COMMUNIQUE OF THE MEETING OF AKWA IBOM HUMAN RIGHTS COMMUNITY HELD ON THE 10TH DAY OF APRIL, 2024 AT NO. 13 NDIYA STREET, UYO.
INTRODUCTION
The Akwa Ibom Human Rights Community held her April, 2024 General Meeting on the 10th of April, 2024 where several issues of public importance were discussed and resolutions were reached. Various issues of national and State importance were discussed, extensively.
OBSERVATIONS
Observations touched on the following issues;
a) Kidnap of Akwa Ibom State indigenes who went on NYSC and other kidnapped citizens
b) Insecurity
c) Unemployment
d) Electricity tariff and related matters
e) Palliative measures
RESOLUTIONS
It was resolved as follows;
a) Kidnap of Akwa Ibom State indigenes en route Zamfara State for national service and kidnap of other victims.
i) We call on the Nigerian security services in particular and the governments at the state and national levels to expedite action to get the remaining indigenes of Akwa Ibom State in captivity who were kidnapped in Zamfara State while on their way to honor the call for national service of NYSC, released without any further delay.
The harrowing and traumatic experiences of the victims, and the associated pains and anxiety of the parents and guardians has made us to question the continued importance of the existence of the NYSC Scheme, and seek a rejig of the policy to make youths serve within their regions.
ii) We hereby call on the federal government to ensure that Nigerian graduates called for service, are allowed to serve within their geo-political zones for safety purpose and to encourage unity.
iii) The NYSC scheme which appears to have out-lived its usefulness, should be reviewed and completely overhauled to reflect solutions to emerging trends.
iv) We equally call for the safe release of other kidnapped victims across the country.
b) Insecurity
i) The level of insecurity in Nigeria is alarming and calls for serious concern. We urge the governments at all levels to stem the tide by taking pro-active measures.
ii) Divisional Police Officers should be held responsible for any unresolved crime in their domain.
iii) We call for the engagement of more people living in the community on intelligence gathering and security
iv) The state of kidnapping, robbery and other crimes in Akwa Ibom State is on the increase. We therefore call on the state government and the relevant security agencies to expedite action in that direction.
c) Electricity tariff and related matters would be greatly eased if these measures are taken
i) The barbaric increase in electricity tariff is totally unacceptable. It is not in the best interest of the nation and the people. We therefore call for a reversal.
ii) We call for the establishment of an Electricity Distribution Company in the absence of one in Akwa Ibom State, to serve the indigenes and residents.
iii) We call on the state government to bring in experts, not politicians, to run the electricity company.
iv) We urge the state government to train our youths and children in Technical schools and Polytechnics on how to produce solar panels and solar batteries. Once manufacturing of solar panels and battering commence in Akwa Ibom State, electricity
d) Unemployment
The level of unemployment and hardship in Akwa Ibom state is alarming and unacceptable given the huge and humongous amount of monies the state receives on a monthly basis as allocation. We call on the state government to as a matter of urgency, take drastic steps towards addressing the issue of unemployment, hunger and our vibrant youths wasting away as a result of government neglect.
e) Palliative measures
i) We commend the state government for the flag-off of the food distribution program to mitigate hunger. We however, wish to state categorically, that such palliative measure does not really serve the reality on ground, as even the much talked about Social Register is being shrouded in secrecy and not made accessible to the people.
ii) We urge the government to come up with a sincere approach to addressing the high level of hunger and hardship in the land, such as;
- Provision of supervised grants, and farming tools to farmers
- Revival of moribund industries
- Tackle obstacles to a free economy by removing unions and touts that make it difficult for traders and suppliers to operate independent of the unions that jack up prices of commodities.
- And other life-touching measures
f) United Bank for Africa (UBA) declared seven hundred billion naira without any positive and commensurate impact on the economy. Questions must be asked in this direction.
g) We call on the president, vice president, governors and their deputies and other government officials to declare their assets.
h) The Bulk Purchase arrangement is a palliative measure which cannot give sustained solution to the food crises and other allied challenges. It raises a lot of questions than giving answers to the myriad of challenges on ground. For instance, how much is appropriated in the 2024/2025 budget to capture the activities and expenditure of the Bulk Purchase Agency? What is the optimized social benefits in a cost-benefit analysis of the bulk-purchase arrangement? We believe that this is another drain-pipe which permits leakage of state funds.
i) Where is the 10,000,000 USD ($10 Million) that was borrowed by the Governor Udom Gabriel’s government at the twilight of that administration for the purchase and installation of CCTV across the state?
i. Where is the 2,000 Mexican cows touted as a state project, and for which Millions of USD were appropriated for?
ii. Where are the industries bandied as enterprises established by that government? These industries should have reticulated funds to boost the local economy of Akwa Ibom State, and reduced the scourge of unemployment bedeviling the State right now.
iii. What is the fate of the St. Gabriel Coconut Refinery? These white elephant and hair-pin projects, expose the state to recurrent fraud. Accountability is required.
iv. Government is a continuum, and the present government, without probing the last administration, should give an explanation to these and other questions surrounding controversial projects.j.) it is the belief of reasonable indigenes of and residents of the Stater that:
i. THE 21 STOREY SMART BUILDING should be converted to a standard hotel and resort, to generate the monies used in its maintenance and servicing (which run into several millions every month; generate employment for few persons; encourage the Uyo Business District called Banking Layout to boost and promote associated businesses; and meet other objectives.
ii. THE WORSHIP CENTER SHOULD BE TRANSFORMED INTO AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CENTERT. It is our belief too, that the Worship Center should become the Ibom International Conference Center (ICC), to host large conferences and programmes, including religious activities. The nearby 21-storey smart hotel, will provide ready accommodation for participants. The two facilities complement each other.
h.) Abrogate and abolish the law that gives humongous retirement benefit to ex-governors and their deputies. A one-time severance allowance might be good, but not the present arrangement. It is sinking a drain-pipe into the devaluated funds of the State.
CONCLUSION
It is the utmost desire of the Akwa Ibom Human Rights Community, and other persons of goodwill, that government at all levels should be responsive and pro-active in addressing the plight of the people.
The above Resolutions in this Communique should be implemented by the necessary authorities.
On behalf of the Akwa Ibom Human Rights Community;
(SIGNED) (SIGNED)
Clifford Thomas, Esq. Comrade Ime Udo
Convener Secretary
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