The people of Ikot Effanga Mkpa in Calabar municipality of Cross River state have threatened to take necessary action against both the state and federal government over what they described as uncontrollable rate of joblessness plaguing its youths despite playing host to various government ministries, agencies and parastatals.
The community, which plays host to the office of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs in the state, Cross River Basin Development Authority (CRBDA), office of the Federal Character Commission, Cross River state dump site amongst many others, accused the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) of neglect and marginalisation in their just concluded employment exercise.
The leader of Ikot Effanga Mkpa Town Council, Chief Effanga Ineng Effanga, flanked by Hon. Bassey Edet, Chief Offiong Essien Henshaw, Elder Effiom Bassey (Youth leader) and Arc Effiom E. Ita, in a chat with Blueprint in Calabar at the weekend, did not also spare the National Agency for the Prohibition of trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for allegedly committing similar act.
They said despite NDDC promising the community 10 slots during the said exercise, not even one was allotted to the Ikot Effanga Mkpa as host community. The community however, described the development as ‘insensitive.’
The community also pointed fingers at the Cross River Basin Development Authority (CRBDA) for a similar act of ‘negligence and insensitivity’ saying that when CRBDA carried out its employment exercise, the Basin Development management also failed to employ somebody from the host community, even after being approached over the matter.
Chief Effanga Ineng Effanga said, “these paratatals and agencies are ot observing local content principle in terms of employment. The dump site has become a major source of ill health to my people. Unethical ways and means of dumping refuse in the area is causing untold health hazard with attendant complications to the people.
“The issue of land grabbing by the government is another matter. The parcel E1 and parcel E2 in Ikot Effanga Mkpa was seized by the state government without payment of compensation to the town council of Ikot Effanga Mkpa. The state government unilaterally coverted the land for its use without any compensation. We may go to court if these matters are not addressed urgently.”
When contacted, a Director in the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, who gave his name simply as Mr Okorie, declined to comment on the issues raised saying that by his status he was not competent to talk on the matter.
