₦airaland Forum

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, today performed the grand opening of Norfin Offshore Shipyard Ltd. Which also feature the launching of Fast Security Escort Vessel; OMV Norfin Swift , held at No 1 Norfin Offshore Shipyard Avenue, Ikot Ukpong Obio Esse, East West Road, Oruk Anam Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State.

The Ibom Green House along Airport road, Uyo has 10 Green Houses (one hectare each), totaling 10 hectares dedicated to the cultivation of vegetables including tomatoes, cucumber and pepper. Recently the greenhouse, has taken a new look with the cultivation of Onions.

The facility has nurseries and a mechanized irrigation system.
The onions planting is further boosted with the cultivation of over 100 hectares at Ebughu Anwa, Okobo LGA. This initiative has added to the Agricultural development and food sufficiency scheme of the Government.

This development implies that Akwa Ibom State will never be brought to its knees with scarcity of onions and other vegetables.

Media Unit,
Govt House, Uyo.
28/01/2021

The groom is said to be 76 years old, while the bride to be is 23 years.
On the 26 and 28 January, all road will lead to Ikot Ekpene for the big wedding between the old generation man and my generation girl

BREAKING:

Akwa Ibom PDP state Chairman, Mr. Udo Ekpeyong is dead.

Mr. Ekpeyong is confirmed dead of Covid19 complications this morning in Uyo, Aks.

Until his Death, Udo Ekpeyong was the state chairman of PDP and the immediate past Commissioner for LG and Chieftaincy, Aks.

May his soul rest in peace!

The chairman People's Democratic Party in Akwa ibom state Mr Udo Ekpenyong has gone to be with the lord.

He was admitted into the intensive care unit of the Corinavirus isolation centre, but couldn't make it out alive.

Travel in the light the great party man��

They both need deliverance

The Akwa Ibom State Government has taken steps to push for increased registration of her citizens in the National Identification Number database currently ongoing in the country. Acting on the meeting of the State Executive Council, the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem set up a committee with Chief of Staff, Ephraim Inyangeyen as Chairman, while Honourable Commissioners for Science & Technology, Economic Development & Ibom Deep Seaport, Local Government & Chieftaincy Affairs, Women Affairs & Social Welfare, Information & Strategy, Manpower development, Attorney General/ Commissioner for Justice ,Special Adviser, Political Affairs & Social Reorientation are members. Other members are SSA Youths, Multilateral & Donor Agencies, SA-ICT, Chairman Association of Local Government Area of Nigeria-Akwa Ibom State, Chairman Nigerian Labour Congress-Akwa Ibom State.

The Chief of Staff and Chairman of the committee, in his opening remarks at the meeting of the committee, intimated that the state Government has obtained a registration license for the Ministry of Science & Technology in addition to Cobaz projects, to aid the registration of citizens. He stressed that the committee must determine ways of increasing registration without aiding the spread of COVID-19. He urged members to prepare to work very hard because of the closeness of the deadline. He also informed that the registration plan will be made available to the media soonest.

He appealed to the committee members to use both traditional and new media to mobilise our people to register and sensitize them to observe the COVID-19 protocol at the Centers.

The members who were present gave their commitment to work towards the attainment of the set objective. They noted that this data is critical to economic planning for all tiers of government and our people must be registered in order to attract projects and programme based on our population.

Source:
Ministry of Information & Strategy
Akwa Ibom State
13012021

Na express them dey go so

Akwa United Records First Victory in the NPFL, beat Abia Warriors, as Harrison Ibukun score for Warriors

There was tension throughout the play as Abia warriors paraded three former Dakkada FC players in their starting lineup against the Uyo based Akwa United FC.

Super Eagles player Ndifreke Effiong who showed mastery in the game, scored for Akwa United in the 6th minutes and Akwa United controlled the game through superior performance with Ndifreke Effiong hitting the woodwork twice before Harrison Ibukun utilized an opportunity to equalize for the visiting Abia Warriors in the 27th minute by scoring against his former team Akwa United which he previously won FA cup with.

