Niger Delta

Residents Enjoy Functional Public Health In Edo, Delta, Bayelsa – Survey

Published

2 years ago

October 13, 2023

Residents of Edo, Delta and Bayelsa States say adequate provisions have been put in place to improve and sustain the current conditions of Primary Health Centres (PHCs) across the local government areas of the states.
The state governors of the three states domiciled in the South-South region of the country, made the assertion during a survey conducted by The Tide’s source on the condition of PHCs in the states.
Stakeholders who corroborated the state government’s position, however, stressed the need for concerted efforts to drive the process of achieving the desired PHCs, adding that the major objective of primary healthcare is to enable health systems to support the needs of the people.
The stakeholders listed such health needs to include health promotion to disease prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, palliative care and more, emphasising that the strategy is to ensure that healthcare was delivered in a way that is centred on people’s needs and respect for their preferences.
They also advocated partnerships with relevant government agencies in dealing with humanities and healthcare related issues.
The respondents spoke against a recent WHO study which revealed that the current state of PHC system in Nigeria is appalling with only about 20 per cent of the 30,000 PHCs working.
According to WHO, PHC is the provision of basic essential health services (preventive, promotive, curative and rehabilitative).
But in Edo, the Ministry of Health and the state’s chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), said they were working to improve medical practice.
The state’s Director of Medical Services, Ministry of Health, Dr Edward Aisowieren, told the source that medical facilities were monitored routinely to ensure adherence to standard medical practice.
According to him, the ministry also partners relevant stakeholders to visit medical facilities.
He added that “we have annual operational provision for routine monitoring and supportive visits to medical facilities in Edo.
“We do go out of the ministry to monitor activities of medical facilities and in Benin city and environs, we have gone to some facilities a few times this year.
“For those in distant local government councils in Edo Central and Edo North Senatorial Districts, we visit them once in a while.
“We partner the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the Edo Primary Health Care Development Agency, and other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), who report suspected cases of negligence and malpractice in medical facilities to the ministry”.
The medical services director also said the ministry has guidelines for registration of medical facilities, saying due diligence had always been the hallmark.
“We also do physical inspection and credentials of applicants are verified from appropriate bodies before registration of health facilities can be done”, he said.
On her part, the Chairman, Edo State NMA, Dr Udoka Imoisili, says the association has an anti-quackery committee that monitors the operations of medical facilities in the state.
She said “NMA is more worried about quackery than any other body; in as much as the doctors are our members, we don’t encourage quackery.
“We encourage all our doctors to practise in line with the WHO standard, which is putting patient care first”.
She explained that most unregistered and quack medical centres and personnel are domiciled in rural communities where they cannot be easily reached by regulatory bodies.
“We are ready to partner the government to address quackery because we have vehicles to move around. But we do not have the power to shut unregistered medical facilities.
“Government should ensure that every community has hospital where people can access; make teaching hospitals available to produce more medical personnel”, she explained.
In Delta, respondents hailed the immediate past Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa-led administration for the huge impact its intervention made in the health sector across the local government areas of the state.
A cross section of health experts who spoke with the source in Asaba described Okowa’s investments in the health sector as a great legacy for the people of the state.
A retired nurse, Mr Gibson Okwumbu, said the eight years administration of former Governor Okowa witnessed tremendous improvenent in general healthcare delivery service in the state.
He said “if you are in this state, you will agree with me that Okowa did a lot in the health sector. As a medical doctor, he gave priority attention to the health needs of the people.
“If you go across the local government areas, you will see that the health centres are working and many new health facilities were built. In short, there is no gainsaying the fact that Delta is among the states in Nigeria with sound and effective public health system.
“Lets us not forget the free medical services to antenatal mothers and the contributory health scheme for civil servants in the state”, Okwumbu said.
A medical doctor, Dr Laz Anosike, told the source that Delta has one of the best public health system where healthcare services are accessible and affordable to residents.
Anosike, who is the Medical Director of MayDay Clinic and Maternity, Asaba, said the previous administration made huge investments in the health sector in the provision of medical facilities and incentives.
He added that “I mean it when I say that Delta is one of the states that enjoys good and working public health system in Nigeria.
“The former governor did so much in the health sector which many can see. I am not from Delta, but I have lived here for over 12 years. I don’t think there is a community in Delta that does not have a functional health centre”.
According to another medical personnel in Ogwashi-Uku, Julius Banwuzia, Delta places high priority attention to public health.
A nursing mother, Mrs Chidinma Okolie, corroborated the position of Banwuzia, saying though there may be challenges in sustainability, the State Government has done so much in the health sector.
“I can tell you that here in Delta, women and children have enjoyed prompt and effecient healthcare services over the years.
“If you go to the health centres and general hospitals across the state, you will confirm what I am telling you.
“As a pregnant woman, you get free medical care service. Do you know what that means, especially in this trying economic times where many families cannot afford to feed”, she said.
Elsewhere in Bayelsa, respondents lamented the poor health condition of most PHCs across the state.
According to the respondents, patients seek medical help either in privately-owned health facilities or the Federal Medical Centre.
A civil servant, Mr Emmanuel Spiff, said most PHCs had decayed, with no medical personnel readily available to the attend to patients.
A nursing mother, Mrs Faith Tantua, said some pregnant women often patronised traditional health practitioners because of the worrisome health conditions of PHCs.
She said “I gave birth to all my five children in a traditional home because it is cheaper. Government will announce programmes that will benefit the masses but in reality, the people are not seeing anything”.
But a senior staff in the state’s Ministry of Health, Mr Abraham Ake, said the State Government was already addressing the health condition of PHCs.

