GOV ENO COMMENCES SECOND PHASE OF FREE FOOD DISTRIBUTION TO THE VULNERABLE

The second phase of Free Food distribution to the vulnerable, an initiative of the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has commenced in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area. 

Governor Umo Eno at the height of the economic challenges facing the country assured the vulnerable citizens of his administration s determination to cater for their welfare.

The program, which is anchored by the State Bulk Purchase Agency, saw beneficiaries who had confirmed their names on the social register receive their palliatives in exchange for food vouchers. 

Flagging off the second phase of the parliatve distribution today, the general manager of the State Bulk Purchase Agency, Hon. Uyime Etim explained that the Agency is relying on the world bank endorsed register for the vulnerable to choose the beneficiaries. 

According to him, " The governor's personal assistants in the council wards were directed to issue vouchers to only those in the register and all  they do is to come here, authentic their voucher and return home with the food stuffs.”

Those who had not yet received vouchers were seen queuing up to collect theirs, before proceeding to receive their palliatives.

The event, which took place at the secondary school, Nung Udoe was witnessed by the transition committee chairman and members in the area and other stakeholders.

The chairman of the Agency, Dr Dan Akpan explained that the Food Security Programme is designed to cushion the effects of economic hardship on the most vulnerable members in the society and under the current phase, the agency directly takes the food to the respective local government areas where on different days for the beneficiaries. 

 Also speaking, a former member of the House of Representatives and Media Consultant to the governor Hon Aniekan Umana said the parliatve distribution is timely owing to the prevailing economic situation in the country and commendd the governor for his humane disposition towards the needy.

Umanah highlighted that the foodstuffs were meant for Akwa ibom people devoid of political inclination and strictly for those who are truly vulnerable.

Residents of Ibesikpo Asutan expressed profound gratitude to Governor Umo Eno for his compassionate leadership and commitment to his campaign promises.

"We are thankful for Governor Eno's kindness and concern for the welfare of his people," said Mr Solomon Eyo, Special Assistant to the governor on Multi Media and Web Management" 

Governor Eno is a blessing to our state, his generosity and care for the poor are exemplary. We pray God to continue to guide and bless him”, added Mrs. Grace Akpan, a beneficiary. 

"Governor Eno's food distribution initiative demonstrates his unwavering commitment to the people's welfare," said the commissioner for agriculture and rural development Offiong Offor, who added,  "We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that no one is left behind."

The food distribution exercise is expected to continue across the state on a daily basis, bringing relief to thousands of households.

EFCC Arrests Five Chinese for Alleged Illegal Mining in Uyo

Operatives of the Uyo Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, have arrested five suspected illegal Chinese miners at Ndito-Eka-Iba village, in Ibieno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

The five alleged illegal miners  were arrested by the “Special Task Force on illegal Mining” at the Commission’s Zonal  office in Uyo, following credible intelligence on the illegal activities of foreign mining companies within Eket and Ibieno Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom State.  

The arrested Chinese suspects are: Zhon Qinping arrested on September  10, 2024 at Ibieno Local Government Area, while Li Yi, Xie Bin, Chen Mou Zhou and  Chen Zeng were arrested on August 29, 2024 at the same location.

They were all arrested at an illegal mining site of a mineral suspected to be ilmenite, a titanium- iron oxide mineral.

The suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded. 

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The Trade Union Congress in the United Kingdom opened its conference today in London, with its leader making false claims about human rights abuses and violations in Nigeria. 

The Nigerian government was wrongly and falsely accused of rights abuse because the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, was stopped from travelling abroad after he snubbed the invitation of a law enforcement agency conducting an ongoing investigation.  

Ajaero, who probably considers himself above the law, was slated to speak at the same conference where the UK TUC leader attacked Nigeria. His actions, however, have serious consequences, as no one is above the law in Nigeria.  

Clearly, under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended), no person is above the summons of law enforcement agencies and lawful investigation.   Like the United Kingdom and other civilised nations, Nigeria is a country of law governed by the Constitution. 

We are not aware that there is anyone in the United Kingdom or anywhere in Europe and the United States, trade union leaders inclusive, who will flagrantly ignore the invitation or summons of MI5 or Scotland Yard or treat the FBI with the level of disdain Mr Ajaero has subjected law enforcement agencies in Nigeria. 

In the United States, for example, former President Donald Trump has been the subject of numerous investigations and prosecutions in courts in several states since he left office. Mr. Hunter Biden, son of the President of the United States, has been the subject of a lawful investigation by the FBI. 

We, therefore, reject any notion and allusion to human rights violations in Nigeria. The accusations made by the Trade Union Congress in the United Kingdom are, thus, unfounded and based on a misunderstanding of the situation.  

Besides, the Nigerian Government is being led by a pro-democracy activist president who will do everything to protect civil liberties and the rights of all citizens.  