Abia Warriors signing from Lobi Stars of Markudi FC Utibe Archibong a former Dakkada FC forward displayed skills and dexterity in the field of play, tormented Akwa United defenders but fired blank.

Ndifreke Effiong who once played for Abia Warriors netted his second goal in the 59th minutes through a penalty after former Dakkada FC goalie Vincent Edafe fouled Wisdom Fernando in the 16-yard box.

The match ended 2-1 in favour of the home team who picked 3points to record their first league match victory.
The game was played in a closed-door and only accredited persons watched the cracker.

Mfreke Udonkang reports from Uyo
09012021

Still on the completion Agenda

Akwa Ibom State under Governor Udom Emmanuel has continued to be rated high in almost all sectors. A state once christened as Civil Service State is gradually becoming an industrialized one, courtesy of the superior performances of Governor Emmanuel. As it stands now, Akwa Ibom is second to Lagos in terms of Direct Foreign Investment, because of the peace and tranquility we are enjoying in the state.

A state which was seen by foreigners at a point as a death trap is now a safe haven. Statistics show that day by day, investors are reaching out to the governor for opportunities to invest in the state. This has however culminated into the establishment of several industries by the present administration.

All these are possible because a man who sees possibility in difficulties, friendship in adversity and peace in a stormy land is at the helm of affairs. Gov. Emmanuel is a perfect definition of class and leadership. Even when some people are scared of being in the opposition party, Gov. Emmanuel has achieved so much, by focusing on possibilities and opportunities rather than focusing on the status of the state as a state in the opposition party.

The achievements of Gov. Emmanuel in 5 years of his administration has proven to us that leadership is not about the party one belongs to, but the individual capacity, exposure and willingness to make a change. It is about the ideas that a person have at his disposal, and the passion to drive those ideas to better the lives of the people.

Indeed, these are best times to live as Akwa Ibomites. In our time, an economic roadmap for the Akwa Ibom of our dream is laid, through the able hand of our dear visionary leader, Governor Udom Emmanuel.

Richard Peters

The suit between Chief Edwin K. Clark, Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga and 14 other southern leaders against President Muhammadu Buhari over alleged marginalization in appointments made by his administration since 2015, has been adjourned to November 18.

The matter at the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court before Justice Okon Abang came up for hearing last Friday October 2, 2020, but was adjourned due to motions for extension of time and preliminary objection by Counsels to the 1st Defendant, President Muhammadu Buhari, and the 2nd Defendant, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami.

As well as a motion by Counsels to the plaintiffs to join the National Assembly to the suit, instead of the Clerk of the National Academy.

Afenifere leader, Ayo Adebanjo, John Nina Nwodo, President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr. Pogu Bitrus, President of Middle Belt Forum, National Chairman of PANDEF, Air Commodore Nkanga, former military Governor of Akwa Ibom State, and Alaowei Broderick Bozimo, former Minister of Police Affairs, and Senator Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, former deputy governor of Lagos appeared for the plaintiffs.
The National Legal Adviser of PANDEF, Mrs. Nella Andem-Rabana, SAN, and others represented the plaintiffs' legal team.

The leaders in the suit filed in June on their behalf by 10 Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) led by Chief Solomon Asemota and Chief Mike Ozekhome are asking the court to fine the president and three other defendants in the suit the sum of N50 billion for allegedly violating provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the Federal Character Principle.

