Niger Delta
NMA Urges Edo Govt’s Intervention To Improve Services

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Edo chapter, has urged Edo Government intervention in the health sector to improve service delivery.
The state chairman of NMA, Dr Valentine Omoifo made the call in a statement in Benin at the weekend.
Omoifo spoke when he paid a courtesy visit to the Governor, Godwin Obaseki of Edo.
“We have always believed that the way to an improved and optimal healthcare system in the state is a holistic approach.
“Hence, our continued clamour for a reappraisal of the healthcare system, calling for urgent government’s intervention.
“It is sad to note that medical infrastructure at the state owned health facilities have deteriorated over the years without visible steps taken to overhaul them.
“Some of our members are yet to be paid their arrears and in the area of fighting quackery, Edo NMA presented a bill to the state House of Assembly since 2010, but nothing has been done.
“Diagnostic facilities such as X-ray,Ultrasound and dialysis machines are not available in public hospitals in the state.
“While appreciating the scarce resources at the disposal of government, we wish to emphasise that health is wealth”, he said.
Omoifo urged the state government to as a matter of urgency employ more medical doctors and other health personnel to handle the health needs of people of the state.
He identified the chronic and perennial shortage of manpower in the health sector as unprecedented adding that it required urgent attention.
According to the NMA chairman, the general hospitals in the state do not have doctors and is almost at the verge of collapsing.
He appealed that while ensuring reaccreditation of departments already offering post-graduate residency training at the hospitals, efforts should be made to ensure that more departments were accredited to improve productivity in hospitals.
“The NMA is concerned that the five star hospital complex is yet to be put to use. Edo people by now would have benefited from the specialised service at the centre.
“Also, the general hospital in Otuo (Owan East LGA) which was built by Edo State Government is yet to be put to use even though it is fully equipped.
“Promotion for 2016, 2017, and 2018 for some of our members is yet to be actualised and our members in the private sector have continued to groan under the burden of multiple levies and taxes.
“To this end, we wish to appeal to the state government to redeem its promise of a bus to ensure logistics for these programmes that were made possible by Edo State government during the last administration.’’
Omoifo assured that NMA would continue to partner with Edo government to ensure that the health sector was rancour free.
Niger Delta
TCN, BEDC Trade Blames Over Power Outage In Benin District

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has faulted the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) for allegedly misleading the public over power outages in Benin district.
A statement by the TCN’s General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, yesterday, in Benin said TCN’s maintenance work had nothing to do with the blackout experienced by BEDC’s 33kV customers.
It would be recalled that on March 14, BEDC had claimed that TCN’s maintenance activities were the cause of power outages in Sapele, Abraka, Ugelli/Shell and industrial areas through its social media platform.
Mbah explained that TCN only requested a planned outage on March 11, at the Amukpe Transmission Station, which was completed the same day and power was restored.
Mbah emphasised that TCN’s maintenance had nothing to do with power delivery to BEDC customers.
“TCN wishes to address the publication by Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) on its social media platform, dated March 14, that TCN was responsible for the blackout, which was not true
“The announcement by BEDC’s inability to deliver power to its 33kV customers to TCN’s maintenance activities was not true.
“For clarification purposes, TCN only applied for a planned outage on March 11, at the Amukpe Transmission Station, which was completed on the same day, and bulk power supply was restored.
“Contrary to BEDC’s claims, TCN’s maintenance activities did not cause the power delivery issues experienced by BEDC’s customers”, Mbah said.
The General Manager stated that the only valid statement in BEDC’s publication was regarding the Ughelli/Shell 33kV feeder T1 60MVA, which tripped off due to a fault on March 14.
Mbah disclosed that TCN was currently working to restore bulk power supply to the affected feeder.
She emphasised that all other areas mentioned by BEDC in their release, experiencing power delivery issues, were due to a fault on BEDC’s 33kV feeders.
She urged BEDC to provide accurate information to its customers and avoid misrepresentations, stressing that facts should be made clear for the benefit of stakeholders.
Mbah reiterated that TCN remained committed to maintaining efficient and reliable electricity transmission across the country for all consumers.
Niger Delta
Board Lauds CMD Over Innovations In FMC, Asaba

