Niger Delta

Bayelsa Poll: Group Cautions Stakeholders On INEC Rules, Regulations

Published

2 years ago

September 20, 2023

The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) has called on stakeholders in the November 11 governorship election in Bayelsa to play the game according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) rules and regulations.
The group said it will resist any form of bloodshed before, during and after the poll, therefore, everyone should play the game accordingly.
Rising from its Executive Council meeting, the IYC also appealed to the Federal and State Governments to prioritise lasting solutions to flood disasters in the Niger Delta region.
The Council, in a communique issued on Monday in Yenagoa after the meeting, said political actors and gladiators must shun any act that could escalate tension in Bayelsa during the forthcoming poll.
The IYC in the communique signed by its President, Dr. Alayi Theophilus, asked politicians to shun hate speeches and focus on selling their manifestoes to the people.
The IYC said: “It is our firm belief that the lives and safety of Ijaw citizens should always supersede political considerations and electoral processes.
“We shall hold politicians responsible if any Ijaw life is lost during and after the election.
“We in the IYC shall not fold our arms to see that the existing peace we enjoy in the state is damaged.
“We advise all politicians to shun hate speeches and focus on telling us their manifestos. Our lives are worth more than any political ambition”, Theophilus stated.
The group commended Federal Government and other organisations for their support for flood victims in the region and called for a permanent solution.
The group appealed for construction of dam, critical drainage systems and dredging of flood-prone communities of the region.
“Recognising the recurring nature of these disasters, we urgently call upon both Federal and State governments to prioritise and implement enduring solutions.
“This includes the construction of various drainage systems that will offload the water to the sea and initiating comprehensive coastline dredging.
“The Bola Tinubu-led government must make our abandoned dam in Adamawa functional and create additional three dams within the flood channels.
“These dams, when completed and made functional, will not just serve as water reservoir, but also as a source of hydropower that will add to the national grid.
“Ijaw people are yet to recover from the trauma caused by the last year’s flooding. Goods worth billions of naira were destroyed and strange diseases are being experienced till date.
“The palliative can never be compared to the disaster we are experiencing”,the group stated.
The IYC accused Delta State Governor of marginalising Ijaw communities in the state in his recent award of N78bn contracts.
The council said: “While we acknowledge and commend Delta Governor, Mr Oborevwori Sheriff, for his efforts in awarding a significant N78bn contract.
“We find it disheartening to observe the marginalisation of the Ijaw territories. Projects like Ayakoromo bridge, which is barely N6bn to completion is begging for attention.
“The Ojobo Road is abandoned. It is therefore unjust to exclude Ijaw territories in the N78bn contract awarded by the Delta Government.
“The IYC calls on the Delta Government to review the move to include Ijaw communities. We assert that the interests of all communities must be earnestly considered in development initiatives”, the group stated.
The council further condemned all forms of police brutality within the Niger Delta region, particularly recent incidents in Delta and Rivers and demanded justice for victims.
The IYC warned against external interference in the surveillance activities of the Federal Government and NNPC, insisting that Tompolo had demonstrated effectiveness in handling contracts awarded to his company.
The communique said: “We emphasise the criticality of maintaining stability in the region and the scope of work is big enough to engage additional Ijaw sons and daughters.
“It is our humble position that the likes of Gen. Amagbein should be considered for the Bayelsa section of the surveillance project to promote the actualisation of the objectives of the programme.
“We urgently call on the Federal Government to reevaluate and expedite the establishment of modular refineries across the Niger Delta region.
“We are calling on NNPC and the Federal Government to release additional 15 modular refineries to sons and daughters of the Niger Delta region that have the capacity to finance such project.
“Furthermore, we implore swift action in ensuring the Port Harcourt refinery commences operation by December as promised by the Federal Government.
“Additionally, we stress the immediate mobilisation of contractors for the East-West road”.

Niger Delta

Eno Recommits To Private Sector Investments

Published

2 days ago

February 13, 2026

The Tide

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, says his administration will continue to promote private sector investments in order to enhance economic prosperity.

Eno, who stated this recently at the inauguration of a new Zenith Bank branch in Uyo, said private sector growth was critical to employment generation and the overall development of the State.

He said his long-standing business relationship with Zenith Bank exposed him to the critical roles that banks could play in supporting private sector growth.

“The bank played a laudable role in the growth of Royalty Hotels, a brand I pioneered and led until I joined public service.

“It is my hope that the bank will accord the same support to other private sector investments in the state, be it micro, small or medium-scale enterprise”, he said.

Earlier, the Group Managing Director, Zenith Bank PLC, Dr. Adaora Umeoji, described the new business office as a significant milestone in the life of the bank.

She thanked successful administrations in the state for their support to the bank over the years, saying, ”We thank the Governor for creating a conducive environment for business to thrive.

“We opened our first branch in Akwa Ibom about 25 years ago, we have enjoyed a very good relationship with the government and people of the state.

“Akwa Ibom stands out as a major business friendly state. The state is clean, accommodating, and fast developing, we commend the government for this”, she said.

