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6,000 Youths To Benefit From C’River Empowerment Scheme

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About six thousand Cross River youths are to benefit from the state social intervention scheme initiated by the governor of the state as one of the measures to kick poverty troubling the lives of so many youths out of the state.
Governor Ben Ayade made the announcement at two separate events tagged: grand reception, organized in his honour by stakeholders of his senatorial district in Ogoja Local Government of Cross River State (headquarters his senatorial districts)
The governor stated that the creation of 6, 000 new jobs for indigenes in the central and northern senatorial districts of the state will help in reducing the level of poverty among youths.
Stakeholders both senatorial district charged the governor to with no delay seek re-election in 2019, citing job creations, prompt payment of salaries, ongoing construction of cocoa processing factory at Ikom and rice mill at Ogoja, completion of Garment Factory in Calabar, among other projects as his achievements.
Ayade who was being given a rousing welcome by the people of his senatorial district by the mammoth crowd at the Ogoja township stadium a situation that made it very difficult for security agencies who were at the event to control the crowd because of the population density of about 4000 individuals who had come from far and near to grace the ceremony.
The academic don turned politician, who acknowledged that the crowd was huge, stressed that it was the first time the people from the northern senatorial district would be gathering in that number.
“This is the first time that the people from the northern senatorial district are gathering in this huge number for one purpose. I feel touched by this act,” Ayade said.
In his words the governor said,”I want to announce the creation of 3, 000 new jobs for unemployed youths in the northern senatorial district. I have also announced the same number of jobs for unemployed youths in the central senatorial districts.
“The heads of local government administrations in the various local government areas are to compile the lists of the unemployed youths, especially those of you that have come to honour me.”
Earlier, Chairman for the Central Planning Committee for stakeholders in the northern district, Mr. Idi Yakubu, called on the governor to with no further delay seek another term in office to enable him complete the various programs and projects initiated by his administration.
Speaking also at the grand reception ceremony, chairman for the event, Brig.-Gen. Anthony Ukpo (Rtd), maintained that as the first governor from the northern senatorial district it was pertinent for the governor to do his two terms stressing that Ayade’s  goodwill had endeared him to not only the people of the senatorial district but also to the  people of Cross River State.
In his good will message Representative of  the Bekwarra stakeholders, Mr. Emma Enamhe, averred that  nobody could fault the strides made by governor Ben Ayade’s led administration since he assumed the office as governor of the state in May 2015.
Also speaking at the event, member of the Board of Trustees of the Ayade Ethical Group, Mr. John Abuo, called on Gov. Ben Ayade to focus in the empowerment of young people particularly in his senatorial district so as to reduce unemployment to it barest minimum.
Chairman for the occasion and the event/Ex-Milad of Bayelsa State, Col. Pam Ogar, (Rtd.) eulogized the governor on the giant strides made since he came on board and charge the governor to seek for re-election.

 

