Niger Delta

Diri Takes Campaigns To Home LG …Promises Link Road To Igbedi Community

Published

3 years ago

October 30, 2023

Governor of Bayelsa State and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for the November 11, 2023 off-cycle governorship election in Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, on Friday stormed his native Local Government Area, Kolokuma/Opokuma for his re-electioneering campaigns.
Speaking at Igbedi Community, home town of his wife and First Lady of the State, Dr. Gloria Diri, the Governor promised to construct a linking road from Kaiama Town, the Headquarters of the Local Government Area, to the community.
He said though he had earlier constructed a link road from the Amassoma and Ogobiri axis of the Bayelsa State International Airport to the community, he would also construct another link road directly from Kaiama to properly link the community with sister communities within the Local Government Area, along the East-West Road axis of the state, amongst other infrastructural projects.
The Tide, which monitored the campaigns, reports that the Governor also took his campaigns to Okoloba, Opokuma and Sabagreia (Seibokoragha) communities, all in the Constituency two of the Kolokuma/Opokuma area of of the state.

Governor Diri also promised to fast-track the construction of the ongoing Polaku-Sabagreia link road and bridge, saying as a son of the Local Government Area, no other governorship candidate understands the problems and yearnings of his people better than him.

Commenting on the faith of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 11 governorship election, Chief Timipre Sylva, the Bayelsa Chief Executive said the APC candidate remained disqualified based on the first amended list of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“Those whose names have been delisted by amendment number one of INEC can no longer sleep. They will continue to have sleepless nights.

“In our second tenure, the other road that will be important to Bayelsa and even the people of Delta State and for the use of our airport will be to connect Igbedi to Kaiama. That will be the next project we will embark upon in our next tenure”, Governor Diri said.

He urged the Bayelsa electorate not to waste their votes on a party that is not on the ballot, noting further that he was not in the Local Government Area to campaign, nothing that the projects of his administration in the Communities of the area were evident of his efforts.

Also speaking, the Director-General of the PDP gubernatorial elections campaign council, and member representing Ogbia Federal Constituency of the state, Hon. Mitema Obordor, described Governor Diri as God sent to the state.

Obordor called on the people of the Local Government Area to work for and protect their own chances of retaining the Governor who he described as their son.

The campaign Director-General noted that the PDP and the Governor were not in the Local Government Area to campaign, but to inform them that it was their duty to protect their own as Governor come November 11th, 2023.

In same vein, wife of the Governor, who is from the Local Government Area, thanked the people of the area for the rousing welcome accorded her husband and the support given him over the years, urging them not to relent.

Earlier, the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Environment, Iselema Gbaranbiri, expressed appreciation to the Governor for the administration’s projects in the Local Government Area, assuring the State’s Chief Executive of total support of the communities of the area in the forthcoming November 11, 2023 election.

The Tide reports that highpoints of the campaign were the inauguration of some projects undertaken by the administration of Governor Diri, and the observation of a minute silence in honour of Mr. Peremobowei Tukuwei, the Director, Media and Publicity, of the APC Governorship Campaign Council who died in a tragic boat mishap recently while the party campaigned in Nembe Local Government Area of the state.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

Niger Delta

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

Published

3 days 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

3 days 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

3 days 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.