Niger Delta

SPDC Urges Communities To Embrace Health Insurance Scheme

Published

11 years ago

March 20, 2015

Shell Petroleum
Development Company (SPDC) has called on communities to embrace its Community Health Insurance Scheme (CHIS) to improve their health care status and eliminate poor health.
Shell’s Regional Community Health Manager, Dr Tunde Fakunle, made the call during the first anniversary celebration of Rumuokwrusi community health insurance scheme in Port Harcourt.
Fakunle said that SPDC was committed to improving the health care of neighbours and surrounding communities.
“The community took the lead to ask for the health programme from SPDC, we went to Rivers State Government for approval which the government approved.
“When we started this programme, the women were not more than two or three persons that delivered in a month but now we have large number of women that deliver and receive treatment in a month,” he said.
Fakunle said that the health centre records about three to four deliveries in a month before the introduction of the scheme which brought the
number of delivery to 40 in a month.
“CHIS is health care of the people, by the people and for the people; this scheme has been of immense benefit to the community.
“I can tell you that in a space of one year, the programme has grown so fast and God has been faithful.
“I want to use this opportunity to appeal to the women to make use of this facility for a small amount of money they were asked to pay to explore the facility for a year, “he said.
Fakunle urged the paramount rulers to support the programme by encouraging their communities to use the facility.
“We call on community leaders to encourage the women, youths and children to use this facility because we are ready to partner with you to improve the health status, “he said.
In his speech, Dr Anikara Atamunotoru, who represented the Executive Secretary of Rivers Primary Health Care, Dr Claribel Abam,
commended Governor Chibuike Amaechi , Shell team for initiating the scheme.
Atamunotoru called on Rumuokwurusi community not to forget the vision of CHIS to improve the health status of the people.
“After one year implementation of this scheme, the journey has just started, but on a positive note, one year has seen a lot of unimaginable progress that will improve the general well-being of the people,’’ he said.
He commended SPDC, the stakeholders and the paramount rulers for the success of the scheme.
In his speech, the paramount ruler of Rumuokwurusi kingdom, Eze Sunday Wokoma, commended SPDC and the state government for their immense support to the scheme.
Mrs Ezinne Daniel, one of the beneficiaries, who spoke on behalf of the women, applauded SPDC and the team for the scheme.
“I am very happy to be a beneficiary of this programme. Ordinarily, I would have spent more than N7,500 for antenatal , delivery and other
treatment that were given to me but that was the only fee I paid for the one year health service,” she said.

Niger Delta

Navy Pledges Improved Patrols, Welfare Boost For Personnel

Published

15 hours ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, has pledged to ensure improved welfare for personnel and more patrols on the maritime corridors of the nation.

He disclosed this during an on the spot assessment of things at the Eastern Naval Command (ENC), Calabar, on Wednesday.

According to him, there is the need for officers to always be ready, by improving on their welfare, in a bid to keep the country secured.

“I am here for an on the spot assessment of our operations and like you have seen, I have also gone round to check the ongoing buildings.

”These are welfare issues and for us to be able to have our men ready and keep us secured, their welfare needs to be catered for.

“So, we are here to kill two birds with one stone, which are basically operations and welfare issues.

”I am happy with what the command is doing; it is doing well in terms of keeping the maritime environment safe.

“We will continue doing what we are doing and improve on that, which is patrol of the waters and increase in the area of surveillance”, he stated.

As part of his visit, Abbas commissioned the 12×1 Junior Rates Accommodation Block A and B, at the Navy Barracks at Atimbo in Calabar.

The naval chief also inspected other ongoing projects in the Akim Barracks, 1006 flats and the Navy hotel, all within Calabar.

Niger Delta

Delta Begins Uromi Junction Flyover Construction

Published

18 hours ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

The Delta State Government says it has began construction work on the long-awaited Uromi Junction Flyover Bridge in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of the state.

Director-General (DG) of the Delta State Bureau for Orientation and Communications, Dr. Fred Oghenesivbe, confirmed the development to newsme in Asaba.

According to him, heavy-duty construction equipment have arrived the site, a project which is being handled by Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, one of the country’s leading construction firms.

Oghenesivbe, described the flyover as a massive infrastructure project with far-reaching socio-economic benefits for the area.

He said the project would significantly transform the Agbor metropolis by easing traffic congestion, improving the city’s aesthetics, and boosting commercial activities within the local government area.

He described the State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, as a promise-keeper and pragmatic leader whose administration remains committed to infrastructure development and economic growth across the state.

The DG expressed confidence in Julius Berger’s capacity to deliver the project within record time and according to the highest construction standards.

“The Uromi Junction serves as a major link between different parts of the country but has recently been plagued by severe traffic congestion, making vehicular movement increasingly difficult”, he noted.

He urged residents to cooperate with the contractor and safeguard construction materials and equipment to ensure the timely completion of the project.

Niger Delta

A’Ibom Rejects Ekid Ownership Claim Of Stubbs Creek

Published

18 hours ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

The Akwa Ibom State Government has rejected claims by the Ekid People’s Union that it owns land within the Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve, describing such assertions as “false, misleading and a distortion of the judicial record.”

In a recent statement, signed by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Uko Udom, the state government said it was compelled to respond in the “overriding public interest,” despite a pending court case instituted by the same group.

The government stated that contrary to claims circulating in the media, the historic case of Ntiaro and Ikpak vs. Ibok Etok Akpan and Edoho Ekid, decided by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in 1918, did not vest ownership of Stubbs Creek land in any ethnic group or community.

“The final judgement merely dismissed the claims before the court and granted title to no party whatsoever”, the government stated, adding that “any assertion to the contrary is false, misleading and a distortion of the judicial record.”

According to the statement, the land was lawfully reserved by the colonial government under Forest Reserve Order No. 45 of 1930, later amended in 1941, 1955 and 1962, with “the principal rights of the land forfeited to the Government upon the change of status.”

It said the area has since been administered under applicable laws by the Akwa Ibom State Government, which “has at all times acted within its lawful authority in the management and allocation of land in the area for legitimate public and economic purposes.”

Citing the 1999 Constitution and the Land Use Act, the government stated that all land in the state is vested in the governor to be held in trust for the common benefit of Nigerians, noting that claims of absolute ancestral ownership are subject to existing laws.

The government “categorically denies allegations of fraud or misrepresentation” regarding Stubbs Creek or investments there and warned it would take “appropriate legal steps” against any individual or group publishing false or defamatory material capable of undermining public confidence or discouraging investment

The statement also assured the federal government of “full access and Right of Way” for the proposed Coastal Highway through any part of the state.

The government statement followed an earlier report in which the Ekid People’s Union accused Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State of making comments that allegedly linked the community to terrorism, while he was defending the Coastal Highway project passing through the Stubbs Creek.

Ekid People’s Union maintained that the people of Ekid are the original owners of the land known as Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve, arguing that their ancestral ownership predates colonial rule.

The group cited historical occupation, customary ownership and a 1918 Privy Council case, which it claimed affirmed Ekid rights over the territory.

The union also accused the Akwa Ibom State Government of misrepresenting history to justify taking over the land for commercial interests and the proposed Coastal Highway, an allegation the state government has denied.

The group rejected any suggestion linking the Ekid people to criminality or terrorism, insisting they were peaceful citizens defending their ancestral land through lawful and civic means.