PURIMED NEWS

... Government Presents Cash Prize to Community. Cross River State Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Moses Osogi has presented the sum of N100,000 (one hundred thousand naira) only to the Youth leader of Ibok Street as an award for emerging Cleanest Street in Calabar Metropolis. Presenting the award, the Environment Commissioner applauded the community members for keying into the developmental strides of the State Government by participating actively in the sanitation exercise to ensure that their immediate surroundings are kept clean. Receiving the award on behalf of the Community, the Youth leader of Ibok Street, Mr. Okon Michael expressed appreciation for the magnanimity of the state Government, stating that they are thankful for the recognition and award and promised to put in more efforts in supporting the State Government's monthly Environmental exercise. Mr. Michael used the occasion to appeal to the state Government to urgently put measures in place to tackle flood-relate...

The Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, on Saturday, led a solemn tribute at the Requiem Mass held in honour of the late Chief Francis Akpo, father-in-law to former Governor Ben Ayade. The service, held at St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Obudu, drew a host of dignitaries including State Governor, Sen Prince Bassey Edet, his deputy, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, and former Deputy Governor, Prof Ivara Esu. The gathering also included Senator Rt. Hon. Eteng Jonah Williams and other top government officials. Ayambem offered heartfelt condolences to the grieving Ayade and Akpo families, recognizing Chief Francis as a disciplined educationist and mentor whose impact extended far beyond his immediate circle. Chief Francis's profound influence on those who had the privilege of being mentored by him underscored the void left by his passing. Chief Francis, who passed away on March 29, 2024, after a brief illness, was laid to rest following the Requiem Mass. He ...

The Comissioner for Environment in the State, Hon. Moses Osogi, today gifted out the sum of One hundred thousand naira to residents of Ibok Street in Calabar, as their award earned for being the best cleaned street in the month of April State wide environmental sanitation exercise. The sanitation exercise which commenced at 7:00am witnessed residents in different parts of calabar being engaged in the clearing of grasses, evacuation of waste and cleaning of drainages around their environments while numerous violators of the sanitation law also got arrested by the security agencies on patrol who later handed them over to the sanitation mobile court set up by Government to try and prosecute offenders of the law. According to the Environment Commissioner who commended the high compliance of residents and expressed his appreciation to everyone who have contributed to the success of the exercise, Government is not relenting effort to ensure that Cross River retains high standard of cleanlin...

The Governor of Cross River State, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, has restated his commitment to strengthening the Legislature to facilitate the delivery of effective legislative services to the citizens. The Governor made the promise during the swearing-in of Barrister Catherine Ujong Ubi as the substantive Clerk of the Cross River State House of Assembly held at his temporary office in Calabar. He applauded the 10th Assembly under the leadership of Rt Hon Elvert Ayambem for upholding the truth and justice in the selection of the clerkship position and ensuring that the most senior director was appointed in line with the Cross River State House of Assembly Service Commission Law and Public Service Rules. The Governor who observed that the Clerk serves as a link to boost the cordial relationship between the Executive and the Legislature congratulated Barr. Mrs Ubi on the appointment described her as "Topnotch". A citation, read by the Deputy Majority Leader of the House of A...

The Cross River State House of Assembly has urged the Cross River State Government to revoke and halt the sale of Government Quarters and Estates in Ogoja Local Government, which were built to improve the working conditions of state government employees. Hon. Thomas Aruku, member of the Ogoja State Constituency who brought the matter of urgent public importance before the house, explained that the government quarters and estate built for its employees were intended to generate revenue for the government and that occupants of the quarters were subjected to rigorous screening and documentation before being assigned the quarters. Adding that the occupants have maintained a cordial relationship with the government since being assigned the quarters. Hon Thomas Aruku went on to explain that the call to restrain and revoke land sales in the estate became necessary as a result of constant threats and intimidation by unidentified people alleging that the government property had been sold withou...

The Cross River State House of Assembly, in an attempt to address the growing concerns of kidnapping and smuggling within the Calabar Metropolis, has moved a motion calling on the State Government to enforce colour coding, numbering, and registration for all commercial vehicles operating within the Calabar metropolis. Hon. Egbe Abeng, the member representing Obubra 2 State Constituency, moved the motion which received widespread support from his fellow legislators, calling for enhanced security measures to address the spate of criminal activities in the state. Hon. Abeng pointed out that unidentified commercial vehicles have contributed significantly to the rise in criminal activities in the state. He stressed that implementing colour coding and registration would serve as a deterrent to criminals and aid law enforcement efforts. These measures would also make it easier to identify and track down perpetrators of crime. Furthermore, Hon. Stanley Nsemo, representing Calabar Municipal, em...

