₦airaland Forum

Masari commends Ayade for appointing Katsina indigene board chairman


Kastina state governor, Aminu Bello Masari has commended governor Ben Ayade for appointing an indigene of his state, Alhaji Rabiu Maimaje Abdullahi into Cross River state government.

The commendation was conveyed through a congratulatory letter to Alhaji Abdullahi signed by the Secretary to the state government, SSG,Mustapha Muhammad Inuwa.
Governor Ayade recently named Alhaji Abdullahi as Chairman, Cross River state Muslim Pilgrims Board.
Inuwa, in the letter, charged Abudllahi to justify his appointment by discharging his responsibilities diligently.

"While appreciating His Excellency, Professor Ayade, we in Kastina are inspired by your achievement and pray earnestly that as you take this new responsibility, you will diligently deliver to the best expectations of His Excellency, the
Governor, the Muslim community and the entire people of Cross River", the Kastina state SSG, said.
Inuwa expressed Masari's joy at Abdullahi's appointment describing him as a good ambassador.

“On behalf of the government and good people of Kastina state, His Excellency, Governor Aminu Bello Masari, CFR wishes to rejoice with you on your appointment as Chairman, Cross River state Muslim Pilgrims Board by His Excellency, Professor Benedict Bengioushuye Ayade.

“By this well deserved appointment, you have proven yourself to be a good ambassador whose sterling qualities endeared him to his host community.”

Cross River Garment Factory Recieves Order to make Thousands Of NYSC Uniforms.

Cross River State Commissioner for industries Hon Peter Egba has revealed that the Cross River State garment factory have a contract in place for the production of Uniforms for members of the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC).


Egba who made the disclosure in Calabar Stated that the NYSC has made an initial order of 8000 uniforms from Cross River Garment factory to be delivered in eight days.


According to Egba , " The NYSC have brought their materials to us to make for them at the garment factory. Basically the idea behind this is that they want to test our capabilities to deliver within a short period of time that is why they have given us only eight days to deliver eight thousand uniforms"

Continuing the commissioner said " Because of staff strength and the sophisticated machines put in place by His Excellency Sir Ben Ayade, as I speak to you now we've been working for five days and six thousand of the needed eight thousand uniforms are ready, while the other two thousand should be ready within the remaining three days. "

The Commissioner also revealed that plans are in place for the Cross River Garment factory to handle a larger order of Uniforms from the NYSC in May during the next stream of corp members coming in.

" Another stream of corp members are coming in May this year, and we fully expect that after we might have delivered this present order and on time, we will get an even bigger order when the next stream of corp members come on board. "

The Commissioner further disclosed that plans are in top gear to follow up with the visit of the chief of air staff to the garment factory last year seeking collaborations with the Cross River State garment factory.

"Beyond the NYSC, don't forget that late last year the chief of air staff Air Marshall Sadiq Abubakar came here to inspect our facilities at the garment factory with the idea of collaborating with us to see how we can be making uniforms for the officers and men of the Nigerian Airforce. "

" Following that visit, we are expecting a team next week from their logistics department and also from the Nigerian Airforce investment limited who will be coming to engage with us further to see how they can place some orders from the garment factory. "

Also Speaking, Senior Special Assistant on garment factory Eunice Egodo assured that the order of Uniforms from the NYSC will be completed and on time, adding that the Cross River Garment factory is fully equipped to deal with large orders of any kind as the Governor has put in place world class machines in the factory.

" The NYSC gave us an order of 8000 uniforms for their corpers to be delivered in 8days, I can assure you that we will make this delivery in earlier than the stipulated time given to us because we have the best equipments and our staff are committed to doing the job. "

The Cross River State Government, has commended the Nigerian Export Processing Zone Authority for lighting up Esuk Utan Community in Calabar Municipality.


The Commissioner for Commerce, Pst. RoseMary Archibong gave the commendation during the commissioning of a 500KVA 11/0.415K sub station at Esuk Utan Community in Calabar recently, stated that lighting up the Community will improve Commercial activities in the area and the State at large as well as stop activities of miscreants whose ignoble deeds thrive in the coffers of darkness.

She called for more synergy between NEPZA and the Government in order to enhance the industrialisation drive of the Ayade-led administration, noting that most of the products from the numerous industries across the State will attract regional and International trade.

To this end, the Commerce Commissioner maintained that adequate information and training on packaging and processing of goods that meets international standards should be business owners in the State.


Earlier, the acting Managing Director NEPZA, Mr. Bitrus Dawuk, said supply and installation of the 500KVA substation, is part of Company's corporate social responsibility, and the surge to make the Calabar Free Zone meet world class standards.

Ayade seeks Buhari's intervention on Superhighway, Deep seaport projects

Cross River State Governor Sir Ben Ayade has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to help in the actualization of the Superhighway and Bakassi Deep seaport.

The governor said the two projects, which are signature projects of his administration, when completed will create a new economy for the country, particularly Northern part of Nigeria.
Governor Ayade who spoke Wednesday during an inspection tour of the Odukpani axis of the 274 kilometre Superhighway and the ongoing dualisation of Calabar-Odukpani highway, promised that by the close of the year, a substantial part of the super highway will be completed.

His administration, he said, was determined to change the economy of Cross River adding that there was no better way to do so than making sure that the two projects were actualized.
His words: "Directly behind me is the superhighway where it is feeding into Calabar city, so for us as a state, the construction work on the superhighway has begun in earnest and is being broken into three sets. There is a team in Ikom, one in Bekwarra which is the beginning of Northern Nigeria, and here we have a team from Calabar. So, these three teams are working to meet each other.”

“At the beginning we have a very big construction company that has already done close to 90km of earth works.”
Continuing, the governor said: "I just want to tell the people of Cross River and indeed Nigerians that the six lane digital Superhighway, the very first in this part of the world, is getting ready and I give my assurances that by the close of this year, a substantial part of this project will be completed and fully ready for use.”

He bemoaned the lack of support from the federal government especially in the area of refunds for federal roads constructed by his administration and said the road will be tolled upon completion so as to generate revenue for the state.

"The Superhighway narrows from six lanes into four lanes as you get into Calabar so we will put a fly over to allow the four lanes to go top and then terminate back in the single lane because the federal government has refused to reimburse Cross River on all dualisation works on existing Federal roads on the basis that the Calabar metropolitan city is catching up with Odukpani . Therefore, they now see it as a domestic road which we will have no option than to toll to generate revenue", the governor said.

He Called on president Buhari to issue a special intervention to Cross River to assist in the completion of the projects, insisting that they are too huge and beyond the carrying capacity of Cross River alone.

Projects of this magnitude, he maintained, ought to be federal government projects
Ayade: "A six lane Superhighway linking the Bakassi Deep Seaport to Northern Nigeria ought to have been a federal government project even if the vision was from me as Governor of Cross River State. I make bold to say that Northern Nigeria needs the Superhighway and the Deep seaport more than any other region due to the huge solid mineral deposits they have but these solid mineral deposits mean nothing if you can't export them and that is where Cross River Superhighway and Deep seaport come in as we are bringing the Atlantic ocean closer to Northern Nigeria.”

The Cross River state number one citizen commended foreign companies partnering with the state for standing by his administration through difficult time.

"I would like to commend my quality team,my partners, Tata and John Deere for being with us even at this trying moment. The federal government have shown very little attention to our pain as a state, shown very little attention to the superhighway but we will carry on despite the frustrations and hope that one day President Buhari will see the passion and rise to our rescue.

“I call on President Buhari to allow us the luxury of bringing the Atlantic ocean closer to Northern Nigeria through these projects as indeed it will help in decongesting Lagos port, create an economy in Northern Nigeria, reduce Insurgency and usher in a prosperity agenda that posterity will never forget him for ", he stated.

https://leadership.ng/2020/03/12/ayade-seeks-pmbs-intervention-on-superhighway-deep-seaport-projects/

Ayade receives Independent Newspaper best governor award, harps on agro-industrialization


Cross River State governor, Sir Ben Ayade has tasked governments at various levels to diversify their economies by investing heavily in agriculture in order to address the army of youth unemployment in the country.
Ayade gave the charge during the conferment of the Governor of the Year Award on Agro-Industrial development on him at the Independent Newspaper Award night held at the Convention Centre of the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Speaking after receiving the award, the governor said his administration realised at inception that Agro- industrialisation was the best way to go in a mono-economy like Nigeria's, hence his aggressive pursuit of the policy, adding that he totally aligns with President Muhammadu Buhari's roadmap for Nigeria beyond oil.
Ayade stressed that Agro- Industrialisation was the antidote for youth unemployment and hunger.
Said the governor: "I agree with President Muhammadu Buhari that his roadmap on Nigeria beyond oil, Agro-Industrial revolution was the way to go. If you dont have food on your table, you don't have business being here because hunger would not have allowed you to be here."
The real revolution, according to Ayade, "is the Agro-industrial revolution. It is the first step to take for any nation that is a developing one, and wants to see tomorrow.
"For what our young men and women are going through in terms of unemployment, we definitely need to focus on youth unemployment and we can only start it by digitalising agriculture thereby attracting our young ones who are out of school into agriculture.”
The governor warned that if the massive youth unemployment bedevilling the nation was not urgently addressed, it may spell doom for the country in the nearest future.
"I believe that the entire country is watching and conscious of the fact that the massive unemployment, if not addressed, I'm sure in the next five years, we won't have the luxury of sitting like this or even for an award," he stated.
Ayade, while thanking the management of Independent newspaper for finding him worthy for the Award, said he was dedicating the honour to "the young men and women who for no fault of theirs are finding employment a bit of a challenge."
Continuing, the governor said: "Through technology-driven agro industrial development, we can curb insecurity and other socio-economic challenges that are threatening our nation.
"Today in Cross River state, we are making young people millionaires through agriculture which is known as G-money."
Earlier, the management of Independent Newspapers lauded governor Ayade's agro- Industrialisation drive, acknowledging that he has made a name for himself as one governor who has identified agriculture as the basis for the growth and development of any society.
"One thing is very significant in Cross River under this charismatic leader. He has made agriculture, particularly rice production, very attractive to young ones, leading to an influx of young minds into rice production," the paper said.

The Sagacity Of Deep Vision: How Ayade is Changing The Economic Fortunes Of Cross River State Through Agro Industrialization.

