Niger Delta
AKULGA Regent Joins Race For INC Scribe
Regent of Belema Community of Kula Kingdom in the Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, His Royalty, Prince Anyanate Kio, has joined the race to contest for the position of National Secretary of the Ijaw National Congress (INC).
The Belema Regent is currently serving as the incumbent Leader of the INC’s National Representative Council (NRC).
Speaking with newsmen at the Ijaw House, headquarters of the INC in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, midweek, shortly after submitting his nomination form, Kio said he possesses the requisite experience and capacity to deliver the tasks of the office of the scribe of the socio-cultural group.
He noted that he has previously served as Secretary in many reputable organizations, including groups in the oil and gas industry, hence administering the Secretariat of the INC would not be new to him if elected.
On the recent amendment of the constitution of the INC by the NRC, Kip said the repealing of certain provisions of the group’s organic law became inevitable as it was the wish and desire of the Representative Council under his leadership to ensure a level playing ground for all aspirants and Ijaws in general.
“The INC constitution was amended to be in tandem with international best practices. The Ijaw nation would be far more better with the recent amendments the NRC made”, he said.
Meanwhile, he has also joined the call for fair and equitable distribution of elective offices amongst clans of the INC for its zonal and national elections.
The aspirant argued that a situation where one clan is wont to persistently dominate others from same zone during elections should be discouraged by all well-meaning stakeholders to allow for balance of power and an all encompassing leadership.
“With respect to the functions and functionality of the position of Secretary that I’m contesting for, I posses all the requisite expertise to man the Secretariat of the INC.
“I’ve been the National Secretary of the Chevron branch of PENGASSAN in Nigeria. And so if I’m elected as Secretary of a body that is a movement that requires skillful display of what you know, including psychological and emotional intelligence, etc, I’ll deploy all my skills as a negotiator in the United States to advantage and best interest of the INC.
“I’ll bring my wealth of experience to bear in running the secretariat of the INC when elected. We need a Secretary that understands what it means to function as National Secretary of a movement like the INC which has been in the forefront fighting and speaking for the Ijaw nation in particular and the Niger Delta in general.
“For the ELECO, I’ve confidence in them. An electoral committee where a foremost retired Supreme Court Justice and reverred king is serving as Chairman, and another Royal Majesty is Secretary, I’ve so much respect and confidence in the electoral umpire”, he added.
By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
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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.
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.
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.
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