The Cross River State Assembly has called for urgent intervention in the gully erosion sites at Summit Hills Calalabar and other areas affected by erosion in the State.  Hon Martins Achadu, member representing Yala 2 State Constituency and Chairman Committee on Environmental Matters, moved the motion of Urgent Public Importance calling on the government of Cross River State to intervene in the gully erosion sites at summit hills. He added that when erosion sites are discovered but neglected it turns such an area into a desolate place. Hon Achadu described how the environmental committee, led by Prof Eyor, conducted an oversight function at Summit Hills, which houses the CICC and other government facilities, and discovered how erosion had ravaged the area. He urged the state government to act quickly to repair the area and prevent further damage that could endanger lives and property.  Hon Okon Owuna, a member representing the Akamkpa1 state constituency supported the motion ex...

In State Government's efforts to maintain a hygienic, green and conducive environment for promotion of tourism, business and leisure in Cross River State, the monthly State wide environmental sanitation exercise for the month of April would hold on Saturday 27th April 2024. The commissioner for Environment in Cross River State, Hon. Moses Osogi has admonished business owners and residents in every part of the state to participate in the cleaning and evacuation of waste from their surroundings during the hours of the environmental sanitation exercise. The environment Boss detailed that, there will be restriction of human and vehicular movement in the State during the period of the Environmental Sanitation Exercise which starts from the hours of 7:00am - 10:00am, except for people on essential duties, while defaulters of the sanitation laws would be sanctioned and prosecuted by the Cross River State Government.

In his determination to comprehensively upgrade existing primary healthcare centres and construct over 8,800 new primary healthcare centres across all local government areas in the country for accessible and qualitative healthcare delivery with the provision of new social accountability mechanisms, President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of the National Health Fellows Programme, with young Nigerian fellows to be engaged in all the 774 local government areas in the country. The well-trained fellows will serve as fiduciary agents to monitor and track Primary Healthcare Centre development and performance, which is to be assiduously measured against all financial inflows to the centres nationwide. The fellowship programme will be domiciled in the Sector Wide Approach (SWAp) coordination office under the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. The fellows will be recruited, renumerated, and equipped with appropriate tools to track the performance of Basic Health Care Pro...

The Director General of the Cross River State microfinance and enterprise development agency(MEDA), Mr. Great Ogban has said the season of sweetness will be positively impactful on entrepreneurs in the State, as the Governor, Sen(Prince) Bassey Otu will Strengthen the business community in the state and make it viable. Mr. Ogban made the Governor's objectives for the business community known during his visit to the State secretariat of Nigerian Association Of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME) in Calabar, as part of his assessment tour that is aimed at having personal engagement with business owners in the state, to know their challenges and how Government can offer solutions through his agency. In a welcome address, Mr. James Alicha, Chairman of NASME welcomed the Meda Boss to their secretariat, applauded the Governor for appointing a man who has vast knowledge of the business community in the State, described the appointment of Mr. Great Ogban as fitting for the agency, adding...

The Speaker of the Cross River State House Of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem over the weekend commissioned a Constituency Liaison Office at Edor in Abanyom Ward of Ikom 2 State Constituency – the first and only liaison office in Constituency 2 since 1999.  During the commissioning ceremony, the Speaker Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem stated that the Constituency Liaison Office will not only serve as a post office to relate relevant information to him but will also employ and empower fifteen persons carefully appointed across all the wards of Constituency 2 to work as Liaison officers, adding that Messiah Ojong (Osowoagaga) will be the Coordinator, and each officer will have an instant twenty thousand naira airtime to call or text as duty demands.  According to Speaker Ayambem, the newly built-from-scratch three-room liaison office which is located in the heart of Ikom 2 is his first step towards empowering the people, as promised during his campaigns, saying that the liaison office...

By: Sylvia Okoi  In line with the mandate of the Governor of Cross River State, Sen( Prince)Bassey Edet Otu in ensuring the restoration of the green and clean status as well as enforce the State's Environmental Law of Cross River State, Government had on Saturday 30th March, dragged some defaulters of the state's Sanitation law to court. Speaking to pressmen while monitoring the monthly exercise, the Commissioner for Environment Hon. Moses Osogi, stated that the law will take its full course henceforth on erring citizens, adding that the penalty the defaulters of the march exercise will get is expected to serve as deterrence to others who always display laxity to compliance of Cross River State Government sanitation laws. Frowning at the incessant flouting of the state's law by some residents in the metropolis, Hon. Osogi disclosed that the mobile courts which have started it operation this month, is empowered to try defaulters of the state's environmental sanitation la...

The Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem has showered Senator Stephen Adi Odey, Ph.D., the Commissioner for Education, with accolades for his exceptional accomplishments and his role in community development in the State. Rt Hon Elvert Ayambem made this known on Saturday as he joined other guests at the Yache Nation Grand Reception in honour of their illustrious son, Sen. Barr. Stephen Odey, on his appointment by His Excellency, Sen (Prince) Bassey Edet Otu, as the Commissioner for Education. He described Odey's story as one of hard work, determination, selflessness, and a shining example of what can be achieved with dedication and perseverance. Rt. Hon Elvert Ayambem stated that despite Sen Stephen Odey starting from humble beginnings, he has gone on to achieve incredible academic and professional success. Adding that he has earned not one, but two Ph.D. degrees, which is a testament to his intellectual prowess and unwavering commitment to ex...