Recently, the visionary governor of Cross River State, Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade was given an award as the Independent Newspaper Best Governor Of The Year 2019 in the area of Agro Industrial Development. The governor received the award amidst great applause from citizens and his admirers.

His achievements in the area of Agro Industrialization are outstanding in Nigeria and indeed Africa and among other things, are born of deep vision. This treatise seeks to examine the power of this vision, his strides and the expected impact on the state's economy of course leading to its development.

Roy T. Bennett said and I quote "Leaders are limited by their vision rather than by their abilities." This perhaps will guide us as I attempt to expound on one of the leadership qualities Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade has brought to bear on the governance of Cross River State in the past few years; Deep Vision.

According to the dictionary, vision is defined as the ability to think about or plan the future with imagination or wisdom. It is also said to be an idea or mental image of something. Without vision, nothing of essence can be attained.

Deep Vision is thus the ability to see beyond the ordinary, beyond what is visible to the average person. It is important for beating a path to an outstanding future and crafting a plan for astounding state development. It is important for unveiling a society that offers the best standards of living for it's people.

Tony Dungy puts it succinctly when he said "The first step toward creating an improved future is developing the ability to envision it." The better the future one wants, the deeper the vision one must have.

The deep vision of His Excellency, Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade, the visionary governor of Cross River State is one quality that is changing the economic fortunes of the state and assuring us of a better future. The Agro industrial revolution born of this deep vision is increasing production, creating jobs and unleashing prosperity for the state.

The Agro Industrialization drive of the industrialist governor has birthed more than thirty industries in Cross River State and these are at various stages of completion and operation in the state. Indeed each of the 18 local government areas in the state has an industry focused on its area of competitive advantage with Calabar the capital having several at the industrial park.

Some of these industries include the Vitaminized Rice Mill in Ogoja, the largest rice producing Local Government Area in the region, the ultra modern Cocoa Processing Factory at Ikom Local Government Area, which is at the heart of Cocoa production in Cross River State and the Organic Fertilizer Factory built for organic farm products in the state.

Others are the Cross River Garment Factory, the biggest automated garment factory in Africa, the Chicken Processing Factory, located in Calabar the state capital and is expected to process about 6,000 frozen chicken per hour and the toothpick factory, located in Ekori, Yakurr Local Government Area.

There is also the Calabar Noodles Factory located at the Ayade Idustrial Layout which will produce Calavita instant noodles in three flavours of Rice, Chicken and Suya, the Cross River Rice Seed and Seedling Factory which is the first of it's kind in Africa and the Sack Factory also located at the industrial park.

The Feedmill will produce feed for the ultra-modern integrated 20,000 birds per day poultry farm both which are located in Calabar, the state capital. The Calabar Pharmaceutical Company is set to produce drugs for AyadeCare; the state's free healthcare scheme.

To attempt to enumerate all the industries built by the Ayade led administration in the state will take not only the entire space but also time in this treatise. Suffice it to say that there are industries servicing every value chain and in every area that the state has comparative advantage.

All these industries when fully operational are expected to not only turn around the economy of the state but also wean the state off the dependence on monthly federal allocation. Thousands of direct and indirect jobs are being created already for the teeming youthful population in the state.

Governor Ayade has said in several fora that, for any state or nation that seeks to grow its economy and create jobs for it's people, Agro Industrialization remains the key. This is the reason his deep vision for Cross River State was born.

There is no doubt that Cross River State is on it's way to a phenomenal economic development born of this deep vision and this will change its fortune ensuring a better life and future for its citizens, thanks to the deep vision of His Excellency, Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade.

Let me end this with a quote from the Holy Book, Proverbs 29:18 says: Where there is no vision, the people perish. Thank God we are not a people destined to perish even as we work to accomplish our deep vision.

Emmanuel Etim is Senior Special Assistant on Creative And Knowledge Economy to Governor Ayade of Cross River State.

Group Rallies Support For Cross River Assembly.

A non governmental group under the aegis of "No Siddon Look" have organised a rally in support of the Cross River State House of Assembly decision not to confirm Justice Mrs Akon Ikpeme.

The group carried out a rally along major streets of calabar to show their solidarity with the decision of the house of assembly.

Speaking during the rally the convener and DG of the group Mr Portrait Peterson stated that the decision of the Cross River State House of Assembly is in consonance with the present realities facing the nation.

According to Mr Peterson, " What we are doing here today is a solidarity rally in support of the Cross River State House of assembly decision on who leads our judiciary in the State. It is indeed a peaceful protest where we have come out to rejoice and celebrate this decision and to thank the state house for doing the right thing in the Interest of our dear State. "

Applauding the independence given to the legislature, Mr Peterson said " This is the first time the three arms of government have operated independently on a matter and come up with a satisfying conclusion and that is how it should be. "

He warned that the group will not sit back and tolerate any foreign intervention on issues that border on Cross River State alone adding that under the leadership of professor Ben Ayade, the state is growing day by day and will soon take back it's pride of place among states in the country.

" The house decision was a unanimous one either to confirm or not to confirm and they made their choice in the interest of Cross River, therefore it is very sad to hear that some powerful Nigerians are putting pressure on the Cross River State House of Assembly to reverse their decision. We want to use this opportunity to state very clearly that such action will be met with stiff resistance by Cross Riverians. "

Also speaking, the Cross River Coordinator for "No Siddon Look" , Barr Crystal Ogar commended the Speaker of the house for being resolute and firm in making this decision.

According to him this was a decision taken in the overall Interest of Cross River one devoid of sentiment and ethnicity.

And have the time of their lives

National Sports Festival: Cross River Recieve Unity Torch.. Charge Contingents To Return Victorious




As part of the customs and requirements for the National Sports Festival, the 'Unity Torch' which symbolises Unity and the symbol of the Festival has been received by His Excellency, the State Governor, Sen. (Prof.) Ben Ayade at the U. J. Esuene Sports Stadium, Calabar.

Speaking during the reception of the unity torch, the State Governor, Sen. (Prof.) Ben Ayade represented by his deputy Professor Ivara Esu noted that the State is a major participant in the national festival and is happy to have received the torch, stating that the enthusiasm in the air conveyed by the athletes, indicates that they are ready.

The Governor who praised the attitude of the athletes stated that "Cross River State no dey carry last" and that the State athletes have been training very hard and is sure they will come back with as many laurels as possible and make the State proud.

"We are happy to have received the torch and we can see the enthusiasm in the air showing clearly that Cross River is ready to participate in the games.

Continuing the Governor said " Our athletes are in high spirits and they know that in Cross River, " we no d carry last" they have trained very hard for this and on our part as government we promise to give them the enabling support to come out victorious. "



He wished the athletes the best as they compete in the festival, and assured them of governments support for their welfare all through the competition.

Also speaking, the Cross River State Commissioner for Sports and Cinematography, Chief Offu Aya stated that athletes from the State have been training and are ready to make the state proud and return her back to her glory days, adding that their rigorous training will pay off as they compete against their opponents from other States.

He charged them to be good ambassadors of the State and put in their best to ensure that many laurels are won for the State.

On his part, the Zonal Coordinator, South South Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mr. Sylvester Essiet, explained that every festival, the torch of unity goes round the Federation, informing that the significance is that it promotes peace, unity and friendship, which is the hallmark of the competition.

He further explained that the unity torch relay was flagged off on the 30th of January, 2020 by the president and has gone round the States in the North East, North Central, North West and South East while Calabar marks the beginning of the South South States tour.

He noted that after the South South States, the torch would move to the South West and finally to Edo State on the 22nd of March for the official opening ceremony of the 20th National Sports Festival.

Mr. Essiet also informed that the host State is more than 90% ready for the festival and all the athletes and sports enthusiasts are looking forward to a fantastic and robust festival come 22nd March to April 1 2020 in Edo State.

He called on all stakeholders irrespective of their State's of origin to support and make sure it succeeds, noting that the national sports festival is an opportunity and a platform for the country to identify and produce athletes that will represent the country continentally and so it's a place for everybody.

In the bid to promote Africanism through arts and culture, the Cross River State Governor, Sen.( Prof). Ben Ayade, will host the maiden edition of the Africa Festival of Arts and Culture ( AFRIFAC), which is projected to hold in the third quarter of 2020, in Calabar.

This was revealed by the Convener, AFRIFAC and Managing Director, Cross River Tourism Bureau, Mr. Utsu John Atsu, who represented the Governor at the press briefing to herald the showpiece in Calabar.

Mr. Atsu said AFRIFAC, which is rooted in Senator Ayade's vision to build a strong bond of tolerance, acceptance and unity amongst African countries, will be the biggest event out of the African continent since FESTAC 77.

Highlighting the events on the AFRIFAC calendar, the Managing Director said " AFRIFAC is Africa by Africa for Africa. There will a lot of intellectual and economic exchange as all 54 African countries in the continent, are expected to showcase their arts, crafts and culture.

"A lot of planning has gone and is still going into the project. In the coming weeks, more details will be communicated, such as the theme, venues," etcetera,he pointed out.

Mr. Atsu explained that Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade will officially unveil AFRIFAC in order to give it the colour and statue the event represents.

Responding to the question of AFRIFAC's sustainability, Mr. Atsu said both the Government and private sector are already partnering to achieve that goal.


Clarifying the expressions of doubt cast on the future of Carnival Calabar, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism Development, Mr. Eric Anderson, said AFRIFAC is not in any way intended to take the spotlight away from the annual Carnival Calabar and Calabar Festivals, which is 15 years old but to create excitement spanned across the year so that the State has an influx of tourists and visitors all year round .

The Director General, Cross River State Sinage and Advertisement Agency (CRISSA), Mr. Effiom Effiwatt and the Special Assistant to the Governor on Entertainment, Mr. Effiom Bassey were also present at the briefing.

Activities slated for week long event include; Africa Carnival, Africa Street Party, Mr. and Miss Africa, Magic shows, Cuisine display, Cultural performances, Corporate parleys, Bikers parade, Technovation, Royal parades, Talisman shows and lots more.

CROSS RIVER ASSEMBLY CALLS FOR SANCTION OF NBA PRESIDENT ,PAUL USORO SAN
FOR PROMOTING TRIBAL WAR IN NIGERIA


....SAYS HE IS NOT A SOLE ADMINISTRATOR OF NBA.



