The Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, has commissioned a community market in Afi, Ikom II State Constituency, as part of his commitment to sustainable development and improved living conditions in rural communities.

The project, facilitated and completed by the Speaker, was identified as one of the priority needs of the community following consultations by the Constituency Needs Assessment Team established by Ayambem to evaluate infrastructure and identify projects that would directly benefit the people.

The team was mandated to identify critical infrastructure capable of improving the livelihoods of residents and promoting sustainable economic growth across the constituency.

According to community members, the absence of a suitable trading environment had been a major challenge for years, forcing traders to conduct business under harsh weather conditions, including rain and intense sunshine.

Speaking on behalf of the community, the village head, Chief Etta Ekawor, commended Ayambem for the intervention, describing the market as a miracle and a blessing that would transform the fortunes of the people.

In his remarks, Ayambem expressed appreciation to the Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, for his continued support for people-oriented projects and development initiatives across rural communities in the state.

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He also thanked the people for their patience, support for his leadership and commitment to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Speaker was accompanied by the member representing Yala I State Constituency, Hon. Brian Odey; the Vice Chairman of Ikom Local Government Area, Hon. Maurice Ndome; and the Assistant Financial Secretary of the APC in Cross River State, Hon. Akanya Agbor.

Other stakeholders from Nde Ward who attended the commissioning included the former Vice Chairman of Ikom Local Government Area, Hon. Asinya Ntan, and the Community Relations Officer, Hon. Abang Neji.

Matthew Okache
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker
October 22, 2026

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Driving through Holy Ghost and Chris Chemist Roundabout in Enugu metropolis was, until recently, a nightmare many motorists dreaded. Those who dared to navigate the busy commercial corridor often had unpleasant tales to tell.
Beyond the chaotic traffic situation, the area was notorious for rowdy and unorganised roadside trading, indiscriminate parking, commercial buses competing for passengers and the activities of illegal levy collectors who allegedly extorted motorists under various guises, including car radio licences and local government levies.
It was a situation that appeared to have defied successive interventions, leaving residents and motorists wondering whether sanity could ever return to one of Enugu’s busiest commercial districts.

