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Niger Delta

Police Move To Secure Abducted Doctor, Ex-Senator’s Release

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The Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 6, Usman Gomna, has ordered investigation into the abduction of a medical doctor, Nsidibe Umana and former-Akwa Ibom senator, Nelson Effiong.
The AIG’s order is coming even as the command said that it had put in place a crack team to trail the abductors of the two victims.
Nelson Effiong, a former senator representing Akwa Ibom South Senatorial district, was abducted on Sunday, September 5, 2021 while relaxing in his sit-out along Oron Road; while the medical doctor was abducted in his compound in Orukaman Local Government Area of the state on Tuesday, September 14, 2021.
The AIG gave the charge last Friday while responding to a request by the chairman of the state chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association, Dr. Ime Sylvester Udoh, during a meeting with security stakeholders in the state.
Dr. Udoh had raised the alarm over the abduction of the medical doctor and had also called on the Police to rescue the victim alive.
Responding, the AIG said, “Before I came here, I have directed the CP of the command, Andrew Amiengheme, to intensify efforts to see how he can be rescued.”
He reiterated the commitment of the zone in tackling crime and criminality and called on stakeholders to continue to cooperate with the Police by revealing useful information that could help in tackling the crime rate in the states.
Speaking further on the kidnapped medical doctor, the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, Andrew Amiengheme, said a manhunt had already been put in place to effect the release of the doctor.
“Our men are in the field to ensure the release of that young doctor. Unfortunately, the abductors are asking for N20m and where will the family get that kind of money?
“That is part of the societal problems, and we are asking the stakeholders to quickly expose and not to give them a cover,” Amiengheme said.
On the abduction of the ex-senator, the CP said, “We’re very much on top of the situation. Care must be taken to protect his life in the first instance.
“We must not do anything that will jeopardise his life, a lot has been done, we are observing some restraints so that he is not killed and his perpetrators brought to book.”

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Niger Delta

Eno Recommits To Accountability, Effective Service Delivery

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December 20, 2024

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Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, says his administration will remain committed to ensuring effective leadership, service delivery and be accountable to the people.
He made the remarks at the maiden edition of his administration’s ministerial briefing and end of year review in Uyo on Monday.
He said his administration would remain purely committed to delivering democracy dividends to Akwa Ibom people in line with its campaign promises.
The Governor stated that the ministerial  briefing was to enable the administration to present its scorecard in the past 18 months.
According to him, the briefing is an enlarged executive council meeting aimed at presenting government’s scorecard and gaining new ideas.
“The exercise will enable Akwa Ibom people to evaluate and assess our government’s performance so far.
“In the past 18 months, this administration has been accountable, transparent and prudent in managing public funds.
“Release of funds must be tied to ideas and projects that will benefit the generality of Akwa Ibom people”, he said.
Eno stated that his administration is open to constructive criticisms, saying, ”I mean criticisms that will put government on its toes, and not smear campaign and condemnation.
“I must say that we have done well. It is left for critical stakeholders to analyse what we have done. We have tried to keep to the ideals of the ARISE Agenda”.
He said his administration is currently working on three major projects such as the Aviation Village, Ibom Deep Sea Port and Ibom Medical City.
Eno continued that the three major projects were capital intensive, and that his administration had to give priority attention to the airport project following its quick return on investment.
He commended his predecessor for embarking on projects that had strategic investment value.
According to the Commissioner, in 2025, his administration would be holding town hall meeting twice in a month to ensure public inputs to governance.
In his presentation, the Commissioner for Lands and Town Planning, Capt. Iniobong Ekong (Rtd), said the State Government had religiously settled compensations for lands acquired from citizens.
Ekong stated that the government had successfully reclaimed all government lands that were acquired illegally.
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Niger Delta

