A ROUND-UP OF THE MAJOR NEWS STORIES YOU MAY HAVE MISSED.

FG COMMISSIONS EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS CENTRE IN CROSS RIVER STATE.

In a bid to improve emergency response, the Federal Government in collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has commissioned a state of the art Emergency Communications Centre (ECC) in Cross River State.

Speaking at a virtual meeting for the commissioning of 11 Information and Communications Technology (ICT) projects across Nigeria on Tuesday, Minister for Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami said the upgraded ECC will support security institutions as part of the 3 point agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Addressing journalists during the commissioning of the ECC in Calabar, the Director General of the State Emergency Management Agency, Ayim Princewill said the facility will be the link between the responder and the distress caller.

On his part, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security –South, Ani Esin said the ECC will provide a better and timely security.

A representative of the NCC who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the total number of calls received at the ECC in Calabar from March 2019 to July 2020 stands at 1.8 million.

AGRIC MINISTRY IN CRS DISSOCIATES SELF FROM ACTIVITIES OF SAID STATE COORDINATOR OF AADS

The Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources in Cross River State has dissociated itself from the activities of Michael Abuo who is alleged to be claiming to be the State coordinator of the Accelerated Agricultural Development Scheme, AADS.

Addressing journalists in his Office in Calabar on Tuesday, Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Okon Owuna said the alleged illegal and ambitious activities of Abuo have caused serious embarrassment to the state government

The Commissioner for Agriculture further warned cross Riverians to desist from doing business with him, adding that legal action will be taken if he continues to parade himself as the coordinator of AADS.

In his reaction, Michael Abuo maintained that he has the mandate of the state Governor Ben Ayade to participate in mobilizing support for the effective implementation and execution of the accelerated Agricultural Development Scheme (AADScheme) in the state.

In a statement on Tuesday, Abuo also dismissed allegation that he has been defrauding Cross Riverians by collecting money through an account known as CRISPON account, describing the allegation as false and cheap blackmail.

CRS YOUTH PARLIAMENT DEMANDS MECHANISMS TO ADDRESS REMOTE CAUSES OF SOCIAL VICES.

Speaking against societal vices, without the government putting in place mechanisms to address the remote causes of these vices, will never yield positive results. 

This was the assertion of the Speaker, Cross River State Youth Parliament, Ambassador Awatt Ekpenyong, who spoke on the sideline of the parliament’s plenary session, held on Tuesday in Calabar.

Ambassador Ekpenyong who noted that the theme for the 2020 International Youth Day Celebration “ youth engagement for global action” is apt and timely, asked the government to empower the youths for a better society.

Also speaking, the Leader of the House Sunny Ashang representing Ogoja 1 constituency, who moved a motion against rape during the plenary session, asked the state government to enforce capital punishment on rapists.

INEC ANNOUNCES DATE FOR BYE ELECTIONS IN CROSS RIVER NORTH AND OBUDU STATE CONSTITUENCY

The Independent national electoral commission has fixed October 31^st 2020 as date for the bye election in Cross River North Senatorial District and the Obudu state constituency

A statement by the national commissioner, Festus Okoye, explained that the commission will  give notice of election on the 17^th of August, while political parties will conduct their primaries to nominate candidates between the 24^th and the 8^th of September.

PRESIDENT BUHARI INSISTS THAT TERRORISTS ARE NOT BETTER EQUIPPED THAN MILITARY

President Muhammadu Buhari has insisted that terrorists are not better equipped than the military.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, disclosed this in a statement at the end of a virtual security meeting with the some Governors and security chiefs on Tuesday

The meeting also called for joint a joint strategy to bring various conflicts to an end within time limits.

MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, GEOFFREY ONYEAMA, RECOVERS FROM COVID-19.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, has recovered from COVID-19.

The minister had announced on July 19 that his fourth Covid-19 test returned positive after he felt a slight irritation in his throat and had gone into quarantine immediately.

But announcing via his verified Twitter handle on Wednesday, the minister wrote announced that his latest COVID-19 test result came back negative after three weeks in isolation.                      

THREE DIE IN CLASHES IN SOUTHERN INDIA’S BENGALURU CITY OVER PROVOCATIVE SOCIAL MEDIA POST ABOUT THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD.

At least three people have died in southern India’s Bengaluru city after protesters clashed with police over a provocative social media post about the Prophet Muhammad.

The Facebook post offensive to Muslims sparked protests in India’s tech hub on Tuesday night in which a police station was attacked, and a politician’s house and vehicles were torched.

However, Bengaluru City Police said on Twitter, that “The situation is under control,” adding that police fired live ammunition to disperse the crowd after using tear gas and batons.

US PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE JOE BIDEN NAMES SENATOR KAMALA HARRIS AS HIS RUNNING MATE.

US Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has named Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate.

Harris is the first black woman to serve in the role.

The California senator of Indian-Jamaican heritage who was once a rival for the top job, had long been considered the front-runner for the position.

Meanwhile, Singer Cardi B says she wants a US President who understands the pain of the people.

The 27-year-old rap star is an outspoken critic of the US President, described Trump as an ineffectual leader, who only says things” simply to win votes.

The singer also called for justice for Breonna Taylor, the 26-year-old black woman who was fatally shot by plainclothes police officers in Louisville, Kentucky, in March.

NFF TO DISBURSE 2 MILLION DOLLARS TO CLUBS AND EAGUES TO CUSHION EFFECTS OF COVID-19

Nigeria’s Football Federation (NFF) says it would disburse $2 million to clubs and leagues to cushion the effects of the coronavirus pandemic in the country.

In a statement on Tuesday, the NFF explained that the relief fund is made up of 1 million dollars from FIFA’s support for restarting the football season; 500,000 dollars from FIFA’s grant for women’s football; 300,000 dollars of CAF support to member associations and 200,000 dollars from sponsors of the Nigerian FA.

ENGLAND-BORN NIGERIAN WINGER NOMINATED FOR LIVERPOOL WOMEN’S PLAYER OF THE SEASON FOR 2019-2020.

England-born Nigerian winger, Rinsola Babajide has been nominated for Liverpool Women’s Player of the Season for 2019-2020.

In a statement on its official website, Liverpool announced that fans of the club are expected to vote for the most outstanding player.

22-year-old Babajide, who joined Liverpool in 2018, was the Red’s joint-second FA Women’s Super League (WSL) goal scorer in the 2019/2020 season.

EDITOR(S) – Onyekachi Nwosu, Abenmire Adi- Williams.

REPORTER(S) – Happiness Ifiok.