Niger Delta
Bayelsa Faults Surveillance Report On Cholera Outbreak … Declares NCDC Report Data Misrepresentation
The Bayelsa State Government, through its Ministry of Health, has faulted the inclusion of Bayelsa on the list of states affected by the cholera epidemic outbreak as recently published by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in its disease surveillance report.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Toyin Azebi, faulted the report recently at a joint press briefing shortly after a meeting of the Bayelsa Taskforce on Immunization and Health Services presided over by its Chairman and Deputy Governor of the state, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, in Government House, Yenagoa.
It would be recalled that the NCDC had in its recent Epidemiological Week 22, 2024 report, placed Bayelsa as amongst the states with the highest burden of cholera cases.
Azebi, who noted that there was no confirmed outbreak of cholera in Bayelsa in recent times, said the NCDC’s pronouncement of cholera outbreak in the state was a total misrepresentation and should be discountenanced as such.
She emphasized that all suspected 449 cases of cholera in the state from January to date had turned out negative from clinical laboratory tests, as they were proven to be cases of gastrointestinal diarrhea.
According to the Permanent Secretary, the ministry had reached out to the NCDC on the issue, and they had reviewed the State’s data again and found out that their initial report was incorrect and agreed to issue a rebuttal which they had not done as at the time of the press briefing.
“The NCDC report is a gross misrepresentation of the Bayelsa data, and we have tackled them on it. They have reviewed our data with us and will soon do another pronouncement excluding us as a state with a cholera outbreak.
“Since January 2024, there have been 449 suspected cases of cholera reported across the eight LGAs. Importantly, only two new suspected cases were reported in the most recent week, indicating no new cases. We are able to even report these cases of watery diarrhea because of our optimized surveillance system across the state.
“Extensive testing has been conducted to confirm cholera cases. Out of 42 Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) carried out, only 14 returned positive. Crucially, all 14 positives from the Rapid Diagnostic tests turned out negative when subjected to culture test.
“Culture tests are the gold standard for cholera diagnosis, and no cases have been confirmed by this method. And this attests to no outbreak.
“In summary, the cholera situation in Bayelsa State is under control with no culture confirmed positive. The State Government is taking active and comprehensive steps to manage the situation effectively, ensuring public health and safety”, she said.
Commenting on the issue of a dead whale found on the shores of coastal Okpoama Community in Brass Local Government Area of the state, reportedly being butchered for food, Dr. Azebi cautioned the people to refrain from the act as it could lead to a serious epidemic outbreak.
According to her, consuming the dead whale could lead to mercury poisoning, botulism and bacteria infections that might prove dangerous to the health of the people.
Also speaking, the Director of Public Health, Bayelsa State Ministry of Health, Dr. Jones Stowe, said the State’s disease surveillance system was well fortified, noting that all suspected cases of cholera were negative to culture test.
On the few reported cases of yellow fever across the eight LGAs in the state, Stowe the Ministry was taking proactive steps to ensure no deaths and no further spread of the infection.
According to him, presumptive positive cases are being monitored closely while the confirmation tests are awaited from Dakar in Senegal.
Other members of the Bayelsa State Taskforce on Immunization and Health Services that spoke at the press briefing include the State Coordinator of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Marcus Oluwade; the State Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Very Rev. Father Joseph Opelema, and a representative of the State Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Idris Makeni.
While stressing the need for the public to always maintain good hygiene to prevent contracting infections, they called on Bayelsans, especially parents, to make their children available for routine immunization to achieve 100 percent immunization coverage in the state.
Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
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Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has assured corps members deployed to the state of improved welfare and a supportive service year.
Okpebholo gave the assurance at the swearing-in ceremony of the 2026 Batch ‘A’ Stream I corps members last Friday at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Permanent Orientation Camp in Okada.
The Governor also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to youth empowerment, safety and entrepreneurship.
Represented by the Commissioner for Youth Affairs, Mrs. Charity Amayaenvbo, the Governor urged corps members to embrace innovation, community service and self-reliance rather than wait for white-collar jobs.
“Edo is committed to supporting youth empowerment, entrepreneurship and incentives that turn ideas into enterprises.
“Do not wait for jobs, create value. Wherever you are posted, serve your host community with humility, dedication and compassion.
“Have a positive footprint and let your service contribute to unity, productivity and progress,” he said.
Okpebholo assured the corps members that the state government was attentive to their welfare and had started addressing key concerns raised by the NYSC leadership.
