Author: Kufre Etuk

Recent happenings in Ika Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have forced sane indigenes of the area, particularly those who are development oriented, to wonder what sin the local government committed to earn some bad eggs as indigenes. While other local governments of the state are blessed with indigenes and leaders who labour day and night to see their local government and their people grow and develop in all aspects, Ika is inflicted with some greedy, desperate and self acclaimed leaders who don’t care about development of Ika owing to the fact that they don’t live in Ika. Etim…

The Senate has mandated its Committee on Petroleum Upstream, Downstream and Gas to conduct a holistic investigation on the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) with regards to potential exit of International Oil Companies (IOCs) from Nigeria. This was sequel to a Motion brought before the Senate by the Senator representing the Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District, Senator Aniekan Bassey, during Thursday plenary. Senator Bassey, in his Motion, titled “Urgent Need for Enquiry into Implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 with Regards to Potential Exit of International Oil Companies (IOCS) from Nigeria: Case of ExxonMobil in Akwa…

A socio-cultural organization, Ekid People’s Union (EPU) has accused Akwa Ibom state Ministry of Lands and Water Resources of aiding a Chinese company-Ruitai Mining Limited to illegally mine ilmenite on their  land; located within the Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve. The union described the action as affront on the people of Eket and expressed displeasure against the manner and style  that some agents of government especially in Commissioner’s office have aided the Chinese Company in their illegal mining of ilmenite on their land. Addressing newsmen Wednesday October 11 in Eket, the National President of Ekid People’s Union Dr. Samuel Udonsak and…

The renowned international socio-cultural organisation, the Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio has appointed the Emir of Kano, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero as its Patron. Alhaji Bayero is stepping in to fill the patron’s position of the Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio earlier held by his father, Alhaji Ado Bayero of blessed memory, who reigned as the Emir of Kano for 51 years from 1963 to 2014. The monarch conveyed his interest to sustain the longstanding relationship with the socio-cultural organisation as fostered with his late father by taking up the responsibility to serve as a Patron of Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio while…

The campaign in preparation for the enrollment exercise of Akwa Ibom residents and subsequent accreditation of health facilities that will offer care has been concluded. Over 18 health facilities in the State have received the pre-sensitization and accreditation conducted by the Akwa Ibom State Health Insurance Agency. https://crestnews.ng/akwa-ibom-women-sign-declaration-to-end-gas-flaring/ The event which covered the three senatorial districts of the State has successfully informed the communities about the benefits of health insurance, assessed healthcare facilities for accreditation, and initiated the enrollment process for residents. The Executive Secretary Dr Igbemi Arthur Igbemi while flagging off the campaign exercise at the Anchor Insurance house…

Women in Esit Eket and Ibeno local government areas of Akwa Ibom State have signed a declaration demanding an end to gas flaring by International Oil Companies in their communities. The signing of the declaration on Tuesday October 10 in Uyo, climaxed a one-day town hall meeting spearheaded by Policy Alert, a Civil Society Organisation promoting economic and ecological justice in the Niger Delta. Part of the demands in the declaration is a review of Petroleum Industry Act 2021 to re-assert the environmental regulation roles of the National Oil Spill Detection and Regulatory Agency (NOSDRA) , the Federal Ministry of…

A public secondary school, Community  Secondary School, Aka Offot, Uyo has floored five other secondary schools in the state, including a renowned private school, Topfaith International Secondary School, to clinch 1st position in the 8th edition of National Quiz Competition on Legislature and Democracy. The quiz competition held on Thursday October 12 at Community Secondary School, Aka Offot, had six participating schools from different local governments. Community Secondary School, Aka Offot emerged 1st with 75 points in the three rounds, while Topfaith International Secondary School, Mkpatak came out second, and Community Secondary Commercial School, Ikot Okubo Offot emerged second runner…

Policy Alert, a Civil Society Organisation that promotes fiscal and ecological justice in the Niger Delta has warned  Akwa Ibom State government against breaching the Public Procurement Law of the State by taking loans for contractors. Policy Alert said that analysis of the eight-year loan trend of the State has shown that the government of Akwa Ibom State had taken loans for contractors in violation of the Akwa Ibom State procurement law Part IV, Section 16 and Subsection 7(ii) which stipulates that “All procuring entities shall possess the required financial capacity to carry out procurements contracts”. Policy Alert in a…

Policy Alert, a Civil Society Organisation that promotes fiscal and ecological justice in the Niger Delta has described as unacceptable the payment of N104.66 billion by the government of Akwa Ibom State as interest on loans taken from commercial banks in the last eight years. The organization said the N104.66bn which the government of Akwa Ibom State paid to commercial banks between 2015 and 2022 is only N600 million short of the highest annual revenue (2022) a neighbouring State, Abia State had in the last eight years under review. Policy Alert in a press statement signed by the organisation’s Programme…

West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), Akwa Ibom State Chapter has advocated for re-designed peacebuilding intervention strategies in communities with the civil society organizations as the key drivers that will interface between the communities and the government. WANEP explained that such peacebuilding interventions design should provide a sustainability plan to cater for new dimension and occurrence of violence within the South South zone. https://crestnews.ng/onofiok-luke-hands-over-constituency-office-to-paul-ekpo/ Speaking with newsmen during the international day of peace celebration on Friday September 22, in Uyo, Ambassador Peace Edem who represented WANEP, harped on partnership between government and the Civil Society/Peace Actors in order to effectively…