Niger Delta

Eno Flags Off One-Project-Per-LGA In Uyo …Tasks Contractors On Compliance

Published

3 years ago

November 17, 2023

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has laid the foundation for the construction of a Primary Healthcare Centre, flagging-off of the government’s “One Project-Per-Local Government Area” programme in Uyo Senatorial District.
He charged contractors handling works in the programme to ensure strict compliance to the models and specifications for the projects in line with the rural development goals of the ARISE Agenda.
Eno gave the charge at Oboyo Ikot Ita, Nsit Ibom LGA where he laid the foundation for the construction of Primary Healthcare Centre.
He clarified that the choice of the healthcare facility project for Nsit Ibom was the collective wish of the Nsit Ibom stakeholders in line with his administration’s rural development goal of availing communities in the state with functional primary healthcare facilities.
The Governor assured of government’s commitment to funding the project to ensure its completion within record period of 12 weeks, saying that this will be dependent on attainment of measurable milestones and strict compliance with specifications and that machinery has been put in place for monitoring and evaluation.
“We are so happy to be here today to flag off one of our rural projects in Nsit Ibom, using this to flag off others in Uyo Senatorial District.
“We are ready to fund this project as you meet the milestones. We expect that this projects will take just twelve weeks. So, from today, and the next twelve weeks, we should come and commission this project.

“Please note, we have Projects Monitoring and Evaluation Team from the Governor’s Office and we have the Ministry for Special Duties monitoring this project.

“Those two groups must endorse your IPC before one Naira is released. They will come for assessment. Please stay within the specifications”, Eno charged.

The State Governor informed communities across the state that government will only undertake projects selected based on collective interest and resolution of stakeholders in the area, which must be within the budget size appropriated for the One Project-Per-LGA Programme, while urging Council Chairmen to take responsibility for projects sited within their domains.

“I would like to say again that this projects are chosen by the stakeholders. We have given power back to you so that you can also know how power is.

“All we are asking is, sit down together, bring everybody together and choose one project for your Local Government. If you cannot choose, then don’t blame the Governor. The days have gone when one man will answer we. ‘We’ must be total of all the stakeholders in a community.

“Don’t expect the Governor to be involved in a situation where one person who has access to the Governor will appeal to him and bring one project and then brag tomorrow that he brought the project. Let it be ‘us’ that brought the project. That is what I want across this state”, he stated.

The Akwa Ibom State Governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to furthering the agriculture component of the ARISE Agenda towards achieving food sufficiency and therefore solicited the cooperation of communities with the State Government in providing lands for the Ibom Model Farm Projects.

Presenting an overview of the project, the Commissioner for Special Duties and Ibom Deep Seaport, Dr. Bassey Okon, said the Oboyo Ikot Ita Health Center upon completion will be equipped with male and female wards, injection room, a pharmacy, kitchen, restaurant, two semi-detachable bungalows and the premises furnished with a good landscape and good parking space for the staff and patients.

Stakeholders, including the Member representing Nsit Ibom State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Hon. Eric Akpan, and General Paul Isang rtd., in their goodwill messages, expressed the profound gratitude of the people of the area to the Governor for favouring Nsit Ibom as starting point for the programme for Uyo Senatorial District.

They acknowledged the siting of the healthcare facility in the rural Oboyo Ikot Ita Community as a timely response to the yearnings of Nsit Ibom people.

By: Christopher Tom, Uyo

Niger Delta

850-bed UCTH overstretched, services 5m patients – CMD

Published

2 days ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Prof. Ikpeme Ikpeme, has said the 850-bed hospital is overstretched, as it currently serves over five million patients.

He disclosed this on Friday during a media tour of the facility to showcase ongoing renovations and facelift in the hospital.

The CMD noted that, aside being the only tertiary healthcare facility servicing the state, UCTH also serviced neighbouring states of Akwa Ibom and Ebonyi.

He said the hospital also received referrals from neighbouring countries, including Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Central African Republic.

According to him, the 850-bed hospital faced persistent space constraints because of increasing patients inflow and expanding healthcare demands.

“This hospital currently operates 62 clinical and non-clinical departments as well as between 30 and 38 wards covering medical, surgical, paediatric, orthopaedic and specialised services.

“Most wards have undergone facelift, remodelling, or complete renovation to improve patient care and working conditions for healthcare professionals”, he said.

He disclosed that the hospital was constructing a new 106-bed emergency medicine facility to address the rising demand for healthcare services.

According to him, the facility will include trauma bays, intensive care units, neonatal wards, and three fully equipped trauma theatres.