According to them, the present composition of the government of the federation, and most of its agencies especially as regards the composition of the security and quasi-security architecture do not reflect the Federal Character of Nigeria but rather there is a predominance of persons from a few States and sectional groups dominating the opportunities and threatening national unity and integration.
Some of the issues brought before the court for determination include whether it was not “reckless and adverse to the interest of Nigeria”, for President Buhari to obtain a loan facility from the Islamic Development Bank, African Development Bank, the World Bank, China, Japan and Germany amounting to $22.7 billion (USD), for infrastructural development, only to allocate the bulk of the fund to the Northern region.
The plaintiffs also want the court to declare that the loan facility purportedly for infrastructural development wherein less than 1% of the amount is to be allocated to the South East Zone of Nigeria for specific infrastructural development, violates section 16 (1) (a) (b) and S16 (2) (a) (b) (c) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
In addition, they want the court to declare that the 1st Defendant’s procurement of any loan which would increase Nigeria’s outstanding debt by up to 30% of its GDP or which would increase its interest payment above 50% of government revenue is unconstitutional.
Some of the questions they want the court to answer are that, “Whether the power to appoint designated public officers including permanent secretaries, principal representatives of Nigeria abroad, which is vested in the 1st Defendant has been lawfully exercised by him since the inception of his administration from 2015 till date and Whether his actions are in breach of Sections 171(5), 814(3) (4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“Whether the power to appoint Nigeria’s Armed Services Chiefs, other Commanders or top officials of the respective Armed Forces Higher and High Commands’ General Staff ; namely the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) and Chief of Airforce Staff (CA8); the other statutorily established Nigerian National Security agencies or services , namely: The Inspector General of the Nigerian Police (1GP), the Directors General (DGs) of the State Security Service (SSS), National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA); the Heads of National Security Associated Federal Government (FG) establishments, namely the Nigerian Civil Defence and Security Corps (NCDSC), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Nigerian Customs and Excise Service, the Nigerian Immigration Services (NIS), the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCS), the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA), the National Youth Service corps (NYSC), the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Ministers of Defence, Interior, Police and the respective National Security ministries’ Permanent Secretaries’ which is vested in the 1st Defendant, has been lawfully exercised by the 1st Defendant since the inception of his administration and whether these appointments are in compliance with 81(2), 814(3)(4), 8217(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“Whether by virtue of Section 5 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) which vests the Executive arm of government with a constitutional responsibility and obligation to execute and uphold the tenets of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), particularly the country’s national interest, sovereignty and security is not violated by the lopsided nature of the current appointments into Federal agencies are parastatals made by the 1st Defendant.
“Whether the 1st Defendant’s frequent arbitrary extension/elongation of appointment tenure beyond statutory prescription is not unconstitutional and inimical to the wellbeing, morale and harmony within the government workforce?
“Whether the 1st Defendant’s frequent appointment of retired persons instead of the most senior staff, is unconstitutional and tantamount to an abuse of office and threat to national unity?
Upon determination of the questions, the plaintiffs prayed the court to declare, “That the present composition of the government of the federation, and most of its agencies especially as regards the composition of its security and quasi-security architecture do not reflect the Federal Character of Nigeria but rather there is a predominance of persons from a few States and sectional groups dominating the opportunities and threatening national unity and integration.
“A declaration that the various appointments into positions in government, especially into strategic government agencies such as NNPC, NIA and other strategic infrastructural and regulatory institutions are ethnically discriminatory and lopsided and these violate the express provisions of the constitution as contained in Sections 14, 171 (1), 171 (5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended)and therefore unconstitutional, illegal and ultra vires.

Abouwaza:
Dude is just too dull I swear

He knows that himself, no need for you to remind him, so save your energy.

President Buhari is to the North, what Goodluck Jonathan refused to be for the South

Abouwaza:
Fucking president

Bros calm down small na� or you put off your mic totally...

Akwaibomdaily:
Are you sure it will solve the country's problems?

It will solve most of the problems and there will be a massive development, job creations, and piece if the country is being divided.

These APC guys are taking Nigerians for a ride. If only this country can be divided into 4, where there will be Arewa, Biafia, Niger Delta, Oduduwa... It would be better.

Professor Mahmoud Yakubu the current Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is a clever scam artist seeking re-appointment desperately.

Less than two months to the end of his tenure, he wants to sell Nigerians another pie-in-the-sky after shutting down and declaiming the INEC Server he spent Billions of Naira on and then retreated from it, in order to fraudulently distort the result of the 2019 Presidential Election. Prof. Jega would not have chicken out as a man of conviction and courage to do the right thing. But prof.Yakubu betrayed Nigerians big time and the public does not trust him to chair the election management body anymore. He should be stopped from this embarrassing subtle campaign for re-appointment. Prof. Jega did just a term and left behind a hopeful legacy of trust and confidence in the Electoral process that prof. Yakubu has destroyed.

