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Author: Ehigimetor Igbaugba

  • Expert advises regular exercise to prevent diseases

    Exercise

    By Ehigimetor Igbaugba

    Calabar, June 14, 2024 (NAN) Mr Sunday Ifiok, a Calabar-based fitness coach, has reiterated the need for regular physical activities in order to prevent some diseases.

    Ifiok made the statement in Calabar on Friday at an annual aerobic fitness session organised by the City Walker Group, tagged: “Fit and Fat”

    He said that regular exercise could help to prevent heart attacks, obesity, high blood pressure, depression and anxiety among others.

    The fitness coach stated that indulging in physical activities to keep healthy was far cheaper than visiting health facilities.

    “Physical activities stimulate many brain chemicals that may leave you feeling happier, more relaxed and less anxious.

    “It may also make you feel better about your appearance. This feeling can boost your confidence and self-esteem,” he said.

    Ifiok expressed concern at the regular cases of death through slumping, saying: “regular exercise is a way to reduce or prevent this”

    “We must spend less to take care of our health through regular exercise, else we spend more in hospitals,” he said.

    Speaking on behalf of the organisers, Mr Lyord Ndoma, said the event, the third in series, had continued to attract participants from different leanings.

    “It has been an eye opener for us, we have continued to see improvement in  activities regarding the annual event.

    “We have introduced some new dimensions to the event such as sugar level tests and blood pressure checks,” he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    ESI/AZU

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    Edited by Azubuike Okeh

  • C’River: Police corporal detained over abandonment of duty

    C’River: Police corporal detained over abandonment of duty

    Detention

    By Ehigimetor Igbaugba

    Calabar, June 12, 2024 (NAN) The Police Command in Cross River says it is currently detaining a corporal, Buba Adamu, who refused to report to duty after being transferred in 2015.

    The command’s Spokesperson, SP Irene Ugbo, confirmed Adamu’s detention while speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar on Wednesday.

    She said that Adamu had been receiving his salaries for about nine years despite not reporting to his place of posting in Kaduna State.

    “The said officer was transferred from Cross River to Kaduna State since 2015, but no one knew that he didn’t report to his new station.

    “There are allegations that he has been carrying out criminal activities around Bakoko Nassarawa area of Calabar, all this will be investigated,” he said.

    The police spokesperson said that the officer would remain in detention while investigation was ongoing.

    “The image of the force is important to us. We shall not allow anyone to spoil our image,” he said.

    NAN gathered that Adamu had been operating around Bakoko Nassarawa, a Hausa/Fulani settlement in Calabar Municipality.

    Some residents of the community told newsmen that Adamu had been using his police uniform to terrorize them.

    They said that many of them had been bullied and intimidated by the detained officer.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    ESI/AZU

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    Edited by Azubuike Okeh

     

     

     

     

  • C’River Assembly passes 28 laws in 12 months

    C’River Assembly passes 28 laws in 12 months

    Law

    By Ehigimetor Igbaugba

    Calabar, June 6, 2024 (NAN) The Cross River House of Assembly has passed 28 laws within the last 12 months, Dr Davies Etta, the Deputy Majority Leader of the House, has said.

    Etta, the lawmaker representing Abi Constituency, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday, in Calabar.

    NAN reports that the 10th Assembly was inaugurated on June 13, 2023.

    Etta explained that from the 28 laws, only eight had been assented to by the governor, Sen. Bassey Otu.

    He noted that the 10th Assembly represented the hope and aspirations of Cross Riverians, as all the laws, motions and oversight functions of the assembly were all people oriented.

    “Members of the 10th Assembly have been nothing but dutiful and people oriented as laws passed, motioned moved, and oversight function are factored to have direct impact on the people.

    “Aside the 28 laws passed, several others are at various stages of being passed; some have gone through the first reading, some second reading and some at the committee level,” he said.

    The Abi representative debunked the claim that the assembly was on witch-hunting level owing to its position to probe the privatisation of some of the assets of the state by the immediate past government.

    According to him, the assembly’s oversight functions have been commended by many, especially in the area of reclaiming assets and properties belonging to the state.

    “For instance, the assembly, through its oversight function was able to discover and recover several heavy duty trucks that found their way into private hands at Obudu.

    “Outside the state, we were also able to recover a four-story building in Abuja that was given away for 30 years at a meager sum of N6 million annually.

