₦airaland Forum

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuiC0a3Mak8

#ENDSARS:

Ayade Stops Tuition In State-Owned Varsity, Sets Up Judicial Panel On Police Brutalit

ENDSARS: Ayade stops tuition in state-owned varsity, orders 20000 employments, sets up judicial panel on police brutality 


Cross River State governor yesterday set up a seven-man judicial panel of inquiry to look into complaints of victims of police brutality with a charge on the panel to do a thorough job. 


The panel which is headed by the immediate past Chief Judge of the state, Justice Michael Edem, has six other members, including representatives of youth groups.


Ayade used the occasion to reel out a number of measures for the citizens, particularly youths, to cushion effects of the current economic reality.


The measures include a directive to each of the 18 local governments to employ 1000 workers each, while the state government will employ 2000 into its civil service, 


The governor also announced an indefinite suspension of payment of tuition by indigenes of the state in the state owned Cross River State University of Technology (CRUTECH), as well as the extension of service year for indigenes of the state who have completed their one year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and are still without jobs.


"I have directed all chairmen of councils to make an immediate recruitment of 1000 young people, which means 18000 young people into the local government workforce.


"In addition, the state civil service will also recruit additional 2000. By so doing, we have ordered the immediate employment of 20000 young people into the state and local government civil service. 


"I also hereby direct that all Cross Riverians who are students of CRUTECH should suspend the payment of school fees indefinitely. 


"For every single young Cross Riverian who is out of university, has finished his or her youth service and has no job,  we are starting an NYSC extension service where you will return to Cross River State and extend your NYSC by one year to give us the opportunity to find a placement for you."


Continuing, he disclosed the parameters for which the jobs must be distributed: "For the 20000 jobs I have asked to be given immediately, we must ensure that those who benefit from these jobs are between the ages of 40 and below and it should not be for politicians, it should be for those young men and women who are struggling to earn a living, for that young man who is newly married without an income, putting his family under stressful conditions. These are the people who should be considered in the recruitment process. It should not be a thing that is reduced to politics."


The governor while identifying with the #EndSARS movement urged the panel to do a thorough job by ensuring that justice is not only done but seen to have been done, insisting that

"I stand with the young people of this country to say we must put an end to SARS and we must put an end to police brutality.


"I challenge you as a man who knows the law that as you work with your team, some of whom are men of God, to bring your experience as a retired judge to come to play so that people who have been brutalized, can have a voice, those who have lost loved ones, whose loved ones have been maimed, killed, whose source of income has been destroyed  by SARS and the police get justice. 



"Please this is the time for you to give them the audience and listen to them. But it is not just enough to listen to them, it is only reasonable we start a proper compensation of all the things they have been through. I will like to receive a catalog of verified police brutality and I believe that as a state, that is sensitive to the yearnings and wishes of our citizens, we will do all we can to see that they are properly compensated."


In his remark, Justice Edem assured the governor of due diligence in the discharge of their assignment, adding that "Your Excellency, you have placed the ball in our court and I can assure you that you will not end or stagnate in our court. We shall play it back very beautifully and diligently."


The Chairman also pledged that the panel will be diligent in carrying out the task and "will come out with a finding and  recommendation that will really make you to look back and say thank God I had appointed them to the job."

Even if we have not achieved anything, they have begun to see that they can't just toy with us and get away with it.

Great Cross Riverians, I want to salute the courage of our young people who joined their compatriots across the nation to protest against police brutality and bad government in Nigeria.

As you are aware, my administration has over the years made the well-being of our young people a key priority.

Indeed, not only do we have the youngest political appointee in the country, who is just over 16 years old, our state executive council is the youngest in the country.

I value the life of every Cross Riverian. I am therefore, appealing to our young people to avoid any act that could bring them on the way of harm now that the Federal Government has deployed anti-riot policemen in our cities.

You have through your sustained protests, made your points. We have heard you loud and clear.

All the issues you have raised are noted and I hereby, make the following commitments:

1. We will proceed with the process of asphalt overlay and fixing of potholes within Calabar metropolis. We must however, allow the rains to subside to give us a dry sub-surface to make for a better and more lasting job.

2. We will find additional means to create more jobs for our young people. I would like you to note that in spite of being the least federal allocation earning state, we do not owe salaries. We also do not owe pensions. Our lean resources not withstanding, we will strive to commence the payment of gratuity as soon as possible. Do not forget also that our administration granted tax exemption to low income earners in the state.

3. The focus of our administration has been on industrializing the state with a view to creating job opportunities for our people. We have established several industries including the ultra-modern rice mill, Ogoja, Cocoa Processing Factory, Ikom, Calabar Pharmaceutical Factory, Calabar Noodles Factory, Frozen Chicken Factory, Calabar Garment Factory, Rice Seedling Factory, Toothpick Factory, Piles and Pylon Factory, all of which have been completed. The factories will soon commence operations, thus providing more job opportunities for our people, including our young people.

4. We are doing more than it is in public domain to confront the security challenges in Calabar. We have deployed a special security team from Abuja and so far, the team is doing a good job, arresting between 15 to 20 suspected kidnappers on daily basis. 99.9 percent of suspects are non-indigenes of the state. So I commend our people for their non-involvement in this crime of stealing human beings.

5. The dualisation of the Tinapa-Odukpani Highway with the spaghetti flyover and an interchange bridge will be completed this coming dry season.

6. Asphalting of the dual carriage road in northern part of the state will get to the Bekwarra axis of the road by the end of the month. The Okpoma, Mfom part of the road will be completed by the first quarter of 2021.

7. Boki East-West road and the North Ukelle road which the World Bank reckoned was beyond the capacity of the state, will be completed by the first quarter of 2021.

8. The construction of the 275km superhighway and the Bakassi Deep Seaport was set back by three years when the Federal Government took our state to court. It took a special presidential intervention by President Muhammadu Buhari for work to commence. We have since attained appreciable milestones.

Please note that our state does not just earn the least allocation from the federation account, it can also not borrow because it had attained the threshold of borrowing even before the advent of our administration. So please be fair when analyzing the achievements of our administration. It is always easier to see what government has failed to do while conveniently turning a blind eye to what it has achieved.

We have given appointments to over six thousand of our people, most of them youths, employed over five thousand into the civil service, including the 2500 workers recently reabsorbed into the payroll, after lifting an over 20-year old embargo placed on employment.

The power of the people is supreme. Your voices have been heard and we will not sleep until your demands are met. Please do not confront the security agents deployed to keep the peace. Let us remain peaceful, for that is what we are known for.

