Politics

Akwa Ibom state government suspends levies and daily tickets on tricycle and minibus operators

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The Akwa Ibom State Government has announced the suspension of all levies and daily tickets to tricycle and minibus operators in the state for five days.

In a statement released by the state Commissioner for Transport, Uno Etim Uno, the state government said the gesture was to cushion the ongoing cash crunch and other challenges suffered by transporters as a result of the cashless policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The statement reads in part;

“Due to the harsh realities occasioned by the cash crunch in the country, the Akwa Ibom State Government hereby graciously announces a five-day suspension of daily ticketing for operators of commercial tricycles and minibuses.

The suspension takes immediate effect from Monday, March 13 till Friday, March 17, 2023.

This development will help the operators breathe a sigh of relief as they struggle to earn a living amidst these biting hard times.

The government notified all operators of tricycles and minibuses as well as the monitoring unit of the development and possible compliance.

The general public, particularly operators of commercial tricycles and minibuses and the Compliance and Monitoring team are hereby notified of this development.”

The commissioner urged the benefitting transporters to use the five days tax holiday to take an active part in the governorship and state Assembly poll reschedule for March 18, 2023, in the state

“In continued support for the state government, transporters are urged to use the five days of grace to prepare to take an active part in the governorship and state assembly elections slated for Saturday, March 18, 2023.

It is hoped that in response to the kind gesture of the state government, transporters will remain law-abiding and shun all forms of violence throughout the period of the elections,” he said.

Lifestyle

Akwa Ibom accuses FG of refusing to release ecological funds

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Charles Udoh, the Akwa Ibom Commissioner for Environment and Mineral Resources, has accused the ecological office of refusing to release funds to the state for ecological and disaster management.

Mr Udoh made the disclosure while speaking in an interview in Uyo on the state’s utilisation of ecological funds.

He said that Akwa Ibom had not been receiving funds from the federal government for multifarious ecological challenges in the state.

The commissioner disclosed that the state had made several efforts to get the attention of ecological funds office but to no avail.

“We have submitted designs to that office but nothing positive has come out yet, but that doesn’t mean we have to give up,” he said.

Mr Udoh stressed that the state was making efforts to ensure that it would get a meaningful response from the ecological office.He noted that ecological problems resulted from flooding, erosion and pollution.

“Erosion has not been friendly; flood has been there even though it is globally. Flood prediction level will go up this year like we have witnessed,” Mr Udoh said.

The commissioner added that the ecological problems facing the state were due to the peculiarity of its location in the Mangrove Savannah region.

Business

CBN appeals to Akwa Ibom residents to return old naira notes before January 31 deadline

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THE Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has made further appealed to Akwa Ibom state residents to return the old notes of N1000, N500, and N200 to the banks before January 31, 2023 when they would be phased out of circulation completely.

The Deputy director of CBN, Mr. Dominic Ekanemesang, made the appeal on Sunday when he led other officials of the Apex bank to some Churches within the metropolis to sensitise them on the newly redesigned Naira notes and its cashless policy.

Speaking at Sacred Heart Catholic Parish, Aka Offot, Uyo, Ekanemesang advised the congregation to embrace its cashless policy because it has come to stay.

He reiterated the commitment and determination of the CBN to achieving a cashless economy, stressing that its cashless policy aims at reducing too much money in circulation in the country.

His words;

“We are here to carry out sensitisation on the new currency redesign. I’m sure all of us here are aware that we have new notes of N1000, N500 and N200 and that after January 31, 2023 the old notes will cease to be legal tender.”

You are also aware that the three higher denominations are mostly used for illicit transactions such as, kidnapping, terrorism financing and money laundering.

So we are not going to have the newly redesigned notes much in circulation because we are moving to a cashless economy.

“We want to ensure that we don’t have too much money in circulation. Please pass this message to your relatives, parents, sisters and brothers that the cashless policy has come to stay; we want to safeguard our financial system.

“Also we want to bring the citizens into the financial system, so if you don’t have a Bank account this is an opportunity for you to go and open a bank account and deposit the old notes into your account.

