The Cross River Tourism Bureau says no fewer than 300,000 tourists attended the recently concluded 32-day Calabar Carnival held in Calabar, Cross River. Its Managing Director, Ekpenyong Ojoi, disclosed this in a statement in Lagos on Saturday. Ojoi said that there was a 42 per cent growth in tourist attendance for the carnival in comparison with 2023 statistics. He said: “Calabar recorded over 300,000 tourists from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31st, 2024, who came in for the Calabar Carnival and seeing of the OMR, Marina Resort and the Kwa falls. “Most of the tourists were from Abuja, Lagos and neighbouring…
Author: Admin
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to disclose the full details of a recent agreement with the United States concerning $52.88 million in recovered assets linked to former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke. The federal government had earlier announced the receipt of $52.88 million from the United States, classified as “recovered assets” from Alison-Madueke. Justice Minister Lateef Fagbemi revealed that $50 million of the funds would be channeled through the World Bank to support rural electrification projects. The remaining $2 million, he added, would be allocated to the International Institute of Justice to…
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to urgently conduct by-elections to fill the vacant seats created by the defection of 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. This follows the lawmakers’ controversial decision to override the governor’s veto on three bills despite court rulings affirming the loss of their legislative legitimacy due to their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). In a press statement by Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, National Coordinator of HURIWA, the group described these actions as a flagrant…
By Shadrach Okon Governor Umo Eno has warned politicians in Akwa Ibom State to stop inundating his phone lines with recommendations of who should be chosen as Commissioner and Special Adviser as he is would be sending list of new Commissioners and Special Advisers designates to the State House of Assembly for consideration next week. Governor Eno who spoke yesterday during the valedictory dinner in honour of the outgoing members of the dissolved State Executive Council stated that appointing members of the State Executive Council is the exclusive responsibility of the Governor and should not be influenced by politicians. According…
Governor Umo Eno has dissolved the State Executive Council (EXCO) today Friday 10th January, 2025. The dissolution of Akwa Ibom State Executive Council was made know in a Press release signed by the Secretary to the State Government Prince Enobong Uwah The release directs all Commissioners and Special Advisers to handover to the Permanent Secretaries or the most senior Director in various Ministries where there is no Permanent Secretary. Governor Umo Eno in the release expressed delight to the out going Commissioners and Special Advisers for their contributions to the success of his administration and wished them well in their…
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency command in Cross River says 274 suspected drug dealers were arrested in the state in 2024. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency command in Cross River says 274 suspected drug dealers were arrested in the state in 2024. The command said it also made a total seizure of 788.8 kg of hard drugs within the period under review. Its commandant in Cross River, Rachael Umebuali, said in Calabar on Friday that the command recorded success in several court cases filed within the period. The commandant explained that the Cross River command secured 38 convictions…
A senior lecturer in the Electronic Engineering Department at the University of Port Harcourt, Dr. Daniel Ekpah, has been honoured with the 2024 Cisco Premier+ Award for Cybersecurity. The award, presented at the Cisco Networking Academy Partner Conference in Dubai, recognises Dr. Ekpah’s outstanding contributions to cybersecurity education and digital capacity development in Africa and beyond. This marks the second time Dr. Ekpah has received this honour, which celebrates individuals and institutions making transformative impacts through Cisco’s Networking Academy (NetAcad). Dr. Ekpah’s influence, however, extends to other parts of Africa and even globally, with students from countries such as the…
Nigerian Navy personnel, stationed at NNS Jubilee in the Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom, have reportedly seized a boat carrying about 100,000 litres of crude oil. The Commander of the NNS Jubilee, Commodore Martins Fakrogha, disclosed this during a press briefing on Thursday in Ibaka, Mbo Local Government Area of the State. He revealed that the vessel was intercepted on Tuesday around 5:00 a.m. as it was nearing one of the state’s oil fields. Fakrogha noted that a reliable source had alerted the Navy about a large vessel, identified as a Cotonou boat, and spotted approximately 23.9…
The Police and the Department of State Security (DSS) have commenced profiling individuals suspected of sponsoring communal clashes in Akwa Ibom State. The newly appointed Commissioner of Police in the state, Baba Mohammed Azare, disclosed this yesterday when he paid a courtesy visit to Governor Umo Eno at Government House, Uyo. CP Azare, who pledged to tackle the rising wave of crime in the state, assured his commitment to collaborate with other security agencies to ensure adequate peace and security. He identified pockets of kidnapping, armed robbery, communal clashes, and homicide as some of the security challenges facing the state.…
-threatens protest The Ekid Peoples Union has cried out to the state governor, Pastor Umo Eno, to lift the restriction he placed on Esit Urua Plantation as such restriction is causing hunger and starvation among Ekid people who have been denied access to their means of livelihood. The EPU’s demand is contained in a nine-point resolution adopted at the end of its annual meeting. The meeting was held at Uquo, the headquarters of Esit Eket Local Government Area of the state, and attended by key stakeholders drawn from the Ekid nation of Akwa Ibom State. A communique jointly signed by…