Imoke Lauded Over Street Light Project

Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke has been commended over the ongoing street light projects in Calabar South Local Government Area, Southsouth Nigeria. The project is to ensure that all major streets within Calabar South lit at night.

The Chairman of Calabar South Local Government, Rt. Hon. Ekeng Nsa Henshaw commended the governor on the project in his executive Council chambers while receiving in audience the Special Assistant to the Governor on Political Matters Hon. Egbala Edom who is on tour of local government areas in the state.

Rt. Hon. Henshaw noted that the street lights in Calabar South Local Government will help check the prevalent security challenges which is currently tasking at night for the security forces.

He disclosed that the local government authority was working out a security network that will have 15 teams within the 12 political wards in the area but called on the state government to assist with more vehicles for the police, more police post as well as more training on modern technology to meet current realities.

The Chairman also decried the electricity supply situation from the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, in some parts of Calabar South that have been thrown into darkness for six months going, a situation he noted has affected many businesses and led to crimes.

The affected areas include parts of Atakpa Street, Yellow Duke Street, Munsaga Street and its environs.

He called for urgent attention from both the state and the Federal Government to contend with the frightening environmental challenges in Calabar South which has been made more glaring by the recent flood incidents after heavy rain left many homeless, property worth millions of naira destroyed including the concrete embankment of the Calabar drainage way which was pulled down by flood last week.

Also speaking with the governor’s aide, some cabinet members of Calabar South Local Government said the local government will continue to support Governor Imoke with her numerical strength but much attention needs to be given to internal roads in Calabar South Local Government as well as the environmental and security challenges in the area.

Hon. Edom thanked the council boss and his cabinet members as well as the senior staff of the council for the reception accorded him and promised to convey their message to the governor.

Meanwhile, Henshaw says his target was to leave behind a legacy of service delivery by the end of his tenure.

He made the remark in his office while addressing board members of the Local Government Sanitation Authority on the need to deliver on the responsibility given them to supervise sanitation and track revenues accruable to the local government within that purview.

He also used the opportunity to disclose that his administration may adopt computerised revenue payment option in order to gain improved revenue and block leakages in internally generated revenue.

According to him, “we know what is expected of us in the constitution and is demanded of us as a leader. We are focused and purposeful. That is what we expect of every person that is given an opportunity to serve under this administration.”

The council boss noted that there were many issues of sanitation in Calabar South and the Board members should see the opportunity given them as a call to service.

Rt. Hon. Henshaw disclosed that Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke has approved the collection of tenement rates by the local government and if the sanitation board discharges its duty creditably they could be consider to take up the collection of the tenement rates. He directed that all members and ad-hoc workers of the Sanitation Board should use proper identification cards when on duty and that a revenue court which is already in place will also serve as sanitation court because of the relativity between sanitation defaulters and revenue matters.

The Board Chairman, Mr. Bassey Otudor in his response thanked the chairman for the opportunity given them to serve and assured that they will justify the confidence reposed in them.

He appealed that there was need to address the possible challenge and conflict of duties with some state agencies whose activities seem to be encroaching on the responsibility of the local government authority.

The Secretary to Calabar South Local Government, Dr. Emmanuel Eyo in his remarks noted that the chairman of the sanitation board and the Executive Secretary of the Board shall serve as supervisor for all the five zones and can call for the records of any zone at anytime in order to discharge their duty.