By George Odok
Calabar, Feb. 10, 2021 Pelican Stars Female Football Club of Calabar, on Wednesday, drew 1-1 with the Royal Queens of Warri at the U.J Esuene Sport Stadium in Calabar, in the ongoing National Women’s Football League, NWFL, Naija247news reports.
Ukwoma Ogechi of Pelican Stars scored the first goal 10 minutes into the game, while Ochuchukwu Chiamaka of Royal Queens equalised for her team in the 60th minute of play, after both teams failed to utilise their chances to increase their goal tally.
Speaking after the game, Chairman of Pelican Stars, Mr Sam Kombor, said that his team gave out their best, in spite of the draw margin.
By George Odok
Calabar, Jan. 13, 2021 Retired Rear Adm. David Adeniran, Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command, Nigerian Navy in Calabar, says the navy has neutralised 291 illegal refineries, seized 31,310 bags of rice and arrested 707 suspects.
Adeniran stated this on Wednesday while enumerating some of his achievements during his service before he retired on Jan. 4.
In a valedictory speech during his pull out in Calabar, Adeniran said that his exit from service marked the end of an era and the beginning of a new one for him.
He said that the command, during his tenure, also seized 31,310 bags of 50-kilogramme smuggled rice, confiscated 1,000 metric tonnes of stolen crude oil while 51,800 metric tonnes of illegally refined diesel were seized.
By George Odok
Calabar, Jan. 9, 2020 Elvert Ayambem, representing Ikom II State Constituency in the Cross River House of Assembly, has condemned the alleged killing of some youths in a communal clash between Nlul and Abankang communities in Ikom.
The crisis, which started on Jan. 5, allegedly claimed the lives of four persons in Abankang community while more than 40 houses were allegedly destroyed.
Ayambem, who urged the warring communities to embrace peace, told journalists in an interview on Saturday in Calabar that more than 40 houses were razed in Abankang community.
“I want to appeal to youths from various communities to drop their weapons and embrace peace. Violence can never attract development to any area where there is hostility. We need peace in our communities.
By George Odok
Calabar, Jan. 7, 2021 The Cross River Government has inaugurated the COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (CARES) committee to steer the activities of the programme in the state between 2021 and 2023.
Deputy Governor of the state, Prof. Ivara Esu, who inaugurated the team on Wednesday in Calabar, said that the project was timely and coming at a time when the nations economic needed to be stimulated with various programmes.
Newsmen reports that CARES is a World Bank Assisted programme which is supported by the Federal and State Governments to stimulate the economy.
According to Esu, with the coming in of the programme which is scheduled to start by April, the state will consolidate on the gains and reduce her poverty rate of 36.3 to at least a single digit.
By George Odok
Calabar, Dec. 30, 2020 Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River on Wednesday signed the state’s 2021 budget of N281.9 billion into law.
The budget has N192.5 billion representing 67 per cent earmarked for recurrent expenditure, while the sum of N88.196 billion representing 33 per cent was for capital spending.
Speaking at the signing ceremony held at the Governor’s office, Calabar, Ayade said that there was provision for the establishment of a state polytechnic in the budget.
He added that the budget also had provisions for social welfare schemes like grants and other financial benefits to help cushion the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the people.