Month: December 2024

In the mood of the yuletide celebration, the Deputy Speaker of Cross River State House of Assembly and member representing the good people of Obudu State Constituency, Hon Sylvester Agabi Jnr, has distributed hundreds of bags of rice to constituents in his country home to celebrate the season with the people.

The workaholic honorable, who said he remained eternally grateful to his constituents for their continued support and prayers, expressed joy for the massive turnout of constituents to benefit from the outreach, adjusted as the best of its kind in years.

Hon. Agabi Jnr noted that the season called for deepened brotherhood and worship of Almighty God, who, in His infinite mercy, spared our lives to witness the end of the year amidst prevailing economic challenges.

While addressing his constituents, the Deputy Speaker noted that the yuletide season, which is the season within the season of Christmas, the season of celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, exemplifies love, sacrifice, service to humanity, and deep reflection on our worship to God.

He appeals that the rice being shared is for all constituents, irrespective of party affiliations, and all residents of Obudu.

“I will never take your support for granted, and I assure you, I will continue to provide leadership for a better Obudu and Cross River State,” he said.

By Ebriku John Friday

To promote harmony, progress, and goodwill in the community, Hon. Emmanuel Ironbar, His Excellency Governor Bassey Otu’s chief of staff, organized an impressive year-end event with members of his political ward, Ward 10 in  Calabar South.

Hon. Emmanuel Ironbar showed his dedication to empowering the people at the grassroots level by giving the ward members cash gifts, a cow, and forty-one bags of rice. He took the opportunity to emphasize Governor Bassey Otu’s unwavering commitment to fulfilling his mandate and to call for continued support for his policies and programs. Hon. Ironbar also urged community members to work together, love one another, and be united to promote harmony and sustainable growth.

According to the Special Assistant on Media to the Chief of Staff, Patrick Asoquo, several dignitaries and government representatives attended the event, which demonstrated his commitment to grassroots involvement and the well-being of his constituents. Hon. Pastor Patrick Archibong, Chairman of Calabar South LGA; Pastor Otu Marshall, Calabar South APC Chapter Chairman; Dr. Carole Edem, Commissioner I, Local Government Civil Service Commission; Hon. Peter Nya, Council Leader; Chief Nathaniel Ikpeme, Calabar South Council Secretary; and Prophet Nathaniel Offiong were among those present.

Notable attendees include Mr. Dunamis Archibong, Senior Special Assistant on Political Matters (Office of the Chief of Staff); Mr. Akpeke Peters, Special Assistant on Protocol (Office of the Chief of Staff); Pastor Donald Effiom, Secretary of the Scrap Metal Regulatory Agency; Kelvin Enyam, Special Assistant on Student Affairs; Tete Anam, Member of the Scrap Metal Regulatory Agency; Ntiero Effiom, Personal Assistant on Party Affairs; and other top government functions.

The event concluded on a high note, reaffirming the commitment of Hon. Emmanuel Ironbar and other leaders to the progress and welfare of the community.

The Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem has described Hon. Anoh as a remarkable individual who exemplifies the highest standards of friendship and steadfast commitment to community service.

Rt Hon Elvert Ayambem conveyed his sincere gratitude to Hon. Augustine Anoh, popularly referred to as “Super,” during Anoh’s conferment as a Patron of Ochorembo Age Grade of Odajie Community, in Mbube Ogoja Local Government Area.

Elvert Ayambem stated that “Super stands out not only because of his industrious nature but also due to his amicable personality and outstanding character. His impressive talent for building genuine relationships with individuals from diverse backgrounds is truly remarkable. It is this dedication to fostering enduring connections that has brought members of the Cross River State House of Assembly together today to celebrate him.”

The Speaker also took a moment to recognize the substantial influence of Hon. Anoh’s mentor, Chief Peter Ojie, whose guidance and support have played a crucial role in shaping his values and character. “Today is a proud occasion for all who played a part in Super’s upbringing,” Ayambem remarked. “They have done an outstanding job in raising such an exceptional person, and their impact is clear in who he has become.”

According to the organizers, the occasion was meant to celebrate Hon. Anoh’s new role as the Patron of the Ochorembo Age Grade, a revered community organization that significantly contributes to local culture and development.

Together with his cherished wife, Mrs. Nelly Elverts Ayambem, the Speaker was accompanied by several prominent political figures, including the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Sylvester Agabi, as well as various Assembly members such as Hon. Thomas Aruku, representing Ogoja; Hon. Brian Odey, representing Yala1; and Hon. Charles Omang, representing Bekwarra.