He may believe he has a chance to sell his new scam for re-appointment because he thinks Nigerians have forgotten so soon and moved on from the most egregious betrayal of Trust he committed against the Nigerian people. No. We have not forgot how he almost denied conducting the 2019 election while trying to deny the existence of Central Server . He has lost public confidence to preside over INEC and the 2023 election.

Nigerians who felt betrayed by his denial of the existence of an IT Server are want to ask Prof Yakubu and his fellow scammers hard questions and will like to know the following:

When Prof Jega left INEC in 2015, the use of Card Readers authentication for finger verification before a voter was allowed to have access to ballot to avoid fraud and prevent those who stockpiled PVCs from using them was over 54% of voters during the 2015 elections. How come Prof Yakubu mismanaged this innovation that brought President Buhari to power that is now reduced to less than 19% performance of biometrics authentication in the 2019 election, which means that people voted without their fingers verified as true owners of those PVCs with the worst performance in the more recent elections of Kogi and Bayelsa states, where Card Readers were not used for finger verification according to INEC Ad hoc Staff who participated in those elections? Prof. Yakubu uninspiring leadership of INEC has not improved significantly on any of what Prof. Jega introduced like the Card Reader performance that should have been increasing in figure above 70% by now. Why should Prof. Yakubu and his team expect Nigerians to trust them with a second term re- appointment?

Is it not true that he has been systematically superintending over the decline of the Card Reader and embracing results from one Arena of Grand-Theft Elections to another?

Can Professor Yakubu and his National Commissioners Team deny that they bought zPads as well as installed costly IT Equipment with which they promised to transmit Election results during the 2019 General Elections ? What happened that forced them to drop the data from the huge IT investment? Is it Pressure from Amina Zakari's family ? What will prevent such scam again when using E-voting ?

Did Prof Yakubu and his colleagues not accept funds from International Donors, including the European Union to train a category of staff they called RATECH to facilitate the transmission of results and other field data from INEC state offices only to deny using these facilities, just to make his scam with the server stick?

Does Prof Yakubu and his leadership think that Nigerians have forgotten the shame of several inconclusive elections he subjected the nation to since 2016 when he took over as chairman and the tragedy of the 2019 elections ?

Does he realise that he no longer commands the confidence of the electorate in Nigeria as well as the respect and trust of International Donors?
Prof. Yakubu speaks of punishment of electoral offenders when its convenient to him since 2019 election but no offenders have been arraigned in court of law.

What makes Prof Yakubu think that he can deceive Nigerians in his quest for re-appointment by trying to sell another chimera in the name of Electronic Voting, another fantasy to Nigerians?

Does he think that Nigerians are ready to listen to this Electronic voting Re-appointment campaign jingle?

Is it not a fact that Prof. Yakubu and his National Commissioners almost shelved the ICT that was used to transmit election results from Polling Units in the Edo State Election, only to allow it at the last minute when instructions from "Above" were received to ensure the defeat and disgrace of some national leaders of a Political Party ? Why did he dropped the use of z-Pad for authentication in Edo and allowed a Rec totally lacking of legal and moral authority having been a member of PDP at one time and now a member of APC to preside over Edo election when he has power to redeploy him to another state ? But for media exposure and public outcry both Edo and Ondo elections are to be used as quid pro quo for second term re-appointment.

Will INEC allow the same ICT result transmission in Edo to succeed in Ondo?

Does the Constitution not empower INEC to decide how Elections should be conducted, but did Prof Yakubu not use his own whim to repudiate and abdicate that power when he declared that INEC had no enabling Law for using electronic transmission of results, just to hide the INEC server? Where did he get the power to use it in Nasarawa and Edo states?


