Author: Our Reporter

Federal Government has announced plans to implement measures toward realizing a growth target of 7 per cent by 2020. Briefing journalists on the forthcoming 23rd Nigerian Economic Summit (NES23) scheduled to hold on October 10 -12, 2017 in Abuja, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, Minister of Budget and National Planning, said: “The implementation of the Economic Recovery Growth Plan, ERGP is critical to achieving the ambitious goals of this government to diversify the economy and attain a growth rate of 7 per cent by 2020.” Udoma stated that the summit would elicit and adopt a solution-based approach in addressing the issues…

A final-year Geography student of the University of Uyo shot by suspected cultists Monday night in the students’ community of Idak Okpo, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital has survived the attack. It was gathered that the hoodlums, numbering five, invaded the community and shot one Stanley Mbanefo at close range, while he was trying to escape from a shop. “They shot him in the arm, and we rushed him to the Life Care Clinic along Udosen Uko Street, Nwaniba, Uyo, for emergency treatment,” Chief Eno Clement, Chairman of the Idak Okpo community said. At the Life Care Clinic, medics battled…

The activities of sea pirates have continued unabated as three Cameroonians and two Nigerians have been kidnapped along Calabar – Oron water ways. The ship, popularly called D-Simeon and owned by a Cameroonian with Geromu company as its Nigerian agent, arrived Nigeria on Thursday last week and berthed at Shore-Line Logistics yard along Marina beach in Calabar in Nigerian border. An eye-witness, Johnson Mbinag, said the ship, which set sail about on Monday evening, ran into the sea pirates who attacked them and whisked away five persons including assistant captain, chief engineer, security officer, all Cameroonians, the loader and a…

Imo Isemin, the wife of the first democratically elected governor of Akwa Ibom State, Akpan Isemin, is dead. A report monitored from PREMIUM TIMES in Uyo indicates that Mrs. Isemin died Wednesday in an undisclosed hospital in Uyo, an aide to the former first lady had confirmed. She was said to have been taken to the hospital on Tuesday after she suddenly fell ill. Her husband, Mr. Isemin, passed on in 2009, 16 years after leaving office as governor due to the military coup in Nigeria that brought Sani Abacha, a general, into power. Until her death, Mrs. Isemin was…

Ekpań Nkukwo is a traditional delicacy that is common among the people of Akwa Ibom and Cross River States of Nigeria. The name is derived from the admixture of grated cocoyam and water yam wrapped with cocoyam leaf to produce differently delicious meal. It is food which has high nutritional values and is rich in protein, vitamins, carbohydrate, calcium and phosphorous. Its recipes include cocoyam, cocoyam leaf, water yam, fresh pepper, shrimps, stockfish, dry fish and kpomo (cow skin). Others are crayfish, salt, palm oil, periwinkle, bonga fish, curry leaf and scent leaf. To cook ekpań nkukwo, one has to…

Indigenous contractors of Conoil Producing Nigeria Limited in Koluama community of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have threatened to shut down operations of the company over unpaid debt of more than N400 million. The indigenous contractors, under the auspices of Conoil Ango Field Marine Spread Contractors, claimed the oil major owed them for about 10 months for the barges and tugboats it hired from them for its operations. In a petition to His Royal Highness, J.T.C. Leghemo, Chairman of Oil and Gas, Koluama clan; 16 Brigade Commander, Yenagoa, Bayelsa and the Gunboat Commander, Bayelsa, the contractors said they…

Federal Government has blamed its plummeting revenue in power sector on Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs) inability to collect and remit same into its coffers. In ‘Nigeria Power Programme, NPP’ StraightNews quoted from The Vanguard newspaper, the report lamented that the government is facing huge revenue losses, and that country’s long-term sustainability in the power sector would depend on the capacity of DisCoS to remit revenue. The report revealed that “A review of 2015 – 2016 data on cash remittances from DisCos to Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading PLC (NBET) shows that DisCos have not made full payment for energy received since the transfer of management…

The Ibom Orange Festival painted Uyo, Akwa Ibom capital red. The event held on September 16 at the prestigious Ibom Unity Park, Udo Udoma Avenue, Uyo, capital of Akwa Ibom State climaxed the celebration of the state creation anniversary at 30. The event, which showcased the rich cultural milieu of Akwa Ibom people, started with carnival floats in different local government areas. In Uyo, the float started at the mini stadium in the University of Uyo around major streets in the capital. A rubber-made shark positioned in a well-decorated trailer with singers and dancers added colour and beauty to the…

Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has called off its nationwide strike and directed its members to resume duty on Tuesday. A report monitored on TVC News, Lagos quoted Biodun Ogunyemi, the National President of ASUU as saying that the Union has called off the strike and would resume it if the Federal Government reneges on implementing the agreement both parties have entered into. Ogunyemi, who stated this after the fifth open negotiation meeting with representatives of government, said all branch chairmen of the Union will convene national congresses tomorrow September 19 with a view getting their members to resume duty. Earlier,…

Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Sunday, said loading of products including aviation fuel would stop from today as affiliates of United Labour Congress of Nigeria (ULC), begin an indefinite strike. Also, electricity workers, on the platform of National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) and National Union of Railway Workers (NURW), have asked members to down tools and join the strike. However, the leaders of National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Employees (NUBIFIE) said members may not effectively join the strike today because the union just concluded its…