Rivers

Mental Health: Group Wants Facilities Upgrade At Psychiatric Hospital, Others

Published

2 years ago

October 25, 2023

Following the rising cases of mental health disorder in the society, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Mental Health Orientation And Advocacy Initiative, has called for the upgrading of facilities at the Psychiatric Hospital, Rumuigbo, and other health facilities treating mental health issues in the the state.
The Executive Director of the organisation, Mrs. Esther Kala-Nne Amachree, who said this in an exclusive interview with The Tide in Port Harcourt, also called for the employment of more social workers at the hospital.
She linked many mental issues to depression, caused by hardship in the society.
“There is a psychiatric hospital at Rumuigbo which is a government-owned, and there are other private ones which are beyond the reach of the common man.
“Then, there is another one at University of Port Harcourt (UPTH), which is owned by the government and there are needs for the government to improve and develop these places because there are a lot of areas that they are still not functioning very well”, she said.
Amachree said government should address the inadequacy of social workers at the health facilities.
“There are no social workers at the hospital, and you cannot be treating a mental health issue without the help of social workers.
“This has to do with someone that relates to the patient one-on-one, to know and to ascertain their emotional level and to also know how they relate back at home and to check where these triggers or issues are coming out from”, she noted.
She added that social workers are very important as they are closer to people suffering from mental diseases.
“The doctors can’t do that. The doctors treat, the psychiatrist treats and the psychologist most times teach them on how to carry out things, how to cope with things. The social worker is more intimate”, she said.
Amachree called on government to address the rising cases of poverty in the society by creating conducive environment for businesses to thrive.
She said many mental issues maybe due to depression caused by poverty .
“The government should be able to create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive and for families to live comfortably.
“What this means is that if there are employments, the man and the woman will be gainfully employed to be able to provide for their children”, she stated further.
She continued that the high level of poverty in the society has given rise to prostitution, robbery and other social vices which sometimes lead to mental health issues.
Amachree also advised parents to plan the size of their families in order to avoid giving birth to children they cannot cater for.
She explained that her organisation is into mental health awareness and mental health education.
According to her, “In Africa and Nigeria as a whole, mental health is one subject that people shy away from and they don’t have the right information.
“That’s exactly what it is and the NGO is about creating the awareness about mental health, pointing out the importance to individuals”,she stated.
She said the organisation intends to create more awareness and educate the society on issues concerning mental health.
According to her, the organization has set-up a programme tagged ”360 Voice Mentorship Club”, explaining that it has to do with mentoring the boy child in order to groom them to be responsible members of the society.
She said the boy child has been neglected for so long and, therefore, needs to be given more attention by the society.

By: John Bibor & Eunice Ubelejit

Rivers

Group Seeks Police Support to Tackle GBV

Published

3 days ago

February 16, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Multi-Stakeholder Action Committee on the Prevention of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), a non-profit organization dedicated to combating gender-based violence in the State, recently paid a courtesy visit to the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, to seek his support and partnership for a planned sensitization programme for Police GBV Desk Officers.

The delegation was led by the Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Lauretta Davies Dimpka, alongside the Committee’s Coordinator, Barr. Evelyn Membere Asimiea.

Speaking during the meeting, the Coordinator explained that the committee comprises various stakeholders, including FIDA, the media, security agencies, and traditional and religious institutions.

She noted that the initiative is funded by ActionAid Nigeria with support from the Ford Foundation, with the goal of strengthening efforts to eliminate gender-based violence in Rivers State.

“We have carried out several engagements, including community advocacy programmes and the training of female cultural influencers, among other activities,” she said.

In his response, the Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, pledged his full support for the initiative and assured the committee of the Police Command’s readiness to collaborate in strengthening GBV response mechanisms across the state.

Members of the delegation also included heads of sub-committees within the group: Barr. Ere Boma (Advocacy); Dr. Mary Obisike (Response); Martha Igbiks ( Information and Awareness); and Brown Musa Afonyagha (Religious/Traditional).

Observers described the engagement as a significant step toward enhancing coordination and improving the response to gender-based violence in Rivers State.

