Akwa Ibom
Police arrest pastor, 11 others for rape in Akwa Ibom
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command said it has arrested a pastor and 11 others for various cases of rape and defilement of minors. Speaking on Wednesday in Uyo during a press conference, the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal, said the 33-year-old pastor, Inimfon Inyang, severally raped a 15-year-old girl at his deliverance centre. The pastor, who allegedly lives with eight other girls aged 13 to 16 years, was said to have also attempted to rape a 21-year-old girl. Emmanuel Otu, a 30 years old indigene of Uko Nteghe, Mbo local government area was said to have raped a 28-year-old lady at gunpoint, and robbed her of two phones valued at N42,000 and N9,000 and the sum of N32,000 cash. Another suspect, Ime Sunday, from Ekpene Obo, Esit Eket local government area was said to ...
Akwa Ibom governor appoints commissioner as chief of staff
Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom has appointed Mr Ephraim Inyang-eyen, the state’s Commissioner of Works, as his Chief of Staff (CoF). Emmanuel had not appointed a chief of staff since he assumed office as governor in 2015. The Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Udoh, announced the appointment in a statement made available to newsmen in Uyo on Friday. According to the commissioner, the appointment takes immediate effect. Udoh added that Inyang-eyen would continue to supervise the ministry of works until a new substantive commissioner was appointed. “We congratulate the commissioner for works on his new appointment and wish him success in the discharge of duties in his new office,” Udoh said. Newsmen report that Inyang-eyen, had been the commissioner for works since 2015 when Gov Emman...
President Buhari authorises N19.67 billion for completion of East-West road
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the immediate release of N19.67 billion to ramp up efforts in completing sections I-IV of the East-West Road project by 2021. The presidential directive was part of efforts to address infrastructure deficit in the Niger Delta region and boost its economy. Mr Buhari had, in his Democracy Day address, said the funding of the sections of the road project would be duly released to better the lot of his people and would be followed by a forensic audit. “I am determined to ensure that development meant for the people of the Niger Delta get to them so I have authorised a Forensic Audit of the Niger Delta Development Commission,” the president said. The road project, which was first conceived in 2006 by the Obasanjo administration, was meant to be completed ...
Akwa Ibom community destroyed by heavy floods seeks help
No fewer than 100 houses have been destroyed and 300 persons displaced in Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State following a downpour in the area. It was gathered that the rain, which started about 3 am on Sunday and ended around 12pm, destroyed houses and submerged large sections of the metropolis. Meanwhile, residents of the area have lamented the effect of the flooding on their houses. A resident of Eket, who simply identified himself as Umoetuk, said areas mostly affected include Grace Bill, Marina Junction, and Udoh Umoh. Another resident, Sam Abia, said when it rains for two hours the entire houses around Grace Bill are usually affected. “Flooding around Grace Bill is a normal sight here. When it rains for two hours, the whole area around the Grace Bill road is always flooded,...
Akwa Ibom discharges two coronavirus patients
The Akwa Ibom State Government has discharged two of the 29 COVID-19 patients receiving treatment from its medical facilities. The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Dominic Ukpong, who announced this on Saturday said those discharged have been certified negative by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, bringing to 16, the total of those treated and discharged of the viral infection since the first set of cases were recorded on April 1, 2020. Dr. Ukpong who is also the State Incident Manager explained that Governor Udom Emmanuel has expended so much in healthcare delivery and in emergency operations, and that accounts for the 100% recovery rate currently being experienced in the state. “Yesterday, you saw the magnificent 300 – bed facility that the Governor put up at Ituk Mbang, and I to...
Nigeria’s president urges farmers to increase food production
President Muhammadu Buhari has advised Nigerian farmers to increase their food production as Nigeria has ‘no money’ for food importation. Even before the coronavirus pandemic, Nigeria has restricted food importation as the country strived to produce a lot of the food it consumes. The country also shut its borders with neighbouring countries, largely to prevent the importation and smuggling of items such as rice, poultry and petrol. The borders are still shut but were also closed to human traffic following the coronavirus pandemic, although smuggling and other illegal activities still go on with the connivance of corrupt security officials. Buhari gave his advice to the farmers while addressing journalists after observing this year’s ‘Eid’ prayer at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, on Sunda...
