Niger Delta

INEC Tasks Religious Leaders On Polls

Published

11 years ago

February 11, 2015

The Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) in Delta has called on religious leaders in Delta to assist in mobilising the people to participate in the general elections.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Elder Aniedi Abasi-Ikiowok, made the appeal last Friday in Asaba when he met with religious leaders in the state.
According to him, religion provides a platform for mobilisation.
Abasi-Ikiowok said that the religious leaders had a role to play in educating and encouraging their followers to participate in the electoral process as part of their civic responsibility to the nation.
“We know that as religious leaders, you have a crowd of followers, so if we can get your followership across the nation for this election, then we have achieved a lot in mobilising participation,” he said.
The REC said that the 2015 general elections would be successful and enjoined the religious leaders to help the commission in educating the people on the need to collect their PVCs.
“I want to assure Nigerians that this election is going to be totally different from previous elections conducted in this country.
“It is going to be an election that we expect every Nigerian to be satisfied when the result comes out. We are committed to making a difference.”
Abasi-Ikiowok said that the commission had created Registration Area Centres (RACs) across the state to address the issue of late arrival of materials, which had been the bane of previous elections.
He said both sensitive and non-sensitive materials and personnel would be deployed to the various centres a day before the election, for onward movement to the various polling units for easy coordination.
“We have set up the RACs to make it easier for materials and personnel to reach the polling units.
“These RACs will be manned by between 70 to 100 personnel.
“Any polling unit that is denied materials on Election Day will be cancelled and voided as no elections there, because it is believed that somebody or some persons are playing mischief there.”
Responding on behalf of the clergy, Venerable Nsaka Josiah, a representative of the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN), assured the commission of the commitment of the religious leaders in the state to ensuring the success of the elections.
He urged the people to seek the face of God in prayers to achieve a peaceful, free, fair and credible election.
“It is our prayer that the 2015 general elections in Nigeria will not only be peaceful, but successful so that the efforts of INEC and all stakeholders in the electoral process will not be in vain.
“Let every one of us pray to God and do our own obligations to make the coming election a huge success.”
Our correspondent reports that the meeting was attended by church leaders from various Christian denominations, as well as Imams from Muslim groups in the state.

Cross section of journalists during a press conference over the recent court bombings in the state, organised by the State Ministry of Information and Communications in Port Harcourt, recently. Photo: Chris Munyenaga

Niger Delta

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

Published

5 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

5 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

5 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.