Niger Delta

IFAD Projects Suffer Setback In Delta

Published

16 years ago

November 15, 2010

The International Funds for Agricultural Development (IFAD)-assisted Community National Resource Management Programme (BNRMP) in Delta may suffer set back due to non-release of funds.

Mr Chris Abua, Delta IFAD Programme Officer, said made this known in an interview with the newsmen in Asaba.

He said that the state government and its local councils were defaulting in counterpart funds contribution to the programme.

Abua said that out of the nine local government areas currently benefiting from the assistance, only three made initial contributions in 2007 while the state government paid up to 2008.

The programme, which he said, started in the state in 2006 but with effective funding and operation in 2007, was designed to improve the living standard of families in “poorest of poor communities”.

Abua expressed regret that the failure of the state and the local councils to make their contributions was affecting remittance of funds from IFAD and NDDC, which provide the substantial funds.

He said that the programme took off in the state with 300,000 dollars (about N45 million) provided by IFAD through the World Bank as financiers.

Abua explained that the state government complemented it with its contribution of N14.2 million in 2006, N16.25 million each in 2007 and 2008.

He, however, said that the state had since 2009 when its contribution was reviewed to N36.25 million, failed to contribute, adding that IFAD and NDDC had also defaulted in their contributions in 2010.

Abua explained that the budget of the scheme was increased in 2009 when it became necessary to expand the projects from three local government areas to nine and 27 communities in the state.

He flayed the local councils for not making efforts to pay their counterpart funds in spite of the presence of the programme in their communities.

Abua said that families, groups and communities in the areas covered by the programme enjoyed credit facilities, trainings and skills acquisition as well as the provision of infrastructure.

He expressed regret that the programme’s activities in the state were declining due to paucity of funds and appealed to all the parties, especially the state government and local councils to meet their commitments.

“The issue is not the budget but the release of the funds. The government and local councils through agreements signed showed great enthusiasm and willingness to operate the scheme, but they are failing now,” Abua said.

He stressed that counterpart funds were the assurances of continuity of the programme and added that IFAD might sanction the state for defaulting in its contributions to the programme.

Abua advised that to avoid bottlenecks associated with the scheme’s funds; contributions should be made direct to the community development account, which is regularly checked by the supervisor in every state.

When contacted, the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Tony Nwaka, admitted that the state and some local councils were in arrears of counterpart contributions to the programme.

But he assured IFAD and NDDC that the counterpart funds would soon be defrayed.

Nwaka said: “Yes, this administration is in arrears in the payment of counterpart funds, we are planning with high hopes, to meet this obligation as soon as possible.

“All efforts are being made to ensure that all outstanding state and local government counterpart funds are paid.”

Niger Delta

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

Published

17 hours ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

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.

Niger Delta

Police Burst Child Trafficking Syndicate In A’Ibom … Nab 3 Suspects

Published

17 hours ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

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.

Niger Delta

A’Ibom Launches Operation Crack Down Scrap Dealers

Published

17 hours ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

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.