The Empire Naija

  By Asuquo Edem The South-South Development Commission (SSDC) has commenced what could become a defining new chapter in regional development cooperation, with its maiden regional tour of the six South-South states beginning in Bayelsa State. Led by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Ms Usoro Akpabio, the delegation comprising the Chairman and members of the Board, Executive Directors and other senior officials, embarked on an extensive tour of strategic institutions, infrastructure projects and development initiatives across the state. More than a ceremonial visit, the tour offered the SSDC leadership an opportunity to see first-hand the development realities, innovations and investments shaping Bayelsa State, while identifying areas where regional collaboration could produce greater impact. The engagement began with a strategic meeting with the Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, who received the SSDC delegation alongside members of th...

  “Peter began to say to him: ‘Look! We have left all things and followed you’. Jesus said: ‘Truly I say to you, no one has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the good news who will not get a hundred times more now in this period of time…and in the coming system of things, everlasting life’” – Mark 10: 28-30, New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures By Substance Udo-Nature The last time we met, I deliberately refused to ask Pastor Ephraim Inyangeyen if he is experiencing the reality of Peter’s conversation with Jesus Christ in the above quote since he was ordained a Pastor exactly a year ago. I needn’t ask. By the manifest joy on his face and obvious peace of mind on his entire personality, the answer was all over him.  Pastor Inyangeyen now looks fresher, healthier, happier, more relaxed, more contented, more exuberant, surefooted, and more provident than I ever knew him to be throughout his trailbla...

  Senator Aniekan Bassey, representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District, on Thursday represented the President of the Senate, Godswill Obot Akpabio, at a high-level public hearing on two critical healthcare reform bills aimed at repositioning Nigeria's health sector for greater efficiency, accountability and improved service delivery. The one-day public hearing, organised by the Senate Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary), brought together lawmakers, healthcare professionals, regulators, academics, development partners and other stakeholders to deliberate on proposed amendments to the University Teaching Hospitals Act and the Bill seeking to establish the National Health Facilities Regulatory Agency. Speaking on behalf of the Senate President, Senator Bassey reaffirmed the commitment of the 10th Senate to enacting transformative legislation that directly improves the lives of Nigerians, describing quality healthcare as a fundamental pillar of national development. S...

  By Asuquo Edem The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly (AKHA) has dismissed suggestions that its cordial relationship with the Executive arm of government has weakened its constitutional oversight responsibilities, insisting that the partnership has instead enhanced governance and accelerated development in the state. Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Hon. Jerry Otu, stated this while briefing journalists after plenary on Tuesday as he unveiled activities marking the third anniversary of the Seventh Assembly. According to him, the anniversary celebrations will begin with a Thanksgiving Service on Sunday at Emmanuel Methodist Church, Oron Road, Uyo, where lawmakers, government officials and other stakeholders will gather to appreciate God for His faithfulness and celebrate the Assembly's achievements over the past three years. Hon. Otu praised the leadership of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong, and members of the Assembly for their commitment to people-oriented legisl...

  By Asuquo Edem  The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has recorded another milestone in its efforts to promote staff development and institutional excellence with the successful staging of its first-ever inter-departmental quiz competition, an intellectual contest that climaxed with the Administrative and Welfare Department emerging overall champion clinching home N200,000 during activities marking the third anniversary of the 8th Assembly. This introduction sets the scene first before revealing the winner in the body of the story, making the report flow more naturally. If you prefer a harder news style, I can also make it more punchy and newspaper-like. The competition, organised by the Office of the Clerk under the theme, "The 8th Assembly @ 3: Stewardship, Service and Legislative Impact," took place on Wednesday at the Chapel Hall of the Assembly Complex, drawing participants from six departments in what organisers described as the first intellectual contest of its kind ...

  The Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and Member representing Abak State Constituency, Rt. Hon. (Elder) Udeme Otong, invites the general public to his Constituency Briefing/Empowerment Programme. The event, which will be chaired by the former Deputy Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Uwem Udoma, will bring together community leaders, stakeholders, party faithful, youths, women, and residents of the state. It is aimed at engaging constituents, presenting a stewardship report, and empowering beneficiaries across the state. The Senate President, His Excellency Sen. Godswill Akpabio, will serve as the Special Guest of Honour, while His Excellency Pastor Umo Eno will serve as the Guest of Honour. Date: Thursday, 9th July 2026 Venue: QIC Primary School, Abak Itenge, Abak LGA Time: 12 noon Press Unit AKHA .