Foundation Leads Campaign Against Genetically Modified Foods In Edo

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December 20, 2024

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Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) on Friday led a campaign rally in Edo State to raise awareness about the dangers of introducing Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) into Nigeria’s food system.
The campaign took place in collaboration with the GMO-Free Nigeria Alliance and members of the Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOCSO).
The rally, which started from the National Museum at Ring Road, Benin, made its way to the Edo House of Assembly, state office of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and to the Government House.
At the Government House, the Chief Security Officer to the Governor, Solomon Oseghale, received a petition against the introduction of GMOs on behalf of the state government.
The petition called on the government to reconsider its decision to approve GMOs and to prioritise the health and well-being of Nigerians.
The Executive Director of HOMEF, Dr. Nnimmo Bassey, said the rally took place simultaneously in Rivers, Katsina, Plateau, Oyo, Lagos, Cross Rivers, Enugu, Jigawa States and the FCT.
According to him, Nigeria does not need GMOs to address food insecurity.
He asserted that the design of the genetically modified crops does not support local economic growth but promote dependency on corporate seed supply.
“In September 2024, the National Cotton Association of Nigeria (NACOTAN) was reported to have recorded no significant increase in yields when compared to the local seed varieties.
“Instead, the introduction of GM cotton seeds over four years ago, yield per hectare has remained about the same.
“Also, the farmers noted that no other plant has been able to germinate on the farmlands where the GM seeds were planted, even after four years.
“This confirms the concerns regarding loss of biodiversity and soil degradation due to release of genetic material (proteins) into the soil which would not ordinarily occur”, he said.
Bassey decried that farmers were not able to replant the GM seeds after harvest due to declining yields.
He said farmers were encouraged to continuously purchase the seeds every new season from corporate entities.
He said this reflected neo-colonialism and corporate capture of our food system -something we shouldn’t take lightly.
On his part, Ifeanyi Nwankwere, National Co-coordinator of the GMO-Free Nigeria Alliance, noted that GMOs approved in Nigeria, so far were not currently being labelled.
Heb said Nigeria’s socio-economic context would not allow labelling to be effective considering how food was sold in cups and basins in open markets where majority of our people shop from.
Nwankwere noted that the biosafety regulatory system in Nigeria was not designed in a way that assures safety with regard to GMOs.
Similarly, Mr Agho Omobude, Coordinator of the Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOCSO), said the rally aimed to educate the public about the risks associated with GMOs.
Omobude stressed that genetically modified foods are poisonous and pose a significant threat to the health and well-being of Nigerians.
He dismissed the claim that GMOs could ensure food sufficiency, describing it as a lie and a ploy to colonise Nigeria’s food system.
He bemoaned the approval of 14 genetically modified foods in Nigeria, which had been a staple in all households over the years.
Mr Cadmus Atake-Enade of the HOMEF advocated legislation that would outlaw the sale of genetically modified foods in Edo and Nigeria at large.
He expressed concerns that some super markets in the state were reportedly selling the products without providing the customers with information about them.
The source reports that the rally featured distribution of leaflets containing anti-GMO information.
The campaigners also displayed placards with various inscriptions such as, “Nigerians reject GMOs”, “#FoodnotPoison”, “Food Should Not Be Grown In A Lab”, “Support Small Scale Farmers”, “What We Eat Must Not Eat Us”, among others.
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Niger Delta

NEMA Distributes Relief Materials To Flood Victims In A’Ibom

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December 20, 2024

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The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Monday, distributed relief materials to residents of Ikono and Ini Local Government Areas in Akwa Ibom who were affected by the 2024 flooding.
The Tide’s source reports that the flood victims received rice, ‘garri’, vegetable oil, tomatoes, and cooking spices among others.
Speaking during the event, NEMA’s Director-General, Mrs Zubaida Umar, sympathised with the victims and urged them to accept the support from the Federal Government.
Represented by Mrs. Mmandu Aisueni, the Head, NEMA Operations in Akwa Ibom, Umar said that the gesture was aimed at providing immediate relief for the victims.
“The effects of the flooding have been deeply felt in these communities, disrupting lives, sources of livelihood, and leaving many in urgent need.
“Today, we are distributing these items not just as a gesture of support but as a demonstration of our shared humanity and commitment to your recovery”, Umar said.
Umar noted that long-term recovery required collective effort, and that the agency would continue to work with other stakeholders to promote safety in the area.
On his part, Mr. Emmanuel  Ukpong-Udo, the member representing Ini/Ikono Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, commended the Federal Government for the gesture.
Udo said the items would go a long way to cushion the effects of the disaster on the people.
Mrs. Ime Enang, a beneficiary, also commended the Federal Government for understanding the plight of the flood victims.
She said the relief materials showed that the government was genuinely interested in the wellbeing of the people.
Another beneficiary, Mr. Essien Udo, thanked the Federal Government for remembering the victims, and urged it to extend same gesture to others in similar condition.
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