CRSG Advises Residents Against Planned Protest

By Daniel Dafe

“The Government of Cross River State has uncovered plans by some aggrieved youths in the State to join forces with their colleagues in other States of the Federation to protest massively from 1st August, 2024 over the current general hardship being experienced by citizens across the Nation.”

Commissioner for Information, Dr. Erasmus Ekpang, said this in a statement on Monday.

He added: “Government sympathizes with the people over this untold hardship which has brought huge sufferings to many families due to the high level of inflation and sky-rocketing prices of goods and services but with less disposable income. We sincerely apologize to all residents of our dear State even as Government appreciates the enormity of the challenges.

“Be that as it may, the Government of Cross River State wishes to advise all residents of the State to drop any idea to join the planned protest as protesting has never been the best solution to resolving any problem including the current hardship in the land.

“The Administration of Governor Bassey Edet Otu has, since coming on board one year ago, being taking proactive steps by introducing palliative schemes intended to provide succour to different segments of the society towards fostering economic growth and improving the quality life of citizens. For instance, under the Cash Transfer Unit domiciled in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, N1,328,280,000.00 have been disbursed to 17,138 beneficiaries across the 18 Local Government Areas. Under the Small and Medium Enterprises, NG-CARES has disbursed grants ranging from N100,000.00 to N400,000.00 to 2,136 Enterprises in the State. Under FADAMA domiciled in the Ministry of Agriculture, farm implements for different value chains of rice, cassava, poultry, piggery, aquaculture, etc have been distributed to over 73,634 beneficiaries. The recently launched Livelihood Grant Programme, also implemented by Cash Transfer Unit witnessed over 4,000 poor and vulnerable individuals getting between N50,000.00 to N200,000.00 each. In the same vein, under the Labour Intensive Public Works domiciled in the Ministry of Youths Development, 20,898 poor and vulnerable youths were enrolled and paid 6 months’ stipends amounting to N1,253,880,000.00 while over 100 Canoes and fishing Boats were built and distributed to youths of Riverine Communities including grants worth over 2Billion Naira. All these were done by the State Government to Cushion the effects of the economic challenges.”

The state government also recalled the huge destruction recorded in in the state during the October 2020 END-SARS mass protest allegedly perpetrated by non-indigenes, including burning and breaking down of public infrastructure in Federal and State Establishments such as Cross River State Newspaper Corporation, Ministry of Information, State Warehouses, CICC, WAEC, NIMC, General Hospital, Calabar, Lawrence Henshaw Memorial Hospital, TINAPA Resort, Cross River Basin Development Authority, Ministry of Works Buildings, some buildings in the University of Calabar, amongst many other private businesses and residential houses of prominent Politicians. In fact, as you all are aware the State is yet to recover fully from the aftermaths of these END-SARS destructions.”

According to the statement, “Government will not fold its arms and allow any misguided group or individuals to destroy our State which is being reshaped by Governor Bassey Edet Otu.”

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“Consequently, all Security Agencies are hereby directed to be on red-alert to checkmate any untoward behaviour from any section of the State.  All law-abiding residents are hereby advised to go about their normal businesses without any fear of molestation.

“Finally, Government wishes to reassure all residents that the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Renewed Hope Agenda and the People First administration of Governor Bassey Edet Otu are working round the clock to improve on the economic fortunes of the people of Nigeria.  Together, we can make our Country better.

Let us all be properly guided by maintaining and sustaining the peace and sanity of the State,” the statement concluded.