Niger Delta

Bayelsa To Upgrade College Of Arts

Published

13 years ago

February 8, 2013

The Bayelsa Government says it has concluded plans to upgrade the state’s College of Arts and Science (BYCAS) for it to be able to award Higher National Diploma (HND) certificates.

The state’s Commissioner for Education, Mr Adikumo Salo, made the disclosure at the college site at Elebele in the Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state.

Salo also announced that students of the Isaac Jasper Boro (IJB) College of Education at Sagbama were expected to commence lectures at the end of February.

“The state governor, Seriake Dickson, decided on re-opening the BYCAS which was closed down by the past administration because of his desire in building human capacity,’’ he said, while conducting newsmen round projects embarked upon by the government.

The project tour was part of activities lined up to commemorate Governor Dickson’s one year in office on February 14.

At Sagbama, the headquarters of Sagbama Local Government Area, the commissioner inspected the classroom block and ICT buildings as well as concrete roads and car park of the College of Education.

Salo said the institution, which had already registered 701 students, would commence its academic session at the end of February 2013.

The commissioner also explained that the state government had acquired hostel accommodation for the students at three different locations in Sagbama town to enhance the smooth take-off of the institution.

He said the institution’s relocation from Okpoama by the present administration saved it from being scrapped as a result of lack of space and facilities.

While speaking on infrastructure for primary schools, the commissioner said the state government was currently involved in massive reconstruction, renovation and building of new classrooms.

He said government was also building two-bedroom flat residential accommodation for headmasters.

The commissioner also said government was currently constructing model secondary schools with boarding facilities across the state for students, so as to enhance teaching and learning conditions.

He said a six-classroom Teachers Training Institute had been renovated for the training and re-training of teachers in the state.

Salo said Gov. Dickson would before the end of February formally inaugurate the distribution of free school uniforms, sandals, textbooks and exercise books which are currently stored at the state library.

Also speaking, the institution’s provost, Prof. Saviour Agoro, said: “We already have the staff to work with. We have so far registered 701 students in 33 departments.”

Niger Delta

Benin Residents Opt For Native Remedies Over Rising Drug Cost

Published

7 minutes ago

May 13, 2026

The Tide

Residents of Benin City, Edo State, have decried rising pharmaceutical costs in Nigeria, saying the situation now forces many people to abandon prescribed medications, patronise native remedies, or purchase incomplete drug dosages regularly.

The residents expressed frustration during interviews with The Tide’s source, lamenting that worsening economic conditions had negatively affected access to proper healthcare and medical treatment across communities nationwide.

The source reports that increasing drug prices, consultation charges, and laboratory fees have made healthcare services largely unaffordable for many low-income earners struggling to survive the economic hardship.

At Best Care Pharmacy in the New Lagos Road area, Mrs. Rose Imadiyi became emotional while explaining how financial difficulties prevented her from purchasing prescribed medications after recently falling ill in Benin City.

Imadiyi said the prescribed drugs cost about N7,000, while she had only N4,000 available for feeding and healthcare expenses.

“I chose my children over drugs because they still need to eat. I could not spend all the money on medication and leave nothing for food”, Imadiyi stated, emphasising that rising healthcare costs had forced many struggling families to make painful decisions between treatment and feeding needs.

A pharmacist, Dr. Nkem Daniella Ogbidi-Emmanuel, attributed the growing trend to worsening economic conditions, saying many patients now prioritised feeding above healthcare because they lacked resources required to meet rising medical expenses nationwide.

“A lot of people do not have the wherewithal to cater for their health needs because of the economic situation of the country today”, Ogbidi-Emmanuel said, while speaking on challenges facing patients recently.

“Many of them believe that if they can eat well, they can manage their illnesses”, she said, adding that some people now regarded proper medical care as a luxury because of rising healthcare expenses.

“Some even see proper medical care as a luxury because apart from drugs, they have to pay consultation fees and for laboratory investigations”, the healthcare provider said.

Ogbidi-Emmanuel continued that some patients now requested medications without undergoing proper medical tests in efforts to reduce treatment costs, warning that such practices remained dangerous and could worsen underlying health conditions significantly nationwide.

“Some patients will say, ‘Doctor, just give me medicine’, because they cannot afford tests for malaria, typhoid or other infections”, she said, while describing the growing desperation among struggling patients across the country.

“Even when medications are prescribed, many cannot afford to buy the complete dosage because drugs are not subsidised in Nigeria”,Ogbidi-Emmanuel said, and called for improved healthcare support systems and government intervention nationwide.

She added that nearly 80 per cent of patients currently struggled to balance healthcare expenses with basic survival needs, urging authorities to introduce subsidies on essential medicines and strengthen public healthcare support programmes nationwide.

A midwife, Mrs. Juliet Egbede, corroborated the development, saying many Nigerians now preferred to “eat to live before treating illness” because increasing financial hardship had made healthcare inaccessible for struggling households nationwide.