The Chairman, Board of Management of the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, Dr. Mary Alile-Idele, has commended the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the centre, Dr. Victor Osiatuma, along with his team for the medical innovations, infrastructural projects, and efficient operational system at the centre.
Dr. Alile-Idele also called for more funding by the Federal Government to complete several ongoing projects in the next two years.
She used the opportunity to encourage all government institutions across the country to emulate the monthly biometric capturing of staff at the centre, to detect cases of staff receiving salary after traveling overseas for better welfare packages.
She stated this in Asaba while speaking to newsmen shortly after taking a tour on facilities and operations at the centre weeks after her appointment by President Bola Tinubu.
Doctor Alile-Idele, who observed that there was no shortage of medical and health personnel at the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, over jakpa syndrome, hinted that there is replacement for noticeable manpower vacuum.
“The jakpa syndrome has not really affected FMC, Asaba, much. One of the things they have been able to do here as an organization, is that within a month, they are able to identify if staff have moved out of the system, so that they can be replaced.
“I have seen organisation where people have jakpared two years, and they are still on salary. It’s something that I can not even understand how that is possible.
“But without mentioning names, I have heard some horrible stories of somebody living in England, and still collecting salary in Nigeria for the next two years. Such a thing should not even be encouraged.
“In FMC, Asaba, that is even one of the things we looked at, and I was in the administration department, and I saw that they have a system in place that all staff in this organization do biometrics on a monthly basis.
“So, if you are not available to do your biometrics, oh well, we take it that you have moved out. So, you didn’t do biometrics the first month, second month and third month, and we can’t find you, then why should we pay you”, Dr. queried.
She restated the commitment of the administration of President Bola Tinubu to the actualization of the renewed hope agenda in all sectors.
She said Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, was “well equipped with state-of-the-art medical facilities and experienced personnel to provide top notch healthcare to residents of the state and neighbouring states”.
While commending the Chief Medical Director of the centre, Doctor Victor Osiatuma, along with his team for the medical innovations, infrastructural projects, and efficient operational system at the centre, Doctor Alile-Idele called for more funding by the Federal Government to complete several ongoing projects in the next two years.
She said, “We must understand that the renewed hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu cuts across healthcare as well, and like the saying goes, health is wealth.
‘’I have just been on a tour round some facilities, interacting with some of the staff on ground, looking at the patients care, and I really want to personally applaud the management staff of this centre, doctors, the nurses, up to the junior staff in this place.
“They provide top notch healthcare here. This afternoon, I just visited the neonatal and maternity ward: fantastic. They have the equipment, they have the manpower. My vision and my dream for this centre is to be at the top front of all the medical centres in this country.”
Niger Delta
‘We‘ve Recorded Drop In Illegal Logging, Poaching’

The Conservator of Park at Okomu National Park, Edo State, Lawrence Osaze, says the partnership with the Africa Nature Investors (ANI) Foundation has helped in reducing illegal activities at the park.
Osaze made the assertion on Saturday, while speaking with journalists after a tour of facilities at the park situated in Okomu, Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State.
According to him, the collaboration has significantly curtailed illegal logging, poaching, and other harmful practices, thereby making the park more secure.
“The park is relatively peaceful, and logging activities are at the barest minimum”, he said.
He noted that when he took over as conservator in November 2022, illegal logging was a major challenge, adding that ANI’s intervention, including ranger training and recruitment, had improved security.
He said the foundation had played a vital role in hiring volunteer rangers to support the National Park Service.
“We joined forces together, and the story today is entirely different”, Osaze told journalists.
Beyond security, he said the focus was now on community education, enlightenment, and empowerment.
“ANI Foundation is driving initiatives to provide alternative livelihoods for communities surrounding the park.
“We have had series of engagements with communities to gain their support. We are working to ensure they do not rely solely on forest resources for survival”, he explained.
He said the foundation was invited to the partnership due to its success in the Gashaka Gumti National Park in Taraba and Adamawa States.
Peter Abanyam, ANI Foundation’s Project Manager for Okomu, highlighted the park’s biodiversity, calling it a “hotspot” for species like the endangered African Forest Elephant and White-Throated Monkey.
“Okomu is the primary home of the White-Throated Monkey.
“Aside from a small population in southwestern Nigeria, this park is where you find them in the world,” Abanyam disclosed.
According to him, the foundation’s goal is to make Africa’s wildlife a source of pride, proving that conservation can be sustainable and beneficial to local communities through private sector investment.
He said the foundation supported park protection, community engagement, and youth recruitment into the National Park Service.
He added that it also connected donors to development initiatives for communities near conservation areas.
Earlier at the palace of the Iyase of Udo, Patrick Igbinidu, the traditional chief, pledged the continued support of the host community to the foundation and the national park.
He lauded the commitment of the partners to develop the area and empower the people through savings and loan initiatives.
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