Niger Delta
Obaseki Pledges Sustained Investment In Healthcare
Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, says, his government is focused on reforming and upgrading the state’s primary healthcare system, ensuring swift, affordable and quality medical service delivery to Edo people.
Obaseki, who spoke with journalists in Benin City,. Wednesday, said the government planned to have at least one standard primary healthcare centre in every ward in the state with well-trained staff and technology before 2024.
He said: “In the area of healthcare, we have just started, even though we have done quite a lot of work in the sector. Our focus has always been on basic care, just like we did with our education system; we are fixing those areas where our people have the first interaction with our healthcare system.
“Primary healthcare reform is our priority and by the time we are leaving in 2024, at the minimum, we should have at least one primary healthcare centre in every ward in Edo with well-trained staff and technology that tracks the quality of service rendered.”
Reassuring his administration’s commitment to transforming Edo into a health hub, Obaseki added: “We see Edo as the health hub in the next five years because we have everything that it takes to become a hub for healthcare.
“We have revamped the Edo Specialist Hospital and ignored the manipulations from detractors who try to make an issue of our decision to bring down a 90-year-old hospital and move it into a five-year-old hospital.
“So, we are transforming the Specialist Hospital and building a new Stella Obasanjo Hospital,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, has flagged off the state’s Second Phase Outbreak Response (OBR) for Circulating Vaccine-Derived Polio Virus Type 2.
The ceremony, which was held at Eyaen Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC), Benin City, Uhunmwode Local Government Area of Edo State, kick-started a coordinated response to routine immunisation.
Shaibu expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Health, agencies and their partners in the state, the World Health Organisation (WHO), National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), and Africa Centres for Disease Control, among others, for their support towards improving health care in the state.
He hailed mothers in the state for their courage in bringing their children for routine immunisation and urged those yet to take the COVID-19 vaccine to do so for their safety.
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Former Director of Mobilization of the umbrella Ijaw youth group, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) and Technical Adviser to the Bayelsa State Governor on Media and Public Affairs, Wisdom Oniekpar Ikuli, has picked nomination form to contest for the position of Publicity Secretary in the March 6th, 2026 National Executive Pouncil polls of the apex Ijaw soci-ocultural organisation, the Ijaw National Congress (INC).
In a press statement by his media team, Ikuli said he was vying for the position to create a better and enduring legacy for the Ijaw nation, promising to serve with diligence and respect for the Ijaw nation when elected.
He noted that nobody from any other ethnic nationality in the world can tell the true Ijaw story more than the Ijaw people themselves, saying over the years actions and inactions of the Ijaw nation have been misconstrued and mistaken for something else.
The statement read in parts: “Over the years, we, Ijaws, with the richest history, have allowed others to tell our history. In doing so, they have mutilated and doctored our history.
“They present Ijaws as beggars even when, as the richest tribe in the Nigerian state, we have continued to feed the entire country of over 350 tribes and ethnic groups since 1956, when crude oil and gas were discovered in commercial quantities and quality in Ijaw land.
“In human history, Ijaw people have never been conquered by any of our neighbours, not even the European explorers and adventurers and later colonialists.
“The Europeans were trade partners of Ijaws when civilization was still far from many tribes, yet they portrayed Ijaws as victims and conquered people.
“Ijaws are the most hospitable people. It is only in Ijaw land that visitors feel very comfortable and safe without fear of food poisoning, betrayal, or death. Ijaws treat visitors as families and great assets. Ijaws do not joke or gamble with relationships with outsiders. Yet, they erroneously describe us as unfriendly people.”
Ikuli added that Ijaws are some of the most peaceful humans on earth, yet others portray them as violent and very hostile people, noting that at times people from other tribes deliberately distort and bastardize history and happenings in the Ijaw land so as to gag Ijaws.
“At times people of other ethnic groups want to stop us from telling the story of our contributions to the peace, unity, growth, and development of the country. Despite our immeasurable sacrifices, they make us feel very insignificant and unappreciated.