It is no longer news that the recommendation of Justice Akon Ikpeme as substantive CJ by the NJC and her subsequent appointment by the Governor on the 8th day of January 2020 was brought to a lawful close on the 2nd day of March 2020 when the CRHA in exercise of its powers under S. 271 (1) of the CFRN 1999 (as amended) rejected her confirmation on grounds of security. Coincidentally and unfortunately also, her appointment as Acting CJ by the Governor which was occasioned by the retirement of Justice Michael Edem and made pursuant to S. 271 (4) of the CFRN 1999 ( as amended) also expired on the same day 2/3/20 and the resolution of the CRHA was duly communicated to the Executive on the same day.

It is important to add that His Excellency on receipt of the resolution of the CRHA and the advice of the Attorney General and Commissioner for justice on the need to ensure that a vacuum was not created in the headship of the Judiciary and in compliance with S. 271 (4) of the CFRN 1999 (as amended), proceeded on the 3rd day of March 2020 to swear in the most senior judge, Justice Maurice Odey Eneji in acting capacity pending the recommendation of a substantive Chief Judge by the NJC for appointment.

The law is trite that except the NJC recommends, the present appointment of Justice Maurice Eneji as Acting CJ will also lapse at the expiration of 3 months and the Governor will not reappointed him. S. 271 (5) of the CFRN 1999 (as amended) is clear on this.

What is now news is the misleading publication by the President of the NBA Mr Paul Usoro SAN who in a frenzied expression of his ethnic agenda made himself a sole administrator of the NBA and has been issuing unguarded press statements that is aimed at deriding our sovereign and independent status as a sub national and an affront on our legislative independence as an arm of Government.

It is important to place on record that even though the committee received petitions bothering on the origin of Justice Akon Ikpeme, but it is instructive to state that she was not rejected on the flimsy ground of being a non indigen by birth but on weighthy and damaging security reasons which the House decided not to divulge because of the grave implications it will have on the person of Justice Akon Ikpeme.

It will be recall that the JSC of the state immediately convened a meeting and notified the NJC of its action appointing the most senior judge to act while awaiting the recommendation of the NJC as a mark of respect and due process of appointment of judges in a memo dated 3/3/20 ref. No. JSC /S/71/vol 111/489 duly signed by the Attorney General as Alternate chairman of JSC in CRS.

We want all well meaning Cross Riverians to know that the fear of external influence on Cross River State which CRHA expressed and based its rejection of Justice Akon Ikpeme on is what Mr Paul Usoro SAN is now exhibiting.

We have indeed been vindicated and we give God all the glory for our perspicacity in rejecting the confirmation of Justice Akon Ikpeme as substantive CJ.

What really does Akwa Ibom state want from Cross River State?

Why did Justice Akon Ikpeme mobilized armed thugs from Akwa Ibom state ( two of whom were later arrested and are still in police custody ) to disrupt the sitting of the House on Friday 28th February 2020?

Why did Justice Akon Ikpeme shut down all courts and ordered JUSUN to mobilize all her members to the CRHA to impress and compel members of the CRHA to confirm her?

It is important to let Mr Paul Usoro SAN know that CRHA is not an arm of NBA but an arm of Government with functions clearly spelt out in the 1999 constitution and will neither be intimidated by Mr Usoro 's threat nor will it surrender its constitutional power of confirmation of Chief Judge to Mr Paul Usoro SAN.

We challenge Mr Paul Usoro to point any iota of alleged contravention (if any) by the CRHA with respect to the powers conferred on the CRHA by S. 271 (1) supra.

We are not oblivious of the fact that Mr Usoro 's failed political interference and deep ethnic campaigns in the past few months will stop at nothing but we want to state in clear terms that the 9th Assembly of Cross River State will not fold its arms and allow Mr Usoro SAN take over its function nor allow any indigen of Akwa Ibom state dominate or oppress any arm of Government in Cross River State.

We therefore call on all Cross Riverians, to rise in unison to condemn the threat of Mr Paul Usoro SAN ( an indigin of Akwa Ibom state) who is using his last few months in office as president of NBA to fight ethnic battles and usurp our constitutional duties with the intention of imposing his fellow sister from Akwa Ibom state Justice Akon Ikpeme as chief Judge of our state through the same illegal and fraudulent ways he orchestrated the taking of our oil wells and eventual ceeding of our oil rich bakassi peninsula to the Republic of Cameroon which has now reduced us to penury and excruciating social tension and economic hardship

The time to fight against external interference is now. Mr Usoro SAN is only an NBA president and not a sole administrator of NBA and cannot also replace his self serving ethnic agenda to impose a lady whom we have rejected to be our Chief judge.

For the record, we rejected her based on the myriad of grave security concerns including the mobilization of armed thugs to the Assembly, shutting down of all courts and inciting members of JUSUN to compel members through threat messages to confirm her.

The committee also considered as a serious issue the class petition of concerned lawyers who stated clearly that the confirmation of Justice Ikpeme will spell doom in the Judiciary obtainment of judgment by fraud will become the new practice order since Mr Mba Nkweni SAN influences all her judgments.

This allegation was also corroborated by her own admission in a curriculum vitae she submitted to the house with the name of Mr Mba Nkweni SAN as her reference; further investigation also revealed that her daughter practices in his firm.

The petition of accepting bribe from a former Senator and many other damaging reports which the committee considered as too damaging to divulge with its wide security implications on the were the reasons for the rejection of her confirmation and not merely her origin from Akwa Ibom state.

We call on the NJC to sanction Mr Paul Usoro SAN for using his office to fight ethnic battles.

We humbly urge the NJC to disregard any letter, petition, or complaint emanating from Mr Paul Usoro SAN or any of his agent, privy, etc. and we urge NJC to suspend him from participating in any meeting in respect of any issue regarding the appointment of a substantive CJ of CRS as Mr Paul Usoro SAN has by his selfish conduct reduced himself to an ethnic jingoist and an interested party who is only out to reinforce his peechant for causing pains and hardship on Cross River State.

The role Mr Usoro SAN played in the ceeding of our 76 oil wells is still too fresh in our hearts and even if we do not have the resources to fight back on this, we will continue to carry our function within the ambit of the constitution and we pray to God and Almighty Allah to stand up against any attempt by Paul Usoro SAN to use his position in NJC to impose a CJ that we have lawfully rejected in compliance with S. 271 (1) of the CFRN 1999 (as amended) on us.

Signed
CRHA

Ayade meets Fashola, seeks special intervention for Cross River

Cross River State governor, Sir Ben Ayade, has made a passionate appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to do a sober reflection on the challenging situation confronting his state with a view to offering succor.

Ayade made the plea Monday, during a courtesy call on him by the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola at the state executive chamber, Governor’s Office, Calabar.

While soliciting the intervention of the Minister who was in the state to undertake an assessment of roads in respect of which states governments have made claims for refunds for interventions over the years, Governor Ayade said Cross River has continued to bear the brunt of depreciation of all federal roads in the state, on account of high incidence of massive trucks going on our roads,
as it remains the major source of raw materials for building projects in the entire South-South.
“I want to specially commend the members of your entourage and the team on your visit to the state to assess the level of our intervention. Our situation presents a very unique and peculiar circumstance. A state whose land mass is equivalent to all the other states of the Niger Delta put together. A state that is very massive in terms of commercial rainfall and therefore puts at serious pressure on our roads,” Ayade intimated.

Lamenting the unbearable pressure exerted on the federal roads in the state, the governor said: “The state as you rightly noted, is the major source of building materials for the entire South-South. This, therefore, has a high incidence of massive trucks going on our roads. However you look at it, we are very much at the forefront of the development of the South-south.

“While other states are small and compact in size, Cross River State stretches in a very linear manner, stretching over 7 hours of driveway from Calabar to Obanliku. yet you are in the same state. The only state with two airports far apart from each other, you fly from Calabar airport to Bebi Airport in Obanliku and you are still in the same State. And so, commuting on land transport becomes a very big challenge. Linking two communities is not a big challenge when a state is small, but when a state is very long, linking two communities is an ordeal. And so, we have a circumstance and situation where a population of about 4.2 million people, distributed along 23,000 square kilometers of land, sharing both local and international boundaries, including maritime and land boundaries becomes challenging.”

Ayade who further bemoaned the peculiarity of Cross River, also called for a special status to be accorded the state: “Transportation, particularly is a very big challenge and I think in the nature and manner of federal character that we speak, this special status and special challenge requires special attention as a government. Unfortunately, in the kind of federal structure that we run consideration beyond this comes into play.”

“Knowing your background as a Senior Advocate Nigeria (SAN), an astute, decent, wonderful, performing governor of Lagos State, whose signature performance has remained a standard for other governors to follow, your tenure has given us an impetus and a window to see through the workings of your inner body and I believe that you will bring that energy and passion that you made you the darling of Lagos State while as governor to Cross River. We are characterized by very challenging terrain. The enormous rainfall pattern puts a very big challenge on our roads. We are in such a situation that I would not want to speak on camera, but indeed our finances have gone to the lowest level, occasioned by the loss of our oil wells, occasioned by the ceding of Bakassi,” the governor entreated Fashola.

Continuing, Ayade wailed: “Indeed the NDDC took us away from the 13 percent derivation and under NDDC, the quantum of work done or budget allocated to your state is a factor of the amount of oil produced and now that we have been manually taken away from oil producing states, we therefore also suffer the incidental damage associated with the loss of the oil wells. So NDDC funding to Cross River State is the lowest among the NDDC states. Thirteen percent derivation is gone, oil wells gone, Bakassi gone, all our own militants who also surrendered under the instruction of the federal government to be taken into amnesty has been an impossible thing. While every other state is under the amnesty program, Cross River State is not. I say this in melancholy just to give you a background of the circumstance of our state.”

In a passionate plea to the Works and Housing Minister, Governor beseeched: “I believe that as you go before the Federal Executive Council, in presenting your budget, let them look beyond your report and see what special incentives and intervention that can be give you to support Cross River State. As you go through, you will see that we are doing a dualization of Calabar/Odukpani road, which indeed, by all circumstances is a federal road, but I understand because the metropolitan city has grown to join up, it is almost being classified now as a state road, but that is an intervention for Federal Government because, as the rains are coming, to get into Calabar, you would, of course, have slept in Odukpani Junction for three to four days.