Please note that government will not abdicate its responsibility of protecting lives and property. Everything within the ambit of law, will be done to uphold this sacred duty.

I advise parents to keep their children away from misguided elements who might want to recruit them to cause violence in the state.

Thank you

Sir Ben Ayade
Governor, Cross River State

*C/River Govt, Dr Linda Ayade, MDF, and Pink Africa Walks against Breast Cancer in Calabar*

In commemoration of the Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is Globally observed on October annually, the wife of the Executive Governor of Cross River State, Dr Linda Ayade, Cross River State Government, collaborated with Pink Africa Foundation (Convener of the walk) and other partners like Mediatrix Development Foundation, Lions Club International, Aruba Hospital, Nurse’s Association, CRSMOH, Labour Union amongst others held a Breast Cancer Awareness Walk in Calabar, tagged ‘Calabar gopink day; beyond Walk the Talk.

Cross River State First Lady, Dr Linda Ayade who addressed participants at the Calabar Municipality Council Headquarters at the end of the walk disclosed the low level of awareness regarding the disease, its causes and prevention among women and men, coupled with the population not being proactive l enough to leave their comfort zones and go for lifesaving screening for breast cancer. "These are the major reasons for poor prognosis of cancers in our environment and increase mortality".

Against this backdrop, Her Excellency said she is calling on women to take advantage of Mediatrix Foundation free Breast Cancer screening across the State especially at the grassroots. “Because given requisite information, early screening, early detection and management, most of this Cancer related deaths are avoidable”, she stressed.

The Cross River State Commissioner for Health and Chairman of Health Commissioners Forum in Nigeria, Dr Betta Edu disclosed that Breast Cancer Awareness Month is one of those sad and most important month of her life. According to her she will continue to do everything possible to save lives of women, getting as many women as possible to go for breast cancer examination, screening and treatment.

"It is important for both Men and Women to get regular checkup as breast cancer account for the highest mortality from cancer in Women. I wish to also commend the wife of the Governor Dr Linda Ayade for introducing the grassroots strategy of mobilizing Women in all Wards and Town criers to sensitize their fellow Women on the need to access Primary Health Centers or General Hospitals for free breast screening this Month. So far over 20 cases have been picked in the Villages with some at very advanced stage needing urgent attention.

"We say No to Breast Cancer devastating our Women. That is why we are bringing this life saving message, to all people in our community that early detection, proper management and right habit, is the key to survive breast Cancer scourge", Says Dr Janet Ekpenyong, Director General of Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency.

Earlier Speaking, Dr Ani Nchewi of Pink Africa Foundation describe Cancer as a deadly disease that affects a lot of people. When the good cell of the body stops producing and the body starts producing bad cell resulting to a multitude of bad cells, that health situation can cause cancer.

She said Pink Africa Foundation will continue to play a pivotal role in ensuring incessant lost of lives due to lack of breast cancer screening. According to her; “Women should be breast aware. that unusual difference between the two breasts, that visible lump, dimpling or indentation in the breast tissue, that redness, scaling or other changes to the skin or nipple that appear abnormal, that changes to your nipple that is newly inverted or pulling in, should be the first signals to get you discussing with health experts and then follow with up treatments." The Pink Africa Foundation is donating free post Mastectomy bras to Women.

In what turned out to be one of the most exciting numerous Breast Cancer Awareness walk, the streets of Calabar metropolis came aglow as passersby were caught in rapt attention, digesting the message and asking questions.

The procession took off from the Eleven Eleven Roundabout where the Calabar go pink day was flagged off by the Wife of The Governor Dr Linda Ayade, through Mary Slessor to Rabanna, Marian Road, and up to Calabar Municipal Council were the Mayor and Chief Host, Hon (Elder) Effefiong Nta Eke received the entire team at the Council Headquarters. The DG of SACA Dr Etcheri Ansa and Lions Club International representative amongst many others were in attendance to marked the Breast Cancer Day while free breast scan for over 200 Women happened at same venue.

Ayade promises world-class luxury resort as Dubai firm invests in Calas Vegas


Calas Vegas, a twin Island located in Calabar, off the coast of the Atlantic ocean, is set to become a tourists' destination as a team of investors from Dubai announced its involvement in turning Governor Ben Ayade's vision into Nigeria's answer to the Gulf country.

This is even as the Governor assured that the Island will be the most luxury resort in Africa and a point where tourists and fun seekers will berth with the view "to putting an end to us taking our monies out of Africa to go on vacation.”

Speaking after a tour of the Island, Emad Jamal Musa of Lacasa Architect and Engineering Consultant, Dubai who had earlier led his team to do a presentation at the Conference Hall of the Governor's Calabar, said his firm’s desire was to " bring Dubai to Calabar"

Musa who is also Chairman of the Narkaza Group, Dubai assured that his company has the expertise to turn Calas Vegas into Nigeria's version of Dubai having achieved a similar feat in Palestine.

"I took Dubai to Palestine, so if we can do that, we can do it here also. What is good about Dubai is that it started with a dream, ambition. A lot of people thought it would not be possible, now Dubai is a reality and I think what we are doing here today is the same", he said.

He expressed optimism that by the time his firm was done with Calas Vegas would be Venice, Bahama, Dubai and downtown Las Vegas combined.

Musa explained that the beautiful scenery of the Island and other natural factors present makes Calas Vegas a potential world class tourist destination, saying his group has the resources to achieve it.

A member of the team, Murrell Juliet said Calas Vegas looked promising. She described the Island as a beautiful place and the project as a "big dream".

Governor Ayade said Calas vegas presents a great opportunity for every single African to reinvest in Africa.

"Africa has the warmest hospitality and Cross River and indeed Calabar is at the epicenter of it", he said.

He described Cross River as a huge tourist hub, "with the Obudu cattle ranch, along side the international airport coming up in Obudu, alongside the Busafon resort and safari.

"So if you come to Cross River, You come to Calas vegas and from calasvegas you go to Busafon and from Busafon you go to Amunga Safari. Indeed, Cross River will give you the real pleasure of being an African.”

*Lafarge Africa reiterates Commitment to the economic growth and development of C/River State*

Leading West African Cement producers, Larfarge Africa PLC on Thursday at Cross River State Ministry of Finance reiterated their Commitment to the Cross River State Government with a promise to help grow and develop the State economy.

This was made known when the Country Chief Executive Officer of Lafarge Africa Plc, Mr Khaled El Dokani paid a courtesy visit to the Hon. Commissioner for Finance, Mr Asuquo Ekpenyong Jr at the Ministry of Finance, Calabar.

