Nation
Bwari Residents Seek Affordable Healthcare Services
A cross-section of the residents of Bwari Area Council in the FCT, Abuja has appealed to government at all levels to make healthcare services affordable in rural communities.
The people made the appeal on Monday in separate interviews with The Tide’s source in Bwari, Abuja.
They argued that affordable healthcare for rural dwellers would help to encourage the people to patronise health facilities when they fall sick.
A security man, Mr Johnathan Awayi, said that many families in the rural parts of the counci were finding it difficult to access health services because of cost.
Awayi further said that many had lost their loved ones “because their relatives could not afford high medical bills” charged to treat serious ailments.
According to him, serious health challenges are also beyond the capacity of the primary health centers situated in the communities.
“When you visit a health center close to you, thinking your problem is malaria or typhoid and they run tests and find out it is more than that they refer you to a bigger hospital.
“Sometimes, even the transportation to the hospital becomes a problem.
“Moreover, when you get there, they subject you to more tests, which costs more money.
“It is even worse, when you are admitted because the cost of admission per night in a general hospital here is not what a rural dweller can afford”, Awayi said.
He further said some people return home to their fate once they have a referral to another hospital for a broader check on their health status and at the end of the day, they die without medical attention.
“Some cannot even afford to pay for routine tests or minor surgeries in government-owned hospitals, let alone the private ones.
“Things are really hard now so government and private hospitals should help the rural dwellers by subsidising the cost of medicare for them”, Awayi said.
Also, a house wife and mother of four, Madam Esther Jonah, said that she lost her baby because she could not afford to pay for incubator, when she had a premature delivery.
Jonah said, “My husband is a labourer, who earns daily income and has no savings to cater for such an emergency, when it happened”.
She also frowned at the “insultive attitude” of some health workers towards the poor and vulnerable at public health fscilities.
“The attitude of some of these health workers is barbaric and make some sick persons to go home out of frustration”, she said.
Jonah admonished health workers to show sympathy and empathy to the sick rather them mock them.
“The attitude of health workers matter a lot.
“They need reorientation on how to relate with patients battling with severe health cases”, she said, adding that “some of them, especially the women, can be inconsiderate and unreasonable.
“At least, even if someone cannot afford something, don’t rub it on their faces.
“Instead, find a means of helping them and not make them regret coming to the clinic”, she said.
Mr Yakubu Sabo said subsidising the cost of health care, including child delivery, would help to address child and maternal mortality in rural communities.
Sabo said: “I know some of us in the rural area need to be educated on family planning for birth control because we cannot afford the cost that comes with delivery sometime.
“However, in cases where the unplanned happens, I plead for assistance from the health providers.
“Let’s not be tired in doing good. Nothing is easy and I don’t pray for anyone to go to the hospital for anything now, I advise everyone to watch their lifestyle”, he said.
A health worker in Sabon-Gari area of the district, Mrs Deborah Gwazah, blamed some of the challenges in the healthcare services at the community level on the lack of sufficient medical personnel and facilities.
Reacting to the issue, the Chairman of Bwari Area Council, Mr John Gabaya, reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to continue to provide improved healthcare services in all the communities in the area.
Gabaya said in 2022, his administration organised a free medical outreach for the people of the area in line with the council’s mandate.
He also said that his administration implemented various vaccination campaigns, maternal, newborn and child health programmes across the district.
Nation
Rivers Judiciary Denise Media Reports On Issuing Judgement Sacking SOLAD
The Rivers State Judiciary has denied claims of media reports circulating online that a judge of its High Court issued a ruling in favour of Governor Siminalayi Fubara against former Governor Nyesom Wike and President Bola Tinubu, there by sacking the sole Administrator of the state, vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd).
A statement signed by the Chief Registrar of the State High Court, David Ihua-Maduenyi yesterday in Port Harcourt, described the purported report as false and misleading, particularly for linking a judge of the State High Court, Justice Boma Diepirii, to a ruling that reportedly came from a Federal High Court.
According to the statement, Justice Boma Diepirii is a Judge of the Rivers State High Court and not of the Federal High Court and currently on Easter Vacation, which commenced on Monday, 14th April.