Onoh, Executive Chairman Enugu North

Today, however, the Chairman of Enugu North Local Government Area, Hon. Ibenaku Onoh, appears to have achieved what many considered almost impossible.
Through a combination of political will, infrastructural adjustments and sustained enforcement, the once-chaotic Holy Ghost corridor has witnessed a remarkable transformation, with improved traffic flow and a significant reduction in the disorder that previously characterised the area.
Onoh explained that his decision to tackle the perennial congestion was inspired by the massive road rehabilitation, urban renewal and aesthetic improvements being undertaken across Enugu metropolis by Governor Peter Mbah.
According to him, having witnessed the governor’s determination to give Enugu a modern outlook through infrastructural development and beautification, he considered it necessary for the local government to key into the vision by sanitising Holy Ghost and its adjoining commercial areas.
He noted that it would amount to a contradiction for the state government to invest heavily in road rehabilitation and urban renewal while one of the city’s busiest commercial corridors remained overwhelmed by traffic congestion, illegal trading and environmental disorder.
Consequently, Onoh identified the Holy Ghost traffic situation as one of his administration’s immediate priorities upon assuming office.
He disclosed that he visited the area four times within his first week in office to personally assess the challenges before approaching Governor Mbah with a proposal to remove the Chris Chemist Roundabout.
“When I came on board, I paid attention to that area. In my first week of working here, I went there like four times. And I knew that was the problem. So I told the governor that the Chris Chemist Roundabout was a problem and that it had to go. The governor told me, go ahead and do whatever you want,” he recalled.
Armed with the governor’s approval, the council commenced the removal of the roundabout, expanded and asphalted portions of the road, and redesigned the median separating traffic moving into and out of Holy Ghost.
The chairman explained that the median had virtually become a market, with traders occupying every available space and contributing to the perennial congestion.
Rather than merely displacing the traders, his administration reconstructed the median in a manner that made it uncomfortable and unsuitable for roadside trading, thereby discouraging their return.
He also acknowledged the contribution of the new Holy Ghost transport terminal constructed by the Mbah administration, noting that commercial buses which previously clustered along the roads had been moved into the facility.
“The terminal has also helped. We thank the governor for that terminal. Some of these buses that used to cluster the road, we have now pushed them into the terminal,” he stated.
But beyond the physical transformation, Onoh identified sustained enforcement as the greatest challenge in restoring sanity to the area.
He explained that roadside traders and other operators frequently attempted to return to prohibited locations despite repeated efforts to remove them.
According to him, the situation required not only determination but also the establishment of a legal framework to deal with persistent offenders.
Consequently, the council approached the Chief Judge and subsequently enacted a by-law establishing a mobile court for the local government.
Onoh said the court provided a legal mechanism for prosecuting offenders, ensuring that resistance to enforcement would no longer end in mere confrontations with council officials.
He further alleged that some individuals had attempted to compromise enforcement efforts by offering monthly financial inducements, insisting that his administration would not sacrifice its objectives for personal gains.
“For me, I know exactly what I want, and once I see what I don’t want, I know I don’t want it. I think it is also that discipline, strength and consistency that have made us sustain it for as long as we have,” he said.
The chairman disclosed that enforcement remained a daily exercise, recalling how he recently directed his Chief Security Officer to remove wheelbarrows that had resurfaced around the council premises.
He maintained that without consistency, the gains recorded in Holy Ghost could easily be reversed by individuals determined to reclaim public spaces for unauthorised commercial activities.
Meanwhile, the council has shifted attention to another major environmental challenge in the area: indiscriminate waste disposal.
Onoh disclosed that his administration recently took delivery of about 35 large waste bins procured from Lagos, which would be deployed across the commercial district.
He explained that additional metal fabrication was being carried out to make the bins compatible with evacuation trucks operated by the Enugu State Waste Management Authority (ESWAMA).
According to him, the initiative would provide traders, residents and commuters with designated refuse disposal points before the council intensifies prosecution of environmental offenders.
“People just come and dump their waste on the road. What I have said is to give them an option. I will give you an option of where you are supposed to put waste. But when you don’t do it, by the time we take you to mobile court and have you arraigned there, you will know that you had an option,” he explained.
For motorists familiar with the old Holy Ghost, the difference is striking. What was once regarded as an unavoidable traffic nightmare is gradually becoming an example of how local government leadership can complement the urban renewal agenda of the state government.
For Onoh, however, the achievement is not merely about removing a roundabout or displacing roadside traders. It is about ensuring that the massive investments being made by Governor Mbah in transforming the Enugu capital are complemented by discipline, environmental responsibility and orderliness at the grassroots.
The challenge now is to sustain the transformation and ensure that the disorder which once defined the Holy Ghost and Chris Chemist corridor does not return.

By Chinedu Sabastine

The Enugu State House of Assembly has thrown its weight behind the establishment of state police, saying decentralising the country’s policing architecture would improve security and strengthen the protection of lives and property.

The lawmakers expressed their positions on Tuesday, November 20 during plenary while considering a proposed constitutional amendment to provide for the establishment of State Police Service and related matters.

Supporting the proposal, the member representing Ezeagu Constituency, Hon. Chima Obieze, said the establishment of state police would make policing more effective by bringing security operations closer to the people.

According to him, “The establishment of State Police will decentralise the policing architecture of the country and make it more effective in the protection of lives and property across the state.”

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Similarly, the member representing Nkanu East Constituency, Hon. Okey Mbah, said state police could help tackle recurring security challenges, including violence and attacks attributed to herders in different parts of the state.

Mbah maintained that a decentralised policing system would enable authorities to respond more effectively to security threats within their respective communities.

He said the establishment of state police would help “curtail incessant violence and herdsmen attacks in different parts of the state.”

