Lagos — Chairman of Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State, Justine Ugbe in this interaction with Cross River State Correspondent, TOM MOSES Speaks on policies of his administration.

How is the journey so far?

Peace, as we all know is a necessary precondition for the advancement of peoples all over the world. There can, therefore, be no development in an atmosphere of war or general insecurity.

It is for this reason that our administration soon after being inaugurated on December 14, 2007 began her quest for a lasting solution to the century old conflict with our Tiv neighbours in Benue State. Our council through OBBUTIV, a non-governmental organization dedicated to the struggle for the peaceful co-existence of the people of the Cross River State border region made contacts with the National Boundary Commission, Abuja .

I am, indeed, glad to say that these many contacts have paid off with the successful demarcation of the Benue-Cross River boundary from the Obudu axis. I commend the paramount ruler of Obudu, clan heads and chiefs of the border communities who worked relentlessly with the council to ensure the success of the exercise and enjoin all to maintain the peace along the border. The security agencies are also commended.

To enhance the operations of the office of the Special Adviser on Peace and Security, a Peugeot 504 salon car has been procured while every effort has been made to provide financial support for the Nigerian Police Force to enable them carry out their operations of maintaining law and order and secure our lives and property. Other security agencies have also been supported.

Recognizing that health is wealth, council accords priority to the physical well-being of her citizens. On assumption of office, Obudu had the unacceptable classification as one of the local government areas in the state with scandalously low immunization coverage.

In fact, five out of her 10 wards scored below 50 percent which warranted the visit of a combined national and international team to ask why. We immediately swung into action and have adequately funded four major national and local immunization programmes as well as instituted a special monthly imprest for immunization activities.

I am glad to say that our modest efforts have begun to yield positive results with Obudu now numbering among the top six local government areas in the state in immunization coverage.

Council has also moved swiftly to address the chronic problem of loss of vision and related ailments in the area. In partnership with the Tulsi Chanrai Foundation, council has funded the successful operation of 90 people and thus, restored their sights at no cost to the patients. The second phase of this programme will commence shortly as the team of experts is expected back in Obudu for the screening and identification of cases. I, therefore, request all and sundry who have eye problems to avail themselves of this service.

It would be recalled that the council in the early days of this administration responded to two major incidents of food poisoning by paying hospital bills for the victims.

Council has funded the completion of the community Health Centre, Okorshie as well as provided water and electricity for the National Primary Health Care Facility at Utugwang to qualify for commissioning by the Federal Ministry of Health- Steps have been taken to improve sanitation in our markets and schools through the award of contracts for the construction of toilets at Utugwang and Ukpe markets and the St. Stephen's Primary School, Obudu.

Water supply is a huge problem in Obudu with a high prevalence of a water related diseases. To address this unwholesome situation, council has in collaboration with the technical team from the Tulsi Chanrai Foundation and RUWATSA, paid for the rehabilitation of 82 boreholes across the local government area. Some communities have witnessed their dry boreholes yield water for the first rime in more than 15 years.

To provide employment and increase agricultural output in the area, council sponsored 28 persons at the recently concluded NDDC supported youths in agriculture training held at Sapele, Delta State . Another set of Obudu indigenes are currently being trained at council's expense at Ikom Local Government Area.

Obudu is one of the few local government areas in the state that has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Central Bank of Nigeria and a consortium of banks for the operation of the Trust Fund Model in Agriculture (TFM) Project aimed at granting financial support for small and medium scale farmers in the local government area. To this end, council has promptly paid the counterpart funding requirement of N5 million.

Council has signed an MOU with the African Foundation for Agricultural Development (AFADEV) for the provision of grants for her farmers. Arrangements are at advanced stages for participants from Obudu to access their financial packages.

On assumption of office, this administration was confronted with the problem of decay of infrastructure and the lack of a conducive atmosphere for the conduct of government business, the council swung into action and the previously abandoned Executive Council Chambers was redesigned, reconstructed and furnished for use as the executive chairman's office.

The main administrative block which had become an eye-sore has been completely renovated.

The Legislative Chambers has been completed and adequately furnished to provide a congenial atmosphere for the law-makers to function.

Some 250 chairs and tables are being provided to address their lack which had hindered the ability of civil servants to discharge their duties. The official quarters of the Coordinating director, Director-General Services and Administration, Director of Finance and Supply, Director of Works, Director, Budget and Planning and Cashier have been renovated to provide decent accommodation for them and thus, enhance productivity.