The CEO of Lafarge was accompanied by Mr Gbemiga Owolabi and Mr Inyang Inyang, the Director Human Resource and Public Relations Officer respectively to the visit.

The Commissioner, Mr Asuquo Ekpenyong Jr commended the cordial relationship between Lafarge and Cross River State Government for many years now. He went further to eulogize Lafarge Africa for being a significant contributor to the Gross Domestic Product of Cross River State as well as the State’s internally generated revenue.

The Commissioner restated that what affects Lafarge, affects Cross River State Government and as such the present Administration is poised to ensure that Lafarge’s operational environment is not encumbered. He further stated that in the same vein, Mfamosing is Lafarge’s largest production plant in Nigeria and so consequently what affects Cross River State affects Lafarge Africa Plc. Hence the need for a symbiotic relationship

The CEO of Larfarge Africa, Mr Khaled El Dokani disclosed that the company wishes to identify and align with the priorities of Cross River State Government in order to contribute to the economic growth and development of the State which is one of the key factors that led Lafarge Africa Plc to Signing an MOU for the construction of the Evacuation Road with the State Government with full consideration to Health, Safety and Environmental Assessments.

He commended His Excellency, Prof. Ben Ayade, the Executive Governor of Cross River State for putting Lafarge’s interest at heart at all times. He also appreciated the Hon. Commissioner for Finance and the entire Ministry of Finance Team for giving him a warm welcome.

"The said agreement apart from serving as an evacuation corridor for Lafarge products will open up the host communities and will bring economic development to all these communities within the newly constructed road; He said.

The Chairman of Cross River State Internal Revenue Service (CRIRS), Mr Akpanke Ogar who was present at the visit lauded Larfarge Africa PLC for their role in the State IGR and developmental strides of her host communities. Like Oliver twist he called on Larfarge to do more and ensure that every Communities is being carried along in their programs.

*Global Handwashing Day: Dr Linda Ayade says “Preventive measures like hand washing saves life and it’s cost effective”*

......*As C/River State Marks World Handwashing Day with Development of first IPC Policy*.

The Wife of the Cross River State Governor, Dr Linda Ayade has called on Cross Riverians to continue the practice of regular hand washing as one of the tool to fight against COVID-19 and other diseases. She made this call during an interactive session with United Purpose, State Ministry of Health, Mediatrix Development Foundation and the Cross River State WASH Media Network in her office on Thursday as part of the activities to commemorate the Global Handwashing Day.

She emphasized on regular hand washing as the best vaccine for prevention of diseases caused from bacterias, contamination and other micro organisms.

"It takes only 20 seconds of hand washing to get rid of this diseases and costs almost nothing for this activity to prevent the transfer of germs which we easily pick up as our hands touch handrails, door knobs, table tops, animals, toys and when we shake hands with people.

According to her, Mediatrix Development Foundation over the years have partnered with United Purpose to ensure Handwashing becomes a norm, while supporting the WASH project in rural areas in Cross River State. She appreciated United Purpose for their wide coverage in Cross River State by ensuring so many communities are open defecation free.

Similarly, the Cross River State Commissioner for Health, Dr Betta Edu in continuation of the World Handwashing Day flag off a policy formulation meeting on adaptation of COVID-19 Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) in Cross River State at Transcorp, Calabar.

The Honorable Commissioner and the Chairman of the COVID-19 Taskforce for the state disclosed hand hygiene as an important way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infection. She said stakeholders were brought from all facets to ensure a bottom up approach in the formulation of a practicable IPC policy for the state which will protect health workers, patients and communities.

She called on individuals, mother, child, health workers and the entire community to contribute to the health of all and the tackling of COVID-19 pandemic just by the simple act of handwashing.

"It is common to say the power is in the hands of humanity, but this is truly a simple solution with far-reaching implications. As we engage in our daily activities now that most restrictions have been lifted, it is important to always remember to wash our hands and maintain proper hygiene; She noted.

Dr Edu disclosed that one of the COVID-19 most important IPC is Hand hygiene because of it's 90% reliability in preventing spread of the virus and other hand washing preventable diseases. This meeting was supported by UNHCR through FHI360.

*Cross River State Ministry of Finance Engages RMAFC on the review of the Current Federation Allocation Indices*

The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMFAC team led by Alhaji Muhammad Kabir Usman, Federal Commissioner representing Gombe State on Monday visited Cross River State on a sensitization engagement and the need to provide quality data for the purpose of the review of revenue indices used in the sharing of the Federation’s monthly allocation to the Federal Government, 36 States and the 774 Local Government.

According to him, the Commission had done verification exercise in 2018 and all the data that was collected across the country were found to be very spurious, there were a lot of mistakes, discrepancies and inflated data.

"We don’t want any Local Government or state to cheat another local government or state in the federation. We are for equality, we are for justice, we are for fairness. That’s why we are giving all the states and local governments fresh opportunities to assemble their data, so that when we come for the state verification exercise and analyze them we will be giving each state of the federation what is due to them appropriately; He said.

Cross River State Commissioner for Finance, Mr Asuquo Ekpenyong Jr disclosed that every five years there is a routine review of the allocation indices on which the federation account distributes money to the three tiers of government, and across horizontally to the 36 states.

According to him the last indices review was in 2018, however, alot of states, excluding Cross River did alot of fraud to manipulate their data. He noted that Cross River State was not one of them, but because there was a lot of corrupt data involved in that exercise they decided to scrap the exercise entirely, and now for the first time, the RMAFC have decided to embark on a sensitization tour of all the states in Nigeria to ensure that they are well informed as to the guidelines in the collection of these data, and the collation of such data, so that there will be integrity in the entire process.

"So today, we have a team from Abuja from RMAFC headquarters led by the Federal Commissioner from Gombe who has come here to do the sensitization. They have engaged with MDA’s which cut across the ministry of health, the whole health sector including the Primary Health Care Agency, the Ministry of Education/SUBEB, Ministry of Finance, the Internal Revenue Service, the Auditor General Office and office of the Accountant General.

"We believe that at the end of this we would be taking Cross River State allocation upwards after the collation exercise; He said.

*C/River State Govt commences performance review of the top 50 Revenue Generating MDAs*

Following the directives of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Cross River State, Prof Ben Ayade for an immediate review of the performance of the top 50 Revenue Generating Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), the Cross River State Ministry of Finance and Cross River State Internal Revenue Service (CRIRS) has convened a review meeting & strategy session to appraise the performance of the revenue generating MDAs in the State & proffer strategies at raising the revenue profile.

Revenue generating Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) have strategized on improving stakeholder engagements towards increasing revenue for Cross River State.

