Tag: Cross River

  • Just In: C’River Govt exempts JAMB officials, UTME candidates from statewide sanitation

    Just In: C’River Govt exempts JAMB officials, UTME candidates from statewide sanitation

    By Kelvin Obambon

    With the statewide environmental sanitation exercise scheduled for Saturday 26 April, 2025, clashing with the commencement of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), the State Government has therefore granted free movement to officials of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and all candidates sitting for the examination across the state.

    The Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Moses Osogi, made this known in a Public Service Announcement on Wednesday 23 April, 2025.

    According to Hon. Osogi, “The General Public is hereby informed that the statewide Environmental Sanitation Exercise for the month of April, 2025 will hold on Saturday, 26th April, 2025.

    “Consequently, business owners and residents are urged to participate in the cleaning of their surroundings, drainages/gutters and evacuate their waste during this period of sanitation.

    “Restriction of human and vehicular movements begins from 7:00 a.m. to 10 a.m. except for those on essential duties.

    “Defaulters would be prosecuted by the Cross River State Government.

    “Note all candidates and officials for JAMB examination have been granted pass to their various examination centres schedule to hold on Saturday, 26th April, 2025.”

  • Efenji Nicholas celebrates Cross River’s First Lady on her birthday

    Efenji Nicholas celebrates Cross River’s First Lady on her birthday

    The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Efenji Homes and Property Limited, Abuja, Mr Efenji Nicholas, has felicitates Cross River’s First Lady, Bishop Eyoanwan Otu on the occasion of her 61st birthday.

    Efenji Nicholas in a statement on Friday described the wife of the governor as an epitome of kindness, whose unwavering dedication to the betterment of Cross River is highly commendable.

    He said that Bishop Eyoanwan Otu’s selfless services and support to her husband, Governor Bassey Edet Otu, have been instrumental in the development of the state.

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    “Your kind-heartedness and generosity have touched the lives of many. Your efforts to promote education, healthcare, and economic growth have made a significant impact on our dear state, and we are proud to have you as our First Lady and role model.

    “On this special day, I wish you all the happiness, joy and success in the world. May your birthday be filled with love and cherished memories, and may the coming years bring you even greater achievements and accomplishments.

    “Congratulations on your birthday, and thank you for the motherly role you play in our state, Cross River,” he said.

  • C’River First Lady Lauds Orok Duke for bagging Doctorate Degree, Advocates Lifelong Learning

    C’River First Lady Lauds Orok Duke for bagging Doctorate Degree, Advocates Lifelong Learning

    The First Lady of Cross River State, Rev. (Mrs.) Eyoanwan Otu, has extended her heartfelt congratulations to Rt. Hon. Chief Orok Otu Duke, JP, PhD, on earning his doctorate, describing his accomplishment as a victory for dedication and intellectual growth.

    Speaking on the significance of education, Rev. (Mrs.) Otu emphasized that academic excellence remains a powerful tool for personal and societal development.

    “Education is a lifelong journey, and Dr. Duke has once again shown that passion and perseverance lead to great achievements. His success is a reminder that continuous learning strengthens leadership and empowers communities,” she said.

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    The First Lady further encouraged young people, especially in Cross River State, to embrace learning in all its forms, noting that knowledge remains the foundation of progress. She applauded Dr. Duke for setting an example that blends governance, sports, and academia.

  • C’River Govt accelerates work on Adiabo-Ikoneto road abandoned by FG 33 years ago

    C’River Govt accelerates work on Adiabo-Ikoneto road abandoned by FG 33 years ago

     

    By Kelvin Obambon

    Work is progressing rapidly on the 10-kilometer Adiabo-Ikoneto road abandoned by the Federal Government 33 years ago. The single carriage road project initiated in 1992 by the late Sani Abacha regime was to halve the travel time from Calabar to Akwa Ibom and also multiply the entry point to the state capital.

    Speaking shortly after an inspection tour of the ongoing project by the Think Cross River Initiative and a team of journalists on Monday, the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Hon. Ankpo Pius, explained that the project was awarded to Zenith Construction Nigeria Limited in 2024.

    He said the 10km road starts from the Tinapa bridge area and would terminate at Ikoneto. According to the Commissioner, the project would include construction of two major bridges and a realignment of the road.

    “The major challenge we have there is the swampy area. The place need to be filled and allow to cure and set. That’s why we don’t have a definite timeline for the completion. It’s a huge project. We have about 4 or 5 kilometer to sand fill to about 3 to 5 meters of depth. The filling there is massive considering the terrain which is watery. In the next three or four months we should be able to complete the filling, and then open the road for motorists to drive on to allow it settle before we bring in laterite and fill it until we get to the level we want.