Speaking on the remodeled wards, Ikpeme explained that they followed modern nursing principles, allowing one nurse to attend to a maximum of 10 patients.

He said relatives would be restricted to designated waiting areas to reduce interference with medical procedures and improve emergency response efficiency.

The CMD noted that the hospital had strengthened specialist services in orthopaedics, neurosurgery, obstetrics, radiology, and minimally invasive surgery.

“UCTH now performs hip and knee replacements, arthroscopy, sports medicine, and complex brain tumour surgeries.

“Our surgeons also conduct keyhole procedures for appendectomy, hysterectomy and other conditions with faster patient recovery periods,” he said

In power, the CMD said the hospital relied on solar power from a seven-megawatt plant, constructed by the Federal Government at the University of Calabar, as well as public power supply, and generators to sustain its operations.

He appealed to governments, organisations, and philanthropists to support infrastructure expansion, equipment procurement, and specialised healthcare projects.

The CMD said the hospital required additional incubators, ward expansions, and a stand-alone amenity facility for private healthcare services.

He used the opportunity to dismiss allegations of ethnic discrimination, insisting that the hospital does not reject workers or patients based on tribe or origin.

According to him, the institution recently honoured an Igbo pioneer physician by naming a ward after him in recognition of decades of service.

The CMD said the hospital maintained strict disciplinary procedures to address negligence, poor attitude, and unethical conduct among staff.

The Tide’s source reports that some of the units visited include, intensive care unit, Department of Radiology, Urology Clinic, and Opthalmology Clinic.

Niger Delta

Police Burst Child Trafficking Syndicate In A’Ibom … Nab 3 Suspects

Published

2 days ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

The Police Command in Akwa Ibom State says it has busted a child trafficking syndicate and arrested three suspects for conspiracy and unlawful sale of a newborn baby in the State.

The State’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Timfom John, who disclosed this in a statement in Uyo on Friday, said the three female suspects were arrested on Wednesday at about 1900hrs.

She said a complainant reported that his wife gave birth to a baby boy on May 7 and shockingly, shortly after delivery sold the newborn child to one of the suspects for N145, 000.

“Upon receipt of the report, operatives immediately swung into action, leading to the arrest of the suspects and the successful recovery of the baby boy.

“The suspects reportedly confessed to the crime during interrogation, while investigation has been expanded to identify and apprehend all individuals connected to the trafficking syndicate”, John said.

She said the State’s Commissioner of Police, Baba Azare, reiterated the Command’s commitment to sustaining aggressive intelligence-led policing in the state.

Niger Delta

A’Ibom Launches Operation Crack Down Scrap Dealers

Published

2 days ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

The Akwa-Ibom State Government has launched a statewide crackdown on unregistered scrap dealers and scavengers, shutting down illegal operations and arresting operators accused of violating environmental and public safety regulations.

The enforcement operation, led by the Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency (AKSEPWMA), followed the implementation of the state’s Waste Metal Scrap Law 2026, officials said.

AKSEPWMA Chairman, Obong Prince Ikim, said the exercise was aimed at regulating the scrap sector, protect the environment, and prevent criminal groups from operating under the guise of waste collection and metal trading.

“If you want to do scrap business, you must register,” Mr. Ikim said during the operation in Uyo, the state capital.

“Many people now hide under scrap trading to perpetrate nefarious activities”, he said.

According to him, dump site operators and scrap dealers who failed to register with the government risked closure and prosecution.

Authorities accused some operators of involvement in vandalism of public infrastructure and indiscriminate waste disposal, adding that investigations had uncovered criminal activities linked to several dump sites across the state.

“Some people vandalise government facilities in the name of scrap business and encourage indiscriminate dumping of refuse,” Mr. Ikim said.

He added that the state government and security agencies would continue efforts to enforce compliance and maintain public order.

“The Commissioner of Police has zero tolerance for criminality, and the Governor wants Akwa Ibom people to sleep with their eyes closed. We will fish out every defaulter”, he said.

Police officials involved in the operation said investigations showed that some criminal suspects used scrap yards and refuse dump sites as cover for illegal activities.

CSP Okwuzulike Vincent of the Itam Police Station said some suspects pretended to be mentally unstable while hiding ammunition and other suspicious items in makeshift shelters around dump locations.

The police officer praised the environmental agency for what he described as proactive efforts to sanitise the sector and pledged continued cooperation between law enforcement and the agency.

Officials said some first-time offenders arrested during the operation were released after profiling and signing undertakings, while repeat offenders would face prosecution.