Niger Delta
Delta To Participate In Global Climate Change Programme
Delta State Government is to actively participate in the Global Climate Change Programme to ensure meaningful and sustained development in the State.
The State governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan announced this when he declared open a two-day meeting of the 11th Zonal Network for Children, organised by United Nations International Children Emergency Fund ( UNICEF) in Asaba.
He explained that the state was taking the issue of climate change very important as pollution was dealing fatal blow on the environment.
Speaking further, he noted that Delta State has been officially chosen by United Nations Development Programm ( UNDP) as one of the ten states in the world to propagate climate change program, adding that his administration would vigorously pursue this course.
His words “ As a state, we are taking the issue of environment important especially on climate change. We are going to pursue vigorously the issue of gas flaring, which is polluting our environment, to clean up our polluted water and re-generate our soil to enhance development.”
The governor advised Unicef to introduce the use of statistics in the collation of data’s for national development and commended Oyo State for already using the method in their local government councils for efficient planning.
According to him” l advise Unicef to introduce the use of statistics not only in the collation of health indices but on other areas because without it you cannot plan. In our nation we need statistics for efficient planning.
He commended Unicef for her contributions to the education and health sectors in the state and informed it of the programmes put in place to develop human capital and ensure the survival of children and women in that state.
Governor Uduaghan informed the participant that the state would commission the best equiped hospital with I.C.T Scan in the country next month in Oghara for improved health care delivery.
In a welcome address, the Chief of Field Office Unicef in Lagos , Mr. Karim Akadiri explained that Unicef is supporting the zone in the preparation of the State Strategic Health Development Framework to help reduce child and maternal death.
He explained that Unicef is committed to achieving the Millennium Development Goal ( MDG) to impart on the socio- economic and health care of women and children in the world.
Mr. Akadiri commended Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan for signing the 2009 Programm Implementation Assessment( PIA) to develop and complete the 10 year strategic education plan to introduce the mentoring system of education.
In a brief remark, the Delta SSG, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa stated that the state would continue to partner with Unicef, since it’s objectives are in line with the state government’s three point agenda, adding that the state has shown it’s commitment through the payment of the counterpart funding of 2008/2009.
He explained that the zone consist of eight states- Oyo, Osun, Ondo,Ogun,Ekiti,Edo and Delta of which Delta is already implementing the Child Right Law.
Highpoint of the meeting was a presentation on the eight MDG by students of Graceville School and presentation on the importance of hand wash by pupils of Uzoigwe Primary School in Asaba.
In another development, the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has assured Third World Organisation for Women in Science (TWOWS) of his administration’s commitment to develop science and technology.
Dr. Uduaghan who announced this when members of the organisation paid him a courtesy visit in Asaba explained that the state would partner with TWOWS to assist on developing information communication technology(ICT) in the state.
He noted that women have a lot of potentials to move the country forward if given the opportunity to exercise their talent and called on the men folk to stop oppressing women.
His words” Women play critical role in the development of the nation, l know and believe women can do well but they are been oppressed by the men. l do not under estimate women, l know what they are capable of doing if given the opportunity, men please allow our women to prove themselves.”
The Rivers State Primary Healthcare Management Board (RSPHCMB) says it will commence Supplemental Immunization activities on Saturday, May 3, 2025, to vaccinate children from 0-5 years across the State.
The State Health Educator, Dr. Diana Babbo, who stated this during a sensitisation meeting with Media Advocate for Health, Rivers State, on the update of immunization exercise in Rivers State, said the National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs) is a re-enforcement of the routine immunization at the health facilities.
According to her, it is aimed at boosting polio immunisation against the circulating variance of polio virus currently threatening the total eradication of polio in the country.
She further stated that there are four pillars of polio eradication, namely routine immunization (administered on babies in the health centre), supplemental immunization activity (supplements to boost the babies), surveillance (searching for children that have weakness in their legs or some oart of their bodies), and outbreak response.
The Health Educator noted that the Novel Oral Polio Vaccination Type 2 (NOPV 2) will be administered to children under the age of 0-5 years, which targets a specific polio still in existence in communities and capable of causing paralysis among the stated categories of children, despite the country being certified a polio-free nation.
Dr. Babbo further stated that this year’s NIPDs will address the high number of unresolved non-compliance cases in the State.
She debunked what she tagged a false rumour by mischief makers which claimed that the vaccines are responsible for the development of autism in children.
She said, “vaccines are not known to be responsible for the development of autism. We’re just hearing that. The truth is that one cannot know everything.
“That aspect that has been found, have we looked into other aspects, such as genetically modified foods, drinks, and milks that our children are taking?
“Have we also looked at genetic compatibility between couples before we now say vaccines are causing x, y, z things?
“Are we looking at the environment where these things are happening, what they are peculiar to?
“It must not be peculiar to all the families, there could be something also that’s happening around that we have not known. Research is evolving, let us not accuse our precious vaccines that have succeeded so far in my knowledge, to keep as many sicknesses at bay.