The engagements which are scheduled to hold over a 2 week period kicked off on 13th October, 2020 in Calabar with the Education cluster led by the Honorable Commissioner for Education, Dr Godwin Amanke, in his company were Provost & Bursars of Colleges and Schools in the State as well as Directors and Deputy Directors from the Secondary Education Board and the Techincal Education Board in the State.

The MDAs strategized and agreed on synergies required to improve revenue profile of the Education Sector. Revenue targets were mutually agreed upon and the resources required to achieve same.

The day long strategy and performance review session for the education Sector which began at 9:30am on Tuesday came to a close at approximately 4pm.

Other sectors key to the revenue profile of the State such as the Health Cluster, Transport Cluster, Agriculture Cluster, Land Cluster etc are scheduled for subsequent dates.

It was an evening of sober reflection at the U.J Esuene Sports Stadium, Calabar as Cross River women mourn Late Senator Rose Oko who died at UK after battling an undisclosed illness.

The Chairman of Cross River Women Organisation, Ambassador Nkoyo Toyo described Late Rose Oko as a rare gem that would never be forgotten, urging other women to venture into leadership positions as the demographics in the world has changed.

In her words: “Women in Cross River State pursued today’s agenda, these women decided it was important to eulogise one of their own. We thought and accepted and decided to work together to give honour to the first president of the Cross River State Women Association as it is presently constituted”.

“We are very pleased to say that its present constitution is one that is deep and embracing of diversity and one that is also embracing of its complexities. We are not going to discriminate people on grounds of indigenes or whatever, if you are a wife or a woman in Cross River State, you are welcome to be part of us”.

“The demographics has changed, in many countries of the world, we are beginning to see more women than men in leadership because of the demography”.

“All over the world, the pandemic has exposed the unique capacity of women to lead countries. The country that have done best under COVID-19 are the women led countries”.

Also speaking during the event, Florence Ita Giwa, who was the Senator for the Cross River South Senatorial District noted that her demise has left a big vacuum in the state and prayed for the peaceful repose of the deceased soul while asking God to grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss.

In her words: “The person of Late Senator Rose Okoji Oko has created a vacuum that would be difficult to filled. Her emergence on the political scene in Cross River State gave me lots of joy and hope as I was assured that the future of female participation in the politics of Cross River State was guaranteed”.

“Senator Rose Oko was an accomplished woman, yet incredibly humble. Her passion for public service gave her series of appointments at both the states and at the federal level and her diligence earned her an appointment to the high office of commissioner in INEC”.

“It is so sad that Nigerian women are being used and dumped. They bring us out and give us two wrappers and hair tie and you sing choruses for them. At the end of the election, that is all. You might not even see the person that you voted for again. As small as a councilor, you may not have access to the councilor’s gate after singing choruses and dancing”.

“I would like to correct the impression that Ita Giwa does not support affirmative action. I support affirmative action with amendment, that is on the issue of appointments. It should not even be 35%, it should be 50% because we do all the work”.

“Even at this age of 74, if you dare me I will tell you “let’s meet in the field” and I will trash you in the field because I have been working”.

“Please don’t allow yourself to be intimidated, many years ago, one of the top women of this state looked at me in Abuja and said “You remind me of a bull”. I know that I don’t look like a bull, why I reminded her of a bull is because I am pushing in. I must push, immediately you push that door, I must push myself in there, come and take me out if you can”.

“Today we are happy for Rose, she is the second person after me that has been in the 3rd chamber and she did very well. To her family, please stay strong, you had a great lady. And to Cross River women, stay united, stay strong”.

Highlights of the event includes song by the catholic choir, Bible reading, Tributes to Late Rose Oko and lots more.

Special Recognition: Chairman of the Cross River Women Organization, Ambassador Nkoyo Toyo

Former Senator representing the Cross River South Senatorial District, Senator Florence Ita Giwa

The Secretary to the State Government, Barrister Mrs Tina Agbor Banku

The Cross River State Commissioner For Women Affairs, Hon. Rita Agbo Ayim

The Vice Chairman of Bekwarra LGA, Mrs Linda

The Senior Special Assistant to Sir Ben Ayade on Electronic Media, Mrs Imani Odey

And other distinguished personalities

*COVID-19 Response Taskforce supervises fumigation of Schools in C/River*

As the government of Nigeria ordered reopening of all schools, Cross River State Covid-19 Response Taskforce led by its Chairman and Commissioner for Health, Dr Betta Edu and the Secretary, Mr Asuquo Ekpenyong Jr, Commissioner Finance over the weekend embarked on supervision of schools fumigated ahead of full resumption.

It would be noted that for about 3 months after the easing of lockdown, schools have not reopen to allow students write their examinations.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Betta Edu said Cross River State Government is fumigating schools as a way of disinfecting the school environment and ensuring safe resumption of academic activities.

"We would continue to give due attention to fumigation in this instance while stressing the importance of addressing more beneficial and sustainable strategies to prevent COVID-19 in Nigerian schools.

Secretary of the Taskforce and Cross River State Finance Commissioner, Mr Asuquo Ekpenyong Jr disclosed that good hygiene can help prevent contact and spread of Covid-19 in public schools and as such the state have dimmed it necessary to ensure all public schools and even most used public places are fumigated to curb the spread of COVID-19.

He advised both approved or unapproved private school owners, to study the released COVID-19 prevention guidelines and develop a template for their re-opening plans.

The Supervision which took place at College of Health Technology, Calabar is currently ongoing simultaneously across the State.

*Micro Projects: CSDA Intervenes In 350 Communities of Cross River State*

No fewer than 350 Communities across the 18 Local Government Areas of Cross River state have benefitted from the State Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA) Projects.

The Cross River State Government, World Bank a
Assisted project is a Community Driven Development (CDD) and intervention mechanism designed for improving empowerment, service delivery and local governance through empowerment of people in the local communities.

Speaking during a post completion and Project sustainability workshop organised by the Agency in Calabar, the Commissioner for International Development Corporation, Dr Inyang Asibong said that over 900 community projects in all the 18 local government areas have been executed.

According to Asibong, the Agency has empowered more citizens at the local government levels, with improved service delivery, accountability, transparency and effective communication in the last five years of Governor Ben Ayade's administration more than ever.

The commissioner while encouraging the beneficiaries to sustain the assets created in their various communities, warned that Government will not provide further support to any community who fails to maintain and sustain previous projects in their domain, including health centres, boreholes and classroom blocks.

The Board Chairman of the Agency, Sir Toni Ikpeme commended the communities for implementing thier projects according to standards and specifications. He encouraged them to apply community level strategies to maintain and sustain the assets.