Contract has been awarded for the construction of a-ten office extension to provide adequate accommodation for the political heads of departments.

Contract for the completion of the civic centre abandoned for years, has been awarded and work is in progress. The same shall be commissioned in December, 2008. The importance of this project to the socio-economic life of Obudu needs not be over-emphasized.

The local government council guests' house which at a time provided the best catering services in the area was inherited in a state of decay. Accordingly, contract for its comprehensive renovation has been awarded.

This facility apart from providing accommodation for the growing number of tourists visiting Obudu, will enhance council's revenue generation.

On assumption of office, we found a situation where council could not boast of a single functional vehicle. The Peugeot 406 salon car, which was previously on the road, was involved in an accident shortly before we came on board.

Therefore, Council in the first four months of this administration repaid five broken down vehicles including the accidental Peugeot 406 for official use.

Given the inadequacy of the refurbished vehicles and the fact of their depreciation, council has procured four brand new vehicles for official use. These include a fully air-conditioned Toyota Hiace bus for the legislature and three utility vehicles.

On assumption of office, we found out that the council's Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) base was very low, a situation that negatively impacted on our receipts from the Federation Account. Consequently, our administration sought to address the situation by overhauling the revenue generation machinery. Revenue generation contracts were revoked, re-negotiated and re-awarded at higher rates.

Revenue targets for council staff were also reviewed upward and tariffs approved for operation in the local government area.

To further broaden council's revenue base, new market stalls are being constructed at Utugwang and Ukpe. Work is in progress.

It is also in this essential regard that the council's guests' house is being renovated. Plans are also at an advanced stage to build an ultra modern shopping complex in the local government headquarters.

Council has carried out a comprehensive survey and completed the design to perfect the electricity network in the entire local government area. Though an ambitious project, council is expecting funding from the federal government.

Plans have also been completed for the take-off of the Greater Bekpam and mechanic village electrification while the actualization of the mechanic village is being pursued.

Though the road construction earlier scheduled has been taken over by the state government through her Rural Development Commission, council has properly articulated her priorities in this area and advised the state government accordingly.

However, council in response to the urgent need to intervene in certain critical areas, has awarded contracts for the construction of mini-bridges along the Okwel-Obudu and Bebuabie roads as well as the access to the Beyoburi Community Secondary School , Ukpe.

How are you relating with the other arms of government in the area?

I acknowledge the existence of cordial relationship between the executive and the legislative arms of the council as well as the civil servants. It is such outstanding cooperation that has enabled us to record those modest feats.

Council has also enjoyed the cooperation of other ministries and departments in the local government area.

In recognition of this, council created an enabling working environment for these officers by carrying out the renovation of the official residence of the High Court Judge, the Chief Magistrate and the Divisional Police Officer.

Our relationship with the state government has also been cordial. The traditional rulers institution headed by our Royal father, Uti J. D. Agba, is worthy of special commendation. His Royal Highness, clan heads and chiefs have always been there for us. We are grateful and do request that they continue their good works of peace-building and maintenance, conflict mitigation and resolution.

One of the key problems militating against the smooth functioning of the local government administration is paucity of funds. State governors are alleged to be directly controlling the federal allocations to the local government areas. How is this affecting you?

I want to tell you here that the Cross River State had made a law through the state's House of Assembly that they would deduct funds at source statutorily for the state projects; we are not opposed to that. Whatever informed them to implement that law, I think they are implementing it except when the theory fails, we will go back to status quo ante.

Like I just mentioned, I am not against the deductions but let the local government areas on their own also intervene in certain areas. We have been intervening even though the allocation to Obudu is poor. We know it is not Liyel Imoke's making.

There is the suspicion that the anti-graft body, the EFCC is biased in its approach to probe of the lot at the presidency and former state governors suspected to have misapplied public funds at their disposals, that only a few of them are targeted and made scapegoats. How do you see the activities of EFCC?

All I know is that the EFCC is established as an institution to check-mate the excesses of public office holders and so far, I have noticed that cases of fraud and embezzlement have been drastically reduced because of the influence of EFCC.

There is a kind of fear now unlike when people used to carte away public funds completely. But I can't really comment on the aspect of targets, I can only talk about myself because I can always defend whatever allegation people make against me and I can defend whatever resources that come to my council and of course, the records are clear on that.