Rivers

Youth Body Condemns Killing Of Member … Demands Immediate Suspension Of Bike Operation

Published

3 days ago

February 16, 2026

The Tide

Youths from Igwuruta Community in Rivers State have condemned the killing of the Secretary of Omuolu-Omunwei Community in Igwuruta, Mr. Nchelem Samuel Festus, describing the incident as tragic and unacceptable.

In a communiqué issued on February 12, 2026, the youth body said Mr. Festus was allegedly murdered on Tuesday February 10, 2026, by commercial motorcycle operators identified as “Aboki bike riders” within the community.

The group expressed sadness and outrage over the development, stating that the killing has heightened tension in the area and disrupted the peace for which Igwuruta has long been known.

According to the communiqué, the incident is part of what the community described as a growing wave of criminal activities, including rape, kidnapping and other violent crimes allegedly perpetrated by the same group.

The youth body said Igwuruta has historically maintained a reputation as a peaceful and hospitable community where residents and visitors carry out their daily activities without fear.

It, however, noted that recent events and what it termed as “escalating violence” have created fear among residents and necessitated urgent intervention.

The communiqué called for the immediate suspension of all motorcycle operations by the group within Igwuruta.

It also demanded the closure of scrap-dump sites in the community allegedly operated by the said individuals.

Furthermore, the youth body urged security agencies to ensure the arrest and prosecution of those involved in the killing of Mr. Festus and perpetrators of other alleged crimes in the area.

It also called on cattle herders to vacate farmlands in Igwuruta and urged herdsmen to stay away from bushes within the community with immediate effect.

While pledging to uphold the rule of law and refrain from self-help, the youth body gave security agencies a 48-hour ultimatum to act on some of its demands, particularly the suspension of motorcycle operations and closure of scrap sites.

The communiqué appealed to security agencies, local government authorities and other stakeholders to treat the matter with urgency and collaborate with the community to restore peace and ensure justice.

As at the time of filing this report, the Police has not issued any official statement about the incident.

By: King Onunwor

Rivers

NDDC, REA Seal Pact On Sustainable Electricity Expansion In N’Delta

Published

3 days ago

February 16, 2026

The Tide

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) to expand access to reliable and sustainable electricity across the Niger Delta region.

The agreement, signed at the headquarters of the REA in Abuja, is intended to strengthen institutional collaboration in accelerating development in underserved communities in the region.

A statement by the Director, Corporate Affairs of the NDDC, Seledi Thompson-Wakama, said the pact underscores renewed efforts by the two federal interventionist agencies to deepen cooperation and fast-track infrastructure delivery.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Managing Director of the NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, described the MoU as a strategic step towards realising the Commission’s vision to “light up the Niger Delta” in line with national priorities on distributed energy expansion.

Ogbuku said “the agreement represents a shared institutional responsibility to deliver reliable energy solutions that will enhance livelihoods, stimulate local economies and create broader opportunities across the nine Niger Delta states.”

According to him, electricity remains a critical enabler of national development, support for job creation, healthcare delivery, education and inclusive economic growth.

He noted that the collaboration would help unlock the economic potential of rural communities while advancing broader national development objectives.

The NDDC boss added that the Commission has consistently adopted partnership-driven approaches in executing projects in the region and is prepared to support the implementation of the MoU by leveraging its community presence and infrastructure development capacity.

He reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to working closely with the REA to ensure the timely and effective execution of the agreement.

The NDDC delegation at the event included the Executive Director, Projects, Dr Victor Antai; Executive Director, Corporate Services, Otunba Ifedayo Abegunde; Director, Legal Services, Mr. Victor Arenyeka; Director, Finance and Supply, Mrs. Kunemofa Asu; and Director, Liaison Office, Abuja, Mrs. Mary Nwaeke.

In his remarks, the Managing Director of the REA, Dr. Abba Abubakar Aliyu, described the MoU as a natural collaboration between two agencies with complementary mandates, reflecting a shared commitment to expanding access to sustainable electricity in rural communities.

“The Niger Delta remains central to Nigeria’s economic fortunes and must be supported by infrastructure capable of driving productivity, enterprise and improved living standards”, Aliyu said.

He adding that the partnership signals readiness to deliver stable power to communities that have long awaited reliable electricity supply.