Also Speaking at the event, the Acting General Manager of the Agency, Mr Fidel Udie commended Governor Ayade for funding the Agency to provide support to Communities especially in the height of the COVID 19 pandemic.

The workshop had relevant line MDAs in attendance, with beneficiaries from several communities where issues of home grown sustainability strategies were discussed, such that benefits can be guaranteed over a long period.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6nt35p4uJ8

Ayade names Women Development Centre after Senator Rose Oko


Cross River state governor, Sir Ben Ayade has approved the renaming of the Women Development Centre, Calabar.

In a statement issued Monday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Christian Ita, the governor said the centre will now be known as Senator Rose Oko Women Development Center.

To mark this development, a bust in memory of the late senator was unveiled at the center on Monday after a valedictory service at the Cross River State Executive Council Chambers.

"Today, I approved the renaming of the Women Development Centre, Calabar after our departed illustrious daughter, Senator Rose Oko”, the state quoted Ayade as saying.

He further stated that " Senator Oko was the pride of Cross River, one of our very best; therefore, no honour is too much to bestow on her. She deserves the best of honours.”

Cross River bagging company now sole supplier to CSS Group- Opara



One of the several industries set up by the Cross River State State governor, Sir Ben Ayade, the Cross River Bags and Packaging Company has been chosen by CSS Group, an agricultural conglomerate as its sole supplier of bags for its agricultural produce.

Chairman of CSS Group, Kennedy Opara disclosed the choice of the state's bagging company during a courtesy call with his team on the governor in his conference room in Calabar.

Opara disclosed that CSS, before now, relied on China for the bagging of its products "but when I heard that Ayade has set up a bagging company, I said to myself, why should we be spending that money on China when my best friend and brother is producing bags? It is better I invest in what he is doing."

Offering reasons for CSS Group's choice of the Cross River State-owned company, Okpara said: "We decided that instead of us to continue sending money out by ordering bags from China, why can't we come here and meet with you that we need a tamper-proof bag. A bag that cannot be tampered with tomorrow. That is what we are looking for."

According to him, "We do not have any business going elsewhere because you see, if you do not patronize what you have, what you have will not recognize you."

While commending Governor Ayade on what he described as an aggressive agro-industrialization initiative, the former Chairman of the Nigerian Pilgrims Commission said: "Your aggresive agro-industrialisation drive is second to none. This is a state that before now, agriculture was not known, but you have changed the narrative."

The CSS boss further hinted that his company and its Isreali partners have trained a number of Cross Riverians in the mechanics of Agricultural production, expressing optimism that the collaboration with Cross River in the area of bagging would yield dividends.

Governor Ayade while lauding Okpara for making the state's bag outfit his company's preferred choice, said "it was proof that Nigerians are now interested in buying made in Nigeria goods," adding that the move will further deepen the economy of the state.

On the status of the many industries established by his administration, the governor stated that "we have pressure coming from people who want to buy off our factories.

"So the privatization council is working on that. But the good news is that we've got a friend and brother who is here to patronize us.

"I want to thank you so much and thank you that you are here with a cheque in the pocket ready to make a deposit for our bags, this is a huge encouragement that will deepen our economy."

Speaking further, Ayade said: "Cross Riverians should now know that our factories are bearing fruits."

PRESS RELEASE

Cross River Women Association invites the general public to come out enmass and identify with the EVENING OF TRIBUTES in honour of a dear sister, daughter, mother, grandmother and leader, distinguished senator Rose Oko.

Date is on the 12th of October 2020.
Time: 2pm.

The event will hold at the VIP wing of the U. J. Esuene Stadium.

In a release signed by the President of the group, Amb. Nkoyo Toyo, she called on the public to be at the venue on time so as to avoid rushing or crowding

The release further states that, everyone is expected to observe social distancing and wear their face masks.

Please note attendance for members is mandatory.

Ambassador Nkoyo Toyo

President.

Still on COVID-19 and Ayade’s interventions


By Chidi Onyemaizu


It is no longer news that the COVID-19 curve is flattening nationwide. Even states that were the epicentres of the deadly virus are now having the desired breather.

This is heart warming but before we start to cling wine glasses, the world must not forget, and Nigerians must remember Governor Ben Ayade‘s mix in the whole gamut of COVID-19 trajectory in Nigeria. We must call to mind, the Ayade model, the COVID-19 Ayade model because it worked, because it is salutary.

The Cross River state governor who is a professor of Environmental Macrobiology was a seer and traiblazer as far as the virus was concerned. His unprecedented proactive measures which were initially jerred at, sneered at and ridiculed would turn out to be the antitode that kept the virus away from his state for a longtime.

And wait for this, the world would later copy him and the "home prophet" would later be applauded and cheered by his own people!

Essentially before COVID-19 eventually berthed in Cross River, the state was for a longtime the last state standing. And many were baffled.

Of the 36 states of the federation and Abuja, Cross River was for many months untainted by the pandemic even when neighbouring states were being ravaged by the scourge. This was a no mean feat achieved by Cross River people and their governor, largely through proactive measures and strict adherence to preventive protocols put in place by the government.

The granite truth is that though Cross River now has COVID-19 cases, one can not deny that the state and it's governor fought gallantly to keep the virus at bay. This must be acknowledged by everyone.

COVID-19 crept into Nigeria in February and became a pandemic in March. For four months, Cross River fought valiantly, for four months, Cross River held out, even when neighbouring states were marooned in the virus.

How Cross River managed to remain free from the virus often sent queer, creepy sensation down the spine of critics but looking back, it is now clear it was no rocket science.

It was simply made possible by a thinking head. It is no secret that Professor Ayade trailblazed virtually all preventive protocols that were later adopted by the world as fighting tools against the pandemic.

For example, to curtail the spread of the virus into Cross River, Ayade was the first governor to seal all entry and exits points into his state and despatched personnel equipped with over 100 vehicles to monitor the border closure as well as compliance throughout the state.

As the governor would say, Cross River did not Lockdown but locked out the virus.

Even before the border closure, people coming into the state were thoroughly subjected to temperature checks.

Commercial vehicles and even Keke NAPEPE plying intra- state routes were subjected to a new seating arrangement in line with the COVID-19 preventive protocols introduced by the state.

Cross River was also the first to adopt the no masks no movement policy before other states, including even the Federal Government

And long before masks made from fabrics became a global fade, as opposed to the synthetic imported surgical masks, Ayade was the first to introduce its use, ordering the Cross River Garment Factory to mas produce it and distribute free of charge to Cross Riverians.

It is noteworthy that this was at a time when the World Health Organisation (WHO) said the use of masks made from fabric was useless in stopping the spread of the virus.

