Niger Delta

Minister Lists Gains Of Local Content Policy

Published

11 years ago

November 21, 2014

The Minister of Petroleum
Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison Madueke, said four years into the implementation of the Local Content Law, it has become a crucial aspect in the execution strategies for every activity in the oil and gas industry.
Mrs Allison-Madueke stated this while speaking at the 4th edition of the three-day Nigerian Practical Content Conference with the theme, “Achieving Nigerian Content in Today’s Operating Environment”, at the Banquet Hall of Government House in Yenagoa.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Dr.JemilaShuara, the minister highlighted some of the benefits arising from the implementation of the Nigerian Content policy, which she said had witnessed “rapid growth in indigenous capabilities, including increased capacity of engineering design companies.
Recounting the achievements of the board, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Engr. Ernest Nwapa, noted that in the past 4 years, the Nigerian Content Law passed by the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration has transformed the entire oil and gas industry and the national economy.
Declaring the conference open, the Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson called on the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, (NCDMB) to ensure that, the Nigerian Content Policywas translated into the creation of employment opportunities, particularly for Bayelsans to reflect the state’s contributions to the development of the national economy.
Governor Dickson said that the government was willing to work with the board to explore areas of collaboration on a number of the state’s developmental initiatives such as the education and agricultural sectors to advance the cause of human capacity development in creating skills and jobs for the people.
“By next year, I will be interested in the statistics of how many local content jobs that have been created for Bayelsans. I say this, because while it is good to talk about Nigerian Content, as Governor of Bayelsa State and knowing what our people have gone through, and Bayelsa; now being acknowledged as the headquarters of the local content development, I’m sure my good friend Ernest Nwapa and the Hon. Minister of Petroleum Resources will also be interested in the Bayelsa Content. So, we are actually talking about two contents; you have the larger Nigerian Content and then for us here, we are also interested in the Bayelsan Content.
“In essence, when we assemble here again by next year, we should be able to tell Bayelsans the practical benefits of our new found and rightly deserved position as the headquarters of Content Development in Nigeria,” he said.
While applauding the Federal Government for its efforts in creating employment for Nigerians, through the instrumentality of the local content policy, the Governor described the initiative as second to none.

Niger Delta

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

Published

20 hours 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

20 hours 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

20 hours 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.