“On behalf of the state government, I assure you of our support in terms of safety, an enabling environment and a rewarding service year.
“I listened carefully to the requests highlighted by the state coordinator, and I am glad to inform you that some of them have already been captured in the 2026 budget, which has been approved and signed into law,” he said.
The Governor noted that provisions for accommodation, meal subsidies, logistics and the construction of a multipurpose hall at the camp were included in the budget.
Earlier in her address, the Edo State Coordinator of the NYSC, Dr. Frances Ben-Ushie, described the ceremony as a reflection of the state government’s commitment to youth development and national integration.
Ben-Ushie said as of midnight on Thursday, a total of 1,235 prospective corps members, comprising 531 males and over 700 females, had been duly registered.
She congratulated the corps members on their enlistment into what she described as a “noble scheme,” urging them to embrace discipline, learning and active participation throughout the orientation course.
“The NYSC platform provides a unique avenue to meet people from diverse backgrounds, build lifelong friendships and create networks that can open doors to greater opportunities,” she said.
Ben-Ushie also highlighted the contributions of the NYSC to the state’s development, noting that the scheme had consistently provided skilled manpower, promoted labour mobility and strengthened national unity.
She cited initiatives such as the Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers and the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme as key interventions benefiting communities across the state.
The NYSC coordinator commended the state government for its support, including the provision of buses for corps members, and appealed for further intervention to address lingering operational challenges at the orientation camp.
She expressed confidence that resolving the issues would enhance the effectiveness of NYSC programmes in the state and thanked the Governor for prioritising the welfare, security and growth of corps members.
The Edo chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday condemned the state government’s reported plan to establish a state-owned airline.
The party, in a statement by its Edo State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Dan Osa-Ogbegie, described the proposal as a misplaced priority and evidence of poor, disconnected governance.
The Tide’s source reports that the State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, unveiled the airline plan during a meeting with Aviation Minister, Mr. Festus Keyamo, in Abuja.
Osa-Ogbegie said the proposal showed a government out of touch with the pressing challenges confronting Edo State residents.
“At a time of decaying infrastructure and stalled projects, establishing an airline is unrealistic and profoundly insensitive”, he said.
He argued that airlines were capital-intensive and technically demanding, noting that similar state-owned ventures in Nigeria had largely failed.
According to him, Benin has become a shadow of what a modern state capital should be.
He decried poor roads, collapsed urban planning, neglected drainage systems and weak municipal services across the state capital.
“This is a crying shame for a city of Benin’s history, heritage and enormous potential”, he said.
Osa-Ogbegie said several inherited projects had stalled or deteriorated, eroding investor confidence and undermining economic growth.
He accused the governor of pursuing “white elephant projects that offer optics without substance.”
He also cited ongoing flyover projects in parts of Benin as examples of poor prioritisation.
Against this background, he described the airline proposal as diversionary and lacking economic sense.
“When roads are barely motorable and services overstretched, proposing an airline betrays an absence of judgment,” he said.
He urged the government to abandon the plan and focus on people-centred priorities that would improve living conditions and spur growth.
“Edo does not need an airline to fly above its problems. It needs a government ready to confront them on the ground,” he said.
He warned that failure to refocus would deepen perceptions of an administration lacking direction, competence and a coherent development agenda.
Students of Federal Polytechnic, Ugep, Cross River State, have protested to the Governor’s Office in Calabar over an alleged plan to appoint a non-indigene as Rector for the institution.
Carrying placards with various inscriptions, the students demanded respect for catchment area policy, local content, and the appointment of an indigene of the state as Rector of the institution.
Speaking on behalf of the students in Calabar, Stephen Etem said the protest sought to alert the Federal and Cross River State Governments to an alleged deviation from the established rectorial selection process.
Etem said a Governing Council, chaired by Sen. Florence Ita-Giwa, was constituted by the Federal Government to conduct the Rector selection exercise.
“The screening, which began last year, reportedly produced a Cross River State indigene as highest scorer and recommended candidate.
“Information available to us suggests that the alleged recommended candidate’s name might be substituted at the Federal Ministry of Education.
“We urge the Federal Government to uphold the council’s recommendation because altering the process could threaten peace in the institution,” he noted.
Responding at the Government House, Mr. Goddie Akpama, the Special Adviser on Intelligence to the State Governor, Bassey Otu, appealed for calm, saying the Governor was away but would be briefed.
Akpama advised the students to submit written petitions through appropriate channels, avoid inflammatory language, and engage authorities to ensure stability and uninterrupted academic activities.
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