2023: I’ll transform C’River in two years, create 22 LCDAs – Nyong
From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar
The governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Cross River State, Effiong Nyong has pledged to transform the state in two years and create 22 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).
Nyong made this known in Calabar while presenting his development plans to the media.
He said he has a social contract with the people where things will work within two years and if it does not work he will resign within two years.
“We can turn Cross River State around in two years and I will resign within two years if things don’t work.
“The government of Cross River State says there is no money but the simple truth is that they do not know how.
“The easiest way to deal with the issue of Cross River State is to open it up and this will be done by creating 22 LCDAs.
“When you do that it means that where you have Odukpani today, and Akamkpa will be divided into a minimum of four local development authorities.
“What will happen is that you will create jobs, the contractors will make money and the money that comes from the Federal will be shared into forty places and each one will use it to develop their areas.
“When you do the layout for these areas, they will have a school, health centre, prototype houses that should be developed and individuals that come from there will go home.
“In two years, people will not crowd around Calabar because with local government autonomy, there is nothing you will be coming to do in Calabar.
“By the time these places are developed, you will discover that there will be security, jobs for the youths, jobs for the contractors and people will have reason to stay in their home town”, he said.
He cited instances where we had Abi Transport Service in Abi called Abi Trans which traversed the whole country and also Anantigha Warriors Football Club in Calabar south which played up to the semi-final of the challenge cup.
He disclosed that this happened because the local government were autonomous but this was however shut down, pledging to reverse it.
On youth employment, he said the 37 industries at the Calabar FTZ are working at less than 15% capacity but have the potential to employ over 2,000 workers each.
He attributed this to the malfunctioning of the power turbines at the complex and promised to work with the Free Trade Zone Authority to ensure the three power turbines are functioning and over 74,000 jobs will be created here.
He said the jobs are there but the initiative is not there because the people running the state don’t have capacity.
He described the maritime policy in the state as the worst in the world and this will change because they will do what needs to be done in terms of engagement with relevant authorities.
He also promised to properly structure the educational system and align it with sports development because we are fighting our youths by neglecting these sectors.
He said the state of our library is part of the deciet in the system and promised to change the narrative in this sector.
He also promised to restructure the civil service to ensure that career civil servants are brought back and end the culture of special advisers in the state.
He said the “SA-ship” constitutes a serious security problem and his administration will explore ways of engaging them.
On sports, he said each Senatorial district will have a stadium to harness young talents and the UJ Esuene stadium will be upgraded to an Olympic stadium.
He said there is no reason why the sports hostel should not be developed to a standard hotel saying it’s either the idea is not there or the will not there.
He said these things can work and are workable saying as governor he will not be giving reasons why things do not work.
He said he has the capacity to assemble a team that can make a difference and promised to make that difference.