The gathering also drew numerous community leaders, all united to honour Hon. Anoh for his steadfast dedication to the progress of his community and the state as a whole.

President Bola Tinubu has expressed his profound joy at the re-opening of the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, describing it as another remarkable achievement in 2024 that has strengthened Nigerians’ hope in his administration.

Today, the Warri Refinery returned to operation weeks after NNPC Limited restarted the 60,000 Barrels per day at the Port Harcourt Refinery in November.

With Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) going into operation after several years of inactivity, President Tinubu has once again expressed his administration’s determination to ramp up local refining capacity and make Nigeria a hub for downstream industrial activities in Africa.

The All Progressives Congress-led administration of President Muhammadu Buhari awarded the contract for the complete rehabilitation and overhaul of the four state-owned refineries.

President Tinubu noted with confidence that with the 125,000 (bpd) Warri Refinery now operating at 60% capacity, his administration’s comprehensive plan to ensure energy efficiency and security is entirely on course. He praised the Mele Kyari-led management of the NNPCL for working hard to restore Nigeria’s glory and pride as a major oil-producing country.

“The restart of Warri Refinery today brings joy and gladness to me and Nigerians. This will further strengthen the hope and confidence of Nigerians for a greater and better future that we promised. This development is a remarkable way to end the year following the feat recorded earlier with the old Port Harcourt Refinery. I am equally happy that NNPC Limited is implementing my directive to restore all four refineries to good working condition.

“I congratulate Mele Kyari and his team at NNPCL for working hard to restore our national pride and make Nigeria a hub for crude oil refining in Africa,” President Tinubu said.

President Tinubu enjoined NNPCL to accelerate repair work on Kaduna Refinery and the 150,000 (bpd) second refinery in Port Harcourt to consolidate Nigeria’s position as a global energy provider.

WRPC will focus on producing and storing critical products, including Straight Run Kerosene (SRK), Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), and heavy and light Naphtha.

Bayo Onanuga

Special Adviser to the President

(Information & Strategy)

December 30, 2024

The Executive Chairman of the Obanliku Local Government Council, Hon. (Dr) Sunny Ayang, has once again distributed food items to Obanliku sons and daughters in preparation for the New Year and to alleviate the effects of hardship.

The Executive Chairman’s Special Assistant on Welfare, Mr. Isaac Adabu, managed the food items distribution to various Ward Party Chairmen and Councillors on Thursday at the Chairman’s residence in Buya Village.

Recall that the chairman earlier on Tuesday distributed over 1,200 bags of rice in preparation for the Christmas celebration. The food items distributed today to various wards include bags of beans, salt, tomatoes, Maggi, and groundnut oil.

Press Unit
Obanliku Local Government Council
26/12/2024

The Provost of the College of Nursing Sciences Obudu, Dr. (Mrs.) Victoria Undeshi, has  commended Governor Bassey Edet Otu for his unwavering commitment to education and the nursing profession. Dr. Undeshi made this known during the official visit of the Special Assistant to the Governor of Cross River State on Nursing, Coco-Bassey Esu, to the College in Obudu.

Dr. (Mrs.) Undeshi emphasised a number of noteworthy accomplishments during the visit that were made possible by Governor Otu’s leadership. According to the Provost and what Mr. Esu witnessed, the state Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the local community, secured a large plot of land to allow for the construction of additional classrooms for students and offices for lecturers. An annex was added to the existing buildings, with funding provided for essential nursing accreditation visits and the National Board for Technical Education.

Furthermore, many existing structures have been expanded and upgraded to include staff offices, classrooms, ICT centers, a library, a demonstration hall, and other critical facilities. With the recent employment by Cross River State Government, qualified educators were employed and retained, ensuring that the college meets accreditation standards for basic and ND programs.

The Provost attributed these accomplishments to Governor Otu’s visionary leadership and expressed confidence that his administration would continue to support nursing education and professional development.

The Special Assistant to the Governor of Cross River State on Nursing, Coco-Bassey Esu,  stated that the visit was aimed at gaining firsthand insight into the institution’s operations and discussing strategies to enhance Nursing development in alignment with Governor Sen. Bassey Otu’s “People First” agenda.

Mr. Esu commended the state government’s dedication to infrastructure development at the college. He highlighted how these efforts have fostered optimism about the institution’s growth and the advancement of nursing education. He particularly praised the initiative to expand nursing programs, emphasizing its potential to significantly improve the healthcare sector in both the state and the country.

