Cross-River State, The Nation's Paradise.

Cross-Riverians, let's gather here and discuss the politics, Infrastructure, Social Development, etc of our dear State.

Posting pictures and Youtube Video links, and News articles are highly recommended

Calabar Carnival rolls off after two years lull as 7 bands compete in the 2022 fiesta

The Cross River State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr. Eric Anderson, has disclosed that second bands would be competing in the 2022 Calabar Carnival fiesta after two years of lull. In a media briefing held in Calabar on Tuesday to herald the annual festival, Anderson said as usual the event would be loaded with activities to entertain the people and tourists. He said the Calabar Carnival could not hold in 2020 and 2021 due to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Omicron variant of COVID-19, adding that it was important to save humanity from these creeping scorch. He said: “We have learned lessons on the contributions and vacuum the Carnival Calabar and festival have on the state tourism and local economy. Thus, the determination to host the 2022 fiesta. We have expanded the brand with innovations for increased participation and patronage while ensuring the socio-economic benefits trickle down. “In expanding the brand and development, the competing Carnival bands have been increased to seven, with the constituting of two new bands being Calasvegas and Diamond Carnival bands to add to Seagull, Bayside. Passion 4, Freedom, and Masta Blasta Bands. “As we gear up for the 2022 experience, we are starting with full engagement of the public and private sector with participatory innovation. We, therefore, call for entries for a suggestible carnival theme for 2022 and the person with the selected theme will be carting home a cash reward of N1m. Entries open on August 2 and close ten days from today,” The Commissioner acknowledged the contributions of the creative industry and called on the sponsors to embrace the event, adding that the first Carnival Dry Run would kick off in October, the second one in November and the third one in December with the final Calabar Carnival on December 28. He listed other activities slated for the fiesta to include performances by local artists, stage plays, essay competition, movie awards night, and a children's party. Others are Atom Obong and Ejagam festivals, gospel experience with Ekwueme band, Calabar food festival, Cultural carnival, African Beauty pageant parade, African Nigth festival, Bickers parade, Calapiano night featuring brass and Jass bands, and Marian Street party. In his welcome address, the Chairman of Carnival Commission, Mr. Gab Ona, said: “Africa is the new frontier for tourism and entertainment. So we have to tap into it as we are still at the destination point. “Those coming to savor our Carnival Calabar would not regret it as it remains the biggest street party in Africa. “We have had it for 16 years and it has become a research point for scholars across Africa and Europe. Until we celebrate ourselves nobody would celebrate us and that is what Calabar Carnival has done. “Our thematic and choreographic contents have remained our unique selling points. It is our oil well and we shall explore it to the fullest.” On her part, the Commissioner for local government Affairs, Dr. Stella Odey, said the ministry would collaborate with the Carnival Commission to promote the local government cultures and cuisines.

Source: https://www.sunnewsonline.com/calabar-carnival-rolls-off-after-two-years-lull-as-7-bands-compete-in-2022-fiesta/

The good ones or bad?

udumosam23:
The good ones or bad?

Whatever you like, as far as it relates to CRS and stimulates conversation amongst CRians on NL and Nigerians at large

Friction In Cross River APC Over Consensus On Running Mate To Prince Otu

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State is embroiled in disagreement over who should be the running mate to the governorship candidate, Prince Bassey Otu who is from the Southern District of the State. Before now, the Majority Leader in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Peter Odey, representing the Ogoja State Constituency in the northern part of the State, was seen as the best choice for the party’s Deputy Governor. But critical stakeholders of the party in the State, including a former governorship candidate, have disagreed, calling for consensus as to who becomes the authentic deputy governorship candidate for the 2023 election. They have expressed worry that the governorship candidate himself has not been given the freedom to choose who he wants as running mate in keeping with the country’s constitution in Section 187. In a letter dated 26 July 2022 to the State Governor, they said, “We are constrained to note that the constitutional provision in the case of our party the APC in Cross River State has not been followed. “Our Governorship candidate; Senator Bassey Otu, has not been given the constitutional right bestowed on him to nominate another candidate.” The stakeholders mentioned that the constitution does not permit the sitting Governor to appoint or foist a candidate on the governorship candidate as is the case in Cross River State APC.

They stressed that the non-involvement of critical party stakeholders in the deputy governorship candidate selection process has been not only curious but very unacceptable to a majority of the stakeholders. “This alienation of the critical stakeholders, if not urgently addressed, could adversely affect their utmost commitment and zeal to contribute assiduously to efforts aimed at ensuring a total and resounding victory for the party at all levels in the forthcoming 2023 general elections.” They informed the Governor that the matter is disturbing. They called for the review of the selection or nomination of Odey whose emergence was allegedly done without consultations with critical stakeholders of the party. “The process should be subjected to wider consultations for the purpose of arriving at a consensus before the expiration of the window for substitution of candidates as set out by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.” They stressed that “whoever will emerge as the consensus deputy governorship candidate should be one with electoral value, competence, and general acceptability to effectively complement our governorship candidate in our march to making history by returning to the Peregrino House in 2023.”