According to Ayade, “we really needed to dualize the road, that was why we approached you and you graciously approved, allowing us to do the dualization of the road. I Am using this opportunity to plead with you, giving the background of the circumstance of our income and our economy, and you have been there, you were there yourself to see the work we are doing. My heart bleeds to hear that we can’t get a refund of that. My heart also bleeds that the road which stretches from the whole of the eastern states up to Delta, coming through Obudu cattle ranch, which is an old federal road has been there since the early 90s, yet no attention by the Federal Government ever since. That road is near completion, about 145km and Cross River State Government is doing the dualization. “I don’t know if your team was there, but if you look at the amount of work we have done from the Obanliku/Obudu axis, we are now approaching Bekwarra. By next month, we will start from Okuku/Ogoja and getting to Okpoma to end that project. All of that are interventions on behalf of the federal because the reality is that even though it is a federal road, we have no option but to provide service for our people, and that is the road that brings all the food stuff out of Okuku market which is the biggest market in the South South of Nigeria, to take to the North and also take food stuff from North to Southern Nigeria. If that road was not fixed, am sure we will have a complete new catastrophe before us.”

Earlier, Fashola had disclosed that his visit to Cross River State, his second within two weeks which was at the instance of Mr President was for the Presidential Committee which the Ministry of works chairs, with some other ministries, including the office of the Secretary to the Government to undertake an assessment of roads in respect of which States Governments have claimed the refunds for interventions done over the years.
“Our mandate from Mr. President remains the same. We are not in competition with any state and our duty is to provide all the support that we can to every state government to achieve developmental objectives. Our visit here has taken us to the inspection of a couple of roads. We broke ourselves into two; a team went to inspect the intervention, in respect to what you seek claims at Obudu yesterday (Monday).
According to Fashola, “our mandate is also to assess the level of intervention that we have undertaken on those roads to verify that they were actually done and we have gone and we have seen, we will submit our report and we will present it before the Federal Executive Council to take a decision with respect to the claims by your state.
“Just for public consumption it might be important to reiterate that States like Bayelsa, Ondu, Osun and Rivers are also involved in this later phase of the exercise and I say later phase because in the first stance when this committee was initially constituted, many states filled claims including Cross River, there were documentation issues which delayed the attention to Cross River State.
“We had to reconstitute because by the time the documents from Cross River State arrived, our mandate had expired, so we had to be reconstituted to state this phase.
If and hopefully when, any of the states receives their claim, they should be ready to also own up that they have contributed to the public debt and investment in infrastructure.
“Perhaps it bears repeating that Cross River serves as a major source of building materials for the south-south and most parts of the country; for quarry, granites, rods, stones and also cement. And that means that the tonnage exerted on federal roads that carry these drops is quite much.”

Ayade meets Fashola, seeks special intervention for Cross River

Cross River State governor, Sir Ben Ayade, has made a passionate appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to do a sober reflection on the challenging situation confronting his state with a view to offering succor.

Ayade made the plea Monday, during a courtesy call on him by the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola at the state executive chamber, Governor’s Office, Calabar.

While soliciting the intervention of the Minister who was in the state to undertake an assessment of roads in respect of which states governments have made claims for refunds for interventions over the years, Governor Ayade said Cross River has continued to bear the brunt of depreciation of all federal roads in the state, on account of high incidence of massive trucks going on our roads,
as it remains the major source of raw materials for building projects in the entire South-South.
“I want to specially commend the members of your entourage and the team on your visit to the state to assess the level of our intervention. Our situation presents a very unique and peculiar circumstance. A state whose land mass is equivalent to all the other states of the Niger Delta put together. A state that is very massive in terms of commercial rainfall and therefore puts at serious pressure on our roads,” Ayade intimated.

Lamenting the unbearable pressure exerted on the federal roads in the state, the governor said: “The state as you rightly noted, is the major source of building materials for the entire South-South. This, therefore, has a high incidence of massive trucks going on our roads. However you look at it, we are very much at the forefront of the development of the South-south.

“While other states are small and compact in size, Cross River State stretches in a very linear manner, stretching over 7 hours of driveway from Calabar to Obanliku. yet you are in the same state. The only state with two airports far apart from each other, you fly from Calabar airport to Bebi Airport in Obanliku and you are still in the same State. And so, commuting on land transport becomes a very big challenge. Linking two communities is not a big challenge when a state is small, but when a state is very long, linking two communities is an ordeal. And so, we have a circumstance and situation where a population of about 4.2 million people, distributed along 23,000 square kilometers of land, sharing both local and international boundaries, including maritime and land boundaries becomes challenging.”

Ayade who further bemoaned the peculiarity of Cross River, also called for a special status to be accorded the state: “Transportation, particularly is a very big challenge and I think in the nature and manner of federal character that we speak, this special status and special challenge requires special attention as a government. Unfortunately, in the kind of federal structure that we run consideration beyond this comes into play.”

“Knowing your background as a Senior Advocate Nigeria (SAN), an astute, decent, wonderful, performing governor of Lagos State, whose signature performance has remained a standard for other governors to follow, your tenure has given us an impetus and a window to see through the workings of your inner body and I believe that you will bring that energy and passion that you made you the darling of Lagos State while as governor to Cross River. We are characterized by very challenging terrain. The enormous rainfall pattern puts a very big challenge on our roads. We are in such a situation that I would not want to speak on camera, but indeed our finances have gone to the lowest level, occasioned by the loss of our oil wells, occasioned by the ceding of Bakassi,” the governor entreated Fashola.

Continuing, Ayade wailed: “Indeed the NDDC took us away from the 13 percent derivation and under NDDC, the quantum of work done or budget allocated to your state is a factor of the amount of oil produced and now that we have been manually taken away from oil producing states, we therefore also suffer the incidental damage associated with the loss of the oil wells. So NDDC funding to Cross River State is the lowest among the NDDC states. Thirteen percent derivation is gone, oil wells gone, Bakassi gone, all our own militants who also surrendered under the instruction of the federal government to be taken into amnesty has been an impossible thing. While every other state is under the amnesty program, Cross River State is not. I say this in melancholy just to give you a background of the circumstance of our state.”

In a passionate plea to the Works and Housing Minister, Governor beseeched: “I believe that as you go before the Federal Executive Council, in presenting your budget, let them look beyond your report and see what special incentives and intervention that can be give you to support Cross River State. As you go through, you will see that we are doing a dualization of Calabar/Odukpani road, which indeed, by all circumstances is a federal road, but I understand because the metropolitan city has grown to join up, it is almost being classified now as a state road, but that is an intervention for Federal Government because, as the rains are coming, to get into Calabar, you would, of course, have slept in Odukpani Junction for three to four days.

According to Ayade, “we really needed to dualize the road, that was why we approached you and you graciously approved, allowing us to do the dualization of the road. I Am using this opportunity to plead with you, giving the background of the circumstance of our income and our economy, and you have been there, you were there yourself to see the work we are doing. My heart bleeds to hear that we can’t get a refund of that. My heart also bleeds that the road which stretches from the whole of the eastern states up to Delta, coming through Obudu cattle ranch, which is an old federal road has been there since the early 90s, yet no attention by the Federal Government ever since. That road is near completion, about 145km and Cross River State Government is doing the dualization. “I don’t know if your team was there, but if you look at the amount of work we have done from the Obanliku/Obudu axis, we are now approaching Bekwarra. By next month, we will start from Okuku/Ogoja and getting to Okpoma to end that project. All of that are interventions on behalf of the federal because the reality is that even though it is a federal road, we have no option but to provide service for our people, and that is the road that brings all the food stuff out of Okuku market which is the biggest market in the South South of Nigeria, to take to the North and also take food stuff from North to Southern Nigeria. If that road was not fixed, am sure we will have a complete new catastrophe before us.”

Earlier, Fashola had disclosed that his visit to Cross River State, his second within two weeks which was at the instance of Mr President was for the Presidential Committee which the Ministry of works chairs, with some other ministries, including the office of the Secretary to the Government to undertake an assessment of roads in respect of which States Governments have claimed the refunds for interventions done over the years.
“Our mandate from Mr. President remains the same. We are not in competition with any state and our duty is to provide all the support that we can to every state government to achieve developmental objectives. Our visit here has taken us to the inspection of a couple of roads. We broke ourselves into two; a team went to inspect the intervention, in respect to what you seek claims at Obudu yesterday (Monday).
According to Fashola, “our mandate is also to assess the level of intervention that we have undertaken on those roads to verify that they were actually done and we have gone and we have seen, we will submit our report and we will present it before the Federal Executive Council to take a decision with respect to the claims by your state.
“Just for public consumption it might be important to reiterate that States like Bayelsa, Ondu, Osun and Rivers are also involved in this later phase of the exercise and I say later phase because in the first stance when this committee was initially constituted, many states filled claims including Cross River, there were documentation issues which delayed the attention to Cross River State.
“We had to reconstitute because by the time the documents from Cross River State arrived, our mandate had expired, so we had to be reconstituted to state this phase.
If and hopefully when, any of the states receives their claim, they should be ready to also own up that they have contributed to the public debt and investment in infrastructure.
“Perhaps it bears repeating that Cross River serves as a major source of building materials for the south-south and most parts of the country; for quarry, granites, rods, stones and also cement. And that means that the tonnage exerted on federal roads that carry these drops is quite much.”