However, the member representing Igbo-Eze South Constituency, Hon. Harrison Ogara, cautioned that the proposed state police system could be abused by political officeholders if adequate safeguards were not established.

Ogara expressed concern that state police formations might be used to intimidate political opponents, stressing that effective oversight and accountability mechanisms were necessary to protect the institution from political interference.

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He said, “State Police formations could be used to intimidate political opponents if adequate safeguards are not put in place.”

The lawmaker also called for professional standards, transparent accountability structures and sustainable funding arrangements to ensure that state police personnel discharge their duties without undue political influence.

According to him, effective oversight would be essential to ensuring that the proposed security structure serves the public interest rather than the interests of those in power.

The Speaker of the House, Chief Uche Ugwu, said the proposed changes to the naming of Nigeria’s policing institutions could also influence institutional orientation and the attitudes of personnel.

The proposal includes changing the name of the Nigeria Police Force to the Federal Police Service, alongside the establishment of the State Police Service.

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Ugwu said the changes could contribute to a shift in institutional orientation and personnel attitudes, potentially improving the delivery of policing services.

The proposed constitutional amendment comes amid growing calls for the decentralisation of Nigeria’s security architecture to enable states to respond more effectively to local security challenges.

Proponents argue that state police would improve intelligence gathering and response times, while critics have raised concerns about possible political abuse, inadequate funding and the need for strong accountability mechanisms.

Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, has presented a proposed budget of ₦987, 808, 089, 235.92bn for the 2027 fiscal year christened: The Budget of Consolidation and Renewed Hope.

Presenting the budget before the lawmakers at the Assembly Complex in Calabar, Governor Otu described the proposed estimates as ” a Solemn and sacred pact laden with the trust, expectation and aspiration of the people for their improved livelihoods”.

The 2027 proposed budget represents an increase of about 2.57 percent increase over the 2026 budget was prepared to consolidate the achievements of his administration while addressing critical developmental needs in key sectors of the state’s economy.

According to him, the proposed expenditure comprises ₦279.38 bn or 28.28 percent for recurrent expenditure and ₦708.43 bn for capital expenditure, representing 71.72 per cent of the total budget respectively.

He explained that the substantial capital allocation reflects his administration’s commitment to prioritise infrastructure, human capital development and productive investment to stimulate economic activities.

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On the state’s debt profile, Governor Otu disclosed that his administration had refrained from domestic and external loans since assumption of office stressing that debt servicing from previous administrations had constrained the pace of development projects.
” I cannot, and will never mortgage the future of our children with unsustainable loans”. He declared.

On sectoral allocations, the Governor stated that ₦246.1bn had been earmarked for infrastructure and road development, followed by education with #99.6 to strengthen educational infrastructure and improve the quality of learning across the state.
The health sector is projected to receive ₦85.4bn to improve healthcare delivery, agriculture has #28.2bn and aviation #21.8bn.
Other provisions include #20.2 bn for the House of Assembly, #19.1bn for the Judiciary, #16.6bn for power and #11.3 bn for Tourism.

The Governor assured that the budget will continue to align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals while promising continuity in uncompleted projects. He also pledged continued investment in forest conservation and the green economy, Judicial Infrastructure, security and youth empowerment.

Governor Otu further highlighted his administration’s plans to improve internally generated revenue, attract private-sector investment and strengthen fiscal discipline to ensure effective implementation of the budget.
“My administration shall continue to be responsive to the yearnings of the citizenry, prudent in the management of the State’s resources and accountable to the people. l will continue to work with the legislature and Judiciary for the betterment of the State.”

He commended the 10th Assembly for hardwork and urged the lawmakers to give the proposed estimates the necessary legislative consideration and speedy passage to facilitate the timely execution of government programmes and projects.

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In his remarks, the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, commended the Governor for presenting the budget which demonstrates his respect for democratic institutions. He assured Governor Otu of the Assembly’s commitment to a thorough legislative examination of the estimates.