Akwa Ibom speaker hails President over executive order on financial autonomy
Speaker of Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, Mr Aniekan Bassey, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari, for signing into law Executive Order No. 10, of 2020. The law is for the implementation of Financial Autonomy of State Legislature and State Judiciary. Bassey made the commendation on Sunday in Uyo while fielding questions from newsmen on the legislative autonomy. He, however, warned his colleagues not to take the autonomy as an avenue for legislative “rascality”, but as a means of cooperation among the three arms of government. He described granting financial autonomy to the legislative and judicial arms of government across the country as a means of ensuring smooth conduct of government businesses within the three arms of government. “Financial autonomy granted to the two arms of governme...
Ogun confirms 25 new coronavirus cases
The Ogun State government has confirmed 25 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the state to 178. A statement on the official Twitter page of the state government on Wednesday said the 25 patients have been quarantined across the treatment and isolation centres in the state, as contact tracing continues. “As at 20th May, 2020, the NCDC announced that 25 COVID-19 cases had been confirmed in Ogun State, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 178.” “The 25 patients have been quarantined across the Treatment and Isolation Centres in the State, as contact tracing continues. “The State has now discharged a total of 69 patients who tested negative to the virus and are now back with their families. According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC...
NCDC: Only one coronavirus test conducted in Kogi
No more than one test has been carried out in Kogi State since the outbreak of the coronavirus in Nigeria on February 27. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control reports that, as of May 18, 35,983 tests have been carried out across the country, while 5,959 have been confirmed positive for the virus. According to the NCDC update on the COVID-19 outbreak in the country, which was made available on its website, Kogi recorded the lowest number of tests with no confirmed case. This was followed by Cross River State with seven COVID-19 tests conducted but no positive case. Lagos State, which had the highest number of tests at 14,886, also topped the list of confirmed cases at 2,550. Similarly, the Federal Capital Territory was reported to have conducted 4,688 tests and confirmed 418 cases, while ...
Akwa Ibom takes delivery of fourth aircraft for Ibom Air
The Akwa Ibom State Government, on Tuesday, took delivery of the fourth aircraft in the fleet of Ibom Air. Speaking during the delivery of a Bombardier CRJ 900 aircraft, Governor Udom Emmanuel said the aircraft was still within warranty of planes in domestic aviation. Emmanuel said the arrival of the plane was in fulfillment of the business case and operational timetable that had been set by the government. “This is the latest in the addition to this fleet. I don’t want to be boastful, but check the domestic flights in Africa. “I want to believe when you have an airplane that is still within warranty in domestic aviation, you can hit your chest and praise yourself, even if no one does that. “We had a dream and I shared that dream with just one man; we held our hands and started the documen...
Nigeria records 338 new coronavirus cases, total now 5,959
Nigeria has recorded 338 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total number of confirmed infections in the country to 5,959. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control made this known on Sunday. Newsmen report that six patients died of coronavirus-related complications in the last 24 hours in Nigeria. Data obtained from the NCDC’s website showed that there are no fewer than 4,183 active cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria. The centre said, “On the 17th of May 2020, 338 new confirmed cases and 6 deaths were recorded in Nigeria. “No new state has reported a case in the last 24 hours. “Till date, 5959 cases have been confirmed, 1594 cases have been discharged and 182 deaths have been recorded in 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory. “The 338 new cases are reported from 18 states- Lagos(177), Kan...
Akwa Ibom governor commends ExxonMobil’s donations
Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom has commended ExxonMobil for donating equipment and items worth millions of naira to curb the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic in the state. Emmanuel, who was represented by Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem, Secretary to the State Government, gave the commendation in Uyo on Saturday. He expressed the government’s profound appreciation to ExxonMobil for the kind gesture and for demonstrating its pride of place as Akwa Ibom’s number one corporate partner. “The items received would be a significant support boost to the state government’s effort to contain the scourge of the COVID-19 pandemic in the state,” the governor said. ExxonMobil’s donation included WHO-standard RNA COVID-19 test kits for 1,920 tests, 1000 units of samples collection kits, two brand new ambulances and ...
