Niger Delta

Ministry Seeks Media Partnership Against Negative Reports On RSG

Published

7 years ago

August 2, 2019

Rivers State Ministry of Information and Communications has initiated an advocacy programme to redress the flurry of negative stories peddled against the state by disgruntled elements.
The Permanent Secretary, Pastor Paulinus Nsirim said the ministry would visit all media houses in the state to drum up support for the campaign.
Briefing Management of Rivers State Television (RSTV), Wednesday, Nsirim said the onus was on the media to ensure its role as the people’s watchdog was not misapplied by selfish individuals to the detriment of the same people it was meant to protect.
As the first port of call, with management staff of the ministry, Nsirim urged RSTV staff to apply more consciousness in their sensitization programmes through Jingles, news reports, advertisement and announcements.
He charged the RSTV Management to ensure they redressed the negative narratives by detractors of the state.
The campaign with the theme: “Our state Our responsibility”, is an affront against enemies of the state bent on demarketing and disparaging the state through unguarded and false uncomplimentary remarks, Nsirim noted.
According to the permanent secretary, Rivers State is blessed with a God fearing man as governor, adding that Nyesom Wike succeeded in projecting Rivers State to an enviable height both locally and internationally.
Furthermore, he said that Wike had disarmed his detractors and proved them wrong that Rivers State was unsafe.
The governor, he added, went a step further to make a point empirically by receiving several awards locally and internationally and hosting numerous events in the state such as: 2016 Annual Conference and Gala Nite, 12TH Africa movie Academy Awards (AMA) in Port Harcourt 2016, 2016 Annual General Conference of Magistrates Association of Nigeria in Port Harcourt. Nigerian Guild of Editors Annual General Meeting 2016/2017, 56th NBA Annual General Conference, POP National Convention 2016, West African Architecture Fair, Rotary International Regional meeting, Yobo Testimonial International Match 2016 and African Bar Association (AFBA) Conference 2017.
Other events are: The 11th General Synod of the Church of Nigerian, Anglican Communion September 2017, POP Presidential Primary, Retreat of the House of Representatives Committee on Banking and Currency, 6th Anniversary of the Science Teachers Association of Nigerian (STAN), Miss University Africa 2017 in Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt Great Gospel Crusade by (CFAN) in 2018, RCCG Holy Ghost Rally, Port Harcourt, Super Eagles Versus Congo 2018, NAFEST 2018 in Port Harcourt, African Wrestling championship 2018, 2019 African Badminton Championship and the Turkish Airline Flights from Port Harcourt, 2019.
In her reaction, the General Manager, Rivers State Television, Mrs. Dafini Gogo-Abbey, thanked the Permanent Secretary for his visit and for choosing RSTV as the first port of call for this “all important programme in the state”.
Gogo-Abbey promised that the station would sit up to ensure that the objective of the permanent secretary and his team was achieved, adding that he was bringing to bear professionalism in the system as Chairman of Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) in Rivers State.
Directors from RSTV in attendance were, Director Administration, Victor Gorgor, Director of News/Current Affairs, Bon Woke, Director of Programmes, Goodluck Dagogo, Director Research/Planning, Mrs. Furo Iyagba, Director Procurement, Evans Adah and Mrs. Doreen Maxwell for Marketing.
While Directors from Rivers State Ministry of Information and Communications who accompanied the permanent secretary were, Director Publications, Mr. Valentine Ugboma, Director Public Enlightenment, Mr. Obele Chu, Director of Admin, Austin Ezekiel-Hart, Director PRS, Mr. Dango Orawari and Director ICT, Mr. Kenneth Okujagu.

Niger Delta

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

Published

24 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

24 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

24 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.