General News
New Yam Festival: Utugwang Calls for Government Intervention on Key Challenges
By David Odama
Residents of Utugwang Nation in Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State have appealed to the Federal, State and Local Governments to intervene in the challenges of inaccessible roads, inadequate electricity and water supply, as well as insecurity affecting the community.
The residents made the appeal while calling on the three tiers of government to urgently address the challenges, which they said had subjected the people to hardship and uncertainty over the years.
President-General of the Utugwang Solidarity Group, Professor Moses Adah Agana, made the call during a meeting with community leaders, traditional rulers and leaders of thought on the forum’s plans to host the maiden edition of the Utugwang New Yam Festival and other activities aimed at addressing some of the challenges confronting the community.
According to Professor Agana, the first-ever New Yam Festival is intended to bring together sons and daughters of Utugwang Nation, as well as friends of the community, to fashion out ways of addressing the challenges confronting the people.
He said the initiative would seek to enhance access to good roads, portable water and electricity, adding that improved infrastructure would promote the economy of the people, curb water-borne diseases, restore public electricity, provide access to markets and farm roads, reduce insecurity and improve other social amenities lacking in the community.
“The only sources of water serving the Utugwang Nation are broken hand pumps and stream water, which might trigger outbreak of diseases. The authorities concerned should take urgent rehabilitation of these amenities,” he said.
Professor Agana described Utugwang as an egalitarian community blessed with hardworking, techno-driven and politically enlightened men and women who are at the centre of the socio-political and economic development of Obudu, Cross River State and Nigeria in general.
He, however, lamented that the community had continuously remained underdeveloped and relegated by successive administrations.
The Utugwang Solidarity Group National President also appealed to the Cross River State Commissioner of Police to establish a police division in Utugwang, noting that the community shares boundaries with Benue State and neighbouring Local Government Areas, including Bekwarra, Boki and Ogoja.
He said the establishment of a police division would help curb the growing insecurity in the area.
Also speaking on the planned New Yam Festival, Chairman of the Publicity Committee, Professor Jacob Agba, said the celebration was designed to promote the culture of the people, foster peace and unity, and enhance the socio-economic development of the community.
According to a statement issued and made available to journalists, the Utugwang New Yam celebration will feature talent hunts aimed at reducing youth restiveness, drug abuse and other social vices.
Other activities lined up for the celebration include competitions for the best yam farmer and best palm wine tapper, traditional cuisines, dancing competition, among others.
The statement explained that the celebration, sponsored by the Utugwang Solidarity Group in collaboration with the Traditional Rulers’ and Elders’ Council, is aimed at forging unity among the seven communities and eight clans of Utugwang Nation in order to promote the needed development.
The statement therefore called on all sons and daughters of Utugwang, both at home and in the diaspora, as well as friends of the Utugwang Nation, to identify with the community in its quest to unite the people and promote development.