Niger Delta
SURE-P: C’River Targets 10,000
The State Implementation Committee for the Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P) has assured that Cross River would target 10,000 unemployed people under the programme in 2013.
The state Chairman, Mr Agom Jarigbe, said this in Calabar at the inauguration of the Sensitisation/ Orientation Workshop for the implementation of SURE-P in the state.
Jarigbe said 5,000 unemployed people would benefit from the Federal Government’s SURE-P programme while 5,000 people would benefit from the state’s controlled SURE-P.
“Right now we are employing 3,000 and later we will take more 2,000 making it 5,000 but before the year runs out Cross River will have 10,000. “The SURE-P at the state level will employ 5,000; then under the Federal Government’s SURE-P we will have 5,000, ‘’ he said.
According to him, beneficiaries of the programme are expected to receive N10,000 monthly stipend and after one year they will be fully absorbed into another bigger endeavour.
He said that the beneficiaries were expected to carry out community work and advised them to work hard in order to justify the good intention of the government.
He said the Federal Government was targeting 370,000 beneficiaries across the country under the first phase of SURE-P.
Mr Eta Mbora, the Chairman, Calabar Municipal Area Council, said that the SURE-P programme was in fulfillment of President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign promise.
“You could remember that the president was here during his campaign where he promised to create Jobs for Nigerians.
“It was also part of the campaign promises of our State Government to create employment for the people,‘’ he said.
Eta said that the programme was purely meant for the unemployed and the vulnerable members of the society and advised the beneficiaries to avoid cheating. “You must be unemployed for you to benefit in this programme; there is no need for cheating; it is just like payment of unemployment allowance.’’
Earlier, representative of the Southern District of Cross River in the committee, Dr Offiong Ani, said the beneficiaries were expected to work for five hours each day of the week.
Ani said that the money was not meant for jamboree and called on the beneficiaries to brace up for the challenges of community service.
“You could be called upon to do anything five hours every five days of the week,‘’ Ani said.
Mr Nelson Egbuka, the representative of the United Bank for Africa, said that the bank was the custodian of the fund and responsible for its management and disbursement.
Egbuka said the beneficiaries were required to open account with the bank where their funds would be deposited.
One of the beneficiaries, Mr Effiong Bassey, a physically-challenged person, said he was happy to be among the first set of beneficiaries and thanked the government for the programme.
Niger Delta
Upgrade Water Infrastructure In Calabar, NSE Urges C’River Govt
The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has urged the Cross River State Government to take steps towards improving the quality of water supply to residents of Calabar metropolis.
The call was made by participants who spoke at a one-day public lecture to mark NSE 2024 Engineering Week in Uyo on Wednesday.
The Guest Lecturer, Dr. Nkpa Ogarekpe, described the quality of water being supplied from private boreholes in the city as poor an unsafe.
Speaking at the lecture with the theme: “Safety Issues with Domestic Borehole Water Source”, Ogarekpe urged the government not to treat the issue of unsafe water with levity.
Ogarekpe, a lecturer at the Department of Civil Engineering, University of Cross River, said some private boreholes in the city were sunk close to dump sites and gully erosions.
“Some privately-owned boreholes are sunk close to the Lemna Dump site and gully erosions within the Calabar metropolis, often supply contaminated water.
“This is not an assumption, it is the result of a study conducted on some boreholes within Calabar metropolis”, he said.
The lecturer quoted the World Health Organisation as saying that water could only be confirmed safe if it posed no significant health risk after consumption.
“A research conducted on some local boreholes within Calabar shows that the issue of pollution is caused within the metropolis.
“Borehole 48, located at Ikot Efanga, is in a place with significant level of pollution, of course you are all aware of the open dump site in that place.
“Borehole 23 is close to the gully erosion at Ndidem Osang Iso, and that gully is being used as a dump site”, he said.
In her speech, NSE National President, Mrs. Margaret Oguntala, expressed the need for engineers to play active roles in ensuring quality standards for domestic water sources.
Represented by Dr. Ndifon Agbiji, the National Executive Member in charge of Professional Development Board, Oguntala, urged the state government to upgrade the water infrastructure in the state.
“The NSE branch in calabar should remind the State Government and the public of the role of engineers in this regard.
“Sometime ago, Cross River was ranked as one of the best states in the supply of potable water, but we are seeing a gradual decline from this status”, she said.
The NSE president stated investment in water infrastructure remained critical to the health and wellbeing of the residents.
Niger Delta
MOSIEND Hails Tinubu Over Ajayi’s Appointment As DSS DG
The Movement for the Survival of the Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND) has hailed President Bola Tinubu over the appointment of Mr. Tosin Ajayi as Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS).
MOSIEND said Ajayi’s appointment is an acknowledgement of his competence and dedication to protecting the nation’s internal security.
National President of MOSIEND, Amb. Kennedy Tonjo West, stated this in a statement made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt.
West noted that Ajayi, as the most senior director in the service, Ajayi has a track record of excellent performance and integrity, always putting his heart and soul into everything he does.
He noted further that the new DSS boss proved his mettle during his years of service in Rivers and Bayelsa States, where he left an imprint of excellence and professionalism, adding that he has all it takes to reposition the secret police for optimum service delivery.
Before his appointment as DSS DG, Ajayi, an indigene of Ogun State, was in charge of Kogi State Command.
West said the entire members of MOSIEND are very optimistic over Ajayi’s appointment because, “He is a brave, diligent and detribalized officer, an astute administrator and core operations officer”.
According to MOSIEND, “These are the qualities that are most needed to reposition and improve service delivery in the force, and we are very confident that Tosin Ajayi will change the narratives and leave a positive mark.
“His presence in Rivers and Bayelsa States created a lot of peace and stability in the Niger Delta region.
“He is somebody we know, someone we have worked with and we know his capacity when you talk about security and intelligence gathering.
“He was responsible for the setting up of the Special Incident Response Unit (SIRU) which was meant to tackle kidnapping, armed robbery and cultism in Rivers State, and everyone can attest to it that it was a great success.
“He was very active, and created relationships with communities, that was how we came to know him, and we are very sure that Nigerians will enjoy his services.
“We pray God to give him more wisdom, understanding and strength to accomplish his goals because we know him as an accomplished officer dedicated to the welfare of officers”, West stated.
Chinedu Wosu
Niger Delta
Police Neutralise Kidnap Kingpin In A’Ibom
The Police Command in Akwa Ibom State says it has neutralised a suspected kidnap kingpin and sea pirate.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Timfon John, who announced this to newsmen in Uyo yesterday, said the suspect was neutralised on Wednesday during a gun battle with operatives of the command in his hideouts of Uyanga Community in Cross River State.
She said one G3 rifle with four live ammunitions were recovered from the suspect.
She also disclosed that the suspect’s remains had been deposited at the morgue, while investigations with the intent to arrest other members of the gang were ongoing.
“The suspect, a gang leader of bling bling marine strike force terrorising Uruan/Oron waterways, was responsible for kidnapping of a High Court Judge and the killing of her Police Orderly.
“The kingpin was also responsible for the gruesome murder of another prominent person in the state and the kidnapping of his sales representative, among other persons”, she said.
She continued that the State Commissioner of Police, CP Waheed Ayilara, had reassured Akwa Ibom’s residents of the determination of the command to make the state safe and secure for business to thrive.
Ayilara, therefore, called on Akwa Ibom people to report all suspicious movements to the police.
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