Prof Yakubu and his re-appointment-seeking colleagues launched a public jamboree to invite everyone to witness the demonstrations of e-Voting equipment. Is that not a process that the User Departments in INEC ought to have concluded before bringing it before the public? Must this be used as a campaign for second term re-appointment ? Why issue a press statement to Nigerians even a day after the launch of a re-appointment campaign jamboree, repeating what had been said before that more vendors would be coming to make presentations


When did Prof Yakubu and colleagues invite the public to witness the testing of zPads, Result Transmission Servers etc? This is the first time in the history of Nigeria that a sitting Chairman of INEC and his team of national commissioners would embark on a full scale re-appointment public campaign under the guise of E-voting to hoodwink Nigerians. Why should people be allowed to campaign for such a sensitive office of an election umpire? In decent countries, such a move attracts automatic disqualification because engaging politicians to secure such offices would involve making partisan commitments and promises.


Please Prof Yakubu please, sell your dreamscape to the gullible. It will not fly this time ! Nigerians have no confidence in you and a re-appointment would spell doom for the 2023 election and President Muhammadu Buhari would have left no enduring legacy unlike his predecessor if he reappoints you.

Olalekan Victor, ABUJA

chrisxxx:
Let me educate you as your reasoning is low.
I said there will be no action as everything is word of mouth.

Keep confusing yourself guy

chrisxxx:
Good Lamentation, But this is just Genesis as Everyone is in Exodus in Numbers out of Nigeria with the latest Revelation of the Chronicles of the Acts of our dubious politicians.
It is all Matthew as this is all about Psalms and nothing more. Thanks.

In the end, you didn't say anything reasonable.
I think you are one of the problem we have in this country

INEC & E-Voting Scam: Another Fool's Errand To Lobby For Re-Appointment


Professor Mahmoud Yakubu the current Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is a clever scam artist seeking re-appointment desperately.

Less than two months to the end of his tenure, he wants to sell Nigerians another pie-in-the-sky after shutting down and declaiming the INEC Server he spent Billions of Naira on and then retreated from it, in order to fraudulently distort the result of the 2019 Presidential Election. Prof. Jega would not have chicken out as a man of conviction and courage to do the right thing. But prof.Yakubu betrayed Nigerians big time and the public does not trust him to chair the election management body anymore. He should be stopped from this embarrassing subtle campaign for re-appointment. Prof. Jega did just a term and left behind a hopeful legacy of trust and confidence in the Electoral process that prof. Yakubu has destroyed.

He may believe he has a chance to sell his new scam for re-appointment because he thinks Nigerians have forgotten so soon and moved on from the most egregious betrayal of Trust he committed against the Nigerian people. No. We have not forgot how he almost denied conducting the 2019 election while trying to deny the existence of Central Server . He has lost public confidence to preside over INEC and the 2023 election.

Nigerians who felt betrayed by his denial of the existence of an IT Server are want to ask Prof Yakubu and his fellow scammers hard questions and will like to know the following:

When Prof Jega left INEC in 2015, the use of Card Readers authentication for finger verification before a voter was allowed to have access to ballot to avoid fraud and prevent those who stockpiled PVCs from using them was over 54% of voters during the 2015 elections. How come Prof Yakubu mismanaged this innovation that brought President Buhari to power that is now reduced to less than 19% performance of biometrics authentication in the 2019 election, which means that people voted without their fingers verified as true owners of those PVCs with the worst performance in the more recent elections of Kogi and Bayelsa states, where Card Readers were not used for finger verification according to INEC Ad hoc Staff who participated in those elections? Prof. Yakubu uninspiring leadership of INEC has not improved significantly on any of what Prof. Jega introduced like the Card Reader performance that should have been increasing in figure above 70% by now. Why should Prof. Yakubu and his team expect Nigerians to trust them with a second term re- appointment?

Is it not true that he has been systematically superintending over the decline of the Card Reader and embracing results from one Arena of Grand-Theft Elections to another?

Can Professor Yakubu and his National Commissioners Team deny that they bought zPads as well as installed costly IT Equipment with which they promised to transmit Election results during the 2019 General Elections ? What happened that forced them to drop the data from the huge IT investment? Is it Pressure from Amina Zakari's family ? What will prevent such scam again when using E-voting ?