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    “I want to commend the Governor for this great initiative. This goes a long way to settle the issue of the state having one way in and one way out. This road will be another way to change that narrative. This government is committed to putting quality infrastructure in place for the benefit of Cross Riverians. Upon completion, the project will reduce the travel distance from Calabar to Odukpani by 30 kilometer,” he said.

    Hon. Ankpo disclosed that Prince Otu-led administration since assumption of office has initiated about 100 kilometers of road projects across the state of which 45 to 50 percent have been completed. He noted that the government was working on completing several projects initiated by the previous administration, adding that recently approval has been secured for the construction of flyovers at Mobil-MCC and Effioete Roundabout.

    Commenting on the Adiabo-Ikoneto road project, the initiator of Think Cross River, Mr Edem Darlington, said the road traverses and connects several communities such as Adiabo, Creek Town 1, Creek Town 2 and terminates at Ikoneto.

    He recalled that the road which was supposed to be completed by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), was abandoned over the years, thus prompting the state government to take up the project as a response to the cries of commuters who ply the deplorable Odukpani-Itu road.

    Darlington who is the Deputy Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, explained that the Adiabo-Ikoneto road would bypass failed portions of Odukpani-Itu road and thereby shorten the distance between Calabar and Akwa Ibom. He said the agony Cross Riverians were going through as a result of the parlous state of the Odukpani-Itu road cannot be quantified, which is why the governor in his compassionate nature had stepped in to remedy the situation.

    The Special Assistant to the Governor on New Media, Mr Andrea Ekeng Inyang and the Special Assistant to the Governor on Communication, Mr Nathan Otaba, also took part in the tour.

  • My purported suspension as Chairman of PDP – Barr Vena Ikem

    My purported suspension as Chairman of PDP – Barr Vena Ikem

    Yesterday was not a surprise but  I have already lost the zest for the office.

    I want to say that I was not “suspended “for any  reason other than political. I will publish hereunder only two of my chats with Senator Jarigbe to buttress the point and leave you to judge.

    He stated my crimes clearly to include:

    1. Support for Hon. Peter Akpanke!

    2. Rushing to Calabar to upturn the suspension of Hon. Adida Agabi and dozens of others suspended in Bekwarra on his orders !

    3. Seeing His Excellency Hon. Peter Odey too often!

    The text message.

    “Emana was Sen Sandy’s project. You supported it but today, Sen Sandy and I have gone past that and moved on. Why will I be having issues with you because of Emana. Where is the Emana today?”

    “Even life is not forever. You thought you were fooling me. You rushed to Calabar to reverse Adida’s suspension. You have been fighting me but I chose to ignore. I also found out that I was the only one with you in the Leadership. May God judge both of us. I will suffer the repercussions if I am at fault and vice versa. You stopped talking to everyone that stood by Obule because Peter lost out in his machinations to embarrass me. I will definitely not wait to be decimated.”

    My issue with you is simple – You listen to Peter’s lies. His romance with APC is legendary. There are clear signals that he would eventually move but you see nothing wrong with that. You knew of his bargains with APC and you only mentioned it in passing to me, after the election. You even called people to work with Peter against me in Bekwarra. You descended in to the arena, even as State Chairman. Peter thinks he can backstab. I won’t keep my back. There is an obvious fight and I have to face it. Peter and I can’t work together. We have to face each other and you are on his side. You also meet with Peter Odey very frequently. That’s not good for our Party and there were complaints from chairman everywhere.

    You have held many more positions than me. You started before me and I must defer to you on that. You were not there forever and I won’t be Senator forever. There’s time for everything.”

    I plead guilty to all of them. As State Party chairman I cannot choose which of my members and executive especially elected officials to be friends with. I have had cause to ask Senator Jarigbe who I’m working against him for but he has had no response so far.

    As state Party chairman I have an obligation to resolve crisis amicably wherever it arises.
    As state Party chairman I have a duty to interact beyond my party. Especially as a citizen of this country and leader of my Party I cannot play politics of hatred, especially inherited hatred to please anyone. If the deputy governor of my state chooses to visit me I consider it an honor and will never turn him away because he is not a member of my political Party!

    Hon. Peter Odey and I come a long way. If not for politics he is some one we should see daily. I discuss the best interest of my Party with him whenever we see. And the best interest of our State because I always remind him that at my age i am an elder now and must think beyond partisan politics for which his new jocular nickname for me has become simply “elder”. If Senator Jarigbe expects me to hate The Deputy Gov because he hates him I will disappoint him several times over. I have passed that age. And I do not encourage our people to Play that kind of “politics.”