“Ijaw is the fourth largest tribe in a country of over 350 tribes and ethnic groups that were hitherto independent nations, empires, emirates and kingdoms before the amalgamation of Northern and Southern protectorates, yet they portray us as minority.
“How can the fourth largest tribe in a country of over 350 tribes and ethnic groups be a minority?”, he queried.
The aspirant alleged that the endless balkanization of Ijaw territories were fruitless attempts to weaken the Ijaw nation and destroy her greatness and Ijawness, saying that the Ijaw nation has some of the best brains in the world, yet citizens of the ethnic group are being portrayed as lazy, unproductive, and unsuccessful.
“Oftentimes people from other ethnic groups portray us as very lazy, just to deliberately seek to make us lose our self-esteem and self-confidence. Ijaws have some of the richest cultural heritage, yet they try to portray us as inferior beings.
“As far back as the 12th century, when many were still struggling with the issue of self-consciousness amidst identity crisis, Ijaws were already a very organized and highly formidable people.
“Ijaws can boast of one of the oldest democracies in the world. I call it ‘Ijaw Traditional Democracy’.
“As far back as the 12th century, when the first European explorers and adventurers, precisely Portuguese, arrived Ijaw land, they discovered that Ijaw societies, our great kingdoms, were living well organized lifestyles.
“We had Amanyanabo-in-Council, Ebenanaowei-in-Council, Pere-in-Council, and others who worked in great synergy with community paramount rulers. While our kings served as today’s judiciary, our regular gatherings at town squares, now town hall meetings, served as legislature and executive, while able bodied men and warriors served as army and police.
“So, Ijaws had very organized and prosperous villages, towns, and kingdoms.
“It was the well organized systems in Ijaw land that made the British Crown and their various trade merchants and agents to sign several trade partnership agreements and treaties with many Ijaw kingdoms.
“Before the advent of crude oil and gas, Ijaw communities boasted of sufficiencies in terms of food, timber, palm oil, and others. As a matter of fact, as far back as the 18th century, palm oil from Ijaw land dominated the European market.
“Ijaw Nation, which is one of the oldest and greatest tribes in the African continent, has the richest history, yet they deliberately denigrate, demonize, and portray Ijaws in very bad light in order to destroy our Ijawness.
“Multitudes admire our rich cultural heritage in secret, but condemn and speak against it in public. They deliberately do this to make us hate and even reject our natural endowments and heritage. It is time to tell the Ijaw rich history to the world. It is time to speak naked and undiluted truth to power.
“Throughout my service to the Ijaw Nation as the National Director of Mobilization and Chairman, Action Committee of the most revered Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, and even as Acting President of the IYC Worldwide, there is no record anywhere that I collected a dime from any public office, company or individual in the name of Ijaw struggle. I only fought for employment opportunities, which I shared among the zones.
“At the age of 49, no individual can accuse me of betraying or stealing a dime belonging to another person.
“I have consciously lived a decent, honest, and sincere lifestyle that has never betrayed public trust. I promise and assure the Ijaw Nation that I shall serve diligently to the best of my knowledge and ability as the National Publicity Secretary of the most revered Ijaw National Congress (INC) and I will make the Ijaw Nation proud as its image maker”, he stated.
Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has reiterated his administration’s commitment to the welfare of military veterans and their families.
Otu, who spoke at the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration in Calabar, said his administration would not forget the contributions of fallen heroes.
Represented by his Deputy, Dr. Peter Odey, the Governor described the armed forces remembrance day as a reminder of the sacrifices made by military veterans to keep Nigeria united and peaceful.
“The lesson is to remember our fallen heroes, people who sacrificed for the country, many of them paid with their lives to protect this nation”, he said.
Otu further said that widows of late military officers would continue to be part of his government’s programmes and interventions.
