Opinion
Of Ogogoro Consumption And Public Health
No doubt, the Rivers State House of Assembly did the needfu
when, in performing its oversight function recently invited officials of the Rivers State Ministry of Health to brief it on the death toll and other challenges arising from the consumption of unlicenced locally manufactured gin called variously Kaikai and Ogogoro.
Theinvitation followed an earlier report of the Ad-Hoc Committee of the State Legislature on the deaths resulting from the consumption of the said unlicenced locally manufactured gin in parts of the state.
For instance, Woji Town in Obio/Akpor, Bodo in Gokana and Ahoada West Local Government Areas are worst affected.
Available records at the Department of Public Health Services of the State Ministry of Health show that of 80 cases involving the consumption of the said killer gin, 70 deaths were recorded.
In other words, 70 persons died after consumption of the gin. Recent report however said the tally has increased to 71.
Analysis from the specimens of the unlicenced gin consumption shows that the illicit liquor contains high content of methanol poisoning instead of the use of ethanol.
The results of investigation conducted by National Agnecy of Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in Port Har urt shows that the quantity of methanol in specimens collected range from 100 to 112 grams per litre over and above only five grams allowable quantity for human consumption in beverage and spirits.
Scientifically, methanol poisoning affects the Central Nervous System (CNS) particularly the sensory organs and nerves connected to the retina of human eyes; resulting in total blindness of victims.
Little wonder victims of the killer gin exhibit symptom such as the loss of sight before death.
It is no exaggeration, therefore, that only impatience, love of money, profiteering and avarice could drive local brewers to adopt methanol poisoning even above allowable grams per litre in the manufacturing of age-long local spirit such as Kaikai, Ogogoro or any other product for that matter.
However, that invitation by the Ad-Hoc Committee of the State Legislature on the deaths resulting from the consumption of the killer gin has brought some shocking and embarrassing revelations to the fore.
For instance, what would have taken probably few hours or days to discover about the properties of the deadly gin took weeks.
Worse still, the State Ministry of Health had to depend on the services of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) instead of experts in a key unit of the Ministry called the Rivers State Public Health Laboratory.
Interestingly, the Rivers State Public Health Laboratory has been in existence since 1977 under distinguished medical doctors who had served as directors of Public Health Services in the Ministry of Health, the parent body.
It is on record that late Dr Simon Hart, Dr late Frank Eke, Dr Faye Kurobo, the present Deputy Governor, Dr Ipaliboy Harry Banigo, Dr Godwin Mpi, Dr Claribel Abam, Dr Akuro Okujagu had served as directors of Public Health Services while Dr Nnanna Victor Onyekwere is the current Director.
The Rivers State Public Health Laboratory unit itself as has always been headed by erudite scholars and distinguished laboratory scientists such as late Professor Appolos Nna Bulo of the University of Michigan, USA, Mr Justus Jaja, Dr Promise Karibo, Mr Innocent Ikpoku, Tonye Fiberesima and the present Director of the Laboratory Unit, Mrs Token Lawson-Jack.
Besides, the present Head of Department of Medical Laboratory Science of Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Professor Confidence Wachukwu, Smart Amala, former Director, Medical Laboratory Department BMSH, Alaso Jack and Dr Ngozi Odu have worked in the Laboratory Unit of the Ministry at one time or the other,.
Today, the public health laboratory unit of the Ministry of Health still parades qualified laboratory sciecentist such as Dr Margaret Robinson, Dr. Ngozi Igbo, Sam Eke and Chika Okwakpam among others, while Mrs Token Lawson-Jack is the head.
It is worthy of note that a functional public health laboratory performs such roles as disease control otherwise called epidemiological surveillance, ascertain specific gravity of properties in specimen such as the level of methanol poisoning in the killer ogogoro, conduct water quality analysis as well as undertakes thorough laboratory investigations to check possible outbreak of diseases.
It is common knowledge that the laboratory had investigated the cholera outbreak in Amakalakala called the Amakalakala outbreak during the Melford Okilo regime, conducted Finima Water Project analysis during NLNG Construction under the Godwin Abe regim as Military Administrator as well as guinea worm and ‘paapa’ outbreak in early and middle nineties among others.
The tradition laid by the founding fathers of the State was that the Rivers State Public Health Laboratory would help to conduct investigations that would lead to prevention of possible outbreak of diseases in view of the fact that the state has airport, two sea ports in Port Harcourt and Onne as well rail terminal that could encourage the influx of people into the state and trigger off sporadic outbreak of an epidemic.
Unfortunately, the administration of Dr Peter Odili which Dr Emi Membre Otaji served as Commissioner for Health gave out the Public Health Laboratory building at Ndoki Street near Daba Clinic along Harold Wilson Drive by Orubolo Nite Club to National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
As if that was not enough, the government of the time relocated the Staff of the Laboratory to the Central Medical Store opposite NPA, Port Harcourt where there is no laboratory equipment.