The world health body was to chew on its words after further studies proved their initial position wrong and recommended its use throughout the world.

Today, not only that Cross River produces millions of nose masks which are distributed to the citizens free, it also now manufactures Personal Protective Equipment, PPEs and face shields which are distributed free to medical personnel.

Essentially, Cross River remains a model on how to confront a deadly virus as COVID-19. That it took the state long to record cases of the virus should not surprise anybody because the state and its governor fought a good fight.

And now with an ultra modern drive-in testing centre established by the Ayade administration to make testing for the virus quick and more accessible to the people, it is crystally clear that the Cross River is well prepared for the aggressive management of the pandemic.

The result is the manifest daily declining cases in the state.

The Ayade COVID-19 model worked for Cross River, it worked for Nigeria and it worked for the world!


Chidi Onyemaizu is Senior Special Assistant on Print Media to Governor Ayade

Obudu Ranch Resort Will Be Self Sustaining from 2021 - Ekpenyong

Honorable Bobby Ekpenyong Special Adviser Obudu Ranch resort has stated that the resort will be a major revenue earner for Cross River State Government and will be self Sustaining from the first quarter of next year.


Speaking over the weekend while he played host to hundreds of holiday makers at the prestigious resort, Honorable Ekpenyong expressed optimism that the resort has the potential to generate enough revenue to run its operations and remit to the state coffers contributing to the states IGR.

"Over the weekend we played host to large number of guests right here in the ranch I think over a hundred of them and they were all satisfied and had so much fun and most of them promised to be back. "

Continuing Ekpenyong said, " the patronage we have today is down to the brilliance of His Excellency our digital Governor who upon seeing what the pandemic has done to the world , had the foresight to upgrade facilities at the ranch for holiday seekers to take advantage of post Covid19. "

Ekpenyong stated that "To whom much is given much is expected and I can authoritatively say that Obudu ranch will be self sustainable from next year and we will begin to remit revenue into government coffers as well thereby contributing our own quota to revenue generation in the state" . He said

He thanked Governor Ayade for standing by him to get the ranch back on it's feet and to her pride of place among tourism destinations across the country.

" Cross Riverians must thankGod everyday for our Governor who is poised to revamp all Cross River assets and get them working again. Governor Ayade has shown firm commitment to the ranch and I thank him for all the support in getting the ranch back to its full capacity. With the construction of Obudu international cargo airport, all problems of access to the ranch will be solved and we will be ready to take full advantage of that airport". Ekpenyong said.


Highlights of the weekends event include musical concert from DJ Jasmine, DJ TTB of Mtv Base and DJ Sose.

Stop showcasing your ignorance. He didn't buy SUV for political appointees those cars are for local government elected officials. It is their right their money. You will just open your mouth wide waaaaaaaa and be spewing rubbish.

I’ve recruited thousands into civil service since 2015- Ayade


Cross River State Governor, Sir Ben Ayade says despite the state's dire financial status, his administration has recruited thousands workers into the civil service since assuming office in 2015.

Ayade who addressed some workers who were delisted from the payroll at the U.J.Eusene Stadium, Calabar, explained that their employment was without his knowledge, as "the civil service commission did the employment without recourse to me.”

He lamented the situation where the picture was being painted to give the erroneous impression that his government sacked the workers, when in fact his government has employed a lot of workers into the state workforce after lifting an 18-year-old embargo on employment.

According to him, immediately he took office in 2015 he lifted the embargo on employment into the Cross River civil service and employed 2,500 teachers instantly.

The situation at the state water board, he said, was dire "when I came in because staff there had not been paid for a very long time, because they were ad-hoc staff. I decided to convert them to permanent staff, made them civil servants, payrolled them and paid their backlog"

Asking the affected workers to put him in their shoes, Ayade inquired, "If you were the governor of the state and you suddenly discovered an additional 2,500 staff on your payroll that you did not authorize, that you did not know about, nobody consulted you, what will you do?"

The Cross River state number one citizen stated that if he was vindictive, he would have since sacked officials who smuggled the names into the payroll.

He then asked the delisted workers to submit themselves to verification for regularization, saying he has decided to get them reabsorbed into the service out of compassion.

“I am doing so on compassionate ground and not because the state is buoyant enough to accommodate you”, he told the cheering workers.

"I earn an income that is less than the salary of this state. Today, we are standing here and I say let us do verification because we are humans, we still have conscience.

Who be this? Which useless IPOB? Don't carry Ayade and join that nonsense biko

Independence Day: Ayade cancels public celebrations over COVID-19


Cross River State Governor, Sir Ben Ayade has canceled the annual parade and public celebration of Nigeria’s independence anniversary as the country marks sixty years of nationhood.


A statement issued in Calabar on Wednesday by Mr Christian Ita, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, said the cancellation was as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and the need to avoid community transmission that is often associated with large gatherings.


While regretting the development, it said the governor was more concerned about protecting the people from the pandemic than holding any public spectacle in celebration of the independence anniversary.


The statement, however, urged Cross Riverians who may want to celebrate the day, to do so in their homes.


“For those who may wish to celebrate the day at home, I urge them to do so observing all the COVID-19 protocols and other safety measures as announced by government,” the statement quoted the governor as saying.


Nigerians, according to the statement, are also enjoined not to lose faith in the country in spite of the many challenges they are facing.


On the resumption of schools, the statement maintained that it was the need to protect the people of the state from the pandemic that informed the delayed announcement of a date for resumption of schools in the state.


“Cross River State is following the clinical procedures of Covid-19 protocols in order not to expose our kids to coronavirus. Government will only announce a resumption date when it considers it safe for our children to return to school,” the statement read in parts.

Ayade: South South must speak up on Bakassi, decries neglect


Cross River State governor, Sir Ben Ayade has implored the people of South south geographical zone to come together and speak with one voice on the injustices of the ceding of the Bakassi Peninsular and the attendant suffering its inhabitants are facing.

He rued that the region lays the golden egg yet suffers unspeakable deprivation in the Nigeria project.

The Cross River state governor spoke in Calabar while receiving his Edo state counterpart, Godwin Obaseki to his office.

The Edo state governor was in Calabar in continuation of his thank you visit to South south governors who rallied behind him during the electioneering campaigns leading to the September 19, 2020 Edo governorship election.

His victory now makes the South south a wholly a PDP- controlled region.

Ayade said "the South South is in crisis. We are the greatest generators of the revenue of this country , yet you cannot come from Uyo to Calabar by road. You have to fly because within that 45 minutes journey you will have to do it for four or more hours. We must tackle such fundamental issues.

