Niger Delta

Bayelsa Flags Off Covid-19 Vaccines As Okowa, Others Receive Jabs

Published

5 years ago

March 15, 2021

Bayelsa State Government has called on people of the state to take the Covid-19 Vaccine as part of the pharmaceutical measures to check the spread and mortality rate of the pandemic.
Governor Douye Diri who made the call during the state Flag-off Ceremony for Covid-19 Vaccination in Government House, Yenagoa, promised that his administration would continue to give priority attention to the health sector.
Represented by his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, the Governor lauded the Federal Government and the various development agencies for their role in ensuring that the vaccine gets to Nigeria and Bayelsa State in particular.
A press release by the Senior Special Assistant to the Deputy Governor on Media, Mr. Doubara Atasi, quoted him as saying the state takes the vaccination seriously due to its conviction that there cannot be prosperity without good health.
He said his administration’s commitment to healthcare development informed government’s decision to deploy its scarce resources towards curtailing the spread of the virus in the state during the peak of the infection.
Governor Diri assured that the state government would ensure that the Vaccination Programme succeeds and therefore called on Bayelsans to avail themselves of the vaccine as its benefits far outweigh the perceived side effects.
He also lauded the State Covid-19 Taskforce and health workers who have been on the frontline to check the spread of the virus.
He said the state government had directed the completion of all referral hospitals across the state in furtherance of its desire to improve the well-being of Bayelsans, urging the people not to drop their guards even with the availability of the vaccine but continually observe all Covid-19 protocols.
Diri also called on all relevant authorities to give attention to other diseases while the fight against Covid- 19 is on.
Earlier, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Pabara Igwele expressed appreciation to the Governor and his Deputy, for their proactive steps to check the spread of the virus in the state and their support in ensuring that the vaccines arrived the state.
In their goodwill messages, Dr. Daniel Otoh of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Richard Koko of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr. Eghe Abe of UNICEF and a representative of Center for Disease Control, Dr Gatei Wa Nganda, all lauded the state government for its efforts at fighting the pandemic.
Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, his wife, Edith and members of the state’s Executive Council, last Friday, took turns as they were administered Astra Zeneca Covid-19 vaccines.
The Speaker of the state’s House of Assembly, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori, President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Patience Elumeze and health workers were also vaccinated in the exercise which was held at the Executive Council Chamber, Government House, Asaba.
Okowa said the vaccine was approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and encouraged the people to take it.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells,Yenagoa

Niger Delta

Okpebholo Assures Corps Members Of Improved Welfare

Published

5 days ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has assured corps members deployed to the state of improved welfare and a supportive service year.

Okpebholo gave the assurance at the swearing-in ceremony of the 2026 Batch ‘A’ Stream I corps members last Friday at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Permanent Orientation Camp in Okada.

The Governor also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to youth empowerment, safety and entrepreneurship.

Represented by the Commissioner for Youth Affairs, Mrs. Charity Amayaenvbo, the Governor urged corps members to embrace innovation, community service and self-reliance rather than wait for white-collar jobs.

“Edo is committed to supporting youth empowerment, entrepreneurship and incentives that turn ideas into enterprises.

“Do not wait for jobs, create value. Wherever you are posted, serve your host community with humility, dedication and compassion.

“Have a positive footprint and let your service contribute to unity, productivity and progress,” he said.

Okpebholo assured the corps members that the state government was attentive to their welfare and had started addressing key concerns raised by the NYSC leadership.

“On behalf of the state government, I assure you of our support in terms of safety, an enabling environment and a rewarding service year.

“I listened carefully to the requests highlighted by the state coordinator, and I am glad to inform you that some of them have already been captured in the 2026 budget, which has been approved and signed into law,” he said.

The Governor noted that provisions for accommodation, meal subsidies, logistics and the construction of a multipurpose hall at the camp were included in the budget.

Earlier in her address, the Edo State Coordinator of the NYSC, Dr. Frances Ben-Ushie, described the ceremony as a reflection of the state government’s commitment to youth development and national integration.

