Niger Delta

Group Wants Effective Supervision Of Health Workers

Published

15 years ago

June 29, 2011

The Bayelsa State Ministry of Health has been charged to take supervision of health workers and medical personnel in the rural areas of the state serious.

The Actionaid Programme Manager, Mr. Eric Shu gave the charge during a stakeholders’ consultative meeting with the Bayelsa State Ministry of Health on enhancing essential sexual reproductive health and HIV/AIDS care among post conflict and internally displaced communities in Nigeria.

Mr. Shu stated that the meeting was to share information that would help to synchronise data at the community level, which was funded by European Union and co-funded by Actionaid, in collaboration with Man and Water Survival Foundation (MWSF).

The representatives of the Ministry of Health were shown the slides of some of the communities facing challenges such as dilapidated facility in Tein Cottage Hospital in Biseni clan, Yenagoa Local Government area, and absence of medical personnel’s in Onuebum and Kalaba primary health centres, all in Ogbia and Yenagoa Local Government Areas.

It also include high fee for delivery, where most facilities charge as high as 6,000, and problem with National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) funds and unequipped facility.

The Progamme Manager described as worrisome the case of Zarama-Nyambiri community, which has donated a building for their health centre with no equipment and medical personnel posted to the place.

He stressed that the ministry of health would have to see a reason of rescuing the state of such facility in order to reduce infant, maternal mortality and HIV/AIDS in rural areas.

He also mentioned Otuegwe I Health Centre built in 2004 by LEEMP, which has neither personnel nor equipment and had remained non-functional since then, apeealing to the Ministry to do something about it.

Speaking at the meeting, the Director, HRM, Ministry of Health, Dame Grace T. Fiepere expressed gratitude to Actionaid and Man and Water Survival Foundation for their intervention.

She urged them to do more work, including the STAR circle members at the community level enlightening the people in order to ensure that the spread of HIV/AIDS was reduced.

Dame Fiepere thanked the organisation for giving the ministry so much food for thought in order for them to rub minds and prayed for the will-power to tackle the issues before them.

The Director stated that it is a reflection of the society for health personnel posted to communities, to display negligence of duty.

She called on pointed out that communities to such health personnel to the ministry to take care of such cases so that the health sector would be sanitised.

Also, the World Health Organisation (WHO) State Coordinator, Dr. Thompson Igbu, expressed disgust on the way NHIS was being implemented, saying it was not to the benefit of the people.

He stressed that the ministry, which ought to be part of the monitoring, was not playing active role because of some persons’ selfish interest”.

Niger Delta

INC Polls: Ogoriba Pledges To Continuously Stand For N’Delta Rights … Picks Presidential Form

Published

3 days ago

January 19, 2026

The Tide

Human Rights Activist and founding father of the Movement for the Survival of the Ijaw Ethnic Nationality of the Niger Delta (MOSIEND), Elder Timi Kaiser Ogoriba, has said he would continue to advocate for the environmental and human rights of the people of the Niger Delta, especially his Ijaw kinsmen.

Ogoriba who doubles as the current Vice-Chairman of the Bayelsa State founding fathers forum made the pledge at the Ijaw House, headquarters of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), in Yenagoa, capital of the State, while fielding questions from newsmen shortly after picking his interest form for the position of president in the 2026 polls of the national executive council of the body.

The Odi-born activist who described the foremost Pan-Ijaw umbrella parent body as the envy of many sister ethnic groups in the nation, noted that he played pivotal roles in the formative stages of both the INC and its youth body, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC).

He expressed confidence in the activities of the body, saying he would continue to work with all relevant stakeholders to reposition the Pan-Ijaw group for greater achievements when elected as President come February, 2026.

“I’m still ready to go to trenches because of Ijaw nation. For those who knew me before now, you’ll recall that I have gone to trenches several times because of my love for the Ijaw people.

“Today as an ethnic group, we’re the envy of every other tribe. And that’s because we’ve all it takes for others to envy us. Today the INC has become the pride of everyone, including many who don’t know how we started it. And I’m not detered by the propaganda against my candidacy. I’m determined to win and continue my service to the Ijaw nation.

“I was part of the struggle in 1991 when the INC was formed in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. I’ve all it takes to lead the INC as President. But the INC under my leadership will not be a ‘T. K. Ogoriba thing alone’. I’ll need all of you and every Son and daughter of Ijaw nation to lead us well when elected”, he said.

The Presidential hopeful, who also bared his mind on issues of Resource control and true-federalism, restated his commitment towards ensuring that the Niger Delta region was given fair treatment by Government.

He stressed the need for the INC to synergize with other ethnic nationalities of the Niger Delta region for positive results, saying he would also ensure that there is mutual respect and understanding amongst and between stakeholders of the Ijaw nation and other sister ethnic groups to fast track the processes of growth and development of the region.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

Niger Delta

Edo Partners Stakeholders For Better Land, Housing Services

Published

3 days ago

January 19, 2026

The Tide

The Edo State government has reaffirmed its commitment to strategic partnerships with key stakeholders to enhance effective service delivery in the lands and housing sector across the state.

Commissioner for Ministry of Lands and Housing, Mr. Yakubu Musa, made this known on Thursday, when he met with members of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers in Benin.

Musa emphasised the importance of synergy and collaboration to drive sustainable development in the state.

He said, ‘’The ministry is taking steps to sanitise and regulate the real estate industry to make sure Edo citizens get maximum satisfaction from the lands and housing sector.’’

Earlier, the Chairman of the Association, Mr. Roger Isiokhere, said the visit was to formally acquaint the commissioner with the institution’s activities.

Isiokhere expressed the institution’s readiness to work closely with the ministry in achieving its mandate, offering professional advisory services and other forms of support.

The Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Joy Akhigbe, also stressed the importance of collaboration.

In attendance at the meeting were the Surveyor-General of the State, Directors, and other management staff of the Ministry of Lands and Housing.

Niger Delta

Otu Reiterates Commitment To Support Military Veterans, Families

Published

3 days ago

January 19, 2026

The Tide

Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has reiterated his administration’s commitment to the welfare of military veterans and their families.

Otu, who spoke at the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration in Calabar on Thursday, said his administration would not forget the contributions of fallen heroes.

Represented by his Deputy, Dr. Peter Odey, the Governor described the armed forces remembrance day as a reminder of the sacrifices made by military veterans to keep Nigeria united and peaceful.

“The lesson is to remember our fallen heroes, people who sacrificed for the country, many of them paid with their lives to protect this nation”, he said.

Otu further said widows of late military officers would continue to be part of his government’s programmes and interventions.

“All widows are being carried along, the Commissioner for Social Welfare ensures their inclusion in every programme”, he said.

Earlier, the Cross River State Chairman, Nigerian Legion, Daniel Ojugbo, said the ceremony was not only an honour for fallen heroes, but a time to reflect on the challenges being faced by military veterans and their families.

Ojugbo said families of fallen military officers faced delayed welfare benefits, limited medical care and unemployment for their widows and other dependants.

He commended Otu for his support, saying that his administration had shown genuine and remarkable concerns for the legion and its members.

Also speaking, the Coordinator, Military Widows in the state, Mrs. Miriam Orok, thanked the Governor for improved treatment and inclusion in welfare interventions.

“We are actually seeing better changes under our Governor. He has been carrying us along, and we are very grateful. We also thank the governor’s wife for her sense of compassion”, she said.

The Tide’s source reports that the event featured prayers, wreath-laying, and tributes to the fallen heroes.