“Please this is an appeal. Central Bank of Nigeria will not want any bank customer to lose his or her money. So please return all the three higher denomination of the old Naira notes to the bank on or before January 31”

While responding to questions on the issue of commercial banks still dispensing the old Naira notes to customers, as well as scarcity of the New notes, the CBN director assured the parishioners that banks seen not dispensing the newly redesigned notes at their ATM points from this week would be sanctioned.

He however, appealed to the Church leaders to help in enlightening their members on the cashless policy.

Welcoming the delegation, the Parish Priest, Very Rev. Father Donatus Udoette, said the Parish actually started enlightening the Parishioners on the January 31 deadline since December 2022.

He commended the Apex bank for introducing the cashless policy expressing strong believe that it will impact positively on Nigeria’s economy.

The Dominion House of Grace Church was among the Churches the CBN officials sensitised on the New Naira notes and its cashless policy on Sunday.

Lifestyle

Suspected cultists behead youth leader in Akwa Ibom

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The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has launched investigation into the gruesome murder of Hezekiah Adaiden, the Youth President of Inen community in OrukAnam Local Government Area of the state.

Suspected cultists beheaded Adaiden last Sunday, December 18, 2022, when he was hosting a group of young men in his compound.

An eyewitness said the cultists dragged Adaiden to a corner, beat him to a coma and cut off his head.

The source said the hoodlums looted the house, beat up the wife and carted away valuables items.

“The cultists arrived in the compound at an odd hour in the night and since they were known by the youth president, he offered them drinks. While they were drinking around 1am, another group well armed arrived and was violent, as they dragged the victim to a corner and killed him,” the source said.

“The most annoying is that they beheaded him and escaped with his head after they tortured his wife and poured the soup which the woman cooked on her head, as they beat her mercilessly.”

Spokesperson of the command, Odiko Mcdon, in a statement on Wednesday, December 21, described the killing of the youth president as barbaric, adding that the perpetrators would be brought to book.

“There is an ongoing manhunt to arrest perpetrators of such crime,” he said.

Politics

Akwa Ibom YPP governorship candidate bag 7-year jail sentence

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Bassey Albert Akpan, the governorship candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) has bagged a 7-year jail sentence after being arraigned on a six-count charge bordering on money laundering, including graft.

The YPP governorship candidate who is also a Senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East (Uyo), was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on June 24, 2019 on charges of corruption over the receipt of exotic vehicles estimated at over N204m.

It was revealed that in May 2010, Akpan, who was then the Commissioner for Finance, Akwa Ibom State, reportedly received from one Jide Omokore, a BMW X5 (bullet-proof car) worth N50m; in December 2012, another Infinity QX56 (bullet-proof) worth N45m was also received from the same source.

In November 2013, he received a Toyota Landcruiser V8 (bullet-proof) valued at N40m and in March 2014, he received a Range Rover, valued at N40m; in September 2014, another Toyota Hiace High Roof bus valued at N27m was received from the businessman.

It was also disclosed that at different times between 2012 and 2014, Akpan also received a Toyota Hiace High Roof buses valued at N16m and six units of Toyota Hilux vehicles valued at N36m.

Justice Agatha Okeke who presided over the case, found the senator guilty of the offences.

Delivering judgment on Thursday, December 1, the court ruled that Akpan must serve seven years in prison for each of the six counts. The jail term is to run concurrently. There’s no option of fine.

Politics

Court nullifies Akwa Ibom APC governorship primary

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A Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has nullified the All Progressives Congress governorship primary conducted on May 26, 2022.

The judge, Agatha Okeke, ordered the APC to conduct a fresh governorship primary within 14 days.

The case was instituted by a former senator, Ita Enang, who claimed that he was the validly elected candidate of the APC in Akwa Ibom.

Delivering judgment on Monday, Nov. 14, Justice Okeke agreed with Mr Enang’s argument and ruled that the governorship candidate of the party, Akanimo Udofia, was not a member of the APC, having not participated in all the stages of the process of electing a governorship candidate of the party.