Did Prof Yakubu and his colleagues not accept funds from International Donors, including the European Union to train a category of staff they called RATECH to facilitate the transmission of results and other field data from INEC state offices only to deny using these facilities, just to make his scam with the server stick?

Does Prof Yakubu and his leadership think that Nigerians have forgotten the shame of several inconclusive elections he subjected the nation to since 2016 when he took over as chairman and the tragedy of the 2019 elections ?

Does he realise that he no longer commands the confidence of the electorate in Nigeria as well as the respect and trust of International Donors?
Prof. Yakubu speaks of punishment of electoral offenders when its convenient to him since 2019 election but no offenders have been arraigned in court of law.

What makes Prof Yakubu think that he can deceive Nigerians in his quest for re-appointment by trying to sell another chimera in the name of Electronic Voting, another fantasy to Nigerians?

Does he think that Nigerians are ready to listen to this Electronic voting Re-appointment campaign jingle?

Is it not a fact that Prof. Yakubu and his National Commissioners almost shelved the ICT that was used to transmit election results from Polling Units in the Edo State Election, only to allow it at the last minute when instructions from "Above" were received to ensure the defeat and disgrace of some national leaders of a Political Party ? Why did he dropped the use of z-Pad for authentication in Edo and allowed a Rec totally lacking of legal and moral authority having been a member of PDP at one time and now a member of APC to preside over Edo election when he has power to redeploy him to another state ? But for media exposure and public outcry both Edo and Ondo elections are to be used as quid pro quo for second term re-appointment.

Will INEC allow the same ICT result transmission in Edo to succeed in Ondo?

Does the Constitution not empower INEC to decide how Elections should be conducted, but did Prof Yakubu not use his own whim to repudiate and abdicate that power when he declared that INEC had no enabling Law for using electronic transmission of results, just to hide the INEC server? Where did he get the power to use it in Nasarawa and Edo states?


Prof Yakubu and his re-appointment-seeking colleagues launched a public jamboree to invite everyone to witness the demonstrations of e-Voting equipment. Is that not a process that the User Departments in INEC ought to have concluded before bringing it before the public? Must this be used as a campaign for second term re-appointment ? Why issue a press statement to Nigerians even a day after the launch of a re-appointment campaign jamboree, repeating what had been said before that more vendors would be coming to make presentations


When did Prof Yakubu and colleagues invite the public to witness the testing of zPads, Result Transmission Servers etc? This is the first time in the history of Nigeria that a sitting Chairman of INEC and his team of national commissioners would embark on a full scale re-appointment public campaign under the guise of E-voting to hoodwink Nigerians. Why should people be allowed to campaign for such a sensitive office of an election umpire? In decent countries, such a move attracts automatic disqualification because engaging politicians to secure such offices would involve making partisan commitments and promises.


Please Prof Yakubu please, sell your dreamscape to the gullible. It will not fly this time ! Nigerians have no confidence in you and a re-appointment would spell doom for the 2023 election and President Muhammadu Buhari would have left no enduring legacy unlike his predecessor if he reappoints you.

Olalekan Victor, ABUJA
*Read Here* https://www.nationnewslead.com/2020/10/inec-e-voting-scam-another-fool-errand.html?m=1

Governor Udom Emmanuel, always gifting Akwa Ibom state flawless facelift

ignis:
This guy is not a full blooded Nigerian.

He looks too fresh to be a Nigerian.

He is from Akwa Ibom state, that's why he is fresh. You get it?

At a time when severe aspersions have been cast on Nigeria’s image in the international media, video director and producer, Ani James of AjeFilmWorks, has expounded on the positive impact of the music video industry on the country’s image. Speaking on an Instagram Live chat programme hosted by City 105.1 FM, the multi-award-winning music video director – better known by his brand name ‘Aje’ – spoke, amongst other issues, on how entertainment as a whole has helped build a better image of Africa.

“If you look at Nigeria’s music videos, you will think about Nigeria differently from the picture (everybody has) of Nigeria. If you go outside that to what the news (about Nigeria is) on TV and blogs, you would feel Nigerian is a place you really do not want to go…”
He said explicitly that the Arts, Music – and the music industry – is one of the best things that has happened to Nigeria because Nigerian Music videos have helped to erase negativity around the country’s image, and wishes the Government would offer more support to the industry.

