Paradise News

Tag: Nigeria

  • Buhari appoints George Abang Ekpungu as EFCC Secretary

    By Frank Ulom

    President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Barr. (Dr) George Abang Ekpungu as the Secretary of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Ekpungu’s appointment was contained in a statement signed by Dr Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice on Monday, June 21, 2021.

    The appointment is for a fresh tenure of five years.

    George Abang Ekpungu was the former Commissioner of New Cities Development in Cross River State and an Aspirant for Ikom/Boki Federal Constituency in the 2019 elections.

    Ekpungu is from Boki Local Government Area in Central Senatorial District of Cross River State.

    Also appointed as Board Members of the EFCC are;

    1). Luqman Muhammad (South-South),
    2). Anumba Adaeze (South East),
    3). Alhaji Kole Raheem Adesina (North Central) and
    4). Alhaji Yahya Muhammad (North East).

    “This appointment was in line with Section 2 (1) and Section 4 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act, 2004”, the statement said.

    The statement added that the EFCC has been operating without Board Members since 2015.

    “President Buhari has already directed the forwarding of the names for confirmation of the Senate”, the statement read.

  • Prophet TB Joshua dies at 57

    By Kelvin Obambon

    The Pastor and General Overseer of Synagogue Church of All Nations in Lagos, Prophet TB Joshua has died at the age of 57.

    This was announced in a statement titled, ‘Prophet TB Joshua – June 12th 1963 to June 5th 2021,’ issued on the verified Facebook page of his ministries on Sunday.

    The cause of his death was not revealed. However, the statement said the clergyman spent his last moment on earth in the service of God.

    “On Saturday 5th June 2021, Prophet TB Joshua spoke during the Emmanuel TV Partners Meeting: “Time for everything – time to come here for prayer and time to return home after the service.”

    “God has taken His servant Prophet TB Joshua home – as it should be by divine will. His last moments on earth were spent in the service of God. This is what he was born for, lived for and died for.

    “As Prophet TB Joshua says, “The greatest way to use life is to spend it on something that will outlive it”.

    “Prophet TB Joshua leaves a legacy of service and sacrifice to God’s Kingdom that is living for generations yet unborn.

    “The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations and Emmanuel TV Family appreciate your love, prayers and concern at this time and request a time of privacy for the family.

    “Here are Prophet TB Joshua’s last words: “Watch and pray.”

    “One life for Christ is all we have; one life for Christ is so dear,” the statement read.

  • Lafarge Africa, MDF offer FREE Medical aid to 6 Cross River Communities

    By Frankie Ifop

    Six (6) communities in Akamkpa and Akpabuyo local government areas of Cross River State have benefited from the free medical outreach being carried out by Lafarge Africa in partnership with Mediatrix Development Foundation (MDF), with support from the Cross River State Ministry of Health and Primary Health Care Development Agency.

    The 6 communities are Mfamosing, Mbobui, Akwa Ikot Effanga, Akansoko, Ekong Anaku and Abiati and the outreach is to run for 12 days – from May 11-23, 2021 respectfully.

    Speaking during the flagging off of the exercise at the Mfamosing Health Care Centre upgraded by Lafarge Africa in Akamkpa local government area, Mrs Folasade Ambrose, Director Communications, Public Affairs and Sustainable Development, Lafarge Africa Plc said the free medical outreach is in line with the company’s objectives to provide health care and safety to its host communities.

    Ambrose who was ably represented by Mr Inyang Bassey, Communications and Public Affairs Manager in-charge of Lafarge Operations within the South-East region said Lafarge has been embarking on such outreach since 2002 when it was United Cement (UNICEM).

    “This is just in line with our Corporate Social Responsibility where we look at health and safety as one of our pillars. We believe that health is wealth. So, what we are doing here today is actually taking healthcare services to the community. That’s why we call it medical outreach.

    “This is done in partnership with Mediatrix Foundation, which is an NGO also responsible for managing healthcare activities within the health sector. In addition, we can see that we have equally partnered with Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, which is also under the supervision of the State Ministry of Health”, he said.

    Continuing, Bassey said “Lafarge as a company came into limelight in Cross River State in 2015, and that being the issue before now, I’m sure we all know that we used to have a company that’s call UNICEM. So right from 2002 when UNICEM started operation in Cross River State, we have been embarking on copious, various healthcare activities across our communities. So if you are asking me for the number of years, I can tell you it’s far more than 15 years since the existence of UNICEM and now Lafarge that we have been embarking on life interventions like this.

