News

Rivers’ll Be Medical Haven Soon, Wike Assures

Published

9 years ago

May 17, 2017

The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, says his administration is geared at making the state a haven for medical tourism in the country.
He told visiting President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Prof. Mike Ogirima, in Government House, Port Harcourt, last Monday, that already plans and programmes of the administration have been set in motion to achieve that.
Part of the measures to achieve this according to him include the upgrading of facilities at the Braithwaite Specialist Memorial Hospital in Port Harcourt worth $6million and which $4million had been paid.
He also revealed plans to build a new Specialist Hospital for the treatment of ailments such as cancer, kidney, heart and liver diseases, stating that the hospital will have helipad and other state of the art facilities
He said: “The new specialist hospital that we are working on will stem the foreign trips by Nigerians for healthcare services. We want to conserve foreign exchange for the country.”
Wike further revealed that his administration has released funds for the completion of an Ultra-modern Mother and Child Hospital in Port Harcourt that will be ready in four months, following the termination of the joint ownership agreement with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The governor also the zonal hospitals will add to improve health care at the grassroots, pointing out that the Degema Zonal Hospital will be completed in three months, following the release of N500million to the contractor, adding that other zonal hospitals will be completed.
He added that doctors and medical professionals of the hospital will undergo training on the use of the new state-of-the-art facilities.
The governor informed that the Degema Zonal Hospital will be completed in three months, following the release of N500million to the contractor, and added that other zonal hospitals will be completed.
He announced that his administration will commence the phased distribution of vehicles to doctors on the payroll of the state government in the course of the year.
He said: “For us, our major focus has shifted from infrastructure to health and education. That is why you are seeing the rapid investments in health and education. We are committed to improved healthcare for our people”.
Earlier, the National President of Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Prof Mike Ogirima said: “We appreciate the giant strides and commitment of Governor Wike toward the health sector in Rivers State and the health of our citizens”.
The NMA President said: “The setting up of a College of Medical Sciences at the Rivers State University, the state teaching hospital with the signing of the bill into law to actualize it, the completion of new blocks in BMSH in order to raise quality of care and the commitment to see the Mother and Child Hospital completed as a legacy project.
“The massive intervention in the renovation of otherwise moribund secondary health care institutions in the state with the simultaneous rehabilitation of several general hospitals and the approval of the implementation of the corrected Consolidated Medical Salary Scale for doctors in Rivers State service”, he said.
The NMA president endorsed the special award and recognition proposed by the National Private Doctors Association to be bestowed on the governor.

News

HoS Hails Fubara Over Provision of Accommodation for Permanent Secretaries

Published

2 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Head of Service (HoS) of Rivers State, Dr. Mrs. Inyingi S. I. Brown, has commended Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, for approving befitting accommodation for Permanent Secretaries in the state.

This commendation was contained in a press release made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt.

According to the Head of Service, Governor Fubara has continued to demonstrate uncommon commitment to the welfare of civil servants in Rivers State, stressing that such gestures underscore his people-oriented leadership style. She urged civil servants across the state to remain supportive of the governor’s administration in order to sustain good governance and effective public service delivery.

Speaking on behalf of the Body of Permanent Secretaries, Dr. Brown congratulated Governor Fubara on the occasion of his 51st birthday, describing him as “a Governor who leads by serving.”

She further praised the governor’s service-driven and people-centred leadership approach, noting that it has significantly contributed to institutional stability and improved efficiency within the state’s public service. Special appreciation was expressed for the approval of a befitting accommodation complex for Permanent Secretaries, which she said reflects the governor’s commitment to staff welfare and enhanced productivity.

As part of activities to mark the governor’s birthday, the Body of Permanent Secretaries announced the sponsorship of 329 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) forms for indigent students across the state.

A breakdown of the initiative shows that 319 forms will be distributed across the 319 political wards in Rivers State, while five forms are allocated to non-indigenes and five forms to persons living with disabilities.

Interested applicants are advised to contact the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, for further details.

The Body of Permanent Secretaries wished Governor Fubara continued good health, divine wisdom, and greater accomplishments in his service to the people of Rivers State.

By John Bibor

News

Allegation of Disrespect to President Tinubu Unfounded — Rivers Government

Published

2 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to a statement credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), purportedly authored by one Bestman Innocent Amadi, alleging that the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, removed the official portrait of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, from the Government House, Port Harcourt.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Rivers State Government wishes to categorically state that there is no policy, directive, or intention on the part of the government or the Governor that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government.

On the contrary, the Rivers State Government, under the leadership of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, currently enjoys a robust, cordial, and collaborative relationship with the Federal Government, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Renewed Hope Agenda—a partnership that is already yielding positive and tangible benefits for the people of Rivers State.

Consequently, the insinuation that the Governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” is misleading, irresponsible, inflammatory, and entirely unsupported by verifiable facts, and should therefore be disregarded by the public.

It is regrettable that a body expected to promote youth unity, peace, and responsible engagement would resort to incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated claims capable of overheating the polity at a time when Rivers State requires calm, dialogue, and mature leadership.

The Rivers State Government therefore calls on well-meaning members of the public, particularly its esteemed and hardworking youths, to disregard and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups bent on advancing divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Rivers State belongs to all of us. Political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, peace, and the collective pursuit of progress.

Members of the public are further urged to remain vigilant and avoid lending credence to inflammatory statements or the activities of fifth columnists pursuing dubious agendas aimed at sowing discord.

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News

Rivers Government Dismisses Allegations of Disrespect to President Tinubu

Published

2 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has dismissed as unfounded and misleading allegations that Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara removed the official portrait of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the Government House in Port Harcourt.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the state government reacted to claims credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), describing the allegation as false, irresponsible, and unsupported by any verifiable facts.

The government clarified that it has no policy, directive, or intention that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government. It emphasized that Governor Fubara maintains a cordial, respectful, and collaborative relationship with President Tinubu and the Federal Government.

According to the statement, the relationship between Rivers State and the Federal Government has grown stronger under the Renewed Hope Agenda, with tangible benefits and positive impacts already being felt by residents of the state.

The Rivers State Government described insinuations that the governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” as deliberately provocative, noting that such claims are capable of misleading the public and unnecessarily heating up the polity.

It further expressed concern that an organization expected to promote youth unity and peace would engage in what it termed incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated accusations at a time when the state requires calm, dialogue, and responsible leadership.

The government called on well-meaning members of the public, especially the youths of Rivers State, to disregard the claims and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups spreading divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Reaffirming its commitment to peace, unity, and progress, the state government stressed that political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, and the collective interest of the people.

Members of the public were also urged to remain vigilant and not give attention to inflammatory statements or individuals described as fifth columnists bent on causing division within the state.