Justice Agatha Okeke also disqualified Udofia from participating in the primary. The court ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission not to recognise Udofia nor accept him as a candidate according to section 77 sub-section 3 of the Electoral Act.

Mr Udofia was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and had bought the PDP nomination forms to contest the party governorship primary in Akwa Ibom before he defected to the APC.

Lifestyle, World News

Akwa Ibom boy, Hope reunites with his father six years after he was branded a witch, stigmatized and left to starve to death

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On January 30, 2016, Danish aid worker Anja Ringgren Lovén was photographed giving water to a severely emaciated 2-year-old boy, whom she rescued after he was branded a witch by his family and left to starve to death in Akwa Ibom. The boy had wandered the streets for months when Anja got a phone call and immediately led a rescue team including her husband David Emmanuel Umem, to bring the child to the Children’s Education and Development Foundation (ACAEDF) aka “Land of Hope”

Taking to Facebook page on Monday, August 1, 2022, Lovén revealed that Hope finally met his father few days ago after six years. The aid worker said Hope’s parents are divorced, however, she didn’t reveal circumstances that led to the boy being branded a witch and abandoned.

Read her post below:

For more than 6 years of searching we have finally found Hope´s father !!! A few days ago Land of Hope Director of Child Development Nsidibe Orok and I took Hope on home visit.

We want the villagers to witness Hope´s amazing transformation The last time we took Hope back to his village was in 2018 where we held a conference about superstition in the city hall for the entire community. This time Hope was excited to be back because he understands more and much to our surprise we suddenly stood face to face with his uncle, the brother to his mother !!

In 2016 when we rescued Hope, the uncle was working in another state so he was not around. He also told us that Hope´s father was back in the village after being away for years. Suddenly we were on our way to Hope´s father´s house. It was very surreal. The uncle told us that Hope looked a lot like his father and it was true. The resemblance was striking. Hope´s parents are divorced. Due to safety reasons and legality I cannot go into details. But I will say this, Hope´s father was very surprised to see his son again. And Hope just kept staring at him. David Jr. was there too. He was so caring and with hand signs he kept telling Hope that everything was fine.

When we came back to the Land of Hope, Hope took my phone and was so excited to show the children the pictures of him and his father. Exactly like all the other children do when they come back from home visit. Hope is not going to live with his father or mother for many reasons. But no matter what has happened in the past, children need to know their roots. Children need to know where they come from because it helps shape their identity.

Hope has the right to have an identity. Having an identity is a fundamental human right. For Hope to know more about his cultural background and where he comes from will help him to develop a strong sense of who he really is. For Hope to know where he comes from does not mean that he will ever forget what happened, on the contrary, it will set him free and take him to a more powerful place in his life.

Lifestyle

EFCC quizzes suspected oil thief in Akwa Ibom

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has begun the investigation of a suspected illegal petroleum products dealer in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.

The EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said the suspect was arrested by troops of 2 Brigade, Nigerian Army, on February 27 on Itu-Calabar Road in Uyo and handed over to the EFCC on Tuesday.

Uwujaren said the suspect was arrested in a truck with Registration Number DRK 700 XA, loaded with about 5,000 litres of illegally refined diesel and kerosene.

The EFCC spokesman said the products were concealed in reinforced plastic bags.

He added that the suspect would be arraigned in court at the end of the investigation.

Lifestyle

Akwa Ibom teachers suspend strike

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The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Akwa Ibom has suspended its five-day-old strike in the state.

The union disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday by its chairman, Mr. Edet Emenyi and secretary, Mr. Victor Amirize, in Uyo.

The teachers embarked on strike on March 15 over the non-payment of leave grant from 2017 and 7.5 percent contributory pension refunds to members, among other demands.

The suspension of the strike followed the government’s decision to meet some of the teachers’ demands during a meeting between the government team and the leadership of NUT in Uyo.

The government, according to the statement, agreed to begin immediate payment of leave grant from 2017 and 2018 as well as the one month minimum wage arrears to primary schools teachers in the state.