The Speaker said the House would scrutinise the proposals to ensure that the budget reflect the needs and aspirations of Cross Riverians as well as promote transparency and accountability in public expenditure.
” I wish to assure you, your Excellency and the good people of Cross River State that this Assembly will subject the estimates to thorough, rigorous and expeditious scrutiny”.

Speaker Ayambem assured that the Assembly will engage with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to ensure that the budget promotes even development across the State and is implemented within available resources.

He commended the Governor for zero tolerance for cultism, kidnapping, and other social vices which has restored peace and tranquility in the State adding that the 10th Assembly remains committed to providing robust legislative support to the Executive for the benefit of Cross Riverians.
“We have passed critical bills and motions aimed at strengthening governance, improving the ease of doing business and ensuring the welfare and security of Cross Riverians. We have diligently performed our oversight functions to ensure that projects and programmes captured in the 2026 Budget are executed to specification for the benefit of our people.

He hailed Governor Otu for his achievements in the various sectors of the state while appealing for the Governor’s assistance in the comprehensive renovation of the Assembly Complex and Quarters as well as the provision of buses for the Assembly’s use.

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The event featured presentation and cutting of birthday cake by the Governor who recently turned 67 years as well as good will messages from Rt Hon Hillary Bisong (Boki 2) and Rt Hon Davies Etta (Abi ) and a vote of thanks from the Leader of the House, Rt Hon FrancisBasseyAsuqu ( Odukpani).

Present at the event were; the Deputy Governor, Rt Hon Peter Agbe Odey, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Anthony Owan-Eno, Service Chiefs, Members of the State Executive Council, Chairman and Members of the Assembly Service Commission amongst other dignitaries.

The 2027 budget estimates will undergo the necessary legislative processes in line with constitutional provisions before its passage.

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The National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), says INEC is prepared to conduct a free, fair and credible polls come 2027 General Elections.

Amupitan said this on Tuesday in Enugu during the Readiness Assessment for 2027 General Elections Meeting with the Commission’s Staff in South-East.

He noted that the commission in his watch had followed a strict time-line and check-list within its ongoing preparation period.

“We are on track and moving ahead with most of the check-list boxes thick as done.

“We have got our non sensitive materials ready and distributed while we are advancing on awarding contracts for sensitive materials.

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“The commission is getting more vehicular logistics for seamless movement of personnel and materials.

“Massive training and retraining have commenced especially on the new guidelines and regulations introduced into the Amended Electoral Act,” he said.

He said that the commission’s ICT had been upgraded and its security further tightened.

The chairman noted that the commission had set-up committees with various governmental agencies, commissions and bodies to provide specialised services and back up to ensure a successful polls.

Earlier, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Enugu State, Dr Chukwuemeka Chukwu, noted that Enugu State consist of 17 Local Government Areas, 260 Registration Areas and 4,145 Polling Units.

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Chukwu said that these figures provided an indication of the scale of electoral operations within the state and underscored the importance of sustained planning and coordination.

“Managing electoral activities across such a broad operational structure requires adequate personnel, logistics, technology, infrastructure and security arrangements, as well as continuous engagement with stakeholders at the grassroots.

“The experience of the commission has shown that every component of the electoral process is interconnected.

“Our preparedness at the Local Government, Registration Area and Polling Unit levels must therefore be properly coordinated with our zonal and national planning.

“We must continue to strengthen our systems, improve our processes and ensure that every officer understands his or her responsibility towards the successful delivery of the 2027 General Elections,” Chukwu said.

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The assessment featured presentations from various departments in INEC on their readiness for the polls and new innovations introduced by the various departments to allow for a seamless electoral operations.

Representatives of the five states in South-East, which include Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States, made presentations on their various state’s readiness and challenges ahead of the 2027 General Elections.

Two challenges facing the states are the need for adequate training and retraining of staff as well as some isolated cases of insecurity.