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C’River Assembly Okays 2016 Budget

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10 years ago

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General Manager, Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, Mr Celestine Ogolo (right), congratulating a retired staff of the corporation, Mrs Dickba Cookey (left), during a sendforth party in Port Harcourt recently. With them are Director of Publications, Mrs Juliet Njiowhor and Director of Production, Chief Dagogo Clinton (middle)Photo: Ibioye Diama

General Manager, Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, Mr Celestine Ogolo (right), congratulating a retired staff of the corporation, Mrs Dickba Cookey (left), during a sendforth party in Port Harcourt recently. With them are Director of Publications, Mrs Juliet Njiowhor and Director of Production, Chief Dagogo Clinton (middle) Photo: Ibioye Diama

The Cross River
State House of Assembly has passed the 2016 Appropriation Bill of N303 billion for implementation.
It would be recalled that the state Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, had on October 26, 2015 presented on the floor of the House a budget proposal of N350 billion.
The Chairman House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Mrs Regina Angogo representing Yala 1 State Constituency while presenting the report of the committee to the House, said that the reduction of the 47 million naira from its original proposal was arrived at due to dwindling oil prices.
Angogo added that, the Committee carefully studied the budget after the various MDAs had defended their budget proposals, hence the need for the state government to spend the sum of 303 billion naira for 2016 fiscal year.
According to the Chairman of the Committee, the recurrent expenditure for the 2016 budget is put at 64.88 billion naira, while the capital expenditure is 285.11 billion naira. Out of the 64.88 billion naira for the recurrent expenditure, 24.92 billion naira is expected to be spent on personnel cost, while 20.94 billion naira for overhead cost and 19 billion naira is for statutory expenditure.
Also, the sum of 41.78 million naira is expected to be drawn from the federation account in 2016.
The recurrent revenue for the state is proposed at 63.72 billion naira, while 21.93 billion naira is expected to be drawn from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), “she added.
Speaking during the passage of the bill, the Speaker of the House, Mr. John Gaul Lebo, commended the committee for a job well done and also thanked the media and civil societies for their involvement in the whole process right from its inception.
He went ahead to advise MDAs to make judicious use of the funds allocated to them, saying that they would be closely monitored by the legislature.
According to the Speaker, the passage of the budget will also go a long way to assist the Governor in carrying out his signature projects which will bring growth and development to the state as well as increase its economic potentials.

 

Friday Nwagbara, Calabar

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

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6 days ago

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May 18, 2026

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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.
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Police Burst Child Trafficking Syndicate In A’Ibom … Nab 3 Suspects

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6 days ago

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May 18, 2026

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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.
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A’Ibom Launches Operation Crack Down Scrap Dealers 

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6 days ago

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May 18, 2026

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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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