Friday Nwagbara, Calabar

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Niger Delta

850-bed UCTH overstretched, services 5m patients – CMD

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The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Prof. Ikpeme Ikpeme, has said the 850-bed hospital is overstretched, as it currently serves over five million patients.
He disclosed this on Friday during a media tour of the facility to showcase ongoing renovations and facelift in the hospital.
The CMD noted that, aside being the only tertiary healthcare facility servicing the state, UCTH also serviced neighbouring states of Akwa Ibom and Ebonyi.
He said the hospital also received referrals from neighbouring countries, including Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Central African Republic.
According to him, the 850-bed hospital faced persistent space constraints because of increasing patients inflow and expanding healthcare demands.
“This hospital currently operates 62 clinical and non-clinical departments as well as  between 30 and 38 wards covering medical, surgical, paediatric, orthopaedic and specialised services.
“Most wards have undergone facelift, remodelling, or complete renovation to improve patient care and working conditions for healthcare professionals”, he said.
He disclosed that the hospital was constructing a new 106-bed emergency medicine facility to address the rising demand for healthcare services.
According to him, the facility will include trauma bays, intensive care units, neonatal wards, and three fully equipped trauma theatres.
Speaking on the remodeled wards, Ikpeme explained that they followed modern nursing principles, allowing one nurse to attend to a maximum of 10 patients.
He said relatives would be restricted to designated waiting areas to reduce interference with medical procedures and improve emergency response efficiency.
The CMD noted that the hospital had strengthened specialist services in orthopaedics, neurosurgery, obstetrics, radiology, and minimally invasive surgery.
“UCTH now performs hip and knee replacements, arthroscopy, sports medicine, and complex brain tumour surgeries.
“Our surgeons also conduct keyhole procedures for appendectomy, hysterectomy and other conditions with faster patient recovery periods,” he said
In power, the CMD said the hospital relied on solar power from a seven-megawatt plant, constructed by the Federal Government at the University of Calabar, as well as public power supply, and generators to sustain its operations.
He appealed to governments, organisations, and philanthropists to support infrastructure expansion, equipment procurement, and specialised healthcare projects.
The CMD said the hospital required additional incubators, ward expansions, and a stand-alone amenity facility for private healthcare services.
He used the opportunity to dismiss allegations of ethnic discrimination, insisting that the hospital does not reject workers or patients based on tribe or origin.
According to him, the institution recently honoured an Igbo pioneer physician by naming a ward after him in recognition of decades of service.
The CMD said the hospital maintained strict disciplinary procedures to address negligence, poor attitude, and unethical conduct among staff.
The Tide’s source reports that some of the units visited include, intensive care unit, Department of Radiology, Urology Clinic, and Opthalmology Clinic.
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Police Burst Child Trafficking Syndicate In A’Ibom … Nab 3 Suspects

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The Police Command in Akwa Ibom State says it has busted a child trafficking syndicate and arrested three suspects for conspiracy and unlawful sale of a newborn baby in the State.
The State’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Timfom John, who disclosed this in a statement in Uyo on Friday, said the three female suspects were arrested on Wednesday at about 1900hrs.
She said a complainant reported that his wife gave birth to a baby boy on May 7 and shockingly, shortly after delivery sold the newborn child to one of the suspects for N145, 000.
“Upon receipt of the report, operatives immediately swung into action, leading to the arrest of the suspects and the successful recovery of the baby boy.
“The suspects reportedly confessed to the crime during interrogation, while investigation has been expanded to identify and apprehend all individuals connected to the trafficking syndicate”, John said.
She said the State’s Commissioner of Police, Baba Azare, reiterated the Command’s commitment to sustaining aggressive intelligence-led policing in the state.
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A’Ibom Launches Operation Crack Down Scrap Dealers 

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The Akwa-Ibom State Government has launched a statewide crackdown on unregistered scrap dealers and scavengers, shutting down illegal operations and arresting operators accused of violating environmental and public safety regulations.
The enforcement operation, led by the Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency (AKSEPWMA), followed the implementation of the state’s Waste Metal Scrap Law 2026, officials said.
AKSEPWMA Chairman, Obong Prince Ikim, said the exercise was aimed at regulating the scrap sector, protect the environment, and prevent criminal groups from operating under the guise of waste collection and metal trading.
“If you want to do scrap business, you must register,” Mr. Ikim said during the operation in Uyo, the state capital.
“Many people now hide under scrap trading to perpetrate nefarious activities”, he said.
According to him, dump site operators and scrap dealers who failed to register with the government risked closure and prosecution.
Authorities accused some operators of involvement in vandalism of public infrastructure and indiscriminate waste disposal, adding that investigations had uncovered criminal activities linked to several dump sites across the state.
“Some people vandalise government facilities in the name of scrap business and encourage indiscriminate dumping of refuse,” Mr. Ikim said.
He added that the state government and security agencies would continue efforts to enforce compliance and maintain public order.
“The Commissioner of Police has zero tolerance for criminality, and the Governor wants Akwa Ibom people to sleep with their eyes closed. We will fish out every defaulter”, he said.
Police officials involved in the operation said investigations showed that some criminal suspects used scrap yards and refuse dump sites as cover for illegal activities.
CSP Okwuzulike Vincent of the Itam Police Station said some suspects pretended to be mentally unstable while hiding ammunition and other suspicious items in makeshift shelters around dump locations.
The police officer praised the environmental agency for what he described as proactive efforts to sanitise the sector and pledged continued cooperation between law enforcement and the agency.
Officials said some first-time offenders arrested during the operation were released after profiling and signing undertakings, while repeat offenders would face prosecution.
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