Niger Delta

CSOs, Bille Community Urge Solution To Persistent Underwater Gas Eruption

Published

2 days ago

April 10, 2026

The Tide

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the people of Bille Kingdom in Degema Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State have called for government’s urgent intervention to end the suspected underwater gas eruption in the community.

The groups, under the aegis of the Environmental Rights Action and Social Action, made the call during their advocacy visit to the Port Harcourt Zonal Head of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), in Port Harcourt.

The Programme Manager of Environmental Rights Action, Mr. Kentebe Ebiaridor, said the visit was to seek clarity on the response efforts of the regulators to the development in the community.

Ebiaridor expressed concern over what he described as “inadequate response from regulatory agencies and the government concerning the incident”.

He said discussions with some officials revealed that there was still no clear timeline for action to address the situation.

According to him, in the absence of clear ownership of the facility linked to the incident, companies operating within Oil Mining Lease (OML) 18 should be held accountable.

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) had in a statement issued on March 20 by its Chief Executive, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, said the commission had commenced an investigation into a gas bubbling incident in Bille Community.

Eyesan said the commission expressed concern over the development and assured residents of its ongoing efforts to address the situation.

Also, the Resource Justice Manager of Social Action, Dr. Prince Edegbuo, warned that the situation could escalate into a public health emergency, if urgent steps were not taken.

Edegbuo called on relevant authorities to release the results of the tests reportedly conducted in the area, stressing that residents had the right to know the condition of their environment.

He also said CSOs were prepared to intensify advocacy on the matter, urging the development of emergency response measures, including possible evacuation plans.

A legal practitioner and community stakeholder, Mr. Commission Deinbo, had, on March 20, said residents had continued to witness unusual signs on the waterways in the area.

Deinbo said the signs included boiling and bubbling from the ground and river, sometimes within residential areas, as well as fire outbreaks, which the residents had always managed to contain.

He appealed to relevant authorities to come to their aid and find a lasting solution to the problem.

In a response, the Port Harcourt Zonal Head of NOSDRA, Mr. Bello Augustin, assured the community that he would relate its concerns to the appropriate quarters.

Augustin also commended the CSOs for their advocacy and concerns to community development in the state.

By: Wokoma Emmanuel & Theresa Frederick

Niger Delta

Police Detain 7, Recover Arms In A’Ibom

Published

2 days ago

April 10, 2026

The Tide

The Police Command in Akwa Ibom State has detained seven suspects and recovered firearms after raiding a criminal hideout in Ndiya Mfia, Ikono Local Government Area.of the State.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, made the disclosure in a statement in Uyo on Wednesday.

John said that the breakthrough which occurred at about 6.00a.m on Wednesday, followed credible intelligence from members of the public.

“We reliably gathered that criminal suspects were hibernating in a compound disguised as worshippers.

“In a decisive operation, our personnel conducted a thorough search of the premises which led to the detention and recovery of arms,” she said.

According to her, the operation was in line with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police to decisively combat crime in the country.

The police spokesman further said that two locally made double-barrel guns, five expended cartridges, four motorcycles and three generators were recovered during the operation.

She also listed 10 mobile phones, one police crest, four jungle boots, one peak cap, saw blade, spanner, number plates, machetes, a special force vest as other items recovered.

“We also found bottles of suspected spiritual oil and one enlarged photograph linked to an ongoing investigation,” she said.

John said that preliminary investigation suggested that the location was being used as cover for criminal operations.

She said the State’s Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Azare, has directed a comprehensive investigation on the matter in order to apprehend the principal suspect.

John expressed the commitment of the Command to rid the state of crime, and urged members of the public to always support the police with timely and credible information.

Niger Delta

Otu Launches Grassroot Security Network In C’River

Published

2 days ago

April 10, 2026

The Tide

Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has launched a grassroots security intelligence network, named, ”Homeland Safety and Security Agency,” to strengthen community-based surveillance and enhance safety across the state.

Otu, who inaugurated the agency’s office in the Southern Senatorial District of the state on Monday, in Calabar, said similar offices were being inaugurated in the Central and Northern Senatorial Districts.

The Governor, represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Emmanuel Ironbar, said the officials of the agency would serve as first point of call before matters would be escalated to main security architecture in the state.

He described Homeland Security as an intelligence-driven structure focused on neighbourhood monitoring and early threat detection through coordinated local efforts.

He said the initiative constituted the directors and field operatives, tasked with gathering and forwarding intelligence to relevant security agencies for prompt action.

Otu noted that the network would serve as a first point of contact before intervention by conventional security agencies.

“It is important that we enhance monitoring of movements across our communities, border areas, and riverine zones to identify suspicious activities and enhance security response.

“The state government will provide necessary gadgets and communication tools to improve efficiency and real-time intelligence sharing,” he said.

Otu called for public cooperation, stressing that ‘’security is a collective responsibility requiring timely information from residents.’’

He said, ‘’to ensure that the security outfit works like a model unit, proper screening would be conducted on the volunteers to weed out undesirable elements from the system.’’

The Tide’s source reports that the Governor handed over 14 motor bikes to the agency’s southern Senatorial district office to enhance their efficiency.

On his part, the Director-General, South of the agency, Mr. Michael Nsan, said the volunteers had played key roles in reducing crime through coordinated patrols and intelligence sharing.

Nsan said over 1,300 volunteers currently supported the operations with additional informants providing critical information across communities.

“Crime rates dropped significantly during the last festive period due to our collaboration with law enforcement agencies in the state,” he said.

The Director-General said volunteers would undergo training and screening, with plans underway for formal recruitment through a government employment portal.

According to him, communication tools, including walkie-talkies, and patrol motorcycles had improved rapid response to security incidents.

He commended the governor’s commitment, noting that the initiative would further strengthen security architecture and community safety across the state.

The source reports that some of the dignitaries who graced the occasion were traditional rulers and government officials.