Source :

https://crossriverwatch.com/2022/08/friction-in-cross-river-apc-over-consensus-on-running-mate-to-prince-otu/

AkwaCross WA contact gain group on Telegram

Get in! https://t. me/CalabarWAcontactgain

(please remove the space between "// t. me" to access the link to the group.

Or alternatively Search "CalabarWAcontactgain" on Telegram for access to the group


it will help boost your views for your E-Businesses

No Fire Incident In Cross River Governor’s Office – Christian Ita Debunks



The Government of Cross River State has debunked reports of a purported fire incident in the Governor’s Office, Calabar. A press release signed by Christian Ita, Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to Governor Ben Ayade on Monday night said “there was a small fire incident on a mast within the premises of the Cross River Geographic Information Agency (CRGIA), which shares a fence with the Governor’s Office.” The release reads thus: “My attention has been drawn to a sensational and misleading report on social media about a purported fire incident in the office of the Governor of Cross River State, Professor Ben Ayade. “I wish to state without equivocation that no fire incident occurred at Governor Ayade’s office.

“There was a small fire incident on a mast within the premises of the Cross River Geographic Information Agency (CRGIA), which shares a fence with the Governor’s Office. “Any report to the contrary should please be disregarded and the reports alleging fire outbreak are only mischievous as I insisted when called that the said fire happened behind the glass house which is used mainly for reception purposes, which is quite a distance from the Governor’s Office building. The purported fire outbreak in the Governor’s Office is a fabrication of the author of the story whose intention is to cause panic as well as discredit the government of Sir Ben Ayade. “We are used to this kind of spin, which is aimed at nothing but to create sensation.”



SOURCE:

https://crossriverwatch.com/2022/09/no-fire-incident-in-cross-river-governors-office-christian-ita-debunks/

Udom’s aide clears air over compensation on Calabar-Itu Road



THE Special Assistant to Akwa Ibom State governor on Research and documentation Mr. Essien Ndueso, has said that the State government is not responsible for the payment of compensation for properties of the citizens on the- right- of way of Calabar-Itu highway under construction. Ndueso, who spoke while addressing newsmen on Sunday, stressed that there was never an agreement by the state government to take up that responsibility.

He therefore, described the assertion by the immediate past Senior Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Ita Enang that the government of Akwa Ibom and Cross River states were supposed to pay for the compensation to property owners as untrue, misleading, and capable of pitting the citizens against the government. He wondered why Senator Enang, has to advocate for Akwa Ibom State government to pay the compensation on a road that is being constructed by the Federal government..


His words: “It is important to let the people know that there was no agreement that Akwa Ibom state government has to pay for the compensation for the Calabar-Itu road. “According to Senator Ita Enang, Akwa Ibom State government is supposed to pay for compensation on the road while the federal government funds the road construction. This is absurd, and misleading.

“How will the federal government claim it is constructing Calabar-Itu road, yet is waiting until the state government pays compensation to property owners? It is just like state government constructing roads and expecting local government areas to pay compensation to property owners. “As we speak, the federal government is constructing 21 road projects totalling about 960kilometers in the north, notably Kano-Abuja Highway, Kano- Katsina, Kano-Maiduguri among others. Also the federal government is currently on Phase3 of the Housing scheme in Kano State.



“And there is no news anywhere that the Governors of Kano, Kaduna, Borno or Katsina States were asked to pay a dime in the name of compensation or counterpart funding for the projects. So why is Akwa Ibom own case different? The governor’s Aide added that Senator Enang should have simply accepted that the Federal government has failed the people regarding the dualization of that road project, instead of trying to blame Akwa Ibom State government for their failure. He noted that if the state governor had decided to dualize that same Calabar-Itu highway, that Enang would have run to the media to accuse him (the governor) of refusing to allow federal government to intervene on the road. He recalled that when the governor wanted to dualize the Abak -Ikot Abasi Road; senator Enang had asked Akwa Ibom people to tell the Governor to allow Niger Delta Development Commissíon (NDDC) execute the contract it had already captured in its budget then. “Also senator Ita Enang had abused the Governor for embarking on the Uyo -Airport Road expansion to eight lane dual carriage way. He wrote petitions to the federal government and did everything in his little power, but the Governor stood firm and the road expansion project is a beauty to behold today. “His Excellency Governor Udom Emmanuel has single-handedly bore the responsibility of paying compensation and constructing several federal roads within the state, even some linking other states of the country. These include the 29km Etinan – Ndon Eyo Road with two cable bridges completed. “Also the 25km Uyo- Ikot Ekpene Road, the ongoing expansion of Uyo-Airport road to an eight lane road; the dualization of 19.5km Eket – Ibeno road, the dualization of 20km Uyo-Etinan road, dualization of 23.4km Eket – Etinan Road with three bridges, construction of the14.1km Ikpe Ikot Nkon- Arochukwu road with two bridges to link Akwa Ibom with Abia State among others”, Ndueso stated. Senator Ita Enang had weekend at a meeting with stakeholders of Itu local government area including traditional rulers, while responding to appeals to government to compensate the citizens whose property were destroyed due to the road construction, said Akwa Ibom and Cross River States were supposed to pay for the compensation. According to Enang, the bill of quantity given to the contractor, Sematech Construction Company did not include payment of compensation, as Cross River and Akwa Ibom states, were supposed to pay compensation to property owners He had noted that Akwa Ibom state government however, recently wrote to Federal government that it won’t be able to pay the compensation, stressing: “We are going to pay the compensation. Let us keep the peace. Let the contractors have their right of way to do the job. I assure you that government will pay compensation.”