Asked if there is a problem with the content of Nigerian Music videos, given the fact that they seem to be “mostly about club scenes,” Aje stated his belief that, “Art is more like ‘freedom of speech’,” which gives the artist the freedom to choose how he wants to attract fans, listeners or an audience. He also explained that the creative talents in the industry are making videos that meet with the times and trends globally.

He noted that if indeed there is a problem, “then it has a lot to do with where we are as a country,” with regards to the level of development. He further explained that other than this, he believes the directors have done well for Nigeria and that the country has some of the best hands in the world, given the peculiar climate and environment.

https://ajefilmworks.com/2020/09/15/music-videos-have-improved-nigerias-image-ani-james/

NDDC STINKS

N140BN LOOTED UNDER AKPABIO'S SUPERVISION

...105 CRONIES APPOINTED THROUGH BACK DOOR


Unless urgent steps are immediately taken to put a halt, a fresh round of looting looms in the Niger Delta Development Commission under the watch of the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

An anti-corruption group has revealed that a whooping N140bn has been squandered by the NDDC since Akpabio took over as the supervising Minister of the Commission, with a chunk of the spending going into the controversial desilting project that has raised dust.

A whistle blower group, Act for Positive Transformation says it has uncovered a plot by the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to loot the commission’s fund this week through another round of illegal extra-budgetary expenditure by back dating documents to enable the alleged fraudulent spendings, beginning from Monday 14th.

The group raised the alarm in a letter it wrote to the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, dated 15th September, 2020.

The letter was signed by Mr. Johnson Kolawole, the group’s Head, Directorate of Research, Planning and Programmes.

FEC members copied in the letter include Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari; the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed and the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.

The group claimed the NDDC has spent N30 billion in the last three months without an approved budget, noting the spendings were against President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive which Akpabio had even communicated to the press.

According to the group, a decision reached at the Federal Executive Council, (FEC) that the NDDC should not on its own pay the forensic auditors, auditing the Commission’s account because it has no approved budget yet, was a clear indication that the FEC was not ready to support any unlawful and illegal expenditure at the commission, as the law was clear on extra budgetary expenditure.

“Recall that The Federal Executive Council, FEC, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari on August 26th approved the sum of 722 Million Naira for forensic auditors cleared on the same day to audit the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.

“Speaking with journalists at the end of the meeting, you (Sen Godswill Akpabio) informed the public that the approved payment shall be funded by the Presidency because the commission’s budget has not been approved by the National Assembly, hence cannot make capital expenditure.

“Against the position of FEC and The President which you communicated to the Press, the NDDC under you has sustained its illegal spending against the law, with impunity.

“Records show that extra budgetary expenditure under your supervision has hit Thirty (30) Billion Naira in just three months.

“A fresh plot has, again, been uncovered to loot the commission’s resources this week via another round of illegal extra budgetary expenditure.

Top officials of the commission were sighted at the commission’s office on Saturday, 12th of September, preparing and backdating documents to fast track this set of payments beginning from Monday 14th,” the letter read.

“It is on record that about 140 (One Hundred and Forty) Billion Naira has so far been spent under your supervision as the supervising Minister over the Commission. It is also instructive to note that payment for desilting against the instruction of Mr President has dominated the recent illegal expenditure.”
In the letter to Akpabio, the Act for Positive Transformation further revealed that 105 contract staff have been illegally engaged by the NDDC, with some notable names of Akpabio’s kinsmen on the list. According to the group, the new employees neither went through any aptitude test nor were interviewed for the positions.

“Also note, Your Excellency, we are cognizant that illegal recruitment is ongoing in the commission.

“About 105 contract staff were recently employed, illegally, without aptitude test or interviews, under your watch.

