Niger Delta

NGO Settles Medical Bills Of 22 Indigent Patients In A’ Ibom

Published

7 years ago

July 15, 2019

A non-governmental organisation, the Ibom Development and Empowerment Assembly, which is engaged in free training of Akwa Ibom youths, said it had intervened in the medical bill crises of some indigent patients at the St. Luke’s General Hospital, Anua, Uyo, by settling their bills amounting to over N2.8m.
It also donated sewing machines, groundnut oil, gallons of palm oil and bags of rice estimated at millions of naira to feed and train the Uyo Prison inmates for them to become useful to the society.
The International Coordinator of the NGO, Dr Markfre Ekefre, stated these at a media briefing on the organisation’s first graduation ceremony.
He said the organisation decided to intervene in the medical bill issue when it discovered that the patients were unable to pay their bills several weeks after they were certified fit by the doctors and discharged from the hospital.
Ekefre stated: “We came up with the Ibom Development and Empowerment Assembly on Saturday, July 1, 2017, and on December 30, 2017, at exactly 60 days, the IDEA brought out N10m to empower youths, women and sick people in the state.
“We bought sewing machines, hair dryers, clippers, computer sets and oven worth over N5m, which we use in training our students.
“The IDEA visited St. Luke’s Hospital and cleared the medical bills for 22 patients, to the tune of N2.8m, who could not pay for a long time after they were discharged from the hospital and donated gallons of groundnut oil, sewing machines and bags of rice to the Uyo Prison to feed and train inmates so that they may be useful to the society.”
He added that the organisation would be graduating 48 students, who had successfully completed their free six months training programme on Saturday and would give them certificates and equipment to help them start their own business ventures.
Ekefre said, “We actually admitted 48 students who came initially; now, 200 students have applied. We trained the students for one year and every student who enrolled for computer training will be given a new computer free of charge and a certificate; every student who enrolled for tailoring will be given a sewing machine and certificate; while those that studied hair dressing will be given clippers and hair dryers as well as certificates.”

Niger Delta

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

Published

21 hours 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

23 hours 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

23 hours 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.