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Tag: AKWA IBOM STATE

  • Human  trafficking: NAPTIP rescues 2 young boys  in A’Ibom 

    Human  trafficking: NAPTIP rescues 2 young boys  in A’Ibom 

    The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has rescued two young boys from Akwa Ibom.

    Nigerian Anchor checks reveal that the boys were trafficked to Taraba for labour exploitation.

    The Uyo Zonal Commander of NAPTIP, Mr. Emmanuel Awhen, disclosed this in Uyo on Monday.

    According to Awhen, the agency received a complaint about the disappearance of two boys, 16-year-old Abasifreke Okon and 17-year-old Precious Ene, who live with their parents in Uyo metropolis.

    Ene was accused of luring Okon away, leading to his mother, Mrs. Grace Ene, being reported to the Paramount Ruler of Uyo.

    The traditional ruler subsequently handed her over to NAPTIP for investigation.

    Through inquiries, it was discovered that a man identified as Christian Gombe had traveled to Uyo and persuaded the boys to work for him in Taraba without their parents’ consent.

    “Upon receiving the complaint, we immediately contacted our NAPTIP office in Taraba and alerted them about the incident,” Awhen said.

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    “The search for the boys began, and Gombe was contacted. Realising that NAPTIP was involved, he volunteered to return the boys immediately.

    “We received a call from the Paramount Ruler of Uyo about the case, and we sent our officers to bring the woman (Mrs Grace Ene) to our office.

    “She was detained, and we communicated with our Taraba office. In the process, we obtained the contact details of the man who trafficked the boys.

    “Our men in Taraba instructed him to take the boys to the NAPTIP office there, and upon hearing this, he immediately complied and returned them to us,” Awhen explained.

    Narrating their ordeal, Precious Ene said they met Christian Gombe at a BetNaija outlet along Nwaniba Road, where he offered them jobs in Taraba.

    “On Feb. 12, Gombe returned with tickets for us to travel to Taraba, where he promised we would work for him.

    “We arrived on Feb. 13, and he provided accommodation for us. We then started selling building materials for him,” Ene recounted.

    However, he added that they were not paid any money until they were returned to Uyo to reunite with their parents on March 14.

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    The boys expressed gratitude to NAPTIP for their rescue, stating that they were uncomfortable staying in Taraba.

    NAPTIP advises to parents

    Awhen urged parents and guardians to be cautious about individuals offering their children opportunities for a “better life,” warning that they could end up in child labour or prostitution.

    He also advised traffickers to desist from such acts, emphasising that both the state and country were cracking down on human trafficking.

    Awhen encouraged victims, parents, and the general public to reach out to NAPTIP for assistance through the following helplines: 08069539747, 08023574406, and 08035961835.

  • Akwa Ibom fights hunger, malnutrition

    Akwa Ibom fights hunger, malnutrition

    The Akwa Ibom House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security has taken the campaigns on combating malnutrition to the 31 Local Government Areas of the State.

    Media reports indicate that the committee will work in collaboration with stakeholders and development partners to ensure good nutrition especially for children and adolescents.

    The Chairman, House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security in the Assembly, Mr Moses Essien, on Tuesday urged the 31 LGAs legislative arms to domesticate nutrition and food security committees in the third tier of government.

    Essien, who is also the member, representing Ibiono Ibom state constituency in the House of Assembly, said there was need for all stakeholders across the state to get involved and eradicate malnutrition from the state.

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    He said since the inauguration of the committee by the National Assembly and the State House of Assembly, there was need to have the same committee at the local government legislative council.

    The committee chairman noted that the National Demographic Health Survey 2023/2024 statistics showed that 24.1 per cent of children in Akwa Ibom are stunted and 22.6 per cent are underweight.

    Essien, who is also the Chairman, House Committee on Health, said that there was need for collaboration among key stakeholders and development partners to combat malnutrition and food insecurity in the state and country.

    “According to the National Demographic Health Survey carried out in 2023/2024, 24.1 per cent of children in Akwa Ibom State are stunted, 11.8 per cent are wasted while 22.6 per cent are underweight.

    “These indicators show the level of malnutrition in the state that calls for serious concern among critical stakeholders.

    “This is because malnutrition has severe consequences on the child’s health leading to infant mortality.

    “It was the resolution by the National Assembly that combating malnutrition and food insecurity cannot be left in the hands of executive alone.

    “Hence, the establishment of the National Legislative Network on Nutrition and Food Security.

    “It is our belief that each legislative council in the 31 Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom State must also domesticate nutrition and food security committees at the third tier of government.

    “Leaders of local government legislative councils should appoint chairmen and members of nutrition and food security committees and ensure their inauguration,” Essien said.

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    Essien disclosed that a workshop will soon be organised in collaboration with some development partners to enhance capacity building for members of the committee.

    In her remarks, Dr Idongesit Umo, Akwa Ibom Nutritionist Officer, urged the house committee to ensure that the budgeted funds for nutrition and food security were released on time for implementation of activities to combat malnutrition.

    Umoh added that combating malnutrition in the state and country should be everybody’s business and not left for the executive alone.

    “When we talk of nutrition we look at the most vulnerable, we look at children under five years and pregnant women and the adolescents.

    “We urge the House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security to ensure that the budgeted funds for nutrition and food security are released promptly to enhance proper implementation of activities to combat malnutrition.

    I’m sure if we do this, the next time the demographic survey will be released, the issue of Akwa Ibom having 24.1 per cent stunted and 22.6 per cent in terms of children who are under weight will change for better,” Umoh said.

    Speaking on behalf of the Council Chairmen, Mr Utibe Nwoko, Chairman, Ika Local  Government Area, assured that all the chairmen of councils would partner the committee in combating malnutrition in the state.

    Nwoko urged everyone to return to farm, stressing that the genesis of malnutrition and the consequences are mostly as a result of lack of farming. 

  • #EndBadGovernance protest: Gov Eno rewards A/Ibom Youths with N310m

    #EndBadGovernance protest: Gov Eno rewards A/Ibom Youths with N310m

    Unlike the Federal Government that has gone after the youths with violent clampdowns and trumped up charges, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has fulfilled his promise to reward youths in the state for boycotting the recent #EndBadGovernance protest.
    At a thank-you gathering in Uyo, the governor announced a N310 million cash reward, distributed as N10 million per Local Government Area (LGA), to be shared among youths across party lines.
    The governor commended the youths for listening to his appeal to shun the protest, stating that their actions showed they were not ashamed to do well.
    He acknowledged the issues that led to the protest, including hunger, unemployment, and high food prices, and assured that his administration was working to address them within available resources.
    Governor Eno also announced additional benefits for Akwa Ibom youths, including:
    – 100 youths per LGA to be added to the Ibom Community Watch, regardless of political affiliation
    – Increased student bursary from N10,000 to N20,000 for undergraduates and N20,000 to N30,000 for postgraduate students
    – An employment portal to be created by the Ministry of Labour and the Senior Special Assistant on ICT to connect youths with job opportunities
    – A digital platform for oil companies in Akwa Ibom to harvest applicants for interviews
    – A monthly N50,000 business grant for 5,000 youths to start small businesses
    Stakeholders at the gathering urged the governor to complete the abandoned Ibom Science Park, initiated by former Governor Obong Victor Attah, to fast-track technological growth in the state.