"Our carnival is suffering because people cannot come in. Our seaport is suffering because it cannot be dredged. We cannot as a region sit back and watch this happen.

“Perhaps your visit will give us a great opportunity to bring to the fore, one of the greatest challenges of our state, as a people. We watch our brothers, our sisters, our sons and daughters of the Bakassi extraction being driven out of their ancestral homes, reduced to want in body, in spirit and in soul.

“ We watch with melancholy, anger and pain as they sleep in subhuman living conditions. As a country, we have a budget for Internally Displaced Persons (IDP), we see how IDPs in other regions are properly funded by international organizations, yet the case of Bakassi IDPs is different.”

He said what is most painful is the fact that the ceding of the peninsula was an act of illegality, and therefore, called on the geo-political zone to collectively rise up in condemnation of it.

“The ceding of Bakassi was totally illegal because there was no ratification by the National Assembly, there was no plebiscite which is totally inconsistent with the provisions of International Law. I believe that it is time for the south south to come as a bloc to speak strongly for the people of Bakassi.”

He congratulated Obaseki on his victory, describing it as victory for Edo people.

Speaking earlier, governor Obaseki thanked Ayade for standing behind him during the campaigns, noting that Edo and Cross River share historical ties.

The governor pledged to work towards the revival of the South south regional body, known as the BRACED Commission, which is an acronym for the six states in the zone.

He bemoan the utter neglect of the South south, saying it was in the best interest of Nigeria that infrastructures in the region are fixed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gy_NLcGdRzo

Deep Seaport: Cross River, Canadian firm sign transaction advisory services agreement


The construction of the Bakassi Deep Seaport, a signature project of Governor Ben Ayade, recently attained a major milestone with the signing of the transaction advisory agreement for the Full Business Case between the Cross River State Government and CPCS Transcom Limited of Canada.

Under the terms of the agreement, CPCS is expected to deploy its vast international expertise in the areas of transaction structuring, public-private partnerships (PPP), financial and economic modeling, as well as engineering and social and environmental advisory in the execution of the project.

To ensure compliance with the local content policy of the state government, Fifteen young Cross Riverians are to be engaged by the firm.

Speaking shortly after signing the agreement on behalf of the the state government, Governor Ayade said the development “marks the beginning of the realization of the Bakassi deep seaport with an evacuation corridor stretching from Bakassi to Northern Nigeria.”

He commended President Muhammadu Buhari, the Minister for Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi and the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission for the support given to the project.

Ayade said the deep seaport project and 275km superhighway are two projects that will crystallize the prospects and prosperity agenda he envisions for the state.

The 21 meters draft seaport, according to him, will be successful given its location, insisting it will get additional impetus from the viability of the Gulf of Guinea and its maritime corridor.

He also believes that “the port creates an opportunity for the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to start thinking security-wise and strategically too, on the need for us to have strategic reserves for our petroleum products, on the need for us to have strategic food reserves because strategic reserves are normally situated around the ports so as to allow for the densification of storage in the event of crisis, war or famine.

“So, I believe that this port will play a critical role. Youth restiveness, youth unemployment, kidnapping, radicalism and all those extreme vices that have characterized the Nigerian state for a while will completely go down when this project comes to fruition because indeed, this port is not a Cross River port, it is a Nigeria port, a Gulf of Guinea port. For emphasis, therefore, it is basically targeted at Northern Nigeria.

"Let me us this opportunity therefore to call on all the elders of Northern Nigeria extraction to realise that their vast wealth in terms of mineral deposits ranging from tantalite to iron ore to Cobalt to bauxite to coal amongst others will come to nothing unless you have access to a sea port.

“The evacuation corridor shortens the journey between Northern Nigeria and the Atlantic coastline and that is what we have done to bring Northern Nigeria closer to the Atlantic ocean."

He said his administration has ensured that the port will not suffer the problem of not having outbound cargo.

Towards this end, he disclosed that his government embarked on “agro industrialization to ensure we provide enough outbound cargo for the Bakassi deep Sea port“, adding, that “Nigeria will get a new identity on the basis of the Bakassi deep Sea port and the Super highway.

"So basically speaking, the Bakassi deep Seaport is already mature, ripe, ready and dying to commence. It is specifically prepared for outbound cargo export. If you look at the Mackenzie report, it specifies clearly that Nigeria will be the third largest trading partner with China. So the cumulative impact of this is that there will be a huge maritime trade within the Gulf of Guinea and between Nigeria and Europe and China and indeed America and more importantly there will be sufficient outbound cargo. For me, CPCS should have more than enough data to justify the viability of this project."

Earlier, representative of CPCS and leader of the team, Mr. Jonathan Millard, shortly after a virtual meeting between the state government and the management team of the Ontario, Canada-based firm, expressed confidence in the viability of the project, just as he looked forward to a timely completion of the project.

The agreement signing ceremony, which took place at the Governor’s Conference Room in Government House, Calabar, was witnessed by representatives of the Ministry of Justice and the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission.

PDP Stalwart Congratulates Obaseki on his Re-election.


High Chief Asuquo Ekpenyong OON has congratulated Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state on his re-election for another four years saying his victory at the September 19 2020 gubernatorial election was fit and proper.


The industrialist who is the chairman of the Davandy Group spoke Thursday while hosting the Edo state Governor to a reception in his residence in Calabar. 


Ekpenyong extolled the Governor's contributions to the economy of Nigeria, adding that his achievements in the financial sector has helped him manage the economy of Edo state. 


"Governor Obaseki and I are friends having served in various committees together. Most notably was the committee set up by the federal government to review the private sector pension reforms which we all enjoy now", he said


Turning to the re-elected governor, High Chief  Ekpenyong said: " Your victory at the polls was no surprise to me as you have shown Edo people what great stuff you are made of within the first four years of your administration and it is only fitting that you be reelected to complete the good deeds you have started"


Speaking Earlier, Governor Godwin Obaseki thanked Chief Ekpenyong for the warm hospitality he accorded him and his entourage, stressing that he would love to draw from chief Ekpenyong's wealth of experience.


"Let me thank you immensely for this uncommon show of love and felicitations. When I got your call that you wanted to host us today, I had no hesitation based on our long standing friendship. As I embark on the next four years of my administration , experience such as yours will be vital in guiding me through these next four years. '


Dignitaries at the occasion include Cross River State Governor, Sir Ben Ayade, his deputy, Professor Ivara Esu  as well  some  members of the National Assembly from Edo state.

Others include the deputy Governor of Edo State Phillip Shuaibu and some key elders statesmen from Cross River like Sir William Archibong, Emile Inyang and high Chief Eugene Akeh .