Ayade swears in Justice Eneji acting Chief Judge of Cross River

Cross River State Governor, Sir Ben Ayade Tuesday at the state executive council chamber, swore in Justice Maurice Eneji as the acting Chief Judge of the state.
This follows the non-confirmation, Monday, of Justice Akon Ikpeme as the substantive Chief Judge of the state by the Cross River State House of Assembly.
Ayade said the swearing in of Justice Eneji was imperative as law and nature abhor a vacuum.
He congratulated the acting Chief Judge on his appointment and urged him to dispense justice without fear or favour.
“I urge you to dispense justice without fear or favour, you have to have fairness of mind. The law is blind and should not be sensitive to religion, ethnicity, colour or any other affiliation. “We ask that the leadership of the judiciary under your watch should be very exemplary and should be such that every other state would like to emulate. We know your background and believe that you are competent and capable and worthy of this office,” he said.
The governor used the occasion to clear any doubts as to how receptive the state is to everyone, irrespective of where they come from.
“Cross River State is known for fairness, equity and what is fair. We are opposed to anything that is repugnant to natural justice. Our people are not known for bias and prejudices.”
He said as a governor, he has taken several decisions in the past to ensure equity and fairness in the distribution of government positions so as to have a balanced representation across the senatorial zones in the state.
The governor gave instances where he insisted the position of the Provost of College of Education, Akamkpa be given to a southern candidate even when a candidate from the North had the highest scores.
He said he similarly overlooked a northerner in the choice of Head of Service when he assumed office, preferring a southerner instead just to avoid having a lop-sided government with key officials coming from a particular zone.
According to the Ayade, “Currently, I have over 20 non-Cross Riverians holding various appointments in my government. Some of the appointees are from far flung states like Kano, Imo, Edo to as close as Akwa Ibom state, which has a commissioner in my cabinet. I am not not known or given to sectionalism or tribalism. I believe in equity.”
In a vote of thanks, the new acting Chief Judge pledged to enthrone a number of reforms that will aide justice delivery in the state.
He also promised to be a listening acting Chief Judge.
According to him, “My appointment came to me as a beautiful surprise. I am coming to the office with a mind to listen. The sacred duty of a judge is to listen before adjudicating. I will listen at all times to ensure that justice is served at all times.”
Justice Eneji also promised that the judiciary under him will be tough on criminals.

32 political parties laud Ayade on performance, salute him at 52


Thirty two political parties under the aegis of Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), have felicitated with Cross River state governor, Professor Ben Ayade on his 52 birthday, saying there were no words enough to adequately describe his persona.

The body, in a press statement paid glowing tribute to the governor, describing him as a child of promise and father of modern Cross River respectively.

"Blessed be the day that a child of promise was ushered into our world, by the host of heavens, to shape and reshape events to your glory.

“The dexterity with which you had manipulated the wheels of destiny, to ascend the ladder of prominence, even from your widely known humble beginnings, reflect of you, not only an image seemingly invincible, but also a human of outstanding personality, who had long been divinely crafted, even before you were born, for this onerous task of designing and bringing about silent revolution in your people's favour", CNPP told the governor.

The body said governor Ayade's sterling performance in office speaks for him and has earned him global recognition, stressing that the world has taken notice of him.

CNPP: "Nigeria and indeed the world have come to know you as a rare gem whose intellectual prowess transcends the ordinary based on the inspiration you continue to dish out to us all.

You have sustained an impeccable track record of service in leadership as you allow opposition with no issues to raise and have rather turned them to your students as they have long preoccupied themselves studying your enigmatic and dexterous acts"

Celebrating a dogged leader @ 52


By Linus Obogo


Nearly five years ago, Professor Benedict Bengioushuye Ayade bestrode the political firmament, just as he was tossed upon us by the tidal waves of politics then.

At that time, Cross Riverians were in urgent need of rescue. The state was crumbling under an asphyxiating debt overhang as well as bearish pangs of full blown economic recession.

There was no better time Ayade would have sprung forth. He came in the nick of time.

For us, hope sprang eternal. Unyielding and unflappable, and in a messianic blaze of glory, Ayade came with a redemption song. He came poised to brush off the gloom, doom and despondency of the time. Swiftly, he parried the jibes and jabs of sneerers and proclaimed a new assurance to Cross Riverians.

With the audacity of hope, and a toughness unimaginable, Ayade would hoist himself face to face with what seemed then a daunting and an insurmountable reality which stared us as a people.

Like the story of his boyhood life, Ayade saw Cross River as a sinking ship that needed urgent tugging and rescuing.

He began to dream lofty dreams, dared mighty things with a view to etching glorious triumphs for the state and its people.

For a young man who literally clawed himself out of lack, his storied past would form the canvass on which his vision for the state would be shaped.

As a newly sworn in governor still trying to settle in, it took no time for him to alter the dynamics, disproving that he was your every day Nigerian politician who merely stumbled into governance.

Long before his emergence as governor in 2015, Ayade had envisioned a new Cross River where the state would no longer be defined by its hitherto unsavoury peasantry status, but as an egalitarian society, one that would conduce to a socially stable, economically rewarding, business friendly paradise, so robust to galvanise both local and foreign entrepreneurs to seek wealth creating opportunities as well as a preferred destination for investment.

A leader who was very much in a hurry to deliver, a gust of energy and an air of urgency oozed, revealing a hyperactivity of restiveness and restlessness to wrought a change.

Almost five years down the line as governor, his vision, passion, pedigree and above all, his nimble and midas touch have radically altered the socioeconomic landscape of the state.

In spite of the financially anaemic condition that defines the state, his audacity of hope, his tenacity of purpose and the clarity of his vision would not yield to the vagaries and tempest that attempted to take the wind out of his sail.

And no matter the monster or the behemoth of daunting realities which tried to stand in his way, the determination and resilience to punch his ticket to the economic rescue of Cross River was too emboldening to cause his heart to faint.

Thus, he set about punching above his weight and beyond the carrying capacity of the state, and leaving in his trial, multibillion naira projects and industries that only a few states could boast of.

Spurred on by his ingenuity and financial wizardry, his administration began the transformation of Cross River into a massive industrial hub, birthing over 30 industries and still counting, with mega road projects going on across the state.

Among the industries already completed are the Rice seedlings and seeds multiplication factory in calabar, the Calabar Pharmaceutical Company (Calalpharm), the Calabar noodles factory, Calabar chicken processing factory with a capacity to process 6000 frozen chickens per hour, the feeds mill and organic fertilizer factories, all located in Calabar. The teachers Continuing Training College, established to retrain teachers in Nigeria and sub-Sahara Africa located in Biase.

Others include toothpicks factory in Yakurr local council area, Piles and Pylons factory in Akamkpa, the 30,000 tons cocoa processing factory in Ikom, sited in the Central Senatorial district as well as the automated Ogoja rice processing mill the first and biggest of its kind in Africa, the step tiles roofing sheets company in Yala, the British/Canadian International school on Obudu, among others.

As a humanist, while other states are running a lean government by haemorrhaging their work force, Ayade decided to expand his government in order to put food on the table of his subjects. He did not only commonize payment of salaries from the first day of his swearing in, but his policy of ensuring that salaries are paid before the 20th of every month almost led to a mass protest among the state's civil servants.

As a politician who has long become famous with the sobriquet, 'Digital Governor' Ayade soon cut quite a unique appeal in the state. Among his varied subjects, the governor is an amalgam of many things to many people with an unparalleled message of hope.

For the very poor, he emblamatizes meekness and charity. For the aged, he is an epitome of compassion, for the youths, who have become fanatically charmed by his swashbuckling and zestful swagger, he nestles them like mother hen to her chicks. For the students, they are not just wowed by his intellect and bombast, in equal measure, they idolize him with an unremitting reverence.

Ayade as a politician has continued to prove himself a statesman and offering leadership with an abiding faith that demonstrates that in freedom and enterprise comes a rebirth of a greater and prosperous Cross River.

As a responsive government, he inspires with his governance policy that shows clearly that good government is all about an admixture of the wisdom of the old and the circumstances of modern times.
In his practice of politics with ethics, Ayade has gone beyond the banality of partisanship to principles, beyond the mundane to the spiritual and the souls.

Guided by the political instinct of truth, conviction and patriotism, this professor of Environmental Microbiology continues to show the way that leadership is about moral purpose, and about conscience which is an open wound, healed only by truth.

As he notches up another year today, his thoughtful leadership, uncommon wisdom, great vision and sincerity, all of which have had a profound positive impact on every aspect of our state will serve as a compass to the attainment of our greatness as a state.

As a dutiful servant leader, this university teacher, who is out on a rescue mission deserves no less than our greatest respect for the lives he has touched and will continue to touch, the stability has brought to our polity through politics of inclusion, the hope he has rekindled, the joy he has restored, the smiles he has etched on our lips, for the future he is putting in our hands, the invaluable asset he has been.

As he turns 52 today, he can hardly recall that it is his birthday. Not really because he forgot, but largely on the recognition that there's still work to be done and no time for inannities of a birthday, the frivolities of leisure or the mundanity of celebration.

While he may choose not to honour this all important day of life today, like he did in the penultimate one, the least Cross Riverians could offer this servant leader, the man who saw our tomorrow, a system purifier, proponent of intellectual money, industries crystallizer, an oracle, in the circumstance, is to, with a heart of solemnity, mention him in our private and collective supplications to the Almighty God to guide and protect him with His shield of protection so he can accomplish the sincere desires of his heart for Cross River.

Happy birthday Your Excellency!

CALABAR TO HOST AIMS 2020

By: Achiane Adams, CRS-MOI Officer reporting from Min. of Culture and Tourism Development

The City of Calabar will play host to the maiden edition of the Africa International Music Summit 2020, scheduled to hold in September this year.

This was made known when the Cross River State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism Development, Mr. Eric Anderson, received members of the AIMS Local Organizing Committee, in his Office in Okoi Arikpo House, Calabar.

Mr. Anderson, while applauding the Organizers for choosing Cross River State as the host for the maiden summit, said no mistake was made as the nation's preferred tourism hub is known for setting standards and delivering in all ramifications, be it for business or leisure.

" Due to her vibrant tilt towards enterprising tourism, which is an embodiment of diverse elements such as entertainment which includes music, Calabar remains the cradle of all things second to none" .

Endorsing the event, the Commissioner said " the summit will unravel the business potentials in music, as music goes beyond just entertainment. The music industry is an economy and those involved need to know and understand the business aspect of it to be able to breakthrough in it.

The Summit Director, AIMS LOC, Mr. Michael Odiong, said that Calabar repeatedly came up as the preferred choice and promised a smooth working relationship with the Ministry to make the event a successful one.

The Lead Organizing Director, AIMS LOC, and Special Assistant to Governor Ben Ayade on Entertainment, Mr. Effiom 'Trombone' Bassey,said the music summit will educate musical Artistes especially in Cross River State to redefine their perspectives about the business of music and understanding that it goes beyond performances and their immediate environment as they can make it from anywhere.

The 3-day music summit which is expected to hold in three locations ; the Cultural Centre Complex, Summit Hills and the Marina Resort, will have government dignitaries, renowned music artists, entertainment influencers, satellite cable music channels, creative content developers and more, grace the event.

Courses scheduled to be taught include; Music Publishing, Copy Right and Enforcement, Digital Distribution and Music Marketing.