    “This exercise is like giving back to the community. Whether we like it or not every business, everything entity, every brand operating, even banks do what we call Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Then talkless of us in the mining industry. Let me also blow your mind that by the Act that establishes mining operation, there’s what they call community development agreement, which is an agreement established by the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development that actually ensure that the community and the company work hand in hand. So this is not an attempt or factor to pacify the community, but a way of ensuring that the community understands the fact that we are here to support each other. It’s a mutually benefit relationship. So we are doing this as a way of giving back to the community, and to ensure that when you are engaging with stakeholders they must be healthy and sound to have constructive discussion and relationship. So if the health of the people is not paramount to you as a business then it means that the interest of the people to live healthy is not part of what you are advocating. So, we are advocating for a healthy workforce and also the healthy well-being of our stakeholders which this community is also part of it”, he added.

    Speaking after declaring the outreach opened, Dr Janet Ekpenyong, Director General, Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency said impactful interventions from organisations like Lafarge is what the state needs to fight toe-to-toe with the pandemic that already affecting the world.

    “As part of our strategy to see how we can take services very close to people in the community, especially this period we are fighting against the pandemic, it calls for very high impact intervention that would at least try to bridge some of the gaps that may have existed in terms of availability of healthcare services as well as utilisation of those services; and that’s why every now and then we try to bring in outreaches and her Excellency, Dr Linda Ayade who is very concerned about the health of our citizens in collaboration with Lafarge and the Primary Healthcare Agency, decided to carry out this intervention in Mfamosing and other communities to ensure that people of these communities can access quality healthcare services. We know how it’s been, especially in this pandemic like I stated earlier…access and utilisation of available services have been a huge problem and whenever we have such outreach, we use that opportunity to reiterate the importance of coming to a health facility to access healthcare and of course carry out health education and as well as see how we can provide other healthcare services that the people really need.

    “So, I’m very pleased with the turnout. People are really taking advantage of this opportunity and I am hoping that at the end of the day we will be able to reach out and help to improve a lot of lives as well”, Ekpenyong said.

    She further stated that aside from Lafarge and other organisations who are trying to affect the lives of Cross Riverians, those who are yet to should try as it will go a long way in helping the government and the people.

    “It’s very important that any organisation that’s actually in Cross River State should try as much as possible to see how they can affect the lives of people directly. And you will agree with me that when you carry out such outreach or intervention you are actually reaching out to people directly. So I will encourage them to emulate Lafarge as well as what several other organisations are doing. But we want to encourage them that they should try as much as possible to implement things like this that would directly have positive effects on the lives of the community where they are resident. If you are able to improve on the lives of people who may be in the community where you exist you are bound to get more community support to enhance your productivity or whatever you are doing in that community. That would really go a long way to help. So we encourage them to try as much as possible to emulate what Lafarge is doing and see how we can all put our hands together to continue to improve on the health of Cross Riverians.

    “His Excellency Senator (Prof.) Ben Ayade is very committed to seeing that Cross River State achieves Universal Health Coverage – that means people having access to quality healthcare services wherever they are. And of course, with such partnership with Lafarge, they have supported the state in the past to even build a health post and even health centres. We are hoping that as many communities as possible will be able to have their own health post because it is expected that every community should have at least a health post. And we are also trying to link up some communities that don’t have for now… Link them up with the nearest health facility. We will always carry out similar outreaches in those communities where healthcare workers actually take the services to them. They are some health intervention such as immunisation, antenatal services and even some ANC services. Healthcare workers will actually take the services close to them. But even at that, His Excellency is really committed to seeing that every community in Cross River State should have a functional health post. And I am certain that with support such as Lafarge, we will definitely achieve that in no time”.

    On his part, Mr Jeffrey Adamade, Chief Operating Officer of Mediatrix Development Foundation said they have partnered with Lafarge Africa for over 6 years to carry out free health outreaches in the state like this one.

    “What we are doing here today is a partnership that we have had with Lafarge for over 6 years now. Mediatrix is a health partner to Lafarge, implementing health activities in the 6 host communities in Akamkpa and across Akpabuyo local government areas. This is a very important aspect of their CSR and today we are in Mfamosing healthcare centre. It is a facility-based intervention. So members of the community are mobilised to come to the facility to receive various kinds of services. We have eye care services, we have malaria services, we have pre-HIV testing, Hepatitis testing, we are dispensing drugs and we are also doing consultations. As you can see the crowd is building up even though today is the introductory part of the whole 12 days of activities we are going to have with these communities. We have 2 days in each of the 6 communities. We are going to be here tomorrow again, then we now move to another community. But all of the health activities we are going to be having are going to be facility-based. So there’s the aspect where the state government comes into it because we know that most of these persons are supposed to be directly or indirectly affected by the services that are provided by the state government.

