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Niger Delta

Inadequate Funding Threatens N’Delta Dev, Akpabio Alerts

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5 years ago

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The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has raised alarm over inadequate funding and poor allocation to the ministry, which he said, may slow down envisaged speedy development of Niger Delta region.
The minister said that low allocations for the ministry were responsible for series of uncompleted projects in the region, over the years.
He said the total sum of N26, 592,560, 900, 400 proposed for the Ministry of Niger Delta for 2021 was grossly inadequate for projects meant for the region.
Akpabio, in his presentation before the Senate Committee on Niger Delta during the ministry’s 2021 budget defence at the National Assembly, called on the committee to look into the allocations of the ministry in line with its responsibilities in the Niger Delta.
Analysing the budget, he said: “The capital estimate reveals that the sum of N15,000,000,000, out of N19,533,720,033 for capital infrastructure project was allocated to the East-West Road (Sections I- IV) alone, on the order of Mr. President. This leaves N4,533,720,033 for the other infrastructural projects”.
Akpabio further lamented that gross inadequate funding has led to derailment of the programmes of engagement of youths and women of the region, reduced training for knowledge acquisition, poor performance and protracted delay in project delivery and intermittent disruption by youths who chase away contractors from sites.
It would be recalled that the ministry got a budgetary proposal of N26,592,560,040, comprising of N1,443,111,339 for personnel, N877,089,120 for overhead, and N24,272,359,581 for capital.
On the 2020 budget performance, the minister said, “A total sum of N23.45billion was approved as 2020 appropriation after the national budget was amended due to the effect of Covid -19 pandemic.
“The capital, overheads and personnel expenditure budget were in the sum of N21.71billion, N600.1million and N1.14billion, respectively. The releases in respect of capital, overheads and personnel expenditure were N10.86billion, N432.64million and N1.026billion, representing 50%, 72% and 99%, respectively”, he added.
According to the minister, funds for the 2020 budget released for the ministry are 10%, 86% and 99% for capital, overheads and personnel expenditure, respectively.

 

Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi, Abuja

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Niger Delta

Bayelsa Recommits To Building World-Class Med Varsity …As VC Marks  Anniversary 

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1 week ago

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November 10, 2025

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The Bayelsa State Government has restated its commitment to developing the State-owned Bayelsa Medical University (BMU), to attain global acclaim in terms of scholarship, research excellence and production of quality human resources to address manpower shortage and healthcare delivery needs in the country
Deputy Governor of the State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, made this known while speaking as Special Guest of Honour at an event put together by the BMU to mark the first anniversary of its current Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dimie Ogoina, at the Main Campus of the u6niversity in Yenagoa.
A statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Deputy Governor, Mr Doubara Atasi, at the weekend, quoted him as saying that the present administration was irrevocably committed to the vision for the institution as enunciated by the former Governor and Founder of the University, Senator Seriake Dickson.
While commending the former Governor and now Senator representing the State’s West Senatorial District, Senator Dickson for his foresight in establishing the institution despite the stiff opposition, Senator Ewhrudjakpo expressed delight over the achievements the institution has recorded in its few years of existence.
He also applauded the pioneer Vice Chancellor of the BMU, Prof. Ebitimitula Etebu and his successor, Prof. Dimie Ogoina, for their commitment and efforts that have brought the university to where it is today.
The Deputy Governor noted that considering its standards and the progress being made by the university, the BMU would soon export Bayelsa to the world and attract the world to the state through academic excellence and record-breaking research findings.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo, however, stressed the need for the Management Team, staff, students and all critical stakeholders to work harder towards actualizing the vision and rationale behind the establishment of the specialized institution.
“Having thanked God, my next thanks go to Senator Henry Seriake Dickson for his painstaking efforts that led to the establishment of this very important institution. I’m commending him because I know the opposition he faced back then.
“He proved himself as a visionary leader when he held sway as governor of the state, and we have started seeing the benefits of his foresightedness. You know he was seeing his visions in the daytime and not at night.
“I say this with all sense of humility and duty, because if I leave here without commending Senator Dickson, then I would have failed in my duty as a responsible and forthright human being. I feel honoured and privileged to venerate his contributions to the success story of this medical university”, he said.
“I’m also happy for the immediate past Vice Chancellor, Professor Ebitimitula Etebu, who was able to give us a tip of the iceberg from the memory lane. We must commend Professor Etebu for the solid foundation he laid for BMU as a pioneer VC.
“But today, we’ve a Vice Chancellor who is now planting good seeds, and we believe that these seeds will grow and enable us to export this university to the world, and bring the world to this university.
“I can assure you that the government of His Excellency, Senator Douye Diri is fully ready and committed to working with you at all times. Because we believe, working together, we’re going to have a peaceful, dynamic, very elaborate and outstanding university that will be a global brand.
“But to achieve this, all of us, including students, the academia, staff, Senate and Council, must all have our hands in glove to support this agenda of ASPIRE that has been introduced by the present VC”, he added.
In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor of the BMU, Professor Dimie Ogoina, explained the components of the ASPIRE Agenda that serves as his guide in running the University, which includes Academic excellence, Sustainability, Partnership engagement, Innovation and technology, Research excellence, as well as Empowerment and welfare.
Professor Ogoina, who expressed gratitude to the state government for its unrelented support to the institution so far, also listed some achievements under his watch, such as securing a research grant of £1.2 million from Welcome Trust, and the establishment of Nigeria’s first university-based Virtual Reality(VR) /Artificial Intelligence (AI) Mixed Reality Studio.
According to Professor Ogoina, in 2026, the university would develop a five-year strategic development plan which would outline the medium and long-term goals of the institution, to transform it into a national centre of excellence.
He added that the Visitor to the University, Governor Douye Diri, had given his nod for the BMU to have its own teaching hospital, to be complemented by AI Robotic Teacher to adequately cater to the pedagogical needs of its students.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Occasion, Prof. Tomori Oyewale, applauded successive governments in the state, particularly that of Dickson and Diri, for not abandoning the dream of the pioneer civilian administration of late Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.
Goodwill messages were also delivered by the university’s Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Professor Tarilah Tebepah and the pioneer Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Ebitimitula Etebu.
Highpoint of the ceremony was the unveiling of the BMU Advances in Medicine and Health Sciences Journal, and five Digital Apps of the university by the Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.
By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
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Niger Delta