The Zenith Bank chief reiterated the bank’s commitment to sustain its partnership with the government and people of Akwa Ibom in order to make mutually impactful and meaningful progress.

She urged business owners in the state, especially women, to leverage the initiatives being offered by the bank to grow their businesses.

Niger Delta

Delta Prioritises Primary Healthcare Over Flyover Projects

Published

2 days ago

February 13, 2026

The Tide

The Delta Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening primary healthcare services across the state, dismissing claims that it was focusing more on visible infrastructure projects than grassroots healthcare delivery.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Joseph Onojaeme, made the clarification while reacting to comments by health influencer, Aproko Doctor.

Aproko Doctor recently suggested on social media that political leaders often prioritised flyovers and modern hospitals while neglecting primary healthcare centres.

Onojaeme said the claim did not reflect the situation in Delta, noting that healthcare remained a central pillar of the Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori administration’s development agenda.

According to him, although road projects and flyovers are visible across the state, deliberate investments have also been made in healthcare infrastructure and services.

He said that within two years, the state government had renovated 150 primary healthcare centres across the three senatorial districts out of the 441 public health facilities in the state.

According to him, another 150 centres are already undergoing planning and preparation for renovation.

“The effort will bring the number of upgraded primary healthcare centres to 300, thereby improving access to quality healthcare at the community level and reducing pressure on secondary and tertiary hospitals,” he said.

The commissioner said that the state’s free maternal and under-five healthcare programme continued to yield positive results, including reductions in maternal and infant mortality, while easing financial burdens on families.

“Gov. Oborevwori recently approved the release of N2 billion to sustain the programme, alongside regular funding to strengthen Universal Health Coverage in the state,” he said.

Onojaeme also said that state-owned hospitals were granted autonomy to retain and utilise their internally generated revenue, enabling them to procure drugs, maintain equipment and respond more efficiently to patient needs.

“In specialised healthcare delivery, dialysis machines have been installed in state hospitals, helping to reduce waiting time for treatment while lowering dialysis costs from about N70,000 to N45,000 per session,” he said.

He said that CT scan machines installed at Warri Central Hospital and Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH), Oghara, were already improving diagnosis of conditions such as stroke and internal injuries.

“While newly procured echocardiography machines are strengthening early detection of heart-related conditions.”

The commissioner said the government had ordered three Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines for installation at Asaba Specialist Hospital, Central Hospital Warri and DELSUTH, Oghara, ensuring coverage across the three senatorial districts.

“While some states do not have a single MRI machine, Delta State is procuring three at once, with delivery expected by April as site preparations are ongoing,” he said.

Onojaeme said the government was establishing a new College of Health Sciences in Ovrode, Isoko North Local Government Area, to complement the existing institution in Ofuoma and boost the training of middle-level health manpower.

“The long-abandoned Mother and Child Hospital in Ekpan was nearing completion, while another Specialist Hospital was being developed in Osubi, Okpe Local Government Area, modelled after the Asaba Specialist Hospital.

According to him, Delta remains the only state in the country with more than 60 functional government-owned hospitals, adding that the current administration is determined to further expand healthcare access.

On health insurance, Onojaeme said enrollment under the Delta State Contributory Health Scheme had surpassed 2.78 million residents as of January 2026, making it one of the leading state-supported health insurance programmes in the country.

He explained that the scheme covered both formal and informal sector workers, while prioritising vulnerable groups, including pregnant women, children under five and the elderly, through the Equity Health Plan.

The commissioner added that the scheme recently enrolled 10,000 widows and continues to register indigent residents across the state.

He also disclosed that the Delta State Contributory Health Commission had introduced facial recognition technology at accredited facilities to improve efficiency and transparency in service delivery.

Onojaeme reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage and delivering affordable and accessible healthcare services to residents across the state.

Niger Delta

C’River Assembly Seeks Crackdown On Drug Abuse

Published

2 days ago

February 13, 2026

The Tide

The Cross River State House of Assembly has urged the State Government to urgently enforce drug laws to curb the rising menace of substance abuse.

The resolution followed a matter of urgent public importance raised by Yakurr I lawmaker, Mr. Cyril Omini, during plenary in Calabar.

Omini cited a tragic incident in Ugep, Yakurr Local Government Area, involving a 23-year-old man allegedly under the influence of drugs.

He said the suspect, Ubi Bassey, allegedly beheaded his father, Bassey Okoi, on February 2.

“Drug abuse has become widespread among youths, with alcohol, cannabis, cocaine and tramadol commonly abused.

“In spite of warnings by health and government agencies, illicit drug trading and consumption persist across many communities”, Omini said.

According to him, the trend has led to early deaths and, in extreme cases, violent crimes against innocent persons.

Omini warned the incident had caused fear in Ugep, cautioning that failure to act decisively could worsen social decay.

He, however, commended the State Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Okoi Obono (rtd), for efforts to restore peace in the area.

Lawmakers called for sustained drug sensitisation, youth-focused campaigns, stronger partnerships with non-governmental organisations, and stricter enforcement against drug peddlers and users.

The Speaker, Elvert Ayambem, expressed sadness over the incident and urged prompt prosecution of the suspect to deter other youths.