    “Lafarge being a community-friendly organisation, and also Mediatrix being a community-based NGO – that’s why you have most of the persons in the community coming out in their mass. We have drugs that will go round. We just want to say thank you to Lafarge, thank you to Cross River State Government for providing this platform where we can actually show our expertise as have done over the years”, He said.

    Adamade boasted that with the support from Lafarge Africa and the State Government, they can accommodate any amount of persons as long as they come out for the outreach. “Of course, Lafarge is not a small organisation and Lafarge is supporting this project. So we will attend to as many persons that can be mobilised to the facility where we will be carrying out the services. I cannot give you an estimated number, but I can tell you that in previous occasions where we have had this particular activity we reached out to virtually thousands of persons. I know that last year we did not go to the 6 communities, but this year that we will go to the 6 host communities, we are very optimistic that a whole lot of persons would be affected by this.

    “Mediatrix Development Foundation is over 8 years old now. We have been partnering with Lafarge for the last 6 years. And Lafarge, even beyond the health outreaches, Lafarge has been partnering with Mediatrix in other interventions like World Aids Day, and many other interventions we have been working with Lafarge. But I think this is a more targeted and streamlined intervention for the host community.

    “Everybody should come out and take advantage of this free medical outreach. Out of pocket expenditure, as long as health is concerned, is a big challenge in Nigeria. So when you have it free like this, everybody is encouraged to come out and get the available services”, he added.

    Evang (Ntufam) Alphonsus Bassey, a member of the Community Relation Committee (CRC) representing one of the host communities said the free medical outreach came timely as the people are trying to recount their losses in the post-pandemic era.

    He said: “The outreach came as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility. It’s part of our planning for the communities to benefit – and we are so grateful to Lafarge because we have a lot of issues we are suffering here and it’s not easy for you to have government attention. This is not the first time they are doing this. In most cases, they do it almost yearly, if not because of the COVID-19 that came. This is another pilot one that has come and we are so happy that they have come to take care of the poor people that cannot access services in the health system easily. We are ever grateful to Lafarge and we pray God should continue to bless Lafarge so that we will continue to benefit more”

    The beneficiaries thanked Lafarge Africa and MDF for always putting the people first with its CSR. Anom Emerencia Ndep, a Cameroonian refugee staying in Mfamosing who benefited from the free medical outreach said at first she and her neighbours thought it was a scam as they have been deceived by many who come to aid them but later demand money from them.

    “Yesterday morning, I saw a town crier on a motorcycle announcing the free medical outreach, so I decided to come. I had some eye problem, they checked me and gave me glasses in which I can see and read clearly. I was also tested for malaria – I and my baby and they gave us malaria drugs because my baby was having fever on and off and it turns out in the test to be malaria. I did not pay any money for it – everything was given to me free of charge.

    “I thank Lafarge, Mediatrix, Cross River State Government and all that helped organised this free medical outreach for recognising us in Mfamosing, especially for people like us. First, I thought it was a scam because people used to come like this and after registration, they will ask us to pay N30,000 – but I decided to come and try my luck and luckily for me this time, everything was free. I will go and tell others to come and benefit too”, she said.

    Various health services like Malaria testing and treatment, pre-HIV testing, Hepatitis testing, drug dispensation, consultations and others were being carried out during the free medical outreach.

  • Essien Ayi: Date of Birth, Education and Full Biography

    Essien Ayi: Date of Birth, Education and Full Biography

    Rt. Hon. Essien Ayi was born on October 14, 1956, in Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria.

    Rt. Hon. Essien Ayi is the Member Representing the Akpabuyo/Bakassi/Calabar South Federal Constituency in the National Assembly. He is currently occupying the seat for the 5th time in a row (20 years by 2023).
    Background

    Rt. Hon. Essien Ayi was born Essien Ekpenyong Ayi on October 14, 1956, in Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria. He is a politician who currently serves as a member of the Federal House of Representatives representing Akpabuyo/Bakassi/Calabar South Constituency, popularly called ABC Constituency. He is popularly called Isantim translated as an “Hippopotamus” in Efik Language. His Legislative Interests border on making better legislation for the general improvement of the lives of Nigerians

    Personal Life

    Essien Ayi is a Christian and a known Apostle in his home Church, Peniel Church of God, Calabar. He is a Senior Pastor in the Church. In June 2018, he donated one million Naira (N1,000,000) for the building of a Mosque at Bogobiri, Calabar, Cross River State capital.