Tinapa-Odukpani junction dual carriage road ready soon- Ayade

Cross River State Governor ,Sir Ben Ayade says the ongoing dualization of Tinapa / Odukpani Junction road will soon be completed.
The 16.7 kilometre meter long road is a Federal Government, but Governor Ayade Commenced the dualisation late 2018 as part of his vision for Greater Calabar Development Project and to ease traffic in and out of the capital city.
Ayade while speaking during the inspection of work on the road, Wednesday said construction has reached very advanced stages, readying for asphalting.

The governor, who spoke through his special Adviser on Media, Mr. Christian Ita, said the road is the main artery into Calabar, the state capital.
"Cross River State Government, under the leadership of His Excellency Sir Ben Ayade values the development of this particular road, which is the only access into Calabar.
"It is because of this that we are expanding and dualising the road despite the state of our resources.”

While giving assurances to the motorists plying the road that construction will be completed before the major raining season sets in, Ita said;
"We are at the point where asphalting is commencing, so the road is almost ready. You know the governor promised that the road will be ready and motorable by April. We will that timeline.”

Also Speaking, the Chairman of Infracross LTD, High Chief Eugene Iwuh Akeh, said the agency in charge of the execution of the project was satisfied with the level of work done so far.
According to him, anyone that passed through the road few months ago will be astounded by the level of work achieved.

"When His Excellencey said we should dualize this road, there was a lot of skepticism. The reason is that when you have a big project the gestation period is a little bit large.

"But you can see now that the job has come alive, we have gone beyond the level of whether there will be and there will not be because what you see speaks for itself.”

On his part, the Director of Civil, Ministry of Works, Eng. Godwin Akeke said Contractors are working hard to utilize the dry season due to the coastal nature of Cross River State.
He said the level of work done will enable commuters to enjoy the road at the promised date which is April, 2020.

"I will say that the percentage completion is now at over 70% . We are here now doing the stone base, ready for Mc one on this and other sections sections.

"It is our intention that before the next heavy rains from April, the should be open to traffic,” he said.
Some commuters and other road users commended Governor Ayade for his vision to dualise the road.

"We want to thank Our Governor, Professor Ben Ayade for doing this road for us. Before now, accidents and traffic snarls were a daily occurrence, particularly around this Pamol. But since the opening up of the road for dualisation, as a driver, I can see road from a far distance and there is no more traffic on the road.”

Cross River State Government To Partner NPA In Boosting Port Activities... Archibong.

The commissioner for commerce Mrs RoseMary Archibong has stated that the industrial development agenda of the state government when fully realised and becomes operational will address the issues of outbound cargo for ships berthing in the state.

Mrs Archibong made the assertion , when she led the ministry's management on a courtesy call to the NPA port manager, Mrs Marie Asein in calabar.

The Commerce Commissioner said with the factories attaining over ninety percent completion while others already operational, the state will soon be a net exporter in terms of outbound cargo from the numerous agricultural produce.

She explained that through the various investments, government was ready to partner NPA management to ensure import and export activities within the port are revived, adding that given the volume of produce anticipated, the state is in dire need of maximising the port to compliment the deep seaport under construction.


"Due to the wisdom of our Governor Sir Ben Ayade, who in a quest to decouple Cross River from over dependence on federal allocation embarked on massive industrialization drive across the state has now opened up the state to international trade."

"The kind of massive cargo we are envisaging in Calabar, requires all avenues of evacuation and notably the seaports. We realize that a lot of business is done at the maritime corridors that is why we have come here today to seek this partnership with the NPA."


Mrs Archibong who spoke on the various component and nature of the industries, alluded to the fact that the Governor Sir Ben Ayade was from on set ready to change the narrative and make Cross River one of the industrialized states with less dependence on the federal government for allocation.

The commerce boss expressed worries at the low business activities for a port that was once the cynosure of all, as a result of technicalities, hampering the efficiency of the Calabar port and hope that through promoting purposeful partnership, the Calabar port will regain her pride of place in the comity of ports in the country.


"Against all odds, Calabar port stands at a comparative advantage compared to other ports in the country in terms of proximity, ease of doing business, and operational modalities of the port. That is why we are hoping to take advantage by improving our efficiency and partnership so that Calabar port can witness inflow of business as it used to be"


Responding, the port manager Nigerian port authority calabar, Mrs Marie Asein, corroborated that calabar port remains one of the viable ports and well positioned to have trade relations with all the west coast region of the African continent, adding that her management is working to revamp the port and enhance better business environment.


She stated that despite issues of distance to the port, (fairway buoy), draft and litigation, management was leaving no stone unturned to ensure the port is viable again, hence the reduction of its shipping tariff to encourage importers and exporters to patronize the calabar port and expressed her Management's readiness to partner the state government to boost commerce in the port.

The most anticipated event of the year! *Summit Hills International Tradefair 2020* tagged:
MARKETSQUARE

An ocean of opportunities for business enterprises, entertainment, tourism, and games in a scenic environment with a clear view to nature.

Set to accommodate 1000 exhibitors, 10,000 visitors from around the world, special discounts and opportunity to engage with manufacturers directly.

features include; Business Clinic by Calcima, Networking, Go Carr Rides, shooting Games, Boat ride from Summit Hills To Calasvegas, Music, the Summit Hills Marathon' with lots of prices to be won.

DATE: 15th to 20th of April, 2020.
Entrance is FREEEEEE!!

Special Guest Of Honor His Excellency Sen Prof Ben Ayade, The Enterprising Governor Of Cross River State..

For more information and Booking for Exhibition stand, please call: 0816-671-3912, 0813-165-6959 or visit Summit Hills admin Complex, Calabar or La Shakara wears, Marian road, Calabar.

Summit Hills International Tradefair ...igniting the spirit of enterprise!!!

*Ayade poised to decentralise basic social amenities as he commissions PHCs Odor-nta and Bosoghor-Okonde in Ikom LGA*

In a bid to decentralize access to quality and affordable health services and break geographic barriers with cognizant to prompt response in times of emergency , the Cross River State Government has launched another set of primary healthcare centres in the rural areas.

This time, it happened in Odor-Nta,Nta- Nselle ward and Bosoghor-okonde both in Ikom LGA which featured characteristics such as mud houses,farmstead settlements and flourishing cocoa and plantations on both sides of the road where the Governor of Cross River State, Senator Professor Ben Ayade performed the commissioning ceremonies.
He was represented by the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Betta Edu.

At the ceremony, which attracted the attendance of traditional and religious leaders as well as women, youths and children from within and around both communities, the Director General of the Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Janet Ekpenyong said that Government under senator Professor Ben Ayade has prioritized health which is fundamental for an assured workable populace as she disclosed that the health of a nation is determined by the health of its people, hence the need to move basic and first aid health services to the door post of everyone.

She stated that,with all 196 wards boasting of at least one functional Primary healthcare centre to meet the needs of the people and the national policy for "One Primary Healthcare Centre per ward" as key to attaining Universal health coverage, it is clamorous to establish other health centres and health posts as close as to the doorsteps of every residents to decentralise basic services with little financial commitment by the people.

She decried the growing concerns in figure of maternal/child mortality in recent times owing to the continuous patronage of local skilled and unskilled birth attendants with little know how in managing breeches and complications arising during pregnancy and childbirth.

She reemphasized on the conscious effort His excellency Senator Professor Ben Ayade is making to decentralise basic health services with little financial commitment by our people,through the implementation of all national policies on health just like the social health insurance scheme, the one Primary Healthcare centre per ward, which all 196 wards in Cross River State are covered, the " PHC under one roof" aimed at reducing fragmentation of PHC services, all these are done deliberately to make sure that no woman dies during pregnancy or in child birth,no child dies from complications arising from vaccine preventable illnesses and various disease outbreak .

Earlier speaking, the Honourable commissioner for health Dr Betta Edu while commissioning the facility on behalf of the state government admonished the community to guard the facility jealously to ensure the safety of health workers and hospital equipments, stating that sabotage will only be detrimental to their own welfare .
She also sensitized them on the need to get enrolled in the Cross River Health Insurance scheme "AyadeCare" which targets at least a million enrollees yearly for more affordable,quality and accessible healthcare.

The healthcare centres which are expected to commence operations immediately will carter for the health needs of members of both communities with trained staff said to be deployed to various units such as the Family planning unit, pharmacy, labour ward and more offering free services for women and children under 5 services for common illnesses and daily immunization services .

On their separate responses, the traditional rulers and representatives of the youth appreciated the magnanimity of the state Governor, senator professor Ben Ayade in opening up new areas of development which is of great impact to their development ranging from their financial and socio-economic welfare. They noted in full assurance that, supervision of health workers to check compromise and the provision of adequate security to jealously guard all equipment in both healthcare facilities.

The occasion had renditions by children and other groups to add colour to the event even as they erupted in jubilation over the announcement of a volunteer community health extension worker in Odor-Nta as among the 7 pioneer staff that will be engaged in the facility.

National Sports festival Torch Arrives Calabar March 5th

The national sports festival torch tagged "Unity Torch" will arrive Calabar the Cross River State capital on the 5th of March, 2020.

Cross River State Commissioner for Sports and Cinematography, Chief Offu Aya disclosed this while speaking to newsmen that the torch would leave Owerri Imo State on Friday and arrive Calabar on Saturday the 5th of March.

The Commissioner stated that the torch will be received by his Governor Ben Ayade and will be taken round calabar in a fan fair to create awareness for the competition coming up in Edo state.

The Commissioner noted that Governor Ben Ayade was committed to fostering an enabling environment for sports development in the State.

" The unity torch will be leaving Owerri Imo State on Thursday the 5th of March 2020 and will arrive calabar same day where we will have a reception at the stadium with all our athletes on parade."

Continuing the comissioner said " The whole essence of the unity torch is to bring the nation together , it is a torch of unity and as the president rightly said during flag off in January, the sports sector is one of the biggest avenues we can use to empower our youths and keep them away from social vices. "


In the same vein, the Commissioner also commended Cross River State cycling contingents who won two silver at the second edition of the Cadbury Bournvita Duathlon championship held in Lagos State.

Also the kickboxing and karate team won laurels for the state at the second edition of the National trials in preparation for the national Sports festival which was held in Port Harcourt.

The Commissioner lauded the state Governor for prompt release of funds to prosecute sporting activities.

