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INC, Others Want Medical Sciences, Biomedical Tech Varsity In Bayelsa

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4 years ago

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The Umbrella body of Ijaws worldwide, the Ijaw National Congress (INC) and other civil society groups have called on the Federal Government to site the proposed Federal University of Medical Sciences and Biomedical Technology designated for the South-South region in Bayelsa State.
The call by the groups followed the recent National Assembly passage of the Bill for the establishment of Federal University of Medical Sciences and Biomedical Technology across the six geo-political zones in the country.
The groups, which made the call during a joint advocacy visit to the Bayelsa Medical University, BMU, campus in Yenagoa, the state capital, urged the Federal Government to take over the BMU facilities already on ground for the proposed institution, rather than starting the building of the institution from the scratch.
The groups, who were led by the Second National Vice President of INC, Chief Nengi James; the Head of Bayelsa State Office of Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria, Comrade Alagoa Morris; and Comrade David West of the Civil Liberties Organisation, appealed to the state government, State House of Assembly, and members of the National Assembly from the state to fast track the process to ensure that the opportunity of having the federal institution in the state is realised.
Addressing newsmen after a tour of the facilities in the school, James said, “We are on an advocacy visit based on the recently passed bill for every geopolitical zone to have a federal university of medical sciences and biomedical technology and we felt that Bayelsa State already has a befitting place to be used for that of the South-South which is the Bayelsa Medical University.
“We believe that if this place is taken over by the federal government for the proposed institution, it will benefit the state, South-South region and Federal Government because already the facilities here are world-class, like the diagnostic centre, mother and child hospital, laboratories, classrooms, hostels, offices and even a conducive environment for academics and research.
“This is not a political issue and therefore we are calling on the state governor, state assembly, and national assembly members from Bayelsa State to work together to make this project a reality because it will create employment, increase access to medical education, improved our health institutions and promote biomedical technology and research.”
Also speaking, Morris said, “I think that Bayelsa State is already set for such a project to take off because we have the infrastructure and qualified personnel and I think the federal government will stand to gain if they take over the Bayelsa Medical University instead of going to acquire a fresh land and develop from the scratch.
“Bayelsa is even more critical because in 2014 after visiting the oil-polluted sites the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA, described Bayelsa State as the most polluted, so we have paid the price both in terms of being the first place oil was discovered in commercial quantity and even suffering the negative impacts of oil industry induced pollution and we need not only be compensated but ensure we have the facilities adequately to take care of our health and other environmental challenges.”
Meanwhile, West has said, “The Bayelsa Medical University being taken over by the federal government is sound and good, they every facility, so the state assembly should re-amend the law establishing the State medical University to align with the federal government law with respect to the National Universities Committee, NUC. The state governor should whole heartedly accept the opportunity that is just on the door step”.

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Niger Delta

Otu Orders Sanitation Operations Review In Calabar

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7 days ago

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March 16, 2026

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Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu,  has ordered an immediate review of environmental sanitation operations in Calabar metropolis.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Linus Obogo, on Friday, the Governor said the sanitary situation of the city had become a cause for concern.
He said the review became necessary because Calabar should continue to maintain its status as the cleanest city in the country.
“The city is now littered with wastes, the cleanliness status of Calabar is almost gone, we cannot just fold our arms and watch,” he said.
The Governor continued that every resident of the city had roles to play towards restoring the sanitary status of the city.
“Every resident should live up to their responsibilities. Our reputation in sanitation was not earned overnight, we worked for it.
“It is the product of discipline, policy consistency, and civic responsibility. We cannot allow negligence to take away this reputation,” he said.
He further directed that henceforth, sanitation exercise should be supervised by the office of his Special Adviser on General Duties.
“This intervention is intended to ensure stricter coordination among contractors and government agencies that are responsible for waste management,
“Environmental sanitation is not a peripheral concern of government. It is central to public health, urban dignity, and the overall quality of life of the citizens”, he said.
Otu expressed displeasure at lapses arising from the attitude of some refuse contractors in the state.
He said breakdown of mechanical tools could not be a reasonable excuse for non-evacuation of refuse.
“Operational setbacks should never translate into visible environmental neglect. Preparedness, contingency planning and prompt response are the hallmarks of responsible service providers.” he said.
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Niger Delta

Lawyer X-rays  Consequences Of Court Injuction Suspending INC Polls … As Diri Intervenes