    In December 2015, Essien Ayi was caught on camera sleeping and snoring during a joint Assembly session in which President Muhammadu Buhari was delivering the Budget to the National Assembly.

    Education

    Essien Ayi possesses First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC), West African School Certificate (WASC), General Certificate of Education (GCE) and B.Edu in Education.

    Early Career

    Essien Ayi began his career as a Team Manager with Rovers Football Club in Calabar, Cross River State. He also served as the Secretary of the Cross River South Development Authority. He was subsequently appointed the Chairman of the Cross River State Football Association and Cross River State Sports Commission from September 2002 – March 2003. He was a Member of, Cross River State Local Government Pension Board from July 2000 – May 2002 and the Cross River Primary Education Board from July 2001 – May 2002.

    Political Career

    Essien Ayi served as Chairman of Calabar South Local Government Area from 1995 to 2002. In 2003, he was elected under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to represent Akpabuyo/Bakassi/Calabar South Constituency at the Federal House of Representatives. He was reelected in 2007, 2011, 2015, and 2019 in the same position.

    In the Federal House of Representatives, Essien Ayi has been a member as well as chaired several Committees. The Committees are as follows;

    Committee Member at Customs and Excise Committee (Reps) until May 2015
    Chairman at Labour, Employment and Productivity Committee (Reps) until May 2015
    Committee Member at Solid Minerals Committee (Senate) until May 2015
    Committee Member at Petroleum Resources (Up Stream) Committee (Reps) until May 2015
    Committee Member at Electoral Matters & Political Party Matters Committee (Reps) until May 2015
    Committee Member at FCT Area Councils and Ancillary Matters Committee (Reps) until May 2015
    Committee Member at Sports Committee (Reps) until May 2015
    Chairman at Niger Delta Affairs Committee (Reps) until May 2023
    Awards.

    Essien Ayi has received several awards, including the Utuen Ikang Eneyo title given to him by the Eneyo Community in Cross River State.

    Projects and Other Achievements

    In August 2018, Essien Ayi donated a 300KVA Power Transformer with about 33KV to Esuk Ekpo Eyo Community of Akpabuyo Local Government of Cross River State. In March 2021, he organised a 10-day Agricultural value chain training for the people of Bakassi. He also donated N1 million for the construction of a Mosque in Calabar in 2018.

    Rt. Hon. Essien Ayi, Member Representing Akpabuyo, Bakassi and Calabar South Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, performing the commissioning of 300KVA electricity substation at Esuk Ekpo Eyo Community in  Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State.
    Contact

    Essien Ayi can be contacted as follows;

    Postal Address: 5b/9 Fenton Street, Calabar South, Cross River State
    E-Mail: essienayi@yahoo.co.uk
    Phone: 08033486856
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/essien.e.ayi

  • If I contest again, I’ll win, says 5-time C’River House of Reps Member Hon Essien Ayi

    If I contest again, I’ll win, says 5-time C’River House of Reps Member Hon Essien Ayi

    Rt. Hon. Essien Ayi, Member representing Akpabuyo, Bakassi and Calabar South (ABC) Federal Constituency in the National Assembly has said he will always win even if he contests for the seat for the 100th time.

    Ayi stated this during in 10-day Agricultural value chain training he organised for the people of Bakassi as a means of cushioning the protracted delay in their overdue resettlement and several failed promises by the Federal and State Governments respectively.

    Addressing the participants, the five-time House of Reps Member thanked them for taking the programme seriously as reported by the training consultant.

    He said: “I stand before you as a loyal servant because you gave me the opportunity to serve you. This is my fifth term and you have continued to vote for me because you believe in my abilities to deliver on my campaign promises. It is very clear that should I decide to contest again you will still vote for me and I will win. I want you to grow in the path you have all chosen for yourself as we continue to also help others to find their paths”.

    Speaking on the Agric Value Chain, the Lawmaker said that due to the nature of the programme for this year which has witnessed an injection of people that have no relationship to the plight of his people, the tension was raging which prompted him to calm the troubled waters.

    “When I noticed this, I drew the attention of the Ministry of Niger Delta to this anomaly, their explanation was that we should be our brother’s keeper. I reason in line with them along this path. But I want to tell you this, this programme is by me for my Constituency. As members representing our constituency, we all have the opportunity to bring something to our constituents, this is a programme to my people.

    “I used to do water projects and all of that but I came to discover that those things only function at the moment but become abandoned once they go bad. Go to Akpabuyo and Bakassi, you will see so many abandoned constituency projects. I decided to look beyond doing those things and imparting directly to my people, hence I started this programme of training the people on various Agricultural Value Chains in Fishery, Poultry, Piggery etc., as my constituency projects.

