March 4, 2024
Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pst. Umo Eno has lamented the wanton destruction of lives and property in the oil communities of Iwuochang, Iko Nsong and Esit Urua villages in the state during a communal clash over land. He expressed displeasure over the incident while assessing the extent of damage in the communal conflict between Eket, Esit Eket and Ibeno local government areas at the weekend.
The governor, who later visited the critically injured victims of the two-day conflict over the disputed Stubbs Creek forest at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), Uyo, announced the immemdiate takeover of the land by government.
He directed the commissioner for Lands, Captain Iniobong Ekong (rtd), to take inventory of the destroyed property including houses and shops razed in the mayhem.
Vowing to bring the perpetrators to book, the governor disclosed that those behind the sponsorship of the dastardly act are known already to government.
“I have credible intelligence on those who are sponsoring our young people to go out and cause this mayhem.
“After this warning today, if this happens again, I can assure you that government will call you out, pick you up and you will face the penalty squarely.
“So, I want to appeal to our political gladiators to stop taking sides and fanning the embers of disunity. We are leaders and we cannot be sponsoring young people to take the laws into their hands. We will not allow it,” he warned.
Umo Eno reminded the warring parties of their filial and communal ties binding the two communities in many ways including inter-marriages.
March 1, 2024
The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has condemned the controversial proposed remapping exercise in Akwa Ibom state, saying it puts the lives of Ijaws living in the state at risk.
In 2023, the Akwa Ibom state house of assembly passed the Akwa Ibom state map establishment law for easy identification of boundaries and reducing communal conflicts.
However, Theophilus Alaye, IYC president, in a statement on Thursday said over the past two weeks, the neighbouring communities of Eket,Esit Eket, and Ibeno have been engulfed in serious conflict.
Alaye said the remapping process introduced by the administration of the former governor of the state Udom Emmanuel, was designed to “promote an ethics war between the Ijaws and its neighbours in the state.”
“It is worthy of note that the people of Eket allocated Ibeno lands to themselves, while the land in question is before a court and there is an injunction restricting them from accessing the land,” he said.
“These provocative actions have been treated with kid gloves by the governor of the state and we see it as a move to promote an ethics war between the Ijaws and its neighbours in the state.
“The Ijaw nation will and cannot fold their arms when their sons and daughters’ lives and property are under severe attack by other ethnic groups.”
“Remapping of local government areas is not within the powers of a state government and as such the Ijaw nation will never accept any politically motivated remapping and further balkanization of our people for whatever reasons.”
March 1, 2024
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has revealed plans to complete the Abia-Akwa Ibom road and has warned contractors against the use of substandard materials during project execution.
The Executive Director of Projects, NDDC, Victor Antai,during an inspection of the road on Wednesday, said the Commission was no longer interested in shoddy road projects, but those that would last between 20-30 years.
“We are interested in road projects that will last for between 20-30 years. We are no longer interested in contractors that will come and pour stones on red soil and walk away, and still demand their money,” he said.
Antai who represented the Managing Director of the NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, appealed to the contractors in the Niger Delta to step up their games.
“No more shoddy jobs because we are about to transform the Niger Delta with legacy projects, especially with the roads that link cities, states and local governments together.
“Arochukwu borders two states – Akwa Ibom and Abia. So we are trying to link both states with legacy projects. That is why the NDDC under the leadership of Dr Samuel Ogbuku of Rivers has asked me to come here, and take a look at the project, and explore ways of interfacing with the community and the contractor, and then bring words back to him,” Antai said.
While expressing his joy at the road projects, Traditional Ruler, Arochukwu, HRH Eze John Okoro, said the road was once inaccessible.
“I don’t know how to thank the management of NDDC. This road was just like a track road, and vehicles didn’t come into this village. But today, we now have a smooth tarred road. On behalf of my community, we say a very big thank you,” he said.
A stakeholder in Arochukwu, Obasi Lawson said the people of the community were happy with the project.
“The Arochukwu people are very happy and have been jubilating, and showing appreciation to the NDDC for the great feat,” he said.
March 1, 2024
The Office of the National Security Adviser; NSA, has confirmed that the Federal Government is investigating the operations of Binance, and some other crypto currency exchange companies in Nigeria.
Financial Times had on Wednesday reported that two executives of Binance were arrested and detained by the Nigerian government. The executives were reported to have flown into the country last week following a ban on their website.
The Nigerian Communications Commission had on February 21, 2024, blocked online platforms like Binance and other crypto firms to avert the continuous manipulation of the forex market and illicit movement of funds.
The Head of Strategic Communication, Office of the National Security Adviser, Zakari Mijinyawa, said the office was coordinating the activities of other agencies to investigate the operations of the company.
He said, “The office is leading and coordinating an interagency process by law enforcement officers – this includes ongoing investigations into the operations of Binance. Outcomes from this interagency investigation will be made available in due course. “
He, however, did not deny or confirm that the two executives were arrested
Binance is an online exchange where users can trade cryptocurrencies.
The Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, at a press briefing after the 293rd meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee in Abuja on Tuesday, disclosed that more than $26bn was channeled through Binance without traces in the last one year.
He added that the CBN was moving to a very aggressive regulatory environment.
