News
FG Unveils New Drug To Combat Malaria …Targets 2020 For Eradication

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State (right), chatting with former Deputy Governor of the state, Engr Tele Ikuru, during the latter’s 50th birthday celebration in Port Harcourt, recently
The Federal Government, yesterday, renewed its resolve to eliminate malaria in the country by the year 2020.
The National Coordinator, National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), Dr Nnenna Ezeigwe, said this in an interview with newsmen in Lagos.
Ezeigwe said all hands must be on deck to achieve a malaria free country by the targeted year through the Test, Treat and Track (TTT) policy.
She explained that the malaria policy states that every suspected malaria case must be tested and confirmed before treatment can be administered on patients.
According to her, the TTT policy has been in force for many years in the country with little or no compliance.
“But we discovered that it has not been complied with. After looking carefully at the problem, we discovered that over 60 per cent of the Nigerian population go to the pharmacists and patent medicine dealers for treatment of malaria and other ailments.
“This is why we decided to work in collaboration with the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), and we are working together with the Lagos State Government, Association of Patent Medicine Vendors to make sure that it is achieved.
“We have discussed with PCN and we agreed that pharmacists and patent medicine vendors can test for malaria after been properly trained.
“But if we discover that PPMV continues to treat without testing and there is evidence for it, then such persons will not be registered.
“This is part of the agreement we have with the PCN that it should be part of their registration criteria, they will be properly trained and then implement it this is what we expect,‘’ she said.
Ezeigwe said that since 2009 chloroquine has not been the drug of choice after several studies.
“It was beneficial at some point but then at some point resistance sets in, the parasite we were fighting developed resistant to the drug (chloroquine) and then it became useless as a malaria drug.
“So, the current treatment that has been proven to be very effective is the Artemisinin Combination Therapy (ACT) and we are also monitoring the ACT to check if there is any resistant at any point.
“But for now we are comfortable to say that ACT is still very efficacious in this country.
Ezeigwe said that chloroquine has been banned for the treatment of malaria and that it should not be bought or sold at the counter in any pharmacy or shop.
She said that the disease that they claim that chloroquine was been used for has to be diagnosed by a qualified medical doctor.
She also said that the Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) training that was being conducted for health workers was mostly negative and that makes her happy.
“It shows the effectiveness of the RDTs because they are able to dictate positive and negative cases of malaria.
“If the RDT reads negative then it is negative, because the RDT is 100 per cent effective.
“It is only when it starts coming out positive, that you can begin to get worried and you can start doubting if the positivity was correct, so it is good news.’’
However, the coordinator pointed out that some lab technicians in Nigeria lack the skills to see and dictate result correctly.
“As soon as they see that fever was the case of a patient they just conclude that it is malaria without seeing anything through the micro-scope.
“When you look under the micro-scope, you will see a lot of things like the white and red blood cells you will see the parasite plasmodium.
“You will also see what we call artefact which can be like air bubble.
“So, when they don’t see anything and do not know what to attribute the sickness to, they just write malaria which is the easiest and most common thing for anyone to believe.’’
She said that the RDT was accurate and urged people to have confidence in it because it was 100 per cent tested and confirmed.
Ezeigwe noted that if the RDT reads positive the patient would be treated with the right drug, which is the ACT, and then get okay.
She added that the test was necessary before treatment because if the drugs continue to be taken without malaria being positive in the body, it would start developing resistance.
“And that will take us back to the case of chloroquine, and that is what we are trying to avoid.
“And if the parasite becomes resistant to the drugs then we would not have drug to treat it with and it will be increasing.
“And if it is increasing we would not make any progress towards elimination so it is going to aid it by making sure that the ACTs remain efficacious.
“The Global fund is supporting the private sector mechanism and they have subsidised the cost of anti-malaria when you request for ACT with the green leaf, it is been sold at a very cheap rate for about N200 or N150 per pack.
“So, for those thinking that it would be expensive I am here to say that they are very cheap and affordable.
“I advise the pharmacists and PPMVs that any patient that walks into the pharmacy and refuses to get tested before requesting for treatment should not be attended to.
“The person can stay home with his/her fever because by the time they try as many shops as possible they will decide on what is best for them.