He also commended the Provost for proper administrative running of the institution and management of the facilities. Mr. Esu and his team toured the completed and ongoing projects, guided by key college officials, including the College Registrar, Mrs. Dorothy Afu, the College Bursar, Mr. Ndem Ani, and various departmental heads.

The Executive Chairman of Obanliku Local Government Council, Hon. (Dr) Sunny Ayang, has distributed over 1,000 bags of 25kg rice to Obanliku sons and daughters in preparation for this year’s Christmas celebrations and to alleviate the effects of hardship.

The Vice Chairman of Council, Hon. Glory Awowoh, who oversaw the rice distribution, praised the Executive Chairman for the gesture during the flag-off of the distribution on Monday, stating that it would greatly aid the Obanliku people in celebrating Christmas.

She praised the Chairman for the assistance and asked the ward chairmen and council members to defend the gesture by contacting the traditional and religious leaders, security personnel, party members, widows, orphans, and the underprivileged in their local communities.

Speaking on behalf of the recipients, Hon. Justina Adawhobe, thanked the Executive Chairman and stated that the rice that was given to them would significantly lessen the hardship that the people are currently experiencing.

By Joseph Abasi-Abasi

The Brotherhood of the Cross and Star (BCS) has announced a global initiative across its Bethels to engage in charitable works, humanitarian efforts, an Open Kitchen, and the celebration of International Vegetarian Day by distributing free food, clothing, and essential items to the poor and vulnerable.

BCS spokesperson, Patriarch Christ Shepherd, Dr. Amah Williams, highlighted during a press interaction on Monday that this humanitarian effort will extend beyond the BCS Headquarters to all Bethels, with measures in place to prevent overcrowding.

Dr. Amah mentioned that the free food distribution is part of the activities planned for the 2024 celebration of the Divine Manifestation of Leader Olumba Olumba Obu, which will take place at the World Headquarters, located at 34 Ambo Street, Calabar, Cross River State, from December 23 to December 31, 2024.

He stated, “BCS members will also visit orphanages and homes for the destitute, conducting activities to assist the less fortunate in various locations worldwide. This effort honours Leader Olumba Olumba Obu, which reflects his teachings and practices.”

He also announced that members will fast, engage in prison ministry in different states and nations, and remember the suffering and death of Jesus Christ for humanity on December 26, 2024, with these observances happening in all BCS Bethels.

The event will culminate on December 31, 2024, featuring a foot-washing ceremony for all Christ ambassadors by the Holy Father, a Biakpan language singing competition, BCS Art and Merit awards, global prayers, and the Father’s New Year message.

Lastly, he emphasized the importance of recognizing that the solutions to the many challenges facing humanity today can be found in the teachings of Leader Olumba Olumba Obu, as expressed in His Everlasting Gospels.

The Chairman of the GFO Orim Foundation and Governing Council Member of the Federal College of Education in Bichi, Kano State, Chief Hon (Dr) Martin Orim, has facilitated a three-classroom block to Udigie Primary School in Obudu Local Government Area, Cross River State

The three-classroom block, facilitated by Chief Hon (Dr) Martin Orim, was built and completed by the Federal Government Border Communities Development Agency.

Chief Martin Orim, a former senatorial candidate of the All Progressive Congress, expressed his delight at the development of the project, stating that education is the bedrock of any society. He added that it is essential to invest in the education of the young ones.

According to Chief Orim, the new classrooms will provide a conducive learning environment for the students and improve the standard of education in the community. He promised that he would continue to work tirelessly to ensure the needs of his people were met.

Community leaders and residents commended Chief Martin Orim for the positive changes his numerous gestures have brought to Obudu and his commitment to improving educational infrastructure in Obudu and surrounding local governments in the northern senatorial district.

They stressed the significance of the newly built classrooms, which are expected to enhance the learning environment for students. The community leaders expressed their gratitude for the former Chief of Staff’s efforts.

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Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu officially flagged off the hydrographic, geophysical, and geotechnical survey for the Bakassi Deep Seaport Integrated Project on Saturday, marking a significant step towards the realization of the dream of building the Bakassi Deep Seaport.

The ceremony took place first at the NNS Victory Base in Calabar, and then on the high seas, near Parrot and Tomshot Islands in the Cross River waterways, where the survey will take place.