  By Asuquo Edem  The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has called for intensified security around registered orphanages, motherless babies' homes and isolated health facilities across the state in a proactive move to prevent kidnapping and other security threats. The resolution followed a motion sponsored by the Member representing Urue Offong/Oruko State Constituency, Hon. Precious Selong, during plenary. Leading the debate, Selong expressed concern over the growing insecurity confronting orphanages and other isolated health facilities across the country, noting that such institutions, particularly those located in rural and remote communities, remain vulnerable to attacks due to inadequate security presence. She recalled reported incidents of kidnappers targeting orphanages and isolated facilities in states such as Kogi and the Federal Capital Territory, warning that Akwa Ibom must take preventive measures to avert similar occurrences. The lawmaker observed that many of the...

The South-South Development Commission (SSDC) has commenced its maiden regional tour of the six South-South states with a strategic visit to Bayelsa State, signaling a renewed drive to strengthen collaboration with state governments and deliver people-centred development across the region. The high-level delegation, led by the Chairman of the Board and the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Usoro O. Akpabio, FRSA, FCE, alongside Board Members and Executive Directors, was received on Wednesday by Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, and members of the State Executive Council at Government House, Yenagoa. The visit marks the beginning of a regional consultation initiative designed to deepen partnerships with the governments of the South-South states and ensure that the Commission's programmes and interventions align with the development priorities of each state. Speaking during the engagement, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Usoro Akpabio, reaffirmed...

  The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs has warned that financial autonomy for councils must translate into improved infrastructure and accountability, after an oversight visit revealed severe neglect at the Mkpat Enin Legislative Council complex. The Committee, led by Chairman Rt. Hon. Mfon Idung, began its tour of the state’s 31 local government councils on Monday with an inspection of the Mkpat Enin legislative block, the seat of the council’s lawmaking arm.  What the lawmakers met was a facility in disrepair: weather-stained walls, a deteriorating roof, overgrown surroundings, and an overall lack of maintenance. The condition, the Committee said, fell far short of expectations for a council now receiving its statutory allocations directly. “The state of this legislative block is inconsistent with the status of a local government that enjoys financial autonomy,” Rt. Hon. Idung stated. “Institutions of democracy must refl...

  There is an old African proverb that says, "The rain does not fall on one roof alone." In much the same way, the true impact of leadership cannot be confined to a single project, a single community, or a single headline. It must be felt across the lives of ordinary people. This is perhaps the most enduring lesson from the representation of Rt. Hon. (Barr.) Ime Bassey Okon, Member representing Itu/Ibiono Ibom Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. In today's political climate, it is easy to reduce representation to the commissioning of projects or attendance at public ceremonies. Yet effective representation goes much deeper. It is about solving problems, opening doors of opportunity, amplifying the voices of constituents, and ensuring that government reaches those who need it most. That philosophy has increasingly defined Rt. Hon. Ime Okon's approach to public service. When hundreds of students struggled under the weight of rising educational expenses...

  Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has applauded the arrival of the first batch of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses in the State, describing the development as a major step towards transforming the State transportation system. Governor Eno, who spoke shortly after receiving and inspecting the buses, disclosed that the 20 vehicles received were part of the 50 ordered by his administration to provide easier, safer, and more efficient transportation service across the 31 Local Government Areas of the state. The Governor commended the Ministry of Transport, the contractor, the military, and other stakeholders involved in the successful delivery of the buses, noting that the next phase is to complete the bus terminal facilities, install tracking devices, and introduce a modern ticketing system. He said the initiative aligns with his administration’s commitment to making transportation “easy and simple” for Akwa Ibom people, adding that the state’s improved road network provid...

By Asuquo Edem  Stakeholders in Nigeria's tax administration and business sectors have underscored the importance of tax awareness, voluntary compliance and ongoing fiscal reforms as critical drivers of sustainable economic growth, improved revenue generation and shared prosperity. The consensus was reached on Friday at the One-Day Tax Awareness Seminar organised by the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), Uyo and District Society, in collaboration with the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) and the Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Service (AKIRS), at the ICT Hall, Office of the Accountant-General, State Secretariat, Uyo. The seminar, which formed part of activities marking the 2026 Tax Awareness Week, was themed "Tax Awareness for National Growth: Reforms, Compliance and Shared Prosperity." Delivering the welcome remarks, Chairman of the CITN Uyo and District Society, Dens Idorenyin Charles William, FCTI, described taxation as the lifeblood of government and an ...