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7 days ago

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March 16, 2026

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A Bayelsa-based lawyer, and candidate for the position of National Assistant Secretary in the suspended National Executive Council (NEC) elections of the apex Ijaw socio-cultural organization, the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Barr. Abraham Marshall, has said the court order, which restrained the conduct of the March 7th, 2026 polls, was a setback to stakeholders of the INC.
He expressed his worries about the plights of delegates who travelled from various parts of Ijaw land to come for the elections in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, only to be disappointed by the court order.
While thanking other candidates for maintaining orderliness and brotherliness all through the campaign processes, Marshall said the court injunction has devasted candidates vying for various positions.
He described the cost of what has already been spent on campaigns and sundry arrangements for the elections as huge.
Marshall noted that already he was a leading candidate for the position of National Assistant Secretary as he was optimistic of victory.
“First of all I’ve great confidence in the ability of the Electoral Committee headed by a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, HRM, Justice F.F Tabai, which was eager to conduct a seamless election.
“Some of us have campaigned through the three zones and clans of the INC. Some of us went to the Western Zone, Eastern and Central Zones to meet delegates.
“That is how it happenes atimes when there are contest, some persons who are aggrieved, rather than take laws into their hands, go to court to seek judicial redress. So, I want to commend all candidates for maintaining decorum throughout the entire process.
“I like to also call on stakeholders to quickly seek for ways through internal mechanisms of the INC to end this problem so that the elections can be conducted because as candidates we’ve incured lots of expenses leading to the process”, he stated.
Meanwhile, in a bid to proffer solutions to the issues bedeviling the smooth conduct of polls, Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, on Friday met with stakeholders of the INC and its six Presidential candidates, as well as other major stakeholders of the Niger Delta region in Government House, Yenagoa.
In his remarks, the Governor  commended individuals and institutions, including the presidential candidates and the Conference of Ijaw Traditional Rulers and Elders (CITRE), for their efforts towards actualising a peaceful and seamless transition of leadership in the Ijaw National Congress (INC).
The Tide gathered that at the meeting, the presidential candidates agreed to withdraw all subsisting litigations concerning the election.
Represented by his Deputy, Dr. Peter Akpe, Diri also expressed gratitude to the Chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Ambassador Godknows Bolade Igali, the Chairman and members of the INC National Electoral Committee, and other stakeholders who contributed to the resolution reached at the meeting.
Drawing an analogy from the scriptures, particularly 1 Kings Chapter 3, he likened the unanimous agreement of the candidates to withdraw all pending court cases to the decision of the true mother of the disputed baby who pleaded with King Solomon not to cut the child into two.
According to the Bayelsa helmsman, the resolution reflects the enthusiasm, love and patriotic fervour in all the presidential candidates to move Ijaw nation forward.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after the meeting, the candidates, including High Chief MacDonald Igbadiwe, who secured the injunction from a Port Harcourt High Court stopping the INC Elections billed for last weekend, confirmed the agreement and pledged commitment towards the peaceful emergence of the next President of the apex Ijaw socio-cultural organization.
By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
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Niger Delta

Police Rescue 7 Trafficked Victims In A’Ibom

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7 days ago

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March 16, 2026

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The Police Command in Akwa Ibom State has rescued seven victims and detained four suspects linked to human trafficking along Ikot Ekpene–Aba Road.
The state’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, disclosed this in a statement issued to journalists in Uyo on Saturday.
John said police operatives dismantled a human trafficking syndicate operating within the state, rescuing seven victims and arresting four suspects involved in the network.
She said acting on credible intelligence, operatives swiftly mobilised a patrol team for a coordinated stop-and-search operation along Ikot Ekpene–Aba Road on Friday.
The operation, conducted at about 8 a.m. on Friday, targeted vehicles suspected of transporting victims of human trafficking.
“During the operation, the suspected vehicle was intercepted and four victims were immediately rescued, while the suspect conveying them was arrested and taken into custody.
“Following reports that a vehicle was conveying young persons suspected to be victims of human trafficking, our operatives quickly moved to intercept it,” John said.
She said interrogation of the suspect led to the expansion of the operation to Itam and Ibaka in Oron Local Government Area.
John said three additional victims were rescued and three more suspects apprehended during the follow-up operation.
This brought the total number of rescued victims to seven and suspects arrested to four.
According to her, preliminary investigations revealed that the trafficking syndicate specialised in recruiting and transporting young persons across borders for exploitation.
“Intelligence gathered further disclosed that one of the ringleaders earlier escaped through waterways from Ibaka in Oron to Cameroon and Gabon with some victims”, she said.
John said investigations were ongoing and the suspects would be charged in court upon completion of the probe.
The police spokesperson reiterated the Command’s commitment to combating human trafficking and other organised crimes in the state.
She assured the public that efforts were ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate.
John urged residents to remain vigilant and provide timely information to the police to help protect vulnerable persons and strengthen community safety.
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