SOURCE:

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/09/udoms-aide-clears-air-over-compensation-on-calabar-itu-road/

Calabar Port berths 190-metre long generalcargo vessel

CALABAR —The Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, has restated its avowed commitment to ensuring that Calabar Port remains one of the most viable ports in the country, following the berthing of a 190-metre long vessel from China with 11,800 tonnes of cargo. The General Cargo Vessel, MV Yong Jin, came into Nigeria on September 24, 2022, with about 100 heavy duty trucks, excavators, fire fighting truck among others.

Speaking with newsmen at the ECM Terminals, yesterday, in Calabar, the Calabar Ports Manager, Mr. Olumati Festus, said the port received over three big vessels in the last 90 days, adding that port activities have kept increasing. He explained that the frequent berthing of vessels shows that Calabar Port is not “sleeping” but actively creating opportunities for locals also.

His words: “The economy of the state, locals and food vendors benefit everyday, because during break by noon and after close of work, they buy food, water and drinks. All these go directly into pockets of small business owners within and around the port. “This has once again proven critics of Calabar port wrong, we are strongly in business and this is the third vessel in less than three months. We are open, ready and have the man power for business.


“The MV Yong Jin came in from China on the 24th of this month and over 100 trucks, excavators were among the 11,800 tonnes of general cargo being off-loaded here today and I can assure you that the maritime community has greatly been impacted in Cross River.” On his part, the Captain of the vessel, Xin Jian, said it was an easy sail from China to Nigeria, adding that every navigational assistance he needed was fully provided.



SOURCE: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/09/calabar-port-berths-190-metre-long-general-cargo-vessel/

Communal Crisis: Ebonyi, Cross River Communities Sign Peace Accord


The people of Unwanna community in Afikpo North local government area of Ebonyi State and their neighbors of Western Erei communities in Biase local government area of Cross River State yesterday signed a peace accord to end their age long communal crisis that has led to the loss of lives, destruction of properties, abduction and arson. The peace accord which was signed at the Afikpo North Council headquarters by the leaders of both warring communities among other things urged the State government of both communities to consider paying compensation to assuage the losses suffered by the both communities.

The people of Erei and Unwana communities had before the crisis enjoyed peaceful and harmonious co-existence for decades. Of late, there has been intractable crisis between different factions of the Erei Communities leading to internally displaced persons some of whom found refuge in Unwana community. It would be recalled that on the 13th March, 2022, one Late Mr. Lugard Okwe from Umolor-Erei was gruesomely murdered along Unwana Erei Road by unknown armed men which led to violent reactions from the Erei community with Erei youth embarking on midnight invasion of Unwanna community.


The invasion witnessed wanton destruction and damage of Unwana communal properties, arson, personal injuries, abduction of 6 persons from Unwana community by the irate youths.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the abductees were later released at the timely intervention of the Governments of Ebonyi and Cross River States Security Agencies.

Addressing journalists shortly after the peace accord was signed, the Afikpo North council chairman, Hon Uche Ibiam said that part of the resolution by the both communities include safeguarding the inter-state border safety, security and protection. In our effort to ensure lasting peace between Unwanna and the Western Erei communities resolved to co-operate as an indivisible entity”


“We also resolved to make an effort towards releasing the confiscated motor bikes and other items, if any, to their respective owners”. “It was also resolved that the government and people of Cross River State and the Erei communities would also take measures towards finding lasting solutions to the crisis in the western Erei communities to enable the internally displaced persons to return home and resume their normal life”. The resolution also includes the removal/dismantling of the blockage on the Unwana Erei road, with the guarantee of safe passage of all commuters.


Both communities also resolved to establish check points at two locations along the Unwana-Erei roads with each community citing her own check point within her territory.

SOURCE:
https://leadership.ng/communal-crisis-ebonyi-cross-river-communities-sign-peace-accord/

I love Cross River State

Paulheyman:
I love Cross River State

We all do

Do you know ?

There is a community in Cross River State, Nigeria where men and women speak (literally) different languages?

Well, the community is called "Ubang"

Located in the Northern part of Cross River State, Ubang is approximately six hours drive from Calabar.

Gov. Been Ayade na scam, all those beautiful pictures you are seeing are all scam apart from those two bridge. I reside in Ikom, the pics of the cocoa processing factory is an abandoned project.