    “This way, the people are empowered and settled in that a business has been provided for them. Let me quickly say that we don’t train them only but we also give them take-off grants in their chosen value chains to start their business.

    “It’s five years now since we started and we have taken more than 5000 off the streets and we will continue to do more. Teaching someone how to catch a fish is better than giving him a fish”.

    “This way, people can begin to think about their future and also provide opportunities for others. We will not rest on our oars to bring succour to our people of the ABC constituency. That is why I am pushing seriously for the resettlement of people of Bakassi through the ‘Bakassi Resettlement Bill’ which has passed first reading”.

    “With this, the various necessities will be gradually addressed through a long-term plan by assigning each programme for implementation through the various ministries. It’s sad that ever since the world court judgment at the Hague, the ‘Green Tree’ agreement, no part of that has seen the light of the day. All efforts by the legislative arms have always sold throw but truncated at the point of implementation by the executive arm”.

    When questioned on the possibility of the implementation of the Bakassi Resettlement Bill, he said, “let us do our parts first in the legislature, it will not be in the best interest to abandon it because all others were not implemented”.

    In response to the gesture of empowering individuals through value addition, training and grants to commence various businesses, the participants were full of kind words to their Representative and spoke freely about his passion, zeal and commitment to anything that touches on their welfare.

    The high point of the event was the presentation of certificates to the participants and a group photo session with all the members of each of the value chains.

  • Tunisia’s Sarra Sellimi wins Miss Africa Calabar 2020

    By Frank Ulom

    Miss Sarra Sellimi, contestant representing Tunisia, has won the Miss Africa 2020 Calabar.

    Sellimi beats 19 other queens from 19 different countries of the continent to be crowned the African Queen in a thrilling contest held on December 30, 2020, at the UJ Esuene’s stadium, Calabar, Cross River State, amidst Coronavirus (COVID-19).

    She was crowned by former Queen, Irene Ng’endo Mukii of Kenya on Wednesday, December 30 in Nigeria’s Paradise City.

    She will pilot the affairs of an African Queen for the next year; from January 2021 to December 2021, until when the next Queen is selected.

    As the winner of the 5th edition of Miss Africa Calabar, Miss Sarra carted away $35,000 from the $50,000 cash price and a brand new SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle).

    Senator Ben Ayade, Governor of Cross River State, said the pageantry has come a long way and the new Queen will play a role as an ambassador to pass the message of COVID-19 in Africa to the whole world.

    The Miss Africa 2020 Calabar theme is tagged “COVID-19 Response”. The pageantry is aimed at raising money and palliatives to fight the Coronavirus pandemic in Africa – and only one beauty queen will be championing the campaign.

    Since its inception in 2016, the Miss Africa Calabar which is a part and parcel of the prestigious Carnival Calabar and Festivals, has had different themes, including; Climate Change in 2016, Climate Change and Migration in 2017, Africanism in 2018 and Humanity in 2019.

    The pageantry has been won by 4 different beauty queens from 4 different countries in Africa. They are; Miss Neurite Mendes of Angola in 2016, Miss Gaseangwe Balopi of Botswana in 2017, Miss Dorcas Kasinde of Congo in 2018 and Miss Irene Ng’endo Mukii of Kenya in 2019.

    Video from Miss Africa Calabar 2020;

  • Christmas in the City of Calabar: Then and now

    By Ekubi Bassey

    Those who know Calabar and its serene ambience wouldn’t find this article strange especially before the advent of the Carnival Calabar more than a decade ago. Christmas was then a Christian festival that characterised visits, and roll call of many masquerades from those of children to the most celebrated ones like Ekpe and Ekpo. Amidst the Christmas decorations especially along highbrow areas like the Calabar Road, Nelson Mandela Road, Marian extension, Etta Agbo-Airport Road, IBB way and other similar axes.

    It was in 1995 during my second year at the university when one of my Geology papers was shifted to 27/12/95. It was not a welcomed development as we frowned and were practically indignant to the new scheme of arrangements but there was little we could do, for it was a rescheduled paper and in order not to disrupt the school calendar it was fixed at our own detriment.

    That means we wouldn’t travel to our various towns for Christmas especially my very self who has a special date with my mom. She must slaughter a cock and get me new sets of plates for the special menu specially made for Christmas. I always look forward to such moments but here I was, an exam spoiling my fun. What about the euphoria of uniting with my friends and pals? All these and more were to be dashed. But something tells me,I was going to have one of my memorable Christmases. Alas, it actually turned out that way.