"Though the Commission attempted to deny this but records shall speak. While we await the September payroll to fish them out and act on official document that cannot be disputed, names like: ANIEMA AKPABIO, BASSEY INNEMESIT, PATIENCE AKPAN etc, are certainly familiar to you, they are beneficiaries of the said unlawful recruitment. It is only fair to halt this illegal employment and ensure due process is followed in any recruitment where proper gap analysis and competence
assessment shall be prioritized.

Source: New Diplomat Newspaper

Contracts have been activated for the completion of the Maintenance Repairs and Overhaul facility and other works at the Victor Attah International Airport.

Similarly, plans have been concluded to ensure flights operations by Ibom Air at the Enugu International Airport later this month.

Governor  Udom Emmanuel made these disclosures while unveiling a new Bombardier CRJ900, with registration number 5N-BXO, as the latest addition to the fleet of the Akwa Ibom State-owned airline, Ibom Air.

The developments at the State-owned airport, he maintained, reaffirm his administration's commitment to making Akwa Ibom an aviation hub for Nigeria and West Africa.

He assured that the new international terminal building currently under construction, is designed to meet the highest intelligence, smart standard and will match any of the internationally ranked terminals when completed.

Welcoming the new aircraft, the Governor Emmanuel, expressed delight for the addition and thanked God that while others are battling with the doomsday occasioned by the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Akwa Ibom people are celebrating expansion in their aviation business.


"On behalf of the government and people of Akwa Ibom State, including those in the diaspora, we appreciate God and everyone who has contributed in making this possible and we look forward to many more. ..


"We welcome the latest in our fleet, registration number 5N-BXO, COVID-19 compliant", the Governor said.


The State Chief Executive commended the Management and staff of Ibom Air for their commitment and show of professionalism, as he announced the assumption of duty of Ibom Air's first female pilot, Captain Ruth Adebanwo, as pilot of the new aircraft.


"I want to most sincerely register my appreciation to the management team of Ibom Air. They've actually made us proud.


"I really want to thank them for their commitment and the professionalism they have displayed to make Ibom Air an airline to beat. It is an airline to beat anytime, anywhere", Governor Emmanuel assured.


He described the accolades already trailing the qualitative customer service in the state-owned airlines as expected, stating that Ibom Air has already surpassed the customer satisfaction benchmark and now building customer enthusiasm as a stock in trade.



"When I came into office as Governor, I inherited just one private aircraft, but I thank God I will not leave office with anything less than eight to nine more aircrafts, so that people can see progress and I'm sure the person that will come after me will not leave office with less than twenty five aircrafts", Governor Emmanuel said.


Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman, Ibom Airport Development Company Limited, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga Rtd., commended Governor Udom Emmanuel for developing the aviation sector in the state, adding that the governor has delivered on his promises to the people as captured in his completion agenda.


He said “…we still have MRO, we still have the cargo coming up, and we have the Ibom International Terminal we have so many things coming up at this airport how else could one define progress, how else could you define governance more than what we are witnessing? 


"Today we are going to unveil the 5th in the series of our aircraft”.


Nkanga stated that the Governor who is committed in his developmental drive will increase the number of fleets in the airline, noting that “Calabar route has commenced while Ibom Air will be airborne from Enugu International Airport from 14th September”, he said.


Media Unit
Govt House, Uyo
02/09/20

NGpatriot:
Unlike the usual loud mouths, the chest beaters, the beggars and anti Nigerian people, Akwa Ibom is not waiting for seaport and federal government infrastructure, they are just moving forward and heading towards full scale industrialization.

Akwa Ibom is already the most industrialized state in the East/SS.

God bless you for seeing and saying the truth

MelesZenawi:
Containers of what exactly?

Containers of rods?

Udom is working

Ilaumoh:
Your head is indeed here..
You really sabi am

See my head

Ilaumoh:
Chai.... Smart down or fatality,... NoNo na flawless victory you give am

You have to expect such people, who can never see anything good in good. They were created to always act like that. Na their destiny

24SEVEN:
Udom knows that Akwa Ibomites are gullible, so he has decided to milk their gullibility to the very last drop.

So that tiny hut is what is referred to as a motor assembly plant. Goodness me!!!

I smell envy and resentment