Commissioner Enjoins Chairmen of Sports To Support Government Development Efforts


Cross River State Commissioner For Sports and Cinematography, Chief Offu Aya, has admonished chairmen of different sports to step up development efforts.

The Commissioner made this known while presenting athletes and contingents representing the state in the upcoming National Sports festival to the various chairmen in Calabar.

Speaking during the occasion, the Commissioner noted that sports activities and management cannot be left in the hands of government alone.

He said "in other climes, government's involvement in sports is reduced to just supervision while private sector and individuals do the major work to scout for talents and develop such talents. But, in Nigeria it is not the case and this has to change".
Continuing he said "for you chairmen, you have a huge role to play to market your various sports, scout talent in the nooks and cranny of Cross River and to support what government is already doing in the state. That is the only way we can produce world class talent, which will win laurels for our dear state and country at large".

The Commissioner advised that as the team prepares for the national sports festival in Edo state coming up on the 20th of March 2020, the chairmen should be in constant communication with the ministry to fashion out ways of encouraging the athletes to put in their best and come out victorious during the championships.

"Our Governor, Sir Ben Ayade is doing his best to support athletes going for the sports festival in Edo. But, I want to plead with all of you not to leave the task for him alone. Let it be a collective effort between government and all of you so that when our athletes make us proud we will all share in the glory," Aya said.

Speaking unbehalf of others, chairman of aquatic sports Cross River State and Permanent Secretary, Department of Special Services, Mr Alfred Mboto promised that he and his colleagues will do all they can to support the team to return victorious from the festival.

"We are quite impressed with what we have seen so far from our athletes. We are indeed confident they will return victorious from the national sports championships. On our part, we assure the state government that we will play our roles to ensure a successful outing for our athletes at the national sports festival," Mboto said.

Highlights of the occasion included a presentation of medals won by Rustum Francis Bernard, a son of Cross River, at the West African Karate championship in Bamako, Mali and an African Championship Medal from Tanjia Morocco..

Independent newspaper Gov of the Year award is spur to do more -Ayade

Cross River State Governor, Sir Ben Ayade has disclosed that the conferment of the 2019 Governor of the Year by the Independent Newspapers Governor of the Year was a spur for him to do more for his people.

Ayade stated this in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, during the presentation of a letter of notification as Governor of the Year by the Managing Director/Editor-In-Chief of the Independent Newspapers, Steve Omanufeme and the Chairman, 2019 Award Committee, High Chief Babs Alasa.

The Independent Newspaper award is one in a series of similar recognitions for Governor Ayade in 2019. Others are Champion Newspaper Governor of the Year as well as the Leadership Newspaper Governor of the Year.

The governor described the award as a great recognition and a challenge to do more for the state in spite of the lean resources at his disposal.

While commending the selection process, Ayade said the award over the years has proved its integrity, insisting that "if it was for the highest bidder, neither I nor Cross River would have been able to afford it, but because the management of the reputable newspaper chose credibility and performance above other considerations in its selection and nomination process."
The Governor, while dedicating the award to the people of Cross River, however, re-assured of continuity in his performance, even as he disclosed that despite the lean resources of the state, payment of civil servants salaries and pensioners' gratuity will continue to be top of his agenda.

"I have to specially thank you for finding my work worthy of this award as the Independent Newspapers Governor of the year. this clear that the management of the newspaper has been noticing my work and I believe that the analysis you made with reference to our agro-Industrialization was very apt.

"Cross River State is the number thirty five out of thirty states of Nigeria in terms of Federal allocation. The state has a huge debt burden and it's number four in terns of cumulative indebtedness."

According to Ayade, "I came into office with so much pressure on my shoulders, but I had to focus on the people and I prioritized government as that of the people and for the welfare and security of the people as contained in section 14 sub section 12 of 1999 of Nigeria as amended.
"Given my background as a son of a civil servant whose father retired from Cross River State Water Board, it was clear to me that the salary of civil servants is the biggest Infrastructural project, biggest humanitarian project, biggest call to service and most constitutionally apt thing to do."

The Governor said whether the state had money or not, with his combined efficiency of intellectual money, Cross River State will sustain the payment of salaries on or before 25th of every month.
The Governor assured that the Bakassi Deep Seaport and the super highway and other laudable projects will continue with intellectual and Green money.

Earlier in his remarks, The Chairman of Award Committee, High Chief Babs Alasa and the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of Independent Newspapers, Steve Omanufeme, lauded the governor for his developmental strides across the state.
They noted that the Industrialization projects scattered across the state are already making Cross River a centre of attraction for both foreign and local investors despite it's lean resources.

The team Commended Governor Ayade for effectively transforming Cross River into an agro-indusrtial hub of Nigeria even as he makes the welfare of the citizens paramount with regular payment of salaries and pensions.

The independent Newspaper Award ceremony will hold on March 7, 2020 at the Convention Centre of Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, where Governor Ayade will formally be presented with the Governor of the Year Award 2019.

Responding to a post by Governor Ben Ayade Hon Bobby Ekpenyong Wrote..


FACTS YOU MUST KNOW

I'm a careful writer and talker. I know for sure with my more than 25 years of being in the governance system in CRS, there's no past governor of this state, military or civilian that would inherit the debt burden that Ayade inherited, received this kind of allocation from center, receive no boom from center at this recession and bad economic climate in the country and would be able to pay salaries of civil servants as at when due, make political appointments of more than 10,000 appointees the least receiving no less than 100k monthly, build more than 30 industries that has taken more than 200,000 persons off labour market. Fight insecurity, renovate schools across the state, intervene massively in health sector, invest heavily in agriculture and invented G -Money, being first of it kind in Africa. Belongs to opposition party. Ayade is the first civilian governor in the history of CRS to belong to a different political party from the central government. He enjoys no special support from the central government, he is an orphan in Nigeria political manipulations.

I remember vividly, in the year 2000 during Obassnjo presidency, there was debts forgiveness. All the states enjoyed it. There was no deductibles. There was 13% derivation, CRS was enjoying share of oil revenues and other national incentives. All these are no more during His Excellency the governor Ayade's rein.
How does he achieve all these then? It's purely Intellectual Capacity.

About 3 states in Nigeria, Imo, Zamfara and Ondo pays only half salary for more than one year now. More than 10 states in Nigeria don't even pay pension to their retirees.
Governor Ayade with 2nd least Federal Allocation and with the lowest taxes collections still be the first governor to pay civil servants and political appointees salaries before the end of every month.
Crossiverians owe him prayers, owe him support and loyalty. Please, let join hands and pray for him and his family.
It would have been worse but not for AYADE.

Anderson Restates Need For Quality Service Delivery in the Hospitality Sector.

Cross River State Commissioner For Culture and Tourism development Hon Eric Anderson has restated the need for quality service delivery among hotel operators in the state.

The Commissioner made this known during the official opening of a new hotel in Calabar Rexona Plus Hotel.

The Commissioner who promised that government will always provide an enabling environment for businesses to thrive in the state urged the management of the new hotel to maintain a high standard and adhere strictly to good hygiene principles.

He said" For us in the ministry of tourism development, we are excited when new hospitality outlets are opened in Calabar, this is of course because of the numerous tourism activities that bring in visitors to our state all year round. "

Continuing he said" I congratulate you on the opening of your outlet today and I urge you to keep up high standards to your customers , your place has to be kept clean and should not be a place used as a hide out for criminals"

Speaking earlier, the MD/CEO of Rexona Plus Hotels, Prince Fubes A. Danor stated that Rexona plus was formally known as Rexona hotels and he had to take it over and rebrand it for a better service delivery.

"Today we are formally Relaunching Rexona hotels into Rexona Plus a new outfit ready to provide the best of hospitality service to the people of Calabar. Rexona plus is a product of Rexona we have added the plus to the name because we have come with more value added services to the hospitality sector of Cross River State. "


Also Speaking the manager of the hotel Mr Kingsley Ekpenyong assured guests of their safety adding that at Rexona Plus the customers satisfaction is guaranteed.


"At Rexona plus our services will be top notch and guests will have the kind of experience that will make them want to return. We have security both from a private firm and the police therefore those who will patronize us have nothing to worry about. "He said.

Rexona Plus hotel is located at the heart of Calabar metropolis along No 27 Mekenge Layout off Ndidem Usang Iso Road Calabar and is open for business.

Summit Hills CICC Set To Host 2020 African Women CEO's conference


Cross river state will play host to over 2000 industrious Women leading in various sectors of business from all over Africa.

This was disclosed by the MD of summit Hills Mr Joseph La'shakara Edet when he took members of the team on a facility tour of the CICC complex.

While showing the delegation around the world class facility, the MD stated that the CICC is the one of the best if not the best conference centre in the country at the moment and promised them of his Management's readiness to host the event.


"First of all I'd like to congratulate you on the choice of CICC because the CICC is quite easily the best event centre around these part of the world. On our part, we are fully prepared to host this event, from next week we hope to upgrade a few more of our facilities so that when you come here in June, everywhere will be top notch. "

On attracting more of such events to the state, the MD stated that plans are in top gear with some top marketing companies within and outside the country to bring in more of such events to the state.


" We have contacted executive marketing companies people who can exhibit our brand on their platforms, we are also working with major stakeholders in the marketing industry not just in Nigeria but all over Africa to ensure that the story of CICC is heard in every nook and cranny of Africa because that is the only way we can attract world class conferences of this magnitude to the State"

Also speaking, the Special Adviser on tourism Mr Ubi Franklin and leader of the delegation stated that the African Women CEO'S summit is a celebration of the top 100 women CEO's in Africa.

He said " The African Women CEO's summit is a flagship event of Reset Global People an annual event that brings together a community of inspiring and innovative visionaries whose ambitious actions are changing the world in an unprecedented scale. "

Continuing he said , " It is a celebration of the top 100 women CEO'S in Africa a ranking which highlights and recognises the accomplishments of Women CEO's from across the continent. "

The event which will hold in June 2020 is expected to bring in
Over 2000 women professionals from 24 countries covering over 18 industries.

DG Cross River State Investment Promotion Bureau Lauds Governor Ayade As She Host South - South Coordinator of NIPC.

The Director General of the Cross River State investment promotion bureau Barr Tutu Ekeng has lauded Governor Ben Ayade's industrialization strides.