1. The hydrographic geophysical and geotechnical survey, which is handled by the National Hydrographic Agency and is expected to last for about four months, will provide critical data on soil composition, water depth, and other geotechnical parameters needed for the construction of the port, ensuring its structural integrity and functionality.

Flagging off the survey, the Governor said the watershed event marks “a major milestone in the economic and social landscape of Cross River State and depicts the importance his administration places on the economic revitalization agenda.”

The Governor noted that the flag-off exercise came on the heels of the recent stakeholder engagement, which outlined the project’s engagement path with communities in the project’s area of influence, specifically regulators, maritime security interests, host communities, media, financiers, investors, the public sector, civil society, youth groups, traditional institutions, and religious leaders, noting that the milestone event takes stakeholders closer to the realization of the Bakassi Deep Seaport dream.

He noted that Cross River State has a strategic coastal location and is blessed with a rich blue economy, with all the accompanying aquatic resources.

“The development of the Bakassi Deep Seaport has therefore become imperative and is justified considering the need to increase port capacity in the country and within this corridor on the one hand, and to alleviate current port congestion and make Nigeria the trans-shipment hub in the sub-Saharan Africa region.”

“This flag-off of the hydrographic geophysical, and geotechnical survey for the Bakassi Deep Seaport signals a pivotal moment for Cross River State and a step forward in the march towards the actualization of this dream project,” he remarked.

He thanked the Nigerian Navy, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, the Federation’s Chief Hydrographer/CEO of the National Hydrographic Agency, the AFREXIMBANK, ARISE-IIP, and a host of others for the trust and partnership to deliver the task at hand and bring the dream of the deep seaport to reality.

“The beginning of this survey phase today is evidence of these collaborations. We are using state-of-the-art technology and knowledge to ensure the survey satisfies international standards by working with the National Hydrographic Agency. Additionally, this collaboration has been economical, saving the residents of Cross River State billions of naira while producing excellent outcomes. The Bakassi Deep Seaport will symbolize the remarkable achievements that are possible when we unite behind a shared vision.

“Secondly, the project will revolutionize Cross River State, transforming it into a hub of economic prosperity and technological innovation. Beyond facilitating trade, it will support industries such as manufacturing, logistics, and tourism, uplifting communities and positioning our state as a leader in Nigeria’s economic resurgence.

“At the national level, the project’s impact will extend beyond Cross River to neighboring states and sub-regional economies, as they will share in the prosperity it generates. By enhancing trade, fostering connectivity, and creating shared opportunities, we are laying the foundation for the collective economic growth of these regions.

In his goodwill message, the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, represented by Rear Admiral Saheed Adeshina Akinwade, averred that the flag-off ceremony for the hydrographic geophysical, and geotechnical survey for the proposed Bakassi Deep Seaport marks the start of an ambitious and transformative project that has all the trappings to reshape the entire Gulf of Guinea.

He, on behalf of the Nigerian Navy, extended gratitude to Governor Otu for his visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to creating economic opportunities for the people.

“The maritime domain serves as a lifeline for commerce, security, and national prosperity. It is essential for fostering economic growth. It is through well-protected and well-charted waters that nations like Nigeria can fully harness the potential of their coastal resources. Therefore, this project is not only crucial to the economic future of Nigeria but to the entire sub-Saharan Africa,” the FOC said.

Earlier in his keynote address, the Federation’s Hydrographer and Chief Executive Officer of the National Hydrographic Agency, Rear Admiral Ayo Olugbode, articulated that the geophysical and geotechnical survey for the Bakassi Deep Seaport project kick-started today marks a milestone not just for Cross River State but the entire nation.

He maintained that the project represents a bold and determined step towards unlocking the immense potential of our maritime domain for socio-economic development.

“I wish to extend my deep appreciation once again for championing a transformative initiative that is not just in building a seaport but in driving the growth of maritime trade in the entire sub-region. I also want to commend the Nigerian Navy for their unwavering support in ensuring the security and operational success of this project,” he noted.

The Surveyor General of Cross River State, Mr. Patrick Bassey, and the Senior Special Adviser to the Governor of Cross River State on International Cooperation and Investments, Reverend Victor Edet, also spoke at the event, restating the present administration’s commitment to bringing the project to fruition.

The high point of the event was the signing of the memorandum of cooperation between the Cross River State Government and the Nigerian Navy. The Governor also took time to inspect some of the state-of-the-art equipment that is to be deployed by the Navy for the survey.