“The reason we do not have small pox in our world today, apart from the lab (a bio-lab) is because we vaccinated to the point where we were able to move small pox totally out of existence from human beings. We can succeed with that same pattern with all kinds of viruses”.
She stated that the connection between autism and vaccination could merely be coincidence.
Babbo, therefore, urged all parents, churches, and school owners to avail their children/wards the opportunity to be vaccinated against polio the stated exercise.
Sogbeba Dokubo
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has restated his administration’s commitment to providing more support to security agencies operating in the state.
He stated this on Tuesday when he received heads of security agencies, including Commander of the Joint Task Force, Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), Rear Admiral N.M. Madugu, Flag Officer Commanding Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Ahmed Gaya, and the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 16, Yenagoa, Tolani Alausa, in Government House, Yenagoa.
The Governor assured security agencies across board that his administration would collaborate with them to protect lives and property as well as critical national assets on land and the waterways by providing patrol vehicles, boats and other necessary logistics.
He informed the new OPDS Commander that the task force had a responsibility to protect critical national, state and community assets contributing not only to the daily oil production output for the federal government but also to development and growth of the state.
The Governor stressed that the partnership between the state government and the task force had ensured that crime rate in the state was reduced.
“As a government, we are working round the clock with the security agencies so that our people can sleep with their two eyes closed and also ensure that national assets are safe for the benefit of the people and the government.
“Often, it is misconstrued as though these assets are only for the federal government. Rather, they are for the state, communities and the federal government. So we must work hand-in-gloves to ensure they are safe.
“Therefore, it is our responsibility to always ensure that these critical national, state and community assets are kept safe”, he said.
Responding to the request of the Flag Officer Commanding Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Ahmed Gaya, the Governor stated that he had signed the Certificate of Occupancy of the land allocated to the Nigerian Navy at the New Yenagoa and approved a secondary school at Toru-Ebeni in Sagbama Local Government Area of the state.
He said the State Government was waiting for the naval authorities to commence development of the land.
The new JTF Commander, Rear Admiral Madugu, stated that the visit was to formally introduce himself and to solicit the government’s support to achieve his aim of protecting the critical oil and gas facilities in his area of operation and fulfil the presidential mandate of increasing oil production to 2.5mbpd.
While promising to work with the Nigerian Police to maintain peace in the state, Diri admonished AIG Tolani to be repentant and be more professional in his duties having attained a top position in the force.
The Governor, who recalled the role Tolani played when he was Commissioner of Police in the state during the 2023 governorship election, said: “Let bygone be bygone and work according to your conscience. Ensure that you are repentant and do what is right. Your zone covers Bayelsa and Rivers states and let the interest of both states be uppermost on your mind.”
On disputes among community youth associations, the state’s helmsman wielded the big stick and announced the dissolution of such body in Famgbe Community in Yenagoa Local Government Area.
He directed the Commissioner for Youth Development, working with the Commissioner of Police, to ensure a proper election is held in the community.
Diri also warned that traditional rulers whose communities were embroiled in conflicts would be sanctioned.
“Every other feuding community, including Ogboinbiri, we are still watching you. I have told all traditional rulers, if you cannot ensure peace in your domain but waiting for my wrath to dangle on you, then both traditional rulers and youth bodies will be sacrificed”, Diri said.
Ariwera Ibibo-Howells,
Yenagoa
The Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has said no profession in the health sector was superior to others, saying there was need for cooperation among workers in every health facility to achieve optimal results.
He stated this during a courtesy visit by the Bayelsa branch of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN) to his office in Government House, Yenagoa, on Tuesday.
He assured that a good number of certified and competent medical laboratory scientists, as well as other medical and health practitioners would be employed based on the needs assessment indices at government’s disposal in the ongoing civil service recruitment exercise.
While appreciating their contributions to quality healthcare service delivery, he said government was ready to collaborate with the Association and other critical stakeholders in the sector to make health services more affordable and accessible to people of the state.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Doubara Atasi, said the current recruitment drive was aimed at addressing manpower needs in some critical sectors, including health, to improve service delivery in the state.
“We’re making progress in the health sector in Bayelsa. But we also admit that there is still much room for improvement.
“As you’re aware, applicants are applying to the state civil service, and some employment slots have been approved for Medical Doctors and Laboratory Scientists to be employed.
“We need competent and highly qualified personnel to be employed into the service to provide quality services.
“Every health worker has a role in health promotion. No profession in the health sector is superior to another. We are ready to collaborate with you to make health services more affordable and accessible to all Bayelsans”, he said.
Earlier in her presentation, the State Chairman of the AMLSN, Eunice Ayamaere Lelei, said there was need for government to employ more qualified laboratory scientists, and provide modern laboratory equipment in all its medical facilities across the state.
Lelei, who emphasized that laboratory scientists play a critical role in healthcare services in Nigeria, called for the implementation of the approved call duty allowance for members of the Association, and funding support for their Mandatory Professional Continuing Development programmes.
Ariwera Ibibo-Howells,
Yenagoa