Okpebholo Constitutes Committee On MOWAA … Names Oshiomhole Chairman

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1 week ago

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November 10, 2025

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Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has constituted a committee on the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA), with Sen Adams Oshiomhole as Chairman.
This is contained in a statement  by the Secretary to the State Government, Musa Ikhilor, on Friday in Benin.
Ikhilor quoted the Governor as urging the committee to ascertain the true legal and operational status of MOWAA.
The Governor tasked the committee to clarify the position, rights, and stakes of the Benin Royal Palace and Traditional Institution in the museum project and make appropriate recommendations to the state government for further action.
The Tide’s source reports that indigenes of Benin are protesting  the constitution of MOWAA to build a museum that will house the recently returned artifacts from Europe by the immediate past administration of Godwin Obaseki.
They argued that the artifacts should have been returned to the Oba’s palace, where they were stolen instead building a new museum for the artifact.
They said that building a new museum was an insult to their ancestors who owned the artifacts, adding that if a new museum must be built, it should be within the  palace.
Okpbeholo said the state government had noted the series of protests and petitions from members of the public, including eminent individuals from the Benin Royal Palace and Traditional Council concerning the project.
“This committee is a response, and in recognition of the Benin Royal Palace as the true and lawful custodian of the cultural heritage and artifacts of the Benin Kingdom”, the Governor said.
He reiterated his commitment to protect the cultural heritage of the Benin Kingdom while ensuring transparency, accountability, and mutual respect in all partnerships and heritage-related initiative.
Other members of the committee are Gen. Cecil Esekhaigbe (Rtd.) as Vice Chairman, former Edo Deputy Governor, Lucky Imasuen, as a member, and former SSG, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, also as a member.
The Edo Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Roland Otaru (SAN), is also a member, while Ms. Iryn Omorogiuwa is Secretary.
The Committee is expected to commence work immediately and submit its findings and recommendations within the shortest possible time.
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Niger Delta

CSOs Demand Probe Of Ex-Governor In C’River

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1 week ago

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November 10, 2025

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A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) under the aegis of Accountability and Good Governance, has called for the probe of the immediate past Governor of Cross River State, Prof. Ben Ayade.
The coalition made the call in a statement jointly signed by its Coordinator, Agaba Vincent, and Secretary, Odey Odey on Friday in Calabar.
The duo called on the State Governor, Sen. Bassey Otu, to resist moves to accord the immediate past governor any public recognition, but rather support a full probe of his administration.
They noted that a civic reception for the former governor, would amount to rewarding poor performance and showing insensitivity to residents still suffering the impact of abandoned projects.
According to them, the immediate past governor should face a comprehensive probe, not a civic reception.
“Cross Riverians are still paying the price for uncompleted and non-functional projects that consumed enormous public funds”, they noted.
The duo also noted that several projects initiated by the former administration did not deliver value to the state and therefore required accountability.
They listed a number of high-profile initiatives that remained incomplete or inactive in spite of substantial mobilisation of funds.
The listed projects include a 275km Superhighway, the Bakassi Deep Seaport, Calapharm Pharmaceutical Factory, the Obudu Cargo Airport, the Rice City and the Rice Seedlings Factory.
Others were the Coconut Refinery, Banana Plantation and Processing Plant, the Cocoa Processing Factory in Ikom, and the Calachika Chicken Processing Plant.
“A foreign-affiliated university in Obudu, multiple Independent Power Plant schemes, as well as the Ukelle Road and the Boki–Obudu Road projects were also part of these projects,” Vincent and Odey said.
They noted that some of the projects were operated briefly with rented equipment before shutting down.
The duo also alleged that major road contracts were awarded to proxy companies and later abandoned, leaving the roads impassable thereby crippling commerce and transportation across affected communities.
They added that many of the projects were heavily promoted through media publicity and political fanfare, creating an impression of industrial advancement that had not translated into measurable economic benefit for residents
“This is not about politics. It is about justice and accountability.
“If the former governor believes his hands are clean, then a probe should not worry him. He should be willing to clear his name”, they stressed.
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