor, Senator Professor Ben Ayade and his dear wife Dr. Linda Ayade are passionate about your health and that is why we have being mandated to sensitize you all on all these that I have mentioned” she said.

    She also visited PHC’s in Obubra, Nko, other clans in Mkpani and Ugep informing them of an alert from the Federal Ministry of Health concerning a fake versions of Quinine Sulphate, an anti malaria medicine that is currently in circulation in West and Central Africa.

    Over 500 Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets were distributed in the various communities visited.

  • Sport Facilities Will Be Ready Before Commencement Of National Sports Festival In November – Asu Okang

    By Eval Asikong’s Cyber-Corner

    The Honourable Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Comrade Asu Okang, during readiness-assessment-inspection of the sport facilities by the Governor, gave His Excellency a break-down of what has been done so far with the assurance of everything being ready before the commencement of the event and the Governor, being satisfied, gave approval for other contractors to be mobilized to site for speedy completion of the various facilities.

    It should be known that the successful hosting of this National Sports Festival In Calabar is going to be a key mile stone in this administration and heralds a new dimension of Sports development in the state. Other heads of sport regimes, some commissioners and other appointees were present during the inspection.

  • Hardship will increase corruption in Nigeria – Bishop Emmah Isong

    It’s quite obvious seeing the nation of Nigeria going down the tunnel this way, though, it might not affect some but to many they’re crying loud and you don’t need to be told.

    This has left BISHOP Emmah Isong, President of Christian Central Chapel International, with no option but to speak out his ordeals to general public saying;
    “The CURRENT hardship affecting a large section of the population in Nigeria has the capacity to increase the rate of corruption in the country as people become desperate to survive.

    Bishop Isong who made the disclosure on Sunday while speaking with mycrossriver.com reporter also stated that; “Those who ordinarily would have kept away from corruption, could out of desperation want to make ends meet and be forced to engage in corrupt practices just to survive.

    Looking at his statement, did the man of God hit the right spot in the normal sense? Please dear readers, we need your observations. Just leave it in the comment section below, thanks.