Niger Delta

Dikio, CBN Controller, Others Bag Awards As Monarch Renders Account Of Stewardship

Published

4 years ago

December 31, 2021

The interim Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Col. Milland Dixon Dikio(rtd), branch controller, Central bank of Nigeria,Calabar, Mr Chuks Sokari and former caretaker committee (CTC) chairman,Ahoada West Council area of Rivers state, Karibo Wilson, during the week received awards from their home town,Mbiama Communitiy.
Presenting the awards during a reception held by the communitiy in honour of her illustrious sons and daughters, the paramount ruler, HRH Otovie Smith Sylvanus, noted that the recipients deserved the awards following their track record of achievements and support towards the growth and development of the community.
The royal father, who also relived his achievements in the past one year mentioned some of his achievements as, restoring peace and curbing insecurity to the barest minimum, naming of streets after illustrious sons and daughters of the community, solving the problem of near total power blackout and monthly compulsory environmental sanitation as well as reinventing football competition which he said the community was noted for, amongst others.
The Tide reports that the presidential Amnesty coordinator was represented by his brother who himself was an award recipient, Professor Ezekiel Dikio of the Niger Delta University, just as the CBN branch controller, Chuks Sokari and the ex-CTC chairman, Karibo Wilson were among nine illustrious sons and daughters of the fast urbanising communitiy noted as the commercial nerve centre of the Ahoada West local government area.
The awards ceremony which was held as part of events to commemorate the first anniversary of the reign of the Mbiama monarch was christened ‘meritorious award of achievements and excellence/support for community growth and development’.
In his opening remarks, chairman of the occasion, ESV Ogah George, lauded the community for their harmonious living, stating that Mbiama is a good example and worthy of emulation by other Engenni speaking communities.
He added that reports at his disposal show that the feat the community has achieved was made possible by the consultative leadership they have in the person of Sylvanus as paramount ruler, supported by a committed Community Development Committee (CDC) membership as well as a peaceful and loyal youth leadership.
Also speaking, the Guest of Honour, an awardee and CBN Branch Controller, Calabar, Mr Chuks Sokari, thanked the leadership of the community for finding him and others worthy for the awards.
Sokari restated the need for continuous unity and peace in the community, noting that even before he was born decades ago the community has been a melting point of commerce where people from all walks of life had lived peacefully, eking out a living irrespective of tribe and languages, emphasising that the awards would spur the recipients to do more for the community.
Others who bagged awards were, Professors Ezekiel Dikio of the Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island,Amassoma, Bayelsa State,and Amalo Dibofori-Orji of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education,Port Harcourt, Comrade Inime Karibo Wilson, CEO, Chris-Nime Global Services Ltd.
Also receiving awards were, Hon. Ayanate Dikio, former councilor,Ahoada West LGA,Ward two, who also doubles as the chairman, Mbiama Communitiy revenue generation committee, Mr Simon Boma, Mr Tayo Olu, as well as football stars who garnered various categories of award after an inter-street football competition which was held earlier.
Meanwhile,in a welcome address presented by the community through their CDC chairman, Engr. Moore Sokari,the community have called on the Government and other interventionist agency to help fast track the pace of the community’s Development through the construction of pave roads, development of manpower and the provision of other social amenities to improve on their living conditions.
The community hinted that the absence of infrastructure has impeded its quest for genuine transformation from a semi-urban nomenclature to an urban centre.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

Niger Delta

Eno Recommits To Private Sector Investments

Published

1 day ago

February 13, 2026

The Tide

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, says his administration will continue to promote private sector investments in order to enhance economic prosperity.

Eno, who stated this recently at the inauguration of a new Zenith Bank branch in Uyo, said private sector growth was critical to employment generation and the overall development of the State.

He said his long-standing business relationship with Zenith Bank exposed him to the critical roles that banks could play in supporting private sector growth.

“The bank played a laudable role in the growth of Royalty Hotels, a brand I pioneered and led until I joined public service.

“It is my hope that the bank will accord the same support to other private sector investments in the state, be it micro, small or medium-scale enterprise”, he said.

Earlier, the Group Managing Director, Zenith Bank PLC, Dr. Adaora Umeoji, described the new business office as a significant milestone in the life of the bank.

She thanked successful administrations in the state for their support to the bank over the years, saying, ”We thank the Governor for creating a conducive environment for business to thrive.

“We opened our first branch in Akwa Ibom about 25 years ago, we have enjoyed a very good relationship with the government and people of the state.

“Akwa Ibom stands out as a major business friendly state. The state is clean, accommodating, and fast developing, we commend the government for this”, she said.

The Zenith Bank chief reiterated the bank’s commitment to sustain its partnership with the government and people of Akwa Ibom in order to make mutually impactful and meaningful progress.

She urged business owners in the state, especially women, to leverage the initiatives being offered by the bank to grow their businesses.