Speaking during a courtesy call on her by the management team of the NIPC South South region led by it's coordinator Mr Nnamdi Offor, Barr Ekeng briefed the team on the Governor's industrialization achievements so far taking out time to enumarate the industries completed and others near completion.

The DG who described Governor Ayade as a divine asset to the people of Cross River said that the state will stand to benefit tremendously when all of the Governor's signature projects come on stream.

She said " Governor Ayade has a clear vision of industrializing Cross River State and taking us from a civil service economy to a manufacturing and subsequently an exporting economy. That is why we have a deep seaport coming up in Bakassi with a 237km super highway serving as an evacuation corridor all the way to Northern Nigeria."

"The Governor set out in his first term with a policy of one industry per LGA, and I can tell you categorically that if you go round Cross River today, you will see at least one industry fully functional in each LGA of the state."

Continuing Barr Ekeng said " I am happy for your visit to the state, the Nigerian Investment Promotion commission is one commission that can support us in our quest to fully industrialize Cross River and creat jobs for our teeming youths which is clearly the policy thrust of Governor Ben Ayade's administration and we hope to partner with you to achieve this aim."


In his response, the coordinator South South zone of the NIPC Mr Nnamdi Offor
praised the Governor for such amazing achievements within such a short period especially in repositioning Cross River State as an Industrial giant within the South South region which is in addition to being number one tourism destination in Nigeria and promised his commissions preparedness to collaborate with Cross River State Government in achieving her goals.

"Based on what we have seen so far, I must commend the Governor for such land mark achievements within a short period of time, this is indeed very impressive."

Continuing he said, "For us in the NIPC we are in Cross River to look at areas of investment and how to collaborate with your state on the areas of capacity building, staff training, and
certification of Cross River as an Investment friendly State.

He promised to advocate for adequate publicity of state projects and investment potentials within the NIPC platform for target audience.

End..

*CRSG IS COMMITTED TO PUTTING CALABAR PORT ON THE GLOBAL SCALE – ARCHIBONG*

By: Kingsley Agim

Cross River Commissioner for Commerce, Mrs. RoseMary Archibong has restated the commitment of the Governor Ben Ayade-led administration to putting the Calabar Port on the global marine transportation map.

Mrs. Archibong, who made this known during a recent facility tour of Eco Marine Terminal of the Calabar Port, Calabar, also stated that the essence of the visit was to have a firsthand knowledge of the operations at the terminal.

Decrying the negative perception and the under-utilization of commercial opportunities of the Port, Mrs. Archibong lamented that revenue that ought to have been accruing to the State was lost.

The Commerce Commissioner posited that it was in anticipation of the industrial revolution of Cross River State that Governor Ayade embarked on the Deep Seaport Project in Bakassi, with a 20 metres draught to receive grandmother vessels, which would take maritime business to utmost heights. This, she explained, was to be complemented by the already existing Calabar Port which would be actively receiving smaller vessels with its 4-5 metres draught.

A combination of these, she averred, would no doubt boost trade, create employment, increase revenue generation and herald economic prosperity for Cross Riverians and residents of the State.

She further commended ECM Terminals Limited for its operations in keeping the Port lively, while emphasising that aggressive advocacy on the comparative advantages of transacting maritime business via the Calabar Port is extremely expedient.

“One of the tourist attractions and commercial landmarks – the Ayade Industrial Park – houses the Rice Seed and Seedlings Factory, Poultry Slaughterhouse, Noodles Factory, Garment Factory, Pharmaceutical Company, as well as Sack Bag Production Factory. We also have the Piles and Pylons Factory in Akamkpa, Toothpick Factory in Ekori – Yakurr, Cocoa Processing Factory in Ikom, Ultra-modern Rice Mill in Ogoja and a host of other industries littered across the State. These industries would produce and market exportable commodities to the world; hence the need to partner with stakeholders in the marine transport sector, beginning with Eco Marine Terminals Limited,” she remarked.

In his remarks, the General Manager, Eco Marine Terminal Limited, Mr. Diran Akorede, expressed delight at the “timely visit,” noting that concessionaires at the Port had long envisaged the State Government coming to know the operations of the Calabar Port.

Mr. Akorede said the Calabar Port has remained fully operational over the decades, is only beset by inadequate publicity, while hoping that the visit of a representative of the State Government will aid in publicizing activities of the Port even farther than their expectations.

The Terminal Operator debunked the purported dredging issue labeled on the Port, stating that the Calabar Port is deep enough and had berthed flat bottom vessels as big as 200mtr LOA (length over all), hence calling on the business public to take advantage of the enormous opportunities the Port offers, especially its proximity to the northern, south-eastern parts of the country.

He assured that his company will continue to collaborate with the State Government and the Nigeria Ports Authority to ensure that the Calabar Port continues to be operational.

Also speaking, Mr. Larry Idehen of Shoreline Logistics Limited averred that the Calabar Port, in spite of its peculiarity in terms of nautical mileage, remains one of the safest in the country, whilst acknowledging the efforts of the Nigerian Navy in maintaining maritime safety.

Mr. David Etim from the Calabar Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (CALCCIMA) and the Managing Director, Bright Flow Logistics, Mrs. Anie Iton, respectively spoke on the vast openings that abound in the maritime business, calling on Cross Riverians to tap into a sector, they described as “productive.”

Highpoints of the event were a tour of the Terminal B of the Calabar Port and a play of a clip highlighting the Port’s key strengths, unique value proposition, performances, as well as its contiguity to the northern and south-eastern parts of the country.

otuekong1:
but you budgeted #1trillion as 2020 budget

Abeg helpe remind am

Ayade: Why I’m Executing Many Projects Despite Low Revenue



Cross River state governor, Professor Ben Ayade has explained that the availability of what he calls "intellectual money" is the reason his administration has been able to  execute many capital intensive projects despite low revenue allocation to the state.

The governor, who spoke in Calabar recently, said without intellectual money, the state would have been in deep financial mess.

He said because of intellectual money, low federal allocations have not stalled progress of work on his signature projects, including the 275 kilometre superhighway connecting Cross River with Northern Nigeria.

"The use of intellect to make up for naira and kobo is what is called intellectual money. Intellectual currency is stronger than paper currency and so where there is a defficiency of funds the intellect takes over,” Professor Ayade explained.

On his projects, the governor expressed satisfaction with the progress of work.
According to him, "the projects have all reached appreciable milestones. For the superhighway,  the construction work is ongoing, the discharge point in terms of the input gateway is at the Benue state border which is the beginning of northern Nigeria.

“It stretches all the way up to Bakassi, a total of 275 kilometers, 97 kilometers of which has been fully cleared and the earth work is ongoing while the other portion from Ikom up to Bakassi, the clearing work is ongoing which is the de-bushing process to create the corridor. It is a 70 meters wide corridor to allow for six lanes with a five meters wide median to the left and right creating a canopy effect. It is fully digital with ambulatory services, full digital support services and distant information system with electronic mild stuff that allows you to do adverts.”

The governor added that  "the idea of the Superhighway is to have a road that can allow the luxry of evacuation of solid minerals and other associated deposits from northern Nigeria into the Atlantic coast line where the Bakassi deep seaport is sited.

Professor Ayade rued the fact that the state was not only grappling with low revenue allocation but was also weighed down by a huge debt burden.

“We are not just number 35 in terms of revenue allocation out of 36 States, we are also servicing debt monthly and its deducted from source. So it is not just enough that we earn low, it far more difficult that we have a huge debt burden on my shoulders  and I have not defaulted. I pay N1.8 billion every month on debt servicing.

“Despite these challenges, Today we are doing the dualization of Calabar to Odukpani Junction. Just go and see the amount of work going on there and by the end of March the  traffic lock-jam in Odukpani will be over forever. The Federal Government says it will not refund. It's a State Government road but is and I'm not getting a dime in terms of refund.”

The governor maintained that it was probably after he has left office that the people of the state will realise the extend to which he deployed intellectual money to execute projects in the face of dwindling liquid cash.

"I'm sure that when I leave office, Cross River State will appreciate what I call intellectual money. Just go to the northern part of the state and see the projects there. I'm doing a road across the entire Northern senatorial district crossing the heart of each of the five local governments that make up the senatorial district, a dual carriage road of over a 100 kilometers.

“No state government in the history of Nigeria has embarked on such gigantic road project. That project will be completed by September this year, it will be done and dusted. The company handling the road project has split into two teams. A team is doing Ogoja -Yala component while another is handling  the Obudu/Bekwarra /Obanliku component.

“I am self propelled, I'm not driven by politics even much more without money. I look for passion bacause when somebody has passion there will be no issue.”

Cross River State Government Set To Host Summit Hills International Trade Fair

"...we are set to design and deliver a wholistic trade fair, for the mind, body and pockets" - Joseph Edet



The Managing Director of Summit Hills Estate Development Services Limited, Mr. Joseph Edet has announced the most anticipated in-house event from the stables of Summit Hills in meeting with various stakeholders, "The Summit Hills Trade fair".

He stated that the fair will feature a 20km mini marathon where prizes will be won in different categories.

While addressing a team of vibrant technocrats categorized into different action committees to execute a world class standard trade fair, he noted that bringing manufacturers to the common man to stimulate the State's economy is the key target of the program.

"We are thinking of how to stimulate the economy and activities of small and medium scale enterprises of Cross River State by bringing the manufacturers to the common man"

"Multinationals are also billed to take part in the fair with over 1,500 exhibitions and over 10,000 retail imports within the South-South region of Nigeria".


Cross River State is now known for the industrial and enterprise vision of the Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade (Ksj) led administration and Summit Hills as an enterprise of government is about to offer a unique opportunity to medium, small and micro enterprises to showcase their products and generate quick turnover while offering the public value for money.

The MD reiterated that the trade fair is not just for physical goods but also an opportunity for providers of digital/virtual goods and services to market their products and ideas while offering extra opportunities for brand building, sales generation, customer relationship and channel building/support.


He also informed stakeholders that the trade fair will not just focus on the exchange of goods and services for money but will also have different features such as business clinics, mentorship sessions and panel discussions while not forgetting to make sure that vendors and visitors to the fair from within and outside the state get to experience the Cross River State culture with premium entertainment and exploration of the tourism component which the state is known for.

A special feature of the trade fair will be the Summit Hills Marathon where participants are expected to compete for prizes and other tourism component to include: boat cruise from the CICC - Tinapa - Marina, Double-decker tour, paint ball games and much more.