CALABAR – The Government of Cross River State said it has uncovered plans by some aggrieved youths in the State.
It said the youths planned 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.
It said it sympathizes with the youths over this untold hardship and acknowledged the fact it has brought huge sufferings to many families.
Commissioner for Information Hon. Erasmus Ekpang, in a social media post said that the state government also acknowledged the high level of inflation and sky-rocketing prices of goods and services with less disposable income.
“We sincerely apologize to all residents of our dear State even as Government appreciates the enormity of the challenges,” Hon. Ekpang said on Monday in Calabar.
“Be that as it may, the state Government wishes to advise all residents of the State to drop any idea of protest.”
Ekpang said protest is not the best solution to resolving any problem including current hardship in the land.
He highlighted some proactive steps taking by the state Government including the introduction of palliative schemes.
He said so far, N1,328,280,000.00 have been disbursed to 17,138 beneficiaries across the 18 Local Government Areas, under the Cash Transfer.
“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,” he added.
Again, the information commissioner said farm implements for different value chains of rice, cassava, poultry, piggery, aquaculture have been distributed to over 73,634 beneficiaries.
Other palliative he mentioned include launched of Livelihood Grant Programme for over 4,000 poor and vulnerable individuals getting between N50,000.00 to N200,000.00 each.
Moreover, in the Ministry of Youths Development, he said 20,898 poor and vulnerable youths were enrolled and paid 6 months’ stipends amounting to N1,253,880,000.00.
Commissioner Ekpang added that Government distributed over 100 Canoes and fishing Boats to youths in the Riverine Communities including grants worth over N2 billion.
Ekpang however, recall the huge destruction recorded in Cross River State during the October 2020 END-SARS mass protest.
Therefore, warned that Government will not fold its arms and allow any misguided group or individuals to destroy the State.
He listed some of the public infrastructure destroyed to include the Federal and State Establishments which he said was allegedly perpetrated by non-indigenes.
According to him, 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 were destroyed.
Meanwhile, he said Government has directed all Security Agencies to be on red-alert to checkmate any untoward behaviour from any section of the State.
Although, “all law-abiding residents are hereby advised to go about their normal businesses without any fear of molestation,” he added.