    Suffice it to say, I had to relocate to my uncle Ikona’s apartment along the IBB way, very close to the UJ Esuene’s stadium. This sport happens to be the city centre of the Calabar metropolis for it is just a stone’s throw to the popular Eleven-Eleven (11-11) bus stop. So I was glued to all the scenic viewing of a whole lot of displays of Christmas outings of masquerades; just name them Tinkoriko, Nnabor, Ojornu, Ekom Nkurikut, Abang, Ekpe, Ekpo and many others. It was a carnival of sorts and having expended much time on the cultural display that attended me I had to dress up to hit the town.

    To my admiration, the city was painted red as the sight was like heaven. Littered all around was celebration and the city stood still for the festive ovation. I made a few visits to my kinsmen at Edgerly and had an entirely different Christmas from the ones I used to know. This was how it was until Donald Duke’s administration introduced the Carnival Calabar.

    It became a different ball game, some liked it and some despised it. Well, in whatever way, the carnival of Christmas brought the city of Calabar to the global map of culture and tourism. Right there in our sight, we had myriads of our world celebrities come to dance and share in the joy of the carnival with such liberty and fun fare. Calabar then became the centre to meet all our screen idols and international superstars whom one couldn’t have met in a life’s time. Everyone creates happiness and all the contesting bands vie out for recognition. The display of different cultural paraphernalia, costumes parade of beautiful bevies and many other side attractions became the new normal as far as Christmas was concerned.

    But this year 2020 is an exception all these would be missed – no thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. Really the year would have so much to be remembered for. The Coronavirus year would actually go down as the year the Almighty Carnival Calabar ceased to be. Most of all we are blessed to have survived the era of global doom, let’s just clap for the Great God who wished it so.

    Merry Christmas to your fans, family and friends. See you on the other side of 2021.

     

  • Heavy Duty Truck crushes Army officer to death in Calabar

    By Frankie Ifop

    A heavy duty truck has killed a Nigerian Army officer of the Amphibious Training School (ATS) in Calabar, Cross River State capital.

    PARADISE NEWS gathered that the incident occurred on Monday (November 9, 2020) morning at about 7:25am at Ikot Ansa Bus Stop along Murtala Mohammed Highway, Calabar Municipality local government area.

    Eyewitnesses said the Army officer was trying to overtake the truck which belongs to Flour Mills (Niger Mills) when the truck rammed into him, thereby killing him on the spot.

    “The truck was coming from 8 miles and was on the speed lane. Immediately I saw the army man on a motorcycle speeding, I knew something bad will happen – and before I could say Jack Robinson, I heard a loud vehicular break sound and everyone was shouting ‘Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!

    “Before we could look ahead, we saw the army officer lying death in his uniform. At first, we were praying for him to be alive but those who tried to help him confirmed he was already death due to the hit from the truck.

    “The truck driver ran away immediately he hit the army man. The accident happened about 25 minutes past 7 o’clock this morning at Ikot Ansa Bus Stop where we use to board taxis to Watt Market and other places”, an eyewitness who did not disclose her name told PARADISE NEWS.

    Our Reporter further gathered that the Amphibious Training School (ATS) of the Nigerian Army, Ekorinim, Calabar has carried the Corpse of the officer off the road and now after the truck driver that killed him.

    “Some soldiers came here after the incident and carried the dead body of the army man. They arrested one of the Flour Mills truck driver that was also coming into the town and took him away. They later came back with him and took him alongside his truck.

    “Now, all trucks belonging to Flour Mills, when they heard about the incident, they started packing by the roadside. You can see about three trucks lining up the road already. No one wants to drive because of the fear of being arrested by the Army”, a source who spoke under anonymity told PARADISE NEWS.

    When contacted, Everest Ochienta, Public Relations Officer, Amphibious Training School (ATS) of the Nigerian Army, said he is yet to be briefed, adding that, “I will get back to you when I am briefed about the information”.

    At the time of filing this report, most Flour Mills truck drivers are parking their vehicles and hanging around, waiting for an order from above. Meanwhile, calm has returned to the place and residents are going about their businesses, peacefully.

  • LIVE UPDATE on Calabar unrest

    By Frankie Ifop

    Welcome to the Live feed update on Calabar unrest. Always refresh your browser for update.

    Since Friday, October 23, 2020, Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, South South Nigeria has been laid siege by a group of hoodlums which has turned into a mob action, sweeping the city apart.