“The pharmacists should know that this will bring them more customers because when your patients know that when they come to you, you will run the test on them before treatment they will tend to have more trust in your shop.
“The goal standard in any healthcare is that you must test before you treat and malaria has been neglected for a while and has killed so many people ignorantly that is why we are doing this to save Nigerians.
“We are covering 10 states in Nigeria in this particular exercise and Lagos is just one of them.
“The country is very large and we have about 24 states to cover, we are been supported by the Global Fund and they are supporting the 24 states,’’ said the coordinator.
News
Rivers DPOs Receive Awards For Outstanding Performance In Crime Prevention …As Students, Media Group Honour CSP Worgu, CSP Yusuf
Two Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in Rivers State have been honoured by separate groups for their contributions to security, crime prevention and improved community-police relations in their respective areas of responsibility.
The beneficiaries are the DPO of Afam Police Division, CSP Endurance Worgu and his counterpart at Oyigbo Police Division, CSP Bello Yusuf.
CSP Worgu was honoured by a group of students under the aegis of Rivers State Graduate Students Associations for what they described as his commitment and outstanding performance in the discharge of his duties.
The students, led by Chidi John Enyie, Esq. said CSP Worgu was selected based on his track record and status as one of the longest-serving young DPOs of Rivers State origin.
According to the group, CSP Worgu has made significant contributions to the protection of lives and property in the area since assuming office following the #EndSARS period.
The students said they were particularly impressed by the improvement in community-police relations under his leadership, noting that professionalism had remained a key feature of his service.
Enyie represented by Comrade Briggs Soku, said the students community was pleased to identify with a Rivers indigene who had distinguished himself in the police force.
He said the students considered it necessary to encourage and celebrate CSP Worgu because of his achievements as a young Rivers man excelling in a profession that many people from the state were often reluctant to join.
Receiving the award at his office in Afam, CSP Worgu expressed gratitude to God and the students for finding him worthy of the honour.
The DPO said the recognition had boosted his morale and encouraged him to sustain his efforts towards maintaining peace and security in the area.
He said he least expected the honour, particularly because it came from the students, adding that the recognition would further motivate him to serve the people better.
CSP Worgu assured residents of Afam that the police would sustain the existing peace in the area.
He appealed to members of the public to support the police by providing credible and timely information, stressing that useful information from residents would make the job of security personnel easier.
Meanwhile, the Ikwerre/Etche Media Association has also honoured the DPO of Oyigbo Police Division, CSP Bello Yusuf, for his efforts in tackling criminal activities in the area.
The media group presented the award following the swift tracking and arrest of five suspected kidnappers who had allegedly terrorised residents of the Kom-Kom axis and other parts of Oyigbo.
The group commended CSP Bello for what it described as his determined efforts to restore confidence and security in the affected communities, particularly Kom-Kom and Obeama.
According to the group, the arrest of the suspects demonstrated the DPO’s commitment to tackling criminality and safeguarding residents.
The media association said residents had received the development with relief, noting that the police action had sent a strong message to criminal elements operating in the area.
Responding, CSP Yusuf appreciated the group for the recognition and reaffirmed that there would be no room for criminality in Oyigbo.
He also commended the media for its role in disseminating credible information to the public, saying the media had remained supportive of the police in the fight against crime.
CSP Yusuf warned criminal elements operating in Oyigbo to leave the area or be prepared to face the full weight of the law.
He assured residents that the police would continue to pursue criminals and work to dismantle their hideouts, regardless of where they might be operating.
News
College Of Bishops Endorses Tinubu, APC Candidates For 2027 Polls
The 5000 Achievers Christian Forum and Colleges of Bishops, Archbishops and Apostles, a Christian interdenominational organisation, has endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State for the 2027 general elections.
International President of the forum, Archbishop Lucky Aroh, disclosed this during the ordination and consecration of three new Bishops, as well as an award ceremony held in Port Harcourt.
Aroh said the performance of the APC-led Federal Government had endeared the party to the organisation, prompting the forum to declare its support for President Tinubu and other APC candidates in Rivers State.
He said the forum would support all APC candidates in the state during the 2027 elections and urged Nigerians to vote for the party.