The statement read: “These understandings reached at the meeting – the installment payment of 2019, 2020 and 2021 leave grant to primary schools teachers.

“Payment of promotion arrears for six years – 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016 to primary schools teachers and immediate commencement of 2019, 2020, 2021 promotion exercise to teachers.”

The NUT directed teachers in primary and secondary schools across the state to resume normal academic activities from Monday.

Entertainment

Missing Akwa Ibom Job Seeker Found Dead, Friend Says She Was Raped, Killed, Buried In Shallow Grave

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A friend of the missing lady, @UmohUduak1, confirmed this on her Twitter handle on Sunday.

A young graduate and job seeker, Iniubong Umoren, has been killed and buried in a shallow grave in Akwa Ibom State.

Uduak, in various tweets on her handle, said her friend was raped before she was killed. She wrote, “They have finally killed me”; “Jesus Christ”; “They killed my friend and buried my friend”; “They raped and killed my friend.”

https://twitter.com/UmohUduak1/status/1388768717849432064?s=19

She had earlier pleaded for help over the recovery of her missing friend who had gone job-hunting on the outskirts of Uyo.

A Twitter thread, “#FindHinyHumoren was created to this effect.”

Umoren, a fresh graduate of the University of Uyo had dropped a tweet on her handle on Tuesday seeking a job and had got many replies in that regard. 

She wrote, “#AkwaIbomTwitter please I’m really in need of a job, something to do to keep mind and soul together while contributing dutifully to the organisation. My location is Uyo, I’m creative, really good at thinking critically and most importantly a fast learner. CV available on request.”

She was allegedly invited by a young man, Frank Ezekiel Akpan, suspected to have kidnapped her as calls to her telephone lines are not connecting.

@UmohUduak1 explained that her friend had gone for an interview at Airport Road, Uyo and while trying to call her friend, heard some screams which raised her suspicion.

In separate tweets, @UmohUduak explained, “Y’all my friend @HinyHumoren is in trouble and she needs our help. I’m currently in Lagos and I can’t help than to put this out there. Earlier today, she told me she was going for a job interview at airport road which is quite far from her house. 

“To cut everything short, she sent me a 1-second audio record on WhatsApp and I had to call her back to know if she wanted to say something to me but immediately I called her. I heard her screaming. Someone, please help her out.

Many Nigerians had trended the hashtag and some volunteered to help in tracking the location, phone numbers and other details of the suspects. 

The suspects in the case have been arrested by the police. The prime suspect, Ezekiel Frank Akpan was picked up. His father and some other accomplices had been arrested earlier.

Akpan, on Friday, had taken to his Facebook page to debunk the allegation without further proof of his innocence.

He also denied having met the young lady when picked up by the police but according to @UmohUduak_1, the prime suspect has confessed to have raped and killed Umoren.

Also, it was gathered that Akpan had taken Umoren to his house and a fight ensued between them. In the process, he used an object to hit her in the head, which resulted in her death.

He was alleged to have hurriedly buried her in a shallow grave and run to another area (Oron) to hide. 

Following the pressure mounted by Nigerians on social media, he could no longer stay at Oron and ran to Uruan.

The chairman of Uruan Local Government Area was said to have met the suspect’s cousin and requested that the suspect be brought to him.

The suspect reportedly confessed to the Chairman who handed him over to the police.

Nigerians on social media are lamenting the death of Umoren.

@Ebonyduchesss wrote: “The security agency has failed us again. Why wait for 24 hours in the name that the law says so. If she was the daughter of even the state government would they have waited for another minute? I’m so heartbroken rn. #FindHinnyHumoren #findHinyHumoren.”

Twitter user @SimTaciturn wrote, “Iniubong Umoren only wanted a job to cushion the biting economy but she was preyed upon; raped & killed. She left home with hope only to never return. Nigeria killed her and continues to fail her younger generation #findHinyHumoren #JusticeForHinyUmoren.”