    From looting COVID-19 warehouses to destroying and burning businesses and government MDAs (Ministries, Developments and Agencies), residents of Calabar are sleeping with one eye opened while holding their hearts on their hands, waiting for the cup to pass by.

    The level of vandalisation, arson and looting in the nation’s paradise is second to none, in Nigeria. They are looting people’s homes and businesses too.

    Below are the damages incurred so far by the hoodlums in Calabar;

    1. Cross River State Property Investment Limited, CROSPIL office, Bishop Moynagh Avenue, State Housing Estate – Looted on Friday, October 23.

    2. State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA office, Barracks Road – Looted and burnt down on Friday, October 23.

    3. The Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC office – vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    4. Independence National Electoral Commission, INEC office, Marian Road, burnt down on Friday, October 23.

    5. Commercial Transport Regulatory Agency, CTRA office (100 Marian), Marian Road – vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    6. Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR – vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    7. Atakpa Police Station, Watt Market – burnt down on Saturday, October 24.

    8. Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC office, Murtala Mohammed Highway – vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    9. Calabar Discount Mall (harbouring Valuemat Supermarket and other stores), Ndidem Usang Iso Road, Marian – looted and vandalised on Friday, October 23.

    10. Ministry of Works warehouse, Ekorinim II – looted and burnt down on Friday, October 23.

    11. Cross River State Roll back Malaria centre, Barracks Road -looted and vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    12. Bulavaard joint owned by APC chieftain, Ntufam Hillard Ettah, Etta Agbor – looted and vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    13. First Bank, 8 Miles – vandalised on Friday, October 23.

    14. West African Examination Council, WAEC office, Murtala Mohammed Highway – burnt down on Saturday, October 24.

    15. Federal Psychiatric hospital, Calabar Road – looted and vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    16. Access Bank, Mayne Avenue -vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    17. Senator Victor Ndoma Egba’s House, Asari Eso – looted and burnt down on Saturday, October 24.

    18. Senator Gershom Bassey’s House, Asari Eso – looted vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    19. Cross River Garment Factory, Goodluck Jonathan bypass – looted on Saturday, October 24.

    20. Ayade Fuelling Station, Murtala Mohammed Highway – looted and set ablaze on Saturday, October 24.

    21. Senator Gershom Bassey’s House, Mayne Avenue – looted and vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    22. National Identity Management Commission, NIMC office, Murtala Mohammed Highway – set on fire on Saturday, October 24.

    23. National Television Authority, NTA, Murtala Mohammed Highway – vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    24. University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, UCTH, Etta Agbor – looted on Saturday, October 24.

    25. Cross River Agric Development Project, IBB way opposite Margaret Ekpo International Airport – looted on Friday, October 23.

    26. IDH Hospital, Chamley area – looted and vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    27. Empowerment warehouse, Henshaw Town – looted and vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    28. University of Calabar, UNICAL Publishing Center, Etta Agbor – looted and vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    29. UNICAL Microfinance Bank, Etta Agbor – looted and vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    30. UNICAL Main Library – vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    31. Most Banks and Shops/Transport Companies, Ettah Agbor – vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    32. Lafarge (former UNICEM) Trucks loaded with cement – hijacked on Saturday, October 24.

    32. Ibedmore Phone Shops, Calabar Road – set on fire on Saturday, October 24.

    33. Calabar Mall (harbouring SPAR Supermarket and other stores), Cultural Centre – vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    34. Cold Stone Store and Domino’s Pizza, Ndidem Usang Iso Road, Marian – looted and vandalised on Friday, October 23.

    35. Shops in Watt Market, Watt – looted, vandalised and some set on fire on Saturday, October 24.

    36. Carnival Calabar Treasury House (speakers, lighting, stage, carpets, mics, amplifiers, etc) – looted on Saturday, October 24.

    37. Mbukpa Police Station, Mbukpa – burnt down on Saturday, October 24.

    38. Calabar Municipality and Calabar South Area Councils – looted and vandalised on Friday, October 23.

    39. First Bank, Highway by Ekorinim – vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    40. H20 Calabar, Mary Slessor by UNICAL Main Gate – looted and vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    41. Accountant General Office – vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    42. All Progressives Congress, APC office, Marian Road – vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    43. Nigerian Chronicles Newspapers office, Barracks Road – burnt down on Friday, October 23.