Aroh, who is also the General Overseer of Caring Peoples Church, Port Harcourt, charged the newly consecrated Bishops to see their new positions as a great responsibility and dedicate themselves to the advancement of the kingdom of God.
He cautioned them against conduct capable of bringing their offices into disrepute, stressing that their activities would be closely watched by members of the public.
“As Bishops, the eyes of the public are on your activities. You must therefore conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of your calling,” he said.
Also speaking, the International Coordinator of the forum, Bishop Saint Robinson, urged the newly consecrated Bishops to work diligently towards winning souls for the kingdom of God.
Robinson, who was the guest speaker at the event, stressed that the activities of Bishops must at all times be guided by godly principles.
He also called on members of the church to support and cooperate with the newly consecrated Bishops in the discharge of their responsibilities.
The Secretary of the College, Apostle Elizabeth Ayadi Abaye, said the organisation was established to advance the kingdom of God and promote spiritual development.
According to her, the forum has organised several crusades, conferences, prayer meetings, ordinations, consecrations, enthronements, empowerment programmes and other spiritual development activities across the country as part of efforts to win souls for Christ.
Abaye said the organisation has members across the world and disclosed that more programmes had been scheduled to promote the spiritual development and wellbeing of humanity.
The three Bishops consecrated at the ceremony were Prince Alban Chike, Testimony Omenihu Shedrach and Prince Ifemena.
Among those honoured at the event were the Chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC), Abali Community, Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Manuchimso Prince Lemmy Wopara, and Clifford Oko Jaja, Coordinator of the 5,000 House-to-House for President Tinubu.
By: John Bibor
News
Police Arrest Fake Soldier, Others For Armed Robbery, Kidnapping
The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a 49-year-old suspected fake soldier, Andrew Atausi, and several other suspects in connection with various criminal activities, including kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, one-chance robbery and the alleged murder of police officers.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, disclosed this in Port Harcourt, recently during a press briefing at the Command Headquarters, where he said the arrests formed part of the operational achievements recorded by the Command between June and August 2026.
Adepoju said Atausi was arrested on August 10 by police operatives along Ada George, Port Harcourt, while dressed in military uniform and driving a Toyota Hilux painted in Army colours.
The Commissioner said investigation revealed that Atausi was not a member of the Armed Forces, adding that he was suspected to be a serial car snatcher, with three suspected stolen vehicles recovered from him.
He said the recovered vehicles included three Toyota Hilux vehicles without registration numbers and a Toyota Corona Premio with registration number BNY 380 ES, noting that the chassis and engine numbers of the vehicles had allegedly been tampered with.
Adepoju added that an axe and military accoutrements were also recovered from Atausi, as investigation continued into the circumstances surrounding the vehicles and other items recovered from him.
On the June 29 attack on police officers at Aluu Division, the Commissioner said three members of the gang allegedly responsible for the incident had been arrested by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit, VCRU-AKU.
The suspects, identified as Maduabuchi Emeka, 34, alleged gang leader; Doctor Chinedu Owhor, 42, and Kamachi Joe, 28, alleged armourer, reportedly led operatives to their hideout at Omagwa where two AK-47 rifles stolen during the attack were recovered.
Adepoju recalled that two police officers were killed during the Aluu attack, while others were wounded and one officer had his leg amputated, stressing that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fourth suspect.
On kidnapping, the Commissioner said five members of a suspected kidnapping syndicate were arrested in Oyigbo Local Government Area, adding that they allegedly confessed to operations in Kom-Kom, Railway, Obeama and Afam communities.
He said two other suspects from the same network, Anele Ogbogu, 35, alleged to be the gang’s armourer, and Kenneth Eke, 38, were arrested on July 27, with one AK-47 rifle and one SMG rifle recovered.
The Commissioner further disclosed the arrest of suspects in connection with alleged firearm offences, armed robbery, cultism and one-chance robbery, with firearms, ammunition and other exhibits recovered during the operations.
Adepoju assured residents that the Command would sustain intelligence-led, proactive and community-oriented policing in collaboration with other security agencies, while urging members of the public to continue providing credible information that would assist the police in combating crime across Rivers State.
By; King Onunwor
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