“All widows are being carried along, the Commissioner for Social Welfare ensures their inclusion in every programme”, he said.
Earlier, the Cross River State Chairman, Nigerian Legion, Daniel Ojugbo, said the ceremony was not only an honour for fallen heroes, but a time to reflect on the challenges being faced by military veterans and their families.
Ojugbo said families of fallen military officers faced delayed welfare benefits, limited medical care and unemployment for their widows and other dependants.
He commended Otu for his support, saying that his administration had shown genuine and remarkable concerns for the legion and its members.
Also speaking, the Coordinator, Military Widows in the state, Mrs. Miriam Orok, thanked the Governor for improved treatment and inclusion in welfare interventions.
“We are actually seeing better changes. He has been carrying us along, and we are very grateful. We also thank the governor’s wife for her sense of compassion”, she said.
The Tide’s source reports that the event featured prayers, wreath-laying, and tributes to the fallen heroes.
The Department of Building, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Niger Delta University (NDU), in Bayelsa, has inducted its pioneer set into the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB).
The ceremony, which took place in the institution, had the theme: “Building the Future: Innovating, Integrating and Inspiring in the Construction 4. Era”.
In his address, the Acting Head of Department (HOD), Building, Dr. Christopher Belonwu, described the occasion as a day of fulfilment, reflection and profound joy.
Belonwu noted that the university was committed to raising competent ethical and industry-ready building professionals, who would contribute meaningfully to national development and global best practices in the built environment.
“As head of department, witnessing the induction of our graduates into the graduate cadre of the Nigerian Institute of Building gives me joy.
“The Department of Building was officially kicked off in the 2019/2020 academic session with a clear vision.
“Like every worthwhile venture, the journey was not without challenges. We started with modest facilities, high expectations and an unshakable belief in what the department could become. Today, that belief has been validated.
“This induction ceremony marks the fruition of years of hard work, resilience and determination by our students who dared to dream, our lecturers who laboured tirelessly to impart knowledge and character, and the university management, whose support made this dream sustainable.
“To our pioneer graduates and those who have followed, you are not just a product of this department; you are its ambassadors, proof of concept and living legacy”, he stated.
According to him, being inducted into the graduate cadre of the Nigerian Institute of Building is more than a ceremonial rite.
He noted that it was a formal recognition of the readiness of the inductees to take their places in the professional community of builders.
“It signifies that you have met the academic and ethical thresholds required to begin your professional journey. With this honour comes responsibility.
“It is your responsibility to uphold the standard of the profession, to practice with integrity and to continuously develop yourselves in knowledge and skill”, he said.
He encouraged them to view this milestone as the commencement of a more significant journey, emphasisng the importance of embracing lifelong learning, seeking mentorship, fostering innovation, and upholding ethical standards above expediency.
On his part, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Allen Agih, described the occasion as important, having produced the first set of builders of the institution.
The Vice Chancellor, who was represented by the Dean, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Prof. Sylvester Ebibai, noted that the university was operating with global best practices, in line with the accreditation of the course.
He commended the lecturers, the professional bodies and the students, who were all set to soar as builders.
Ebibai urged the inductees to ensure they grow on the job.
In his remarks, the President, NIOB, Abimbola Kolade, commended NDU for the training of the students and the knowledge gained as graduates inducted into the Nigerian Institute of Building.
Kolade was represented by Mr. Ahmed Baba Ahmed, former Chairman, NIOB, Bayelsa Chapter.
Kolade encouraged them to excel in the building profession, innovate, research, and upskill to progress.
He also urged them to attend NIOB events for more knowledge.
Also, a former National Publicity Secretary of NIOB, Mr. Akinola Bammeka, said there are a lot of opportunities in the building industry.
He emphasised that achieving success requires effort and determination, stating that the magnitude of one’s effort directly impacts progress in their profession, and advised maintaining focus while avoiding obstacles to personal and professional growth.
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