    44. World Health Organisation, WHO and Cross River State Health Insurance Scheme (AyadeCare) offices, Barracks Road – looted and vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    45. Government Secondary School, Henshaw Town – vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    46. Peace Mass Transport, PMT Park, Etta Agbor – looted and vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    46. Spark Shop Calabar – looted and vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    47. Eco Bank, Mary Slessor Avenue – vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    48. UDEC Phone Shop, opposite UNICAL, Etta Agbor – looted and vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    49. Pensioners Office, Asita Ita Street – vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    50. Cross River State Water Board Limited (CRSWBL) Residences, Ndidem Usang Isong Road, Marian – looted and vandalised – on Saturday, October 24.

    51. Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSILT, Calabar – looted and vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    52. Auditor-General’s Office, Calabar – vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

  • BREAKING: WAEC, NTA, NIMC offices, Duke’s Hotel on fire in Calabar

    BREAKING: WAEC, NTA, NIMC offices, Duke’s Hotel on fire in Calabar

    By Frank Ulom

    Hoodlums have set ablaze West African Examination Council, WAEC’s office on fire in Calabar, Cross River State.

    The incident, THE PARADISE NEWS reports happened today, Saturday, October 24, 2020, in the late morning hours of the day as other places were also touched.

    The other places include National Identity Management Commission, NIMC office, and Former Governor Donald Duke Daughter’s Hotel (Nella Gardens), which share fences with WAEC, along Murtala Mohammed Highway, Calabar Municipality local government area of Cross River State.

    Our Reporter also learnt that the National Television Authority, NTA Calabar was also affected, as hoodlums ransacked the TV station.

    “Currently, as I am talking to you, WAEC office on the highway is on fire. The office is being burnt by hoodlums. NIMC office and Nella’s Garden were also affected. The fire is escalating through the buildings along that line. NTA is also affected and hoodlums are destroying the office”, an eyewitness who passed the area at about 11:35am told PARADISE NEWS.

    On Friday night, Independence National Electoral Commission, INEC office at Marian Road, closed to Fire Service office was set ablaze and the building completely razed down.

    The trouble started on Friday, October 23, 2020 when residents discovered a warehouse loaded with COVID-19 Palliatives at CROSPIL Warehouse, Bishop Moynagh Avenue, State Housing Estate, Calabar.

    Ever since then, SEMA Warehouse at Barracks Road, Ministry of Works Warehouse at Ekorinim II, Garment Factory warehouse at Goodluck Ebele Jonathan bypass, and several others have been attacked and looted.

    Businesses such as Cold Stone creamery, Calabar Discount Mall harbouring Value Market Store, Calabar Mall harbouring SPAR Supermarket, Boulevard Joint at Etta Agbor, First Bank at 8 Miles, Watt Market, World Health Organisation (WHO) office, Calabar Municipality and Calabar South Area Council Secretariats, and other places have been affected.

    Meanwhile, the governor of Cross River State, Sen. Ben Ayade on a statewide broadcast today (Saturday), said the #EndSARS protest has been hijacked.

    According to the governor, “on the issue of palliatives being kept in warehouses, every state will have palliatives in their warehouse. Let me thank and acknowledge CACOVID for the massive supply of all these palliatives. Note that as you empty your stock, they restock. This keeps coming for Cross River State. Our last receipt was on October 12th, just last week. We were also told clearly that they (CACOVID) wanted to do a press briefing when they are handing over the palliatives. So there was a directive that this last stock Cross River got should not be shared until they come. The weigh bill is available and it has been released for all to see. It shows that the stock arrived on the 12th of October, 2020. Unfortunately by then this tension had started building up and we were already waiting on them to come. I also want to recall that we do the distribution of palliatives in Cross River State in a sequence.

    “We started with traditional rulers and churches, then we moved to local government by local government via senatorial districts. We had done distributions in the northern senatorial district and in the central senatorial district. The next batch of distribution was to be for the southern senatorial district. So the stock in question is for distribution in the southern senatorial district. As can be seen in a lot of videos on social media and Cross River Broadcasting Corporation, each time we distribute, we target widows , we target the aged, we target people who do not have money, people who cannot work. We target those who can fish no more, those who can no longer fish because they are aged and do not have loved ones .

    “If you watch the videos of our distribution, it is systematic. It is through churches and churches target the vulnerable and so as a young man who is 18, 20, 25, remember that the food you are picking belongs to our aged parents, a widow somewhere. There is hunger in the land and I know this very well. That is why our emphasis had been on mass employment, recruitment, salary payment, pension payment and creating jobs and focusing more on appointments. Today, we have over 6000 political appointees. I do not need that much number of appointees. So it is for food on the table. It may not have reached you but somebody somewhere may have been reached. We have just approved employment for another 20000 people and have made it very clear this should not be for politicians. I believe that in the course of time you will see the sincerity of my intentions”.