That was how the Laboratory was rendered inefficient and has remained so till date.
Even though there was a promise to build a new Rivers State Public Health Laboratory, since the relocation, the laboratory has suffered neglect.
In fact, there is no basic laboratory equipment at the Central Medical Store thereby, subjecting the Ministry to seek support from outside Rivers State Government.
Since the main task of government is to protect lives and property, government should see security of live beyond purchase of arms and ammunition but funding and equipping public health laboratories to prevent diseases and killer gin.
To this end, the Rivers State Government should as a matter of urgency resuscitate the Rivers State Public Health Laboratory already in a state of comatose at the Central Medical Store, Port Harcourt.
Leaders in position of trust should attach premium to building on the legacy and good vision of the founding fathers rather than sacrificing them for selfish interest.
It was penny wise pound foolish to give out the structure of the state public health laboratory to NAFDAC.
Similarly, the state government should consider it pertinent to revive the veterinary clinic and agricultural laboratory hitherto sited at No 23 Aba which is the PDP took over as secretariat.
Baridorn Sika
Opinion
Restoring Order, Delivering Good Governance
The political atmosphere in Rivers State has been anything but calm in 2025. Yet, a rare moment of unity was witnessed on Saturday, June 28, when Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, appeared side by side at the funeral of Elder Temple Omezurike Onuoha, Wike’s late uncle. What could have passed for a routine condolence visit evolved into a significant political statement—a symbolic show of reconciliation in a state bruised by deep political strife.
The funeral, attended by dignitaries from across the nation, was more than a moment of shared grief. It became the public reflection of a private peace accord reached earlier at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. There, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu brought together Governor Fubara, Minister Wike, the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and other lawmakers to chart a new path forward.
For Rivers people, that truce is a beacon of hope. But they are not content with photo opportunities and promises. What they demand now is the immediate lifting of the state of emergency declared in March 2025, and the unconditional reinstatement of Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Dr. Ngozi Odu, and all suspended lawmakers. They insist on the restoration of their democratic mandate.
President Tinubu’s decision to suspend the entire structure of Rivers State’s elected leadership and appoint a sole administrator was a drastic response to a deepening political crisis. While it may have prevented a complete breakdown in governance, it also robbed the people of their voice. That silence must now end.
The administrator, retired naval chief Ibok-Ette Ibas, has managed a caretaker role. But Rivers State cannot thrive under unelected stewardship. Democracy must return—not partially, not symbolically, but fully. President Tinubu has to ensure that the people’s will, expressed through the ballot, is restored in word and deed.
Governor Fubara, who will complete his six-month suspension by September, was elected to serve the people of Rivers, not to be sidelined by political intrigues. His return should not be ceremonial. It should come with the full powers and authority vested in him by the constitution and the mandate of Rivers citizens.
The people’s frustration is understandable. At the heart of the political crisis was a power tussle between loyalists of Fubara and those of Wike. Institutions, particularly the State House of Assembly, became battlegrounds. Attempts were made to impeach Fubara. The situation deteriorated into a full-blown crisis, and governance was nearly brought to its knees.
But the tide must now turn. With the Senate’s approval of a record ?1.485 trillion budget for Rivers State for 2025, a new opportunity has emerged. This budget is not just a fiscal document—it is a blueprint for transformation, allocating ?1.077 trillion for capital projects alone. Yet, without the governor’s reinstatement, its execution remains in doubt.
It is Governor Fubara, and only him, who possesses the people’s mandate to execute this ambitious budget. It is time for him to return to duty with vigor, responsibility, and a renewed sense of urgency. The people expect delivery—on roads, hospitals, schools, and job creation.
Rivers civil servants, recovering from neglect and under appreciation, should also continue to be a top priority. Fubara should continue to ensure timely payment of salaries, address pension issues, and create a more effective, motivated public workforce. This is how governance becomes real in people’s lives.
The “Rivers First” mantra with which Fubara campaigned is now being tested. That slogan should become policy. It must inform every appointment, every contract, every budget decision, and every reform. It must reflect the needs and aspirations of the ordinary Rivers person—not political patrons or vested interests.
Beyond infrastructure and administration, political healing is essential. Governor Fubara and Minister Wike must go beyond temporary peace. They should actively unite their camps and followers to form one strong political family. The future of Rivers cannot be built on division.
Political appointments, both at the Federal and State levels, must reflect a spirit of fairness, tolerance, and inclusivity. The days of political vendettas and exclusive lists must end. Every ethnic group, every gender, and every generation must feel included in the new Rivers project.