Governor Godwin Obaseki today visited his cross River State counterpart Ben Ayade to say thank you for the support during his elections.

Ayade: Cross River to harness economic potentials in Gulf of Guinea

Cross River state is poised to harness economic potentials that abound in the Gulf of Guinea.

To this end, the state government is facilitating the establishment of a new Commission to enhance trade between the state and the 13 countries that make up the Gulf of Guinea.

The state governor, Sir Ben Ayade disclosed this Tuesday at a meeting with the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in Calabar after a visit to several companies at the Export Processing Zone, EPZ, in Calabar.

The governor expressed optimism that economic opportunities in the Gulf of Guinea if properly tapped will go a long way in creating jobs for the people of the state, adding that Cross River is well suited because of its geographic location, to play a leading role in the gulf.

Ayade: "We are here today because the entire Gulf of Guinea has become a new trading centre with a trade value in excess of $1trillion. Nigeria has to take a major share of that and Calabar presents itself as the most strategic in terms of municipal suitability to play the role as a municipal centre for the Commission.

"So, given that background, we are looking at EPZ, looking at NPA, looking at NIWA and looking at the possible collaborative facilitation on how we can be in synergism with all these public sectors, work together with the private sector to use Calabar as the main export hub to be able to bring back life into the Export Processing Zone again using NPA as our mother support system in terms of the maritime travels.

"We are here for you (NPA) to tell us the bit that you know other than the liquid items , the dry board items such as pepper, cashew nuts , matrasses, and so on that we can export from here to Gabon, Cape Verde, Equitorial Guinea and Angola.”

According to him, the proximity of Calabar to most of the Gulf of Guinea countries makes it imperative that Cross River maximizes the advantage.

"Just 15- 20 minutes flight and you are on the other side and those countries basically depend and rely on European countries to get goods as simple as soap, toothpaste yet we produce all of these in excess here. So we are looking at most of the factories that have shut down in EPZ, we are looking at the Ayade Industrial park which is also in the final stages of getting a free zone status, we are saying we need to get more and more Cross Riverians in the private sector to come in, take advantage of some these empty factories that we have got and see how we can produce.

"But what do you produce? We need to talk to NPA because they have an idea of what is being taken out of Cross River State or out of Nigeria and what is really coming Into this country. We are talking about legal trade now with our emphasis not on Petroleum products because there is too much illegality in that trade.
"We are looking at things that can create jobs for our people, things like growing your yams, processing it into yam poundo and exporting it, growing your maize and processing it into feeds and exporting it.”

Earlier, the Manager of Calabar Port, Marie Asein said the governor's visit was timely as it afforded her the opportunity to enumerate challenges facing the facility.

She commended Governor Ayade for the Gulf of Guinea initiative saying it would go a long way in breathing life into the Calabar port.

Her words: "Thank you Your Excellency for coming here to brief us on your intentions concerning the municipal Gulf of Guinea that has been set up.

"This is a long awaited project that we have been eagerly waiting for, this is because people out there feel there is nothing going on at the NPA.

"So seeing that the Cross River State government is eager to ensure that export of goods between Nigeria and countries in the Gulf of Guinea begins, especially in the agricultural sector, is very encouraging and once these goods are available, then we are ready to start.

“We can now encourage those shipping companies who are skeptical about coming in due to not having outbound cargo to take with them as they are exiting the our shores"

Continuing, Asein said: "Having ready exports available for the shipping companies will greatly encourage more companies to bring in goods through the Calabar port.

“The container vessels we had coming in last year is almost grinding to a halt because there are no goods to take with them when they're going back.”

CAN lauds Ayade for running welfarist government


The Cross River State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has commended Governor Ben Ayade for what it described as his welfarist and inclusive governance.

Making the commendation during a courtesy visit to the governor at the executive council chamber of the governor's office, Calabar, leader of the delegation and Chairman of CAN, Ambassador Okon E. Ekpenyong noted that Ayade's reelection for a second term in office was a howling endorsement of his industrialization policy.

He lauded the governor for his development strides in the last five years and his continuous support for CAN.

Ekpenyong said CAN was grateful for the governor’s “commitment and continuous support to CAN. Let me also say that your election was an endorsement of your industrialization drive, welfarist and inclusive governance approach."

According to the chaiman of the Christian body, "For us, this meeting is apt and timely because it affords us the opportunity to say thank you and to honestly commend you for the giant strides and development of the State. Your passionate resolve to put Cross River on the map of Nigeria as a leading state in both infrastructure and human development, especially from our tour of the Ayade Industrial Park is worthy of note."

Ekpenyong, who was accompanied by the retired bishop of Calabar Metropolitan Arch-Diocese, His Grace, Bishop Joseph Ukpo, Senior Special Adviser to Governor Ayade on Religious Matters, Rev. Fr.Bob Etta as well as other CAN members, thanked the governor for his proactive safety measures in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic.

His words: "The leadership of CAN is indeed very grateful for your profound efforts and proactive safety measures in the management of the COVID 19. We are particularly very grateful for the partnership and synergy that your administration created which enabled CAN to be part of the COVID-19 sensitization and monitoring task force team.

He also acknowledged the role played by the governor in the Christian body’s quest for a secretariat.

Ekpenyong said it was through the magnanimity of the governor "that CAN, Cross River State has been able to own a temporary secretariat after many years which was commissioned by you on 27 may, 2019. And during the commissioning, you donated a 50kva generating set. We sincerely commend you for that show of concern and support."

The association, therefore, reaffirmed its continuous support and prayers for Governor Ayade as he strives to deliver more developmental projects for the people.

Responding, Ayade who thanked the delegation of the Christian association for their support during his second term electioneering, said: "I would like to thank you for the great support, the way and manner you came out to support me and campaign for me. I want to specially acknowledge your address which emphasised on the most essential essence of government and describing my government as welfarist government."

Disclosing why his administration is more focused on the people while at the same time prioritising industrialization, the governor said: "A government can build more infrastructure, skyscrapers, award contracts to multinationals who will take billions back to their countries and leave behind a very beautiful city with the best of roads while the people are poor and hungry. When the emphasis is not on the people, you would have failed in your constitutional, spiritual and moral obligation as governor.

"So it is against that understanding and background that our administration is more focused on the people and because I come from a background that has a clear understanding of poverty, because I have also seen wealth at a very early age, I know the difference."

Against that backdrop, the governor noted that "In my gratitude to God, my commitment has been to lift people from extreme want, hunger and poverty and ensure that if nothing else under the regime of Ayade, kindred and family should have someone in government.”