The Chief Registrar further clarified that the Federal High Court and the State High Court are separate entities, stressing that “the inclusion of Justice Diepiri’s name in the fabricated report underscores the crass ignorance of the author.”
“The attention of the Rivers State Judiciary has been drawn to a fake news report alleging that His Lordship, Hon. Justice Boma Diepiri, delivered a judgment sacking the Sole Administrator of Rivers State. This is false in its entirety,” the statement read.
“Justice Diepiri is a judge of the High Court of Rivers State, not of the Federal High Court as was falsely reported”.
” Additionally, His Lordship is currently on Easter vacation which began on Monday, April 14, 2025, Ihua-Maduenyi stated.
The statement however advised the general public and members of the media to always cross checked information concerning the judiciary before publishing and as well disregard the said report in its entirety as its an embodiment of falsehood and fabricated story.
Nation
Senate Passes Bill For Establishment Of University In Abia
The Senate yesterday approved the bills for the establishment of Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences and College of Education, Bende at its plenary session.
The two bills sponsored by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon . Benjamin Kalu came to the Senate for concurrence after the approvals from the House of Representatives.
The Deputy Leader of the Senate, Sen. Lola Ashiru in the absence of the Majority Leader presented the recommendations of the Lower Chamber for consideration and Concurrence .
The Bill for an Act to establish Federal College of Education, Bende in Abia State seeks to provide full-time courses, training in technology, applied sciences, commerce, social sciences, arts and humanities among others.
Kalu had in his lead debate stated that Bende has remained undivided since its creation in 1976, even though with the size of four local government areas as found in comparative federal constituencies.
“Despite its strategic location in Abia and sharing a border with Akwa Ibom, with a growing population and landmass, there is no tertiary institution in the Federal Constituency operated either by Federal or State Government. Bende deserves to have the presence of a tertiary institution to serve the education need of the teeming youthful population, especially now that the need for well-trained educationists has risen. This is accompanied by the need to fill the gaps created by both the consequences of brain drain and the lack of qualified educationists to provide quality training at all levels of education,” he said.
For the bill seeking the establishment of Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Bende, Abia State, he said when it becomes law, the university will be charged with the responsibility to, among other things, offer full-time training leading to the award of degrees in medical and health sciences.
Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi
Nation
South East Caucus Kicks As Senate Rejects Nwosu’s Immortalisation
South East Caucus of the Senate has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immorttalise late Professor Humphrey Nwosu considering his commitment to achieving a practical democracy for Nigerian.
The Senators visibly angered by the Senate’s rejection of the need to immortalise the late National Electoral umpire who stood for democracy through the turbulent 1993 elections stormed out of the Senate Chambers and spoke to the press .
The Chairman of the South East Caucus, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe ( Abia South), as he did in plenary on Wednesday, presented a motion for immortalisation of Humphrey Nwosu by naming the national headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) , after him , for laying the foundation in 1993 and conducting the freest and fairest Presidential election in the country .
The late Professor Nwosu was the National Chairman of the National Electoral Commission ( NEC) , now known as Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) , who through option A4, conducted the June 12, 19993 presidential election , adjudged to be the freest and fairest in the country.
Abaribe in the motion co – sponsored by 15 other Senators , said late Humphrey Nwosu deserved to be immortalised like other heroes of the June 12 , 1993 presidential election .
He also urged the Federal Government to honour the late former electoral umpire with post humous national honours .
But Abaribe’s request , seconded by Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) and supported by Senators from the South East including forner Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi ( Kebbi North) , was roundly rejected by other Senators who said the deceased deserved no immortalization .
Specifically , Senator Adams Oshiomhole ( Edo North) , in his contribution to the debate said the motion to him, was nothing but an attempt to manipulate and rewrite history.
“ Professor Humphrey Nwosu as NEC Chairman in 1993, failed to deliver on the June 12 , 1993 Presidential Election for lack of Courage
“ He who is not ready to die for something , will die for nothing
“ If he was afraid of the gun from announcing the election results and winner in 1993 , he cannot be rewarded now , more so, when many Nigerians died for what he inadvertently created “, he said .
Nneka Amaechi -Nnadi
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