Niger Delta

Rivers NUJ Set To Honour Fubara, Distinguished Journalists, Sunday

Published

2 years ago

August 16, 2024

All is now set for the conferment of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council’s awards on the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, and some distinguished journalists in the State.

The Dinner/Award Night, which holds on Sunday, August 18, at the La Sien Event Centre, Old GRA, Port Harcourt, will climax the one-week NUJ Press Week that began on Tuesday.

Governor Fubara, according to the Chairman of NUJ, Rivers State Council, Comrade Stanley Job Stanley, and Chairman of the Press Week Committee, Comrade Olalekan Ige, will be honoured for his excellent stewardship and peaceful disposition to governance in Rivers State.

Also to be honoured are some distinguished journalists who have made their marks in the field of journalism, and have also brought honour to NUJ in Rivers State.

Speaking with The Tide in a short interview, yesterday, Comrade Stanley said the Union decided to honour the governor not only because of his excellent stewardship in governance, but also because of his peaceful disposition to governance despite provocation and distractions from the opposition.

He also noted that within the last 14 months of Fubara’s administration, he has demonstrated an uncommon friendly disposition to the media.

The NUJ Chairman also disclosed that some distinguished journalists and members of the Union who have excelled in their careers, will also be honoured during the Award Night.

He said the Council thought it wise to recognise some members of its constituency because “charity begins at home.”

According to him, “We can’t be giving awards to outsiders all the time and refuse to recognise our own. The Executive Council of our Union decided to recognise some of its members because we believe they have paid their dues in journalism and they merit the Award. On Sunday, when we will be unveiling the pack of these awardees, you will agree with me that they all merit the honour.”

Also speaking with The Tide, the Chairman of the Press Week Committee, Olalekan Ige, revealed that there are about four categories of the award to be earned on Sunday.

According to him, “awards will be given to distinguished journalists who have consistently, throughout their careers, brought great honour and pride to the NUJ, in addition to rising to the pinnacle of the profession.

“Also, senior journalists who have attained great heights in the media profession and have maintained a high level of excellence will be honoured during the Award Night.”

Ige added that the Union will also honour some past chairmen of the Council for their meritorious service and leadership at various times, while reporters who have consistently demonstrated excellence in news reporting and have brought pride to the NUJ will also be recognised.

The Tide reports that as part of the 2024 Press Week, the Council had earlier, on Wednesday, organised a workshop for its members, during which three resource persons, drawn from its rank, gave incisive lectures on three key areas of journalism.

While the South South Regional Manager of the Business Day, Ignatius Chukwu, gave lecture on “Casting News Headlines”, the Group News Editor of The Tide Newspapers, Boye Salau, delivered lecture on “Ethical Writing and Reporting”.

Another resource person and Bureau Chief of The Guardian Newspapers, Ann Godwin, focused her lecture on “Blogging and Content Creation for Journalists”.

Boye Salau

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.