    “We are also investigating few other facilities of the state that were privatised with documents that were not explicit.

    “The insinuation that we are witch-hunting is wrong; Prof. Ben Ayade who was the immediate past governor remains our leader and we are appreciative of some of the things he did.

    “We are only carrying out our constitutional responsibilities and nothing more,” he said.

    Speaking on the relationship between the executive and the assembly, Etta who is also the special adviser to the Speaker, said that it was nothing but cordial.

    “Been a former lawmaker himself, the governor has given us free hand to operate; he does not interfere in the house activities and had been attending to our resolutions,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    ESI/DCO/IAA

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    Edited by Deborah Coker/Isaac Aregbesola

  • C’River rids Calabar streets of mentally challenged persons

    C’River rids Calabar streets of mentally challenged persons

    Evacuation

    By Ehigimetor Igbaugba

    Calabar, June 6, 2024 (NAN) The Government of Cross River has commenced  evacuation of mentally challenged persons from the state capital city, Calabar.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the exercise is being carried out by the Calabar Urban Development Authority (CUDA).

    The Executive Director of CUDA, Chief Effiong Ayi, who spoke with newsmen on Wednesday in Calabar, said that the aim of the exercise was to address the pressing issue of mental health in the metropolis proactively.

    Ayi said that the evacuation exercise followed the recent inauguration of a mental holding center by Gov. Bassey Otu as part of his administration’s one-year celebration in office.

    At the commencement of the initiative on Monday, the holding center had already registered over 30 inmates.

    “The primary goal of this exercise is to eliminate the large presence of mentally challenged individuals in our metropolis and facilitate their rehabilitation, enabling them to lead productive lives in our society,” he stated.

    He emphasised the urgency of the operation due to the increasing number of mentally challenged persons causing disturbances within the city.

    “The completion and reopening of the remand center by the governor prompted this exercise.

    “The increasing number of  these persons in the city has brought about various challenges and disturbances within the metropolis,” he stated.

    Speaking on their rehabilitation, he said, “they will be provided with the care and treatment they require, and once they regain sanity, they will be reintegrated into society.

    “This initiative not only aims to resolve the immediate concerns related to mentally challenged individuals in Calabar but also aligns with best practices in maintaining a safe and serene metropolis.

    “The state’s approach signifies a significant step towards improving public health and safety, ensuring that those affected receive the necessary support and rehabilitation to reintegrate successfully into society.”

    The executive director said that the holding center is equipped with essential amenities including a standby generator, water supply, and cooking facilities to ensure the well-being of the inmates.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    ESI/IAA

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    Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • NDDC plans ferry services, jetties in Niger Delta communities

    Services

    By Ehigimetor Igbaugba

    Calabar, June 2, 2024 (NAN) The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) says it will construct jetties and provide safe ferry services in communities not connected by roads in the region.

    The Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, made the disclosure at the inauguration of Abitto Luxury and Maritime Safety Boat in Calabar on Saturday.

    Ogbuku, who described the Abitto ferry services as a game-changer in transportation business, said that NDDC would partner the group to connect communities in the region.

    He noted that the partnership would provide safe means of transportation in the communities and stimulate their local economy.

    “We have so many communities in the region that are not connected by roads, so we can collaborate with Abitto to extend these services to them

    “For the Niger Delta to develop, we will not wait for foreigners, we shall use what we have to stimulate our local economy,” he said.

    In his speech, the chairman of Abitto Global Services, Mr Richard Akinaka, said that the idea was to provide transportation services and reduce the travel time between Calabar and Uyo.

    “This is very important, especially against the background of the bad state of Calabar-Itu road.

    “We emerged as a result of the need to provide comfortable means of transportation and to create employment opportunities.

    “I am proud to announce that about 90 per cent of the entire infrastructure, including the boats were built by us here in Calabar,” he stated.

    Speaking at the occasion, the Senator representing Cross River South at the National Assembly, Asuquo Ekpenyong, said the ferry services would reduce the travel time between Calabar and Uyo to about 30 minutes.

    “With this, you are creating jobs and promoting commerce. This is clearly a good omen” he said.

    Ekpenyong said that it had become expedient to return to natural means of transportation owing to the depreciation on the roads.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    ESI/EBI/AZU

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    Edited by Benson Iziama and Azubuike Okeh