Niger Delta

Delta Prioritises Primary Healthcare Over Flyover Projects

Published

1 day ago

February 13, 2026

The Tide

The Delta Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening primary healthcare services across the state, dismissing claims that it was focusing more on visible infrastructure projects than grassroots healthcare delivery.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Joseph Onojaeme, made the clarification while reacting to comments by health influencer, Aproko Doctor.

Aproko Doctor recently suggested on social media that political leaders often prioritised flyovers and modern hospitals while neglecting primary healthcare centres.

Onojaeme said the claim did not reflect the situation in Delta, noting that healthcare remained a central pillar of the Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori administration’s development agenda.

According to him, although road projects and flyovers are visible across the state, deliberate investments have also been made in healthcare infrastructure and services.

He said that within two years, the state government had renovated 150 primary healthcare centres across the three senatorial districts out of the 441 public health facilities in the state.

According to him, another 150 centres are already undergoing planning and preparation for renovation.

“The effort will bring the number of upgraded primary healthcare centres to 300, thereby improving access to quality healthcare at the community level and reducing pressure on secondary and tertiary hospitals,” he said.

The commissioner said that the state’s free maternal and under-five healthcare programme continued to yield positive results, including reductions in maternal and infant mortality, while easing financial burdens on families.

“Gov. Oborevwori recently approved the release of N2 billion to sustain the programme, alongside regular funding to strengthen Universal Health Coverage in the state,” he said.

Onojaeme also said that state-owned hospitals were granted autonomy to retain and utilise their internally generated revenue, enabling them to procure drugs, maintain equipment and respond more efficiently to patient needs.

“In specialised healthcare delivery, dialysis machines have been installed in state hospitals, helping to reduce waiting time for treatment while lowering dialysis costs from about N70,000 to N45,000 per session,” he said.

He said that CT scan machines installed at Warri Central Hospital and Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH), Oghara, were already improving diagnosis of conditions such as stroke and internal injuries.

“While newly procured echocardiography machines are strengthening early detection of heart-related conditions.”

The commissioner said the government had ordered three Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines for installation at Asaba Specialist Hospital, Central Hospital Warri and DELSUTH, Oghara, ensuring coverage across the three senatorial districts.

“While some states do not have a single MRI machine, Delta State is procuring three at once, with delivery expected by April as site preparations are ongoing,” he said.

Onojaeme said the government was establishing a new College of Health Sciences in Ovrode, Isoko North Local Government Area, to complement the existing institution in Ofuoma and boost the training of middle-level health manpower.

“The long-abandoned Mother and Child Hospital in Ekpan was nearing completion, while another Specialist Hospital was being developed in Osubi, Okpe Local Government Area, modelled after the Asaba Specialist Hospital.

According to him, Delta remains the only state in the country with more than 60 functional government-owned hospitals, adding that the current administration is determined to further expand healthcare access.

On health insurance, Onojaeme said enrollment under the Delta State Contributory Health Scheme had surpassed 2.78 million residents as of January 2026, making it one of the leading state-supported health insurance programmes in the country.

He explained that the scheme covered both formal and informal sector workers, while prioritising vulnerable groups, including pregnant women, children under five and the elderly, through the Equity Health Plan.

The commissioner added that the scheme recently enrolled 10,000 widows and continues to register indigent residents across the state.

He also disclosed that the Delta State Contributory Health Commission had introduced facial recognition technology at accredited facilities to improve efficiency and transparency in service delivery.

Onojaeme reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage and delivering affordable and accessible healthcare services to residents across the state.

Niger Delta

C’River Assembly Seeks Crackdown On Drug Abuse

Published

1 day ago

February 13, 2026

The Tide

The Cross River State House of Assembly has urged the State Government to urgently enforce drug laws to curb the rising menace of substance abuse.

The resolution followed a matter of urgent public importance raised by Yakurr I lawmaker, Mr. Cyril Omini, during plenary in Calabar.

Omini cited a tragic incident in Ugep, Yakurr Local Government Area, involving a 23-year-old man allegedly under the influence of drugs.

He said the suspect, Ubi Bassey, allegedly beheaded his father, Bassey Okoi, on February 2.

“Drug abuse has become widespread among youths, with alcohol, cannabis, cocaine and tramadol commonly abused.

“In spite of warnings by health and government agencies, illicit drug trading and consumption persist across many communities”, Omini said.

According to him, the trend has led to early deaths and, in extreme cases, violent crimes against innocent persons.

Omini warned the incident had caused fear in Ugep, cautioning that failure to act decisively could worsen social decay.

He, however, commended the State Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Okoi Obono (rtd), for efforts to restore peace in the area.

Lawmakers called for sustained drug sensitisation, youth-focused campaigns, stronger partnerships with non-governmental organisations, and stricter enforcement against drug peddlers and users.

The Speaker, Elvert Ayambem, expressed sadness over the incident and urged prompt prosecution of the suspect to deter other youths.