Niger Delta

Ewhrudjakpo Charges NIPR On Professional Image

Published

2 years ago

August 26, 2024

The Bayesla State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has charged members of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) to redouble their efforts to protect the image and integrity of the Public Relations profession in the country.
He gave the charge recently when a delegation from the state chapter of the Institute paid him a courtesy visit in Government House, Yenagoa.
Ewhrudjakpo, who expressed concern at the alarming rate the Public Relations profession was being buffeted by the activities of quacks, said the NIPR as a professional body was not doing enough to checkmate the issue of quackery in order to safeguard the integrity of the profession.
He stated that the activities of charlatans who parade themselves as PR people were ubiquitous on the social media space and have become quite worrisome for those who appreciate the importance of the profession.
While expressing readiness to support the Institute, Senator Ewhrudjakpo called on the NIPR to take necessary steps to put an end to the caricature being made of an otherwise noble profession.
Responding to their demand for a suitable location to plant 60 trees in the state to mark the 60th anniversary of the NIPR, the Deputy Governor directed the State Ministry of Environment to liaise with the leadership of the NIPR to allocate a land space for the planting exercise.
“The Public Relations profession is buffeted by a lot of quacks because the true professionals are not doing enough. You see a lot of charlatans on Social Media masquerading as PR people. They do the PR job they claim to be doing in caricature ways.
“Let us do more for the PR profession, now that the scheme of service has given a new nomenclature to public relations officers as ‘Information and Public Relations Officers’”, he said.
In his remarks, the Chairman of NIPR, Bayelsa State Chapter, Dr. Ebiwari Wariowei, explained that the reason for the visit was to invite the Deputy Governor to the tree planting event, as part of the activities marking the 60th Anniversary of the establishment of NIPR in Nigeria.
Wariowei, who commended Senator Ewhrudjakpo for his unrelenting support to the Governor, appealed to the State Government to support the Institute’s effort towards building a centre for the training and retraining of PR and information practitioners in the state.
He also requested for a suitable land space for the planting of 60 trees to enhance the beauty of the Yenagoa City and promote biodiversity and the green revolution programme in the state.
Also speaking, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Africa, Toru Orua, Prof. Barclays Ayakoromo, and the Amananaowei of Sabagreia, His Royal Highness, Sir Boukumo Orukari, acknowledged the love of the Deputy Governor for Public Relations.
They also acknowledged the support and contributions of the pioneer civilian governor of the state, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha in planting NIPR in Bayelsa, and appealed to the present administration to recognise the Institute as a worthy partner for the development of the state.
The highpoint of the visit was the presentation of two books, “Public Relations: The Most Excellent Profession” and “The Slum Boy King”, by the author, His Royal Highness, Sir Boukumo Orukari, to the Deputy Governor.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

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.