Economy
World Water Day: Open Defecation, Old Facilities Frustrating Supply Of Potable Water In Cross River
World Water Day: Open Defecation, Old Facilities Frustrating Supply Of Potable Water In Cross River
World Water Day: Open defecation, old facilities frustrating supply of potable water in Cross River. Mr Oko said that providing potable water was in Cross River State gradually becoming a challenge.
The Commissioner for Water Resources in Cross River, Bassey Mensah, has said that aging water facilities are limiting the performance of the state’s Water Board.
Mr Mensah said this on Saturday in Calabar during a stakeholders’ engagement organised by the board to commemorate the World Water Day.
The theme for this year’s celebration is “Glacier Preservation.”
The event comes up every March 22 to create awareness about water and inspire actions to tackle global water shortages.
The commissioner expressed concern over how people still queue up at commercial borehole points to buy water due to the shortage of supply from the water board.
He said, “In the 1970s, we fetched from public pumps and there should be no reason for system failure that made it difficult for us to access potable water. Cross River saw ahead and established the best water facility in the nation but it could not manage it because of erratic power supply. We also have nine treatment plants.
“The Calabar plant alone can feed four other Local Government Areas but the pipes laid 22 years ago are old and many had even been vandalised.”
Mr Mensah said that the state government was taking steps to revive the water board by putting together a Cross River Water Bill already passed by the House of Assembly and awaiting the governor’s assent.
He said that immediately the water bill was agreed to, the water commission would into full implementation.
He stated, “This will disallow anyone to just drill boreholes without proper assessment, which is dangerous to the environment.”
The General Manager, Cross River Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, Sunday Oko, said that providing potable water was gradually becoming a challenge, especially in the rural communities.
Mr Oko described rural communities as the “national headquarters of open defecation,” which finds its way back into the water bodies that the people consume.

Bassey Otu
He added that Obanliku LGA was the first to attain the Open Defecation Free status but things were gradually going bad again.
He said that it was not enough to provide facilities but “the facilities need to be maintained by all and not vandalised.”
Appealing to the governor to assent to the water bill, he urged all hands to be on deck for the preservation and protection of potable drinking water.
“Activities like open defecation, excessive mining and many other activities inimical to the environment are also negatively affecting potable water supply; we need to stop,” he said.
Economy
Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition
Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition
Lagos assembly strongly seeks suspension of Makoko demolition. The Lagos state house of assembly has called for the suspension of demolition activities in Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro waterfront communities following protests by displaced residents and growing public concern over the exercise.
The call was announced on Tuesday by Noheem Adams, chairman of an ad hoc committee set up by Mudashiru Obasa, speaker of the house, during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Lateef Jakande auditorium.
Adams called on all state ministries to cease demolition work and promised compensation to the affected residents.
“On behalf of the speaker and all 40 members of the house, we are directing that all demolitions in Makoko, Oko-Agbon, and Shogunro communities should stop from today until further notice,” New Telegraph quoted Adams as saying.
He called for transparency by demanding the full list of taskforce members and the criteria used for engagement, insisting that residents must be actively involved in the process.
“That the taskforce that was constituted, we want to see the list of the taskforce because we want the residents to be duly involved and to be carried along. So we want to have the schedule of those task forces and the criteria for those that we are inviting,” Adams added.

Lagos Assembly
“To the residents of Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro communities, as your representatives, we are giving you all assurances that they will stop demolitions henceforth and there will be compensations for all those whose properties have been demolished.”
Stephen Ogundipe, member of the ad-hoc, said there is need for clear communication, adding that residents targeted for relocation or redevelopment must be informed of the government’s plans in advance.
Babatunde Olajide, special adviser to governor of Lagos on E-GIS and urban renewal, confirmed that $2 million had been earmarked since 2021 to transform Makoko into a modern, internationally compliant water city.
He said enumeration of affected properties is underway and reiterated the administration’s commitment to handling the situation with a human face, prioritizing resident safety and fair compensation.
Yusuf Sagra, baale of Makoko, described the assembly’s decision as a “word of peace,” while Orioye Ogungbure, another leader of the community, praised the “democratic responsiveness” of the government.
Crime
EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video
EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video
EFCC arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for alleged naira mutilation in viral video. The Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, February 3, 2026 arrested a Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa over alleged Naira mutilation.
Inuwa was arrested following a viral video circulated on social media platforms where she was seen conspicuously cleaning mucus from her nose using Naira notes.

EFCC
Following the release of the viral video, the Commission swung into action by tracing and subsequently arrested her to answer questions.
She is currently being held at the Commission’s detention facility while investigation is ongoing.
The suspect will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.
Dele Oyewale
Head, Media & Publicity
February 3, 2026
Economy
Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime
Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime
Access Bank gets new board chair Ifeyinwa Osime. Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29.
Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29, according to a statement to the Nigerian Exchange Ltd. on Monday.
Ms Osime, a legal practitioner, joined Access Bank’s board in November 2019 as an independent non-executive director and had chaired its Human Resources and Sustainability Committee and the Governance, Nomination, and Remuneration Committee. This role made her contribute significantly to the bank’s corporate governance, leadership development, and sustainability initiatives.
Additionally, Ms Osime is a director at Ebudo Trust Ltd. and a partner at McPherson Legal Practitioners, where she advises on corporate and commercial matters and contributes to strategic leadership.
She is also a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Women Corporate Directors, Nigeria Chapter, and the Chartered Institute of Directors, Nigeria, where she serves on the Executive Committee of the Women Sectoral Group.

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime
Beyond her professional responsibilities, Ms Osime is committed to mentoring youths and is actively involved in the Autism and Developmental Delays Support Community, reflecting her dedication to inclusion and social impact.
Speaking on her appointment, the group chairman, Aigboje Aig-lmoukhuede, said, “Mrs Osime is a principled and experienced leader with a deep understanding of the Bank’s strategy and values.
“She has demonstrated strong commitment to the bank’s vision and mission, and I am confident that, under her leadership, the bank will continue to advance its strategic objectives of delivering sustainable value to shareholders and other stakeholders in the pursuit of its vision to become the world’s most respected African bank.”
Mr Aig-lmoukhuede also congratulated Mr Usoro on the completion of his tenure and on his exemplary leadership, dedication, and significant contributions to the group, saying he remains a valued member of the Access family.
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