Rivers is too diverse to be governed by one faction. Lasting peace can only be built on concessions, maturity, and equity. The people are watching to see if the peace deal will lead to deeper understanding or simply paper over cracks in an already fragile political arrangement.
Wike, now a national figure as Minister of the FCT, has a responsibility to rise above the local fray and support the development of Rivers State. His influence should bring federal attention and investment to the state, not political interference or division.
Likewise, Fubara should lead with restraint, humility, and a focus on service delivery. His return should not be marked by revenge or political purges but by inclusive leadership that welcomes even former adversaries into the process of rebuilding the state.
“The people are no longer interested in power struggles. They want light in their streets, drugs in their hospitals, teachers in their classrooms, and jobs for their children. The politics of ego and entitlement have to give way to governance with purpose.
The appearance of both leaders at the funeral was a glimpse of what unity could look like. That moment should now evolve into a movement-one that prioritizes Rivers State over every personal ambition. Let it be the beginning of true reconciliation and progress.
As September draws near, the Federal government should act decisively to end the state of emergency and reinstate all suspended officials. Rivers State must return to constitutional order and normal democratic processes. This is the minimum requirement of good governance.
The crisis in Rivers has dragged on for too long. The truce is a step forward, but much more is needed. Reinstating Governor Fubara, implementing the ?1.485 trillion budget, and uniting political factions are now the urgent tasks ahead. Rivers people have suffered enough. It is time to restore leadership, rebuild trust, and finally put Rivers first.
By: Amieyeofori Ibim
Amieyeofori Ibim is former Editor of The Tide Newspapers, political analyst and public affairs commentator
Opinion
Checking Herdsmen Rampage
Do the Fulani herdsmen have an expansionists agenda, like their progenitor, Uthman Dan Fodio? Why are they everywhere even the remotest part of other areas in Nigeria harassing, maiming, raping and killing the owners of the land?”
In a swift reaction, The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) decried and strongly condemned the invasion by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
In his denunciation, MOSOP President Fegalo Nsuke described the incident as very unfortunate and deeply troubling, warning against a recurrence of the violence experienced in Benue State. “The killing of yesterday is bad and very unfortunate. We are getting preliminary information about how the herders gained access to the farmland, and it appears some hoodlums may be collecting money and granting access illegally.”
He called on the Hausa community in Rivers State to intervene swiftly to prevent further attacks.
“We want the Hausa community in Rivers State to take urgent action to ensure these issues are resolved”.
But will such appeal and requests end the violent disposition of the Fulani herdsmen? It is not saying something new that the escalating threat and breach of peace across the country by the Fulani herdsmen or those suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, leaves much to be desired in a country that is bedevilled by multi-dimensional challenges and hydra-headed problems.
Some upland Local Government Areas of Rivers State, such as Etche, Omuma, Emohua, Ikwerre, Oyigbo, Abua, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, have severally recounted their ordeals, as herdsmen invaded farmlands, destroyed crops, raped female farmers and killed protestant residents.
Again the wanton destruction of lives and properties which no doubt has overwhelmed the Nigerian Police, makes the clamour for State Police, indispensable. The National Assembly should consider the amendment of the Constitution to allow States to have their Statutory policing agencies.
Opinion
Is Nigeria Democratic Nation?
As insurgency has risen to an all time high in the country were killings has now grown to be a normal daily activity in some part of the nation it may not be safe to say that Nigeria still practices democracy.
Several massacres coming from the Boko Haram and the herdsmen amongst all other insurgencies which have led to the destruction of homes and killing, burning of communities especially in the northern part of the country. All these put together are result of the ethnic battles that are fought between the tribes of Nigeria and this can be witnessed in Benue State where herders and farmers have been in constant clashes for ages. They have experienced nothing but casualties and unrest.
In the month of June 13-14, the Yelwata attack at the Guma Local Government Area by suspected gunmen or herdsmen who stormed the houses of innocent IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) claiming the lives of families, both adults and children estimated to be 200 victims. They were all burnt alive by these unknown gunmen.
This has been recorded as one of the deadliest insurgencies that had happened in recent years. Some security personnel that were trying to fight the unknown gunmen also lost their lives.
Prior to the Yelewata attack, two days before the happening, similar conflict took place in Makurdi on June 11, 2025. 25 people were killed in the State. Even in Plateau State and the Southern Kaduna an attack also took place in the month of June.
All other states that make up the Middle Belt have been experiencing the farmers/herders clash for years now and it has persisted up till recent times, claiming lives of families and children, homes and lands, escalating in 2025 with coordinated assaults.
Various authorities and other villagers who fled for safety also blamed the herdsmen in the State for the attack that happened in Yelwata community.
Ehebha God’stime is an Intern with The Tide.
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