@The_visionlady tweeted, “I can’t even imagine how scared she was. Her last words. Her tears. Her thoughts.Her pleas. All Ini wanted was just a job

Her only wrong was looking for a job 

What did she get? Ini got raped. Ini was murmured. Ini was buried in a shallow grave. Dear Jesus!! #FindHinyHumoren.”

@CrownThirst said, “I hope this #findHinyHumoren case will cause Nigeria police force to look into the 48hrs wait time b’s…

“Someone claimed they can’t find their loved one, you say make dem wait for 48hrs…”

@gee_gee_teaser wrote, “IniobongAbasi May God Comfort your Family…

Please hunt your killers!

Hunt them! Hunt them.  

In their dreams, in their sleep. Everywhere.

Let God avenge your death Adiaha Abasi. In your next life be a happier one. We love you Ini. God loved you best.

#findHinyHumoren.”

Politics

Niger Delta militants order oil firms to quit Akwa Ibom

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Niger Delta militants under the auspices of Unyekisong Akwa Ibom on Monday ordered all multinational oil companies operating in the state to leave with immediate effect over unwholesome practices and atrocities in the oil-producing communities.

In a statement signed by its Leader and Assistant Leader, Gen. Dede Udofia, and Major Ibanga Ekang, and made available to Ripples Nigeria, the group expressed disappointment over the state government’s response to the cries of residents of the host communities whose sources of livelihood, property, and lives had been completely destroyed by the activities of the oil firms.

The group, however, left out ExxonMobil and Savannah Petroleum from the quit notice but asked other oil firms that have refused to relocate their operational base from the state, implement the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and the Nigerian Local Content Law in their employment and contract policies to vacate the state.

The statement read: “It is sad to note that since Addax, Moni Pulo, Chevron, Century, Oriental Energy, Savannah Petroleum, Total E & P, SEEPCO, AFREN and AMNI, among others, commenced operations in Akwa Ibom territorial waters, they have enjoyed relative peace without any hostilities compared to other oil communities in the Niger Delta region.

“But our people have not derived any substantial benefits from these oil companies, their subsidiaries, and partners. Rather, we have been subjected to unwholesome deprivations and marginalisation.

The suffering, hopelessness, degradation, and poverty that the oil-producing communities in Akwa Ibom State have been subjected to as a result of their industrial activities since they commenced operations are indeed painful and regrettable.”

Entertainment

Court sentences man to death by hanging in Akwa-Ibom

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The Akwa-Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo, the state capital, has sentenced a 40-year-old man, Kufre Archibong to death by hanging for armed robbery.

The judge, Okon Okon on Monday, found Archibong guilty of robbing one Bassey Akpan, a 43-year-old public servant in his residence at Nung Uyo Idoro, Uyo on 26th April, 2017.

Justice Okon held that the accused be “hanged by the neck until he is dead” praying God to have mercy upon his soul.

The convict was arraigned with one Micher Ettetuk alias Uko Onu on December, 19, 2017 for conspiracy to commit armed robbery punishable under Sections 6 (b) and 1 (2) (a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

They both pleaded not guilty to each of the count with the Police presenting investigation report.

World News

Oyo , Akwa Ibom and other states sets date for school resumption, ignore FG.

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Some states have chosen their resumption date against the federal government approved date while others are still waiting to resume on 18th of January in line with the federal government decision.

However, Today Academic activities begins for some schools as well as some states in the federation.

  1. Akwa Ibom State

The Akwa Ibom State Government has announced January 4, 2021 resumption date for schools in the state in order to complete first term.

  1. Rivers State

The Rivers State Government has announced Monday 4th January, 2021 the official resumption date for all Secondary Schools and Vocational Schools for the completion of first (1st) term academic activities for 2020/2021 academic session.

  1. Nasarawa State 

The Nasarawa State Government has announced Monday, 4th January, 2021 the official resumption date for Public and Private Primary and Secondary Schools in the State for the commencement of first (1st) term academic activities for 2020/2021 academic session.

4) Likewise Oyo state has set January 11 for school resumption.

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