UbongAbasi Ise

                                                                                                           Friday 1 September, 2017                         Events                                                                   ...

By UbongAbasi Ise A recent visit to popular Akpan Andem market in Uyo by our correspondent reveals that things have not changed much in the area of tomato production in Akwa Ibom State as popularly believed. Contrary to various reports that the state is almost self-sufficient in the berry fruits with minimal dependency on Northern Nigeria, it becomes probable that the state still looks outside to meet its demand. In their interaction with The Sensor, Akpan Andem market traders dealing in tomatoes and other vegetables said they still look up North to keep the business going. A tomato seller, Mrs. Adiaha Udo-Okon, said that although farmers have made concerted efforts to intensify production of tomatoes in the state, in recent times, the state is still far from being self-sufficient not to talk of exporting tomatoes to other part of the country. She said that majority of Akwa Ibom traders still go to buy from Northerners. She added that the homegrown tomatoes are not of comme...

Abasiofiok Inyang Bakassi Returnees and Displaced Nigerian Citizens has called on the Federal and Akwa Ibom State government as well as National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, to quickly intervene and ensure that 4 Nigerian citizens arrested and detained in illegal Cameroon Prison on the order of Divisional Officer (DO) and Deputy Major of Idabatu are released without further delay. The four persons, Bassey Ikoedem Utong, Ndung Ekpenyong Ndung, joseph Ekpenyong Isang and Asuquo Isilo Attah, were early this month over flimsy allegation of failure to pay N27,000 tax to the Cameroon government. The Sensor learnt that despite the fact that wives of the arrested Nigerian citizens sold out properties to pay the forcefully imposed tax, the victims are still held by the Cameroon government. Making call for the release of the four Nigerians who are all citizens of the State, during a peaceful protest last weekend to the State Office of NHRC, Uyo, the National Cordinator, Associat...

By Etok Okon A professor of crop science at the University of Uyo, Prof. Godwin Udom has emphasized late planting as a measure to contend food shortage and the attendant economic recession in the country. Prof. Udom emphasized this recently while exchanging views with our reporter in his office, on the current economic situation in the State and the country. He noted that any economic system in which agriculture is relegated is bound to experience food shortage and other economic crises arising from insufficient distribution of food as energy booster of manpower, and raw materials needed to sustain agro-materials-based industries. The crop scientist who has basis for crop reproduction and management, regretted that farmers in Akwa Ibom State have done away with late planting in recent times, which according to the professor, was part of the indigenenous farming systems that encouraged all-year-round food production and reduced the effect of food shortage on the society to ...

Abasiofiok Inyang No fewer than two lives have been lost and 10 persons injured as a result of a three day communal clash between Nsekhe community in Ukanafun Local Government Area and Utu Nsekhe in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area of the State. Through reasons for the bloody conflicts could not be ascertained as at the time of filing this report, The Sensor, however, gathered that an age long dispute over ownership of an expense palm tree plot was said to have re-ignited the crisis. It was further gathered that Utu Nsekhe had for many years harvested palm fruits from the plot until recently when youths from Nsekhe village layed claim to it. This, it was learnt, did not go down well with the people of Utu Nsekhe who equally entered the plot to harvest palm fruits. In an ensuring fight, not fewer than 10 persons from the villages sustained various degree of injury even as two persons were reported to have died in a private hospital. The Sensor also gathered that Qua Iboe...