Government News Source|26 March 2019
A multi-million naira viewing centre and town hall has been completed, commissioned and handed over to members of the Njaghasang Qua clan community of Calabar Municipality, by the governor of Cross River State, Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade.
Handing over the beautiful edifice to the community at the occasion of it's commissioning, on Thursday, the State Governor who was represented by the Commissioner for Special Duties and Public Utilities, Hon. Victor Adugba Agwu, explained that the building was a fulfilment of the promise he made in 2017, while on a visit to the site where football viewing fans were electrocuted by a falling high tension cable.
Governor Ayade, said that he was moved with human empathy and compassion for the those who lost their lives at the unfortunate incident that fateful day, and equally did his best to take care of the hospital bills and treated those whose conditions needed medical attention abroad.
He disclosed to the people that the delay of the project was not deliberate but due to paucity of funds because it was not in the budget, maintaining that the project was in memory of those who lost their lives in the unfortunate incident and others who sustained severed body injuries.
The governor therefore assured the community that the viewing centre/town hall would be equipped/furnished by the state government, adding he called on the members of the community to put in motion a mechanism that will guarantee the proper running of the centre as well as ensure the protection of the facility and it's equipment.
In his address, the Clan Head of Njaghasang Qua Clan, His Royal Highness (HRH), Ntoe Moses Ekong Edim, commended governor Ayade for not only showing great concern by taking care of the hospital bills of the victims of the incident in 2017, but has also fulfilled his promise of providing a befitting Ultramodern viewing centre/Town Hall for the Njaghasang Qua Clan community of Calabar Municipality.
The royal father, expressed deep appreciation that the governor has provided the community with the centre in memory of football lovers and fans who were electrocuted while viewing the 2016/2017 football season in the community, stressing that even the spirits of those who lost their lives would be cheerful by what the state government under the leadership of Senator Ayade has done for the comfort of those still alive and for the entire Njaghasang community.
HRH, Ntoe Edim, asserted that the building, completion, commissioning and handing over of the centre to the community was a clear demonstration of good governance and promotion of unity of purpose, and helping to fulfill the community's desire to have a befitting place where they can meet to discuss under one roof; adding, he appealed for the youths of the Clan to be considered for employment at the Industrial park, and that a part of the land for the Park belong to Njaghasang Qua Clan.
The Njaghasang Qua Clan royal father, used the occasion to formally felicitated the governor on his landslide victory at the recently concluded governorship Elections in the state, and wish him a fruitful leadership in the remaining years ahead, promising that his people will continue to remain law abiding citizens and great supporters of Ayade and his developmental strides in the state.
It would be recalled that in 2017 while some Youths and other football fans were watching a football game during the 2016/2017 football season in a viewing centre at Njaghasang, a high tension power cable fell on the roof of the viewing centre, leading to the death of several football fans, and severed injuries to many.