There is no adversarial relationship between the Labour Movement in Nigeria and the government. 

While labour unions and the government may not always agree on policy direction, the government has consistently shown readiness to engage on any issue with labour despite the latter’s political partisanship. 

Contrary to the erroneous impression being created, the invitation extended by the Department of State Services to Mr. Ajaero has nothing to do with his role as the President of NLC.  

As a responsible citizen of Nigeria, Mr Ajaero should honour any invitation from our security agencies and resolve any issues that may arise during the investigation instead of stirring adverse public opinion against the security agencies. 

It is worth reminding Nigerians and the global community that the federal government recognises that the labour movement exists to protect and defend the interests of its members. What is also worth noting is that Labour, in most cases, only advances ideological positions that fly in the face of economic realities. 

Many ideological stances of the labour unions in Nigeria in the past have only stunted the economic growth and development of the country and even compromised the material well-being of the workers and the poor people they protect.  

A case in point was the strong opposition of the NLC and TUC to the sale of Port-Harcourt and Kaduna Refineries to Bluestar Consortium, promoted in 2007 by Aliko Dangote and Femi Otedola, during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.  

Seventeen years after the labour movement forced the successor government of Umar Yar' Adua to cancel the sale of the two refineries, none of the four government-owned refineries worked. 

In the obverse, Mr. Aliko Dangote, one of the promoters of Bluestar, has built the largest single-train refinery in the world. In a twist of fate, the same Labour Movement that fiercely opposed Dangote from taking over the two refineries in 2007 hailed him on completing his 650,000-bpd refinery in Lagos.  

The administration of President Tinubu will continue to promote the best economic interest of Nigerians despite the current challenges. It will also continue to pursue policies and programmes that will expand national economic output and create prosperity for our citizens.

Breaking:Governor Umo Eno Floats a monthly grant of N50,000 each for 5000 youths across the State

Gov Umo Eno thanks AKS Youth for honouring him, adhering to admonition to boycott protest

...Rolls out scorecard, plans for Akwa Ibom Youth

🎈Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno holds Youth Appreciation Rally, thanks State Youth across all strata for showing followership and discipline and  support  to his administration. 

🎈Highlights various youth support programme to include  training and empowerment of 1200 beneficiaries through IBOM-LED, Educational & Business Support Grants to undergraduates and SME's physically challenged persons.

🎈 Harps on the appointment of Hundreds of Youth into strategic positions such as SSA's, SA's, PA's, Transition Chairmen/Members, Chairmanship & Vice Chairmanship candidates, Councilorship candidates

🎈Doles out N310 million cash  support to youths across structures in the 31 local government areas at N10M  per LGA 

🎈Approves  fresh appointment of 3000 youths into Ibom Community Watch  scheme. 

🎈Announces recruitment and training of 200 youths with monthly transport allowance of N20,000 (Twenty Thousand) each 

🎈Approves increase of Student’s Bursary from N10,000 (Ten Thousand) naira to N20,000 (Twenty Thousand) naira, and an increase from N10,000 to N30,000 generally for professional students in Medicine, Law and Post -graduate Students.

🎈 Floats  a monthly grant of  N50,000 each for 5000 youths across the State

🎈Launches employment portal for youths to aggregate data and prepare for youth employment in State Civil service and other organizations. 

🎈Appreciates security agencies for their cooperation and support in ensuring peace in the State 

🎈Pays tribute to Late AKS CP, Waheed Ayilara, pledges AKSG support to family.

FT in Uyo. Nigeria 3-0 Benin

@molalookman brace, @victorosimhen9 on the scoresheet #soarsupereagles

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said the Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari administrations were far better in terms of governance and economic management than the present government of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The disclosure was made in an exclusive interview with Daily Trust on Friday by NLC Spokesperson Benson Upah.

The labour body praised former President Buhari for his accommodating nature and efforts to ensure stability and good living conditions for Nigerians.

Upah condemned the removal of fuel subsidy by the Tinubu government, stating that the president failed to consider the devastating consequences of the policy on ordinary Nigerians.

The NLC spokesman also drew a contrast between the economic indices of the Jonathan administration and the current government. He made mention of the alarming depreciation of the naira, soaring interest rates, and skyrocketing debt in the country.

“I keep telling people who say Buhari was the worst that they are joking,” Upah said. “For us at Labour, we found Buhari very accommodating. He did everything humanly possible to ensure that life was stable and good.”

Upah recalled how Buhari provided financial assistance to states to clear salary and pension arrears and made other interventions to mitigate the effects of economic hardship.

“If you ask those same people now, they will tell you that the Buhari administration was very good. We are talking about less than two years ago. Before Buhari came, it was Jonathan. We said Jonathan had messed up this country, but now look at the indices and compare the exchange rate, the interest rate, the debt.”

Credit Facebook: Daily Times Nigeria