From Kenneth Udeh, Abuja
Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe has continued to receive accolades after he gave an account of his one year stewardship as representative of Cross River North in the 10th Senate of the National Assembly.
Schools, roads, hospitals, electricity and agriculture, among other projects facilitated by Jarigbe, were listed to mark his one year in office, in line with Nigeria’s June 12 Democracy Day celebration.
On the 13th of June, Jarigbe, who presides over the Senate Committee on Gas, was inaugurated into the 10th Senate alongside his colleagues.
According to a publication from his media office on Wednesday, Jarigbe braved the odds and defeated the then incumbent governor, Benedict Ayade, and also overcame distractions of post-election litigations in order to steadfastly represent Cross River North in the Red Chambers.
In a statement issued by his media assistant, Mr. Robben Agom, despite the distractions, the lawmaker has continued to show unprecedented dexterity and enthusiasm in the discharge of his constitutional duties and responsibilities to his constituents.
Jarigbe has since sponsored very important bills and motions at the Senate. They are: Federal Medical Centre, Ogoja, Establishment Bill, 2023; SB142, Police Act, 2020 (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (SB.54), and Federal University of Agriculture, Ogoja, Cross River State (Establishment) Bill, 2023; SB. 809 (Second Reading Passed)
His infrastructural rojects listed include six completed classrooms blocks at Community Primary School Inyie-Ukan, Gakem, Bekwarra LGA; St. Patrick’s Primary School, Ibil, Ogoja LGA; St. Pius Primary School, Nkpakna, Ekajuk 1, Ogoja LGA; Mbube West Secondary School, Ekumtak, Mbube West 1, Ogoja; Community Secondary School, Uhutu, Bishiri South; Community Primary School Begiaba, Bendi 11, Obanliku LGA; Onwu Secondary Grammar School, Yahe, Yala LGA; and Primary School, Ejakpe Ukutia, Utugwang North, Obudu LGA.
Construction and furnishing of three classroom blocks at Migrant Science and Technical College, Okambi, Obudu LGA; Community Primary School, Dam Road, Ukwel-Obudu, Obudu LGA; and Community Primary School, Egbe Mbube, Ogoja LGA; (Completed) and renovation of four classrooms block at Sacred Heart School, Ezekwe/Okpodon, Yala LGA.
Also listed are construction of and completion 1.5km Ibil-Abakpa Road “Alladim Section”; Bansara Road in Ogoja LGA; rehabilitation of Abakpa-Ndok Road in Ogoja LGA; Egbe, Oboso Ojirim Road, Ogoja LGA; Olachor Okpoma Ward Road, Yala LGA; Aliforkpa Road, Yala LGA; 1.5km Yahe-Ukelle road; Ukpagada Bridge, Ogoja LGA. (Ongoing); Igwo Road, Obudu LGA. (Ongoing) Solar-powered Borehole at Egoja Edim, Ogoja LGA and electrification of Gakem-Abouchiche Communities (ongoing).
Solar-powered boreholes have been constructed at the following LGAs: Ohong, Obudu; Okpaka, Wanokom, Yala; Ugbakoko, Becheve, Obanliku; Ijegbemi, Mfuma/Nrigom; Sankwala, Obanliku LGA, Mfamju Ibil, Ogoja; Utanga, Obanliku; Belesa, Bishiri North, Obanliku and Mbagide, Ogoja.
Solar-powered street lights in almost all the streets of the listed areas, Igoli-Ogoja; across the 10 wards of Bekwarra; Idum Mbube; Nkim Ocharu (Ongoing); Ishindede, Itung, Aburumbede, Ntangh Mol, Nkimkol Ndok Zaria, Mfom,, Begiaba, Ohong, Betukwel, Ukpah, Afrike Ochagbe; Afrike Okpeche; Ugboro, Utanga, Bebi, Belegete; Ijegu, Yabu, Woda and Odajie.
Also noteworthy are the electrification and installation of new equipment at Ibil, Ogoja LGA, and upgrading of sports facility in Canaan City Sports Club, Calabar.
Humanitarian capital projects are: distribution of laptops and printers to selected secondary schools in Ogoja LGA; empowerment of 110 youths with motorcycles across Cross River North; donation of 100 bundles of roofing zinc and cash to communities affected by windstorm in Bekwarra LGA; empowerment of 110 youths with motorcycles across Cross River North; empowerment of traditional rulers with motorcycles across the 54 wards of the senatorial district; empowerment of businesswomen with cash grant to boost business in Bekwarra LGA; distribution of 50 carriage tricycles to stakeholders across the five LGAs; empowerment of selected lecturers of Ukelle extraction with laptops; empowerment of youths across the six wards of Ukelle with grinding machines, sewing machines and refrigerators; donation of MF-375 tractor to Jarified Brothers Cooperative; sponsored medical outreach patients in Cross River North and facilitated training in aquaculture data management and empowerment of 500 youths in Cross River North Senatorial District.
Commending the senator, Mr. Egar Mgbantul said that Jarigbe changed the narrative of his constituents by protecting their rights and optimizing democratic dividends in their favour.
The constituency leader described Jarigbe’s one year in office as a blessing and impactful to the people.
He said: “As we are all aware, Senator Jarigbe is passionate about his constituents and he has proven that through his infrastructural and humanitarian capital projects.
“These projects are all verifiable in just one year. We can only pray and continue to throw our weight behind him. We are all grateful, he is God-sent and we are very proud of him.”