Ben-Ushie said as of midnight on Thursday, a total of 1,235 prospective corps members, comprising 531 males and over 700 females, had been duly registered.

She congratulated the corps members on their enlistment into what she described as a “noble scheme,” urging them to embrace discipline, learning and active participation throughout the orientation course.

“The NYSC platform provides a unique avenue to meet people from diverse backgrounds, build lifelong friendships and create networks that can open doors to greater opportunities,” she said.

Ben-Ushie also highlighted the contributions of the NYSC to the state’s development, noting that the scheme had consistently provided skilled manpower, promoted labour mobility and strengthened national unity.

She cited initiatives such as the Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers and the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme as key interventions benefiting communities across the state.

The NYSC coordinator commended the state government for its support, including the provision of buses for corps members, and appealed for further intervention to address lingering operational challenges at the orientation camp.

She expressed confidence that resolving the issues would enhance the effectiveness of NYSC programmes in the state and thanked the Governor for prioritising the welfare, security and growth of corps members.

Niger Delta

PDP Declares Edo Airline’s Plan As Misplaced Priority

Published

5 days ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

The Edo chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday condemned the state government’s reported plan to establish a state-owned airline.

The party, in a statement by its Edo State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Dan Osa-Ogbegie, described the proposal as a misplaced priority and evidence of poor, disconnected governance.

The Tide’s source reports that the State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, unveiled the airline plan during a meeting with Aviation Minister, Mr. Festus Keyamo, in Abuja.

Osa-Ogbegie said the proposal showed a government out of touch with the pressing challenges confronting Edo State residents.

“At a time of decaying infrastructure and stalled projects, establishing an airline is unrealistic and profoundly insensitive”, he said.

He argued that airlines were capital-intensive and technically demanding, noting that similar state-owned ventures in Nigeria had largely failed.

According to him, Benin has become a shadow of what a modern state capital should be.

He decried poor roads, collapsed urban planning, neglected drainage systems and weak municipal services across the state capital.

“This is a crying shame for a city of Benin’s history, heritage and enormous potential”, he said.

Osa-Ogbegie said several inherited projects had stalled or deteriorated, eroding investor confidence and undermining economic growth.

He accused the governor of pursuing “white elephant projects that offer optics without substance.”

He also cited ongoing flyover projects in parts of Benin as examples of poor prioritisation.

Against this background, he described the airline proposal as diversionary and lacking economic sense.

“When roads are barely motorable and services overstretched, proposing an airline betrays an absence of judgment,” he said.

He urged the government to abandon the plan and focus on people-centred priorities that would improve living conditions and spur growth.

“Edo does not need an airline to fly above its problems. It needs a government ready to confront them on the ground,” he said.

He warned that failure to refocus would deepen perceptions of an administration lacking direction, competence and a coherent development agenda.

Niger Delta

Students Protest Non-indigene Appointment As Rector in C’River

Published

5 days ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

Students of Federal Polytechnic, Ugep, Cross River State, have protested to the Governor’s Office in Calabar over an alleged plan to appoint a non-indigene as Rector for the institution.

Carrying placards with various inscriptions, the students demanded respect for catchment area policy, local content, and the appointment of an indigene of the state as Rector of the institution.

Speaking on behalf of the students in Calabar, Stephen Etem said the protest sought to alert the Federal and Cross River State Governments to an alleged deviation from the established rectorial selection process.

Etem said a Governing Council, chaired by Sen. Florence Ita-Giwa, was constituted by the Federal Government to conduct the Rector selection exercise.

“The screening, which began last year, reportedly produced a Cross River State indigene as highest scorer and recommended candidate.

“Information available to us suggests that the alleged recommended candidate’s name might be substituted at the Federal Ministry of Education.

“We urge the Federal Government to uphold the council’s recommendation because altering the process could threaten peace in the institution,” he noted.

Responding at the Government House, Mr. Goddie Akpama, the Special Adviser on Intelligence to the State Governor, Bassey Otu, appealed for calm, saying the Governor was away but would be briefed.

Akpama advised the students to submit written petitions through appropriate channels, avoid inflammatory language, and engage authorities to ensure stability and uninterrupted academic activities.