Egbede explained that some patients resorted to incomplete dosages or relied heavily on painkillers to manage symptoms temporarily because financial difficulties prevented them from accessing proper medical treatment and prescribed medications regularly nationwide.

She warned that such unhealthy practices could worsen medical conditions, especially among vulnerable persons, emphsising the importance of adhering strictly to prescribed treatments in spite of prevailing economic hardship and rising healthcare costs across Nigeria.

Another resident, Mr. Ola Rasheed, said he had stopped visiting hospitals and pharmacies regularly because rising drug prices and medical expenses had made healthcare services increasingly difficult for ordinary Nigerians to afford recently nationwide.

“I bought agbo (local herbal concoction) because it is cheaper. I hardly go to pharmacies or hospitals again because the drugs are too expensive”, Rasheed said, while describing his healthcare challenges in Benin City.

Similarly, Mrs. Messy Omokhua said whenever she could not afford prescribed medications, she opted for cheaper brands or reduced quantities, hoping to recover quickly in spite of not completing the recommended treatment dosage for illnesses.

“Sometimes I buy cheaper alternatives or reduce the quantity and hope to get better quickly”, Omokhua said, lamenting that economic hardship had made it increasingly difficult for residents to access complete healthcare treatments nationwide.

Niger Delta

Bayelsa Paramount Ruler Hails New Atissa Monarch On Succession

Published

10 minutes ago

May 13, 2026

The Tide

Paramount ruler of Onopa Community in the Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, HRH Tamama Morris (Ogbo IX), has praised the newly coronated King of the Atissa Kingdom of the State, HRM King Victor Diemeze Awala (Ebeni-ebe VIII) on his successful ascension to the throne.

Onopa is one of the communities of the Atissa Kingdom, landlords of the Bayelsa State Government House.

The Tide gathered that the new Monarch was coronated and presented staff of office by the State Government on the 2nd of May, 2026 amidst celebrations.

The royal father, who described the monarch as an accomplished traditional ruler, business tycoon, and administrator, said with his indepth experience in the traditional affairs of the kingdom prior to his ascension to the throne, he believes he will discharge the onerous duties of his throne creditably with dignity and purpose.

He noted that King Awala was working closely with the late King of the Kingdom, HRM Godwin Gurosi Igodo, who past on in 2025, and therefore understood what it takes to be the number one royal father of the ancient kingdom, including peace building and disputes resolution, amongst others.

“The newly coronated Ebeni-Ebe, VIII, the monarch of our Kingdom, Atissa, HRM King Victor Diemeze Awala, has the requisite experience to lead the kingdom.

“Before he was made king, he has already been working closely with the late king of the Kingdom, HRM King Godwin Gurosi Igodo, who at a time due to his deteriorating health challenges had to direct him, Awala, to act on his behalf.

“Truth be told, within those acting period, King Awala did very well and achieved so much for the kingdom. He was always working in tandem with the traditions and customs of the kingdom, especially in peace building and development.

“I would describe King Awala as a round peg in a round hole. He’s the best man from the Atissa Kingdom to ascend the throne after the death of the former King, and I’ve no fears that he will do very well as king”, the Onopa royal father said.

Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

Niger Delta

Diri Halts New INC Exco Inauguration … Says Election Conducted Under Litigation

Published

14 minutes ago

May 13, 2026

The Tide

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has advised the outgoing Prof. Benjamin Okaba-led executive committee of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) and the Electoral Committee not to proceed with the advertised inauguration of a new executive scheduled for May 14, 2026.

The Governor in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, was quoted as saying his decision was based on the legal issues arising from the recent purported election of a new executive for the foremost Ijaw nation socio-cultural organisation.

The Tide gathered that the Governor was the pioneer INC Organising Secretary.

Diri contended that as a leader and key stakeholder, his primary interest was the unity of the Ijaw ethnic nationality and the resolution of all the issues thrown up by the election.

He expressed concern that the INC leadership, without informing him or seeking his consent, went ahead to use his name and official title in advertising the forthcoming programme.

He said this was capable of sending out a wrong signal and creating confusion within the Ijaw nation.

“Let me be unequivocal that I am not in support of anyone trying to fractionalise the INC or cause disaffection in the Ijaw nation.

“At the moment, Ijaw leaders are working towards resolving the crisis that arose from the purported election of a new INC leadership. The matter is even still a subject of litigation. So why the hurry?”, the Governor queried.

“My advice to the outgoing Okaba-led Exco is to tread cautiously and allow the dispute resolution processes to go through.

“As a leader of the Ijaw nation, my uppermost concern and responsibility is to ensure that our people are united and co-exist in harmony”, he said.

He cautioned against promoting division and disunity through an important leadership organisation as the INC.

According to the Bayelsa governor, the INC remains the most critical and effective voice of the Ijaw people and no attempt should be made to undermine its legitimacy and integrity.

Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa