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N’Delta Group Marks IWD, Tasks Government On Development Of Region

Published

1 year ago

March 8, 2023

Editor

The Niger Delta Peoples Movement (NDPM) has called for the promotion of equity in the world and particularly in Nigeria as the world marks the 2023 International Women’s Day, just as its requested for unity towards a more equitable and just world for all especially for the girl child and women.

The group also called on the Federal Government to do more than it is currently doing to bring development to the Niger Delta area in Nigeria which it said despite being the goose that lays the golden egg has been neglected.

The Convener of NDPM, Mr. Ejiro Ineneji in a statement to mark IWD, said it was time for a “huge embrace, it’s time to take action and give equity the attention it deserves. Let’s work together to create a more equitable world where everyone has a fair chance to succeed. We all can play a part.”

“Embracing equity is the right thing to do. Equity is not just a buzzword, it is a fundamental human right. It is time to embrace equity and make it a priority in our lives and our communities.”

In a related development, the group in its recently concluded Annual General Meeting (AGM) frowned at the slow pace of clean-up in Ogoni land, just as its called for an expedited action.

It also commended the Federal Government for releasing the arrears of 13 per cent owed to states from the region since 1999.

A communiqué issued by the group at the end of its AGM with the theme: “Bridging the gap between the past, present and future of Niger Delta” held in Benin City, the Edo State capital, the group called on the Federal Government to “up its efforts in the region.”

The communiqué Was signed by Mr Emmanuel Enemudo, the AGM Committee Chairman; Andrew Okonzuwa, worldwide President of the group; Edafe Sodje, BoT Chairman; Anthony Osakunih, National President; John Ighedosa, Coordinator; Ejiro B. Ineneji, Convener; Ms Ruth Adedeji, the Public Relations Officer and Collins Azuike, the National Secretary of the group.

The group said Nigeria belong to all the nationalities irrespective of how they come to be known as a country and therefore have equal stake and must ensure that it remained one country.

It said that: “The Federal Government of Nigeria has not done enough with the clean-up of Ogoni Land and has therefore kept the people in perpetual squalor and degraded environment; the association, as an environmental protection group, calls on the Federal Government of Nigeria to immediately mobilize adequate resources and men for the clean-up of Ogoni Lands and its environs affected by bad oil production practices.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria and the State Governments of the States affected need to take urgent steps to compensate victims of the recent flood disasters in the Niger Delta Region and to take deliberate actions aimed at forestalling future occurrence in the Niger Delta as well other parts of the Country, Nigeria.

“While appreciating the Federal Government of Nigeria for the release of the 13% derivation funds owed the region for many years, the Association calls on government to not only release the monies but also promote measures aimed at ensuring that states that received the money does something tangible towards the development of their peoples and state.”

The group called on the government and all well-meaning individuals “especially those in the corridors of power and men of means and resources and influence within the Niger Delta Region, indigenes and friends to rise above partisanship and parochialism, to run to the rebuilding and Urbanization of the entire Niger Delta Region.”

The “NCEDO-NDPM is ready to partner and work with the government and her agencies charged with the responsibility of dealing with these issues, in ameliorating the suffering of our people, the grassroot masses of our dear Niger Delta Region.”

Related Topics:International Women Day Niger Delta

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Over 91,000 Vulnerable Persons benefiting from free basic Healthcare In Edo – Health Insurance Commission

Published

37 mins ago

May 8, 2024

Editor

The Director General, Edo State Health Insurance Commission (EDOHIC), Dr. Rock Amegor, has said over 102,000 vulnerable persons in the state are benefitting from the state’s Equity Fund and the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF).

Dr. Amegor disclosed this in Benin City during an event to commemorate two years of providing care to vulnerable groups under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund by the Commission.

The Fund is being managed by the Edo State Government in collaboration with the Federal Government to cater for the healthcare needs of vulnerable persons in the State.

He noted, “We are here to mark the two-year anniversary of providing healthcare services for the very vulnerable in our society. The State and Federal Governments have put funds aside to take care of those who are very vulnerable. We have classified the vulnerable into five groups: Those under five years of age, pregnant women, indigents, the poorest of the poorest and those above 65 years of age.”

According to him, “These vulnerable groups, as the Bible says, the poor have always been with us. It is what we started with to show the empathy of today’s government.

“We have other plans but in March 2022, we started giving service from only three facilities under the basic health care provision fund, and in that year, we had only enrolled 9,000 people into the scheme, but as of today, with the contribution of the State and Federal Government, we gave enrolled about 80,000 people into the Basic Health Care Provision Fund or the Equity Plan. Over 69,000 persons from the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, and another 22,000 persons from the State Equity.”

Amegor added, “They are complementing each other. The beauty about the Basic Health Care Provision Fund and the State Equity Plan is that there is no co-contribution from the enrollee or patients whenever they go to the hospital.

“Those within the rural and the semi-urban and urban areas, the likes of the Ward Development Committee or the officer-in-charge of the facilities and even the Enigies and the Odionwere of the societies, they know those who are vulnerable within them.

“They are given a number to register vulnerable people so that every month we get a target of at least 20/20 per facility to make sure those living in desolate areas, those even living in urban and rural areas can get access to health care whenever and wherever they need this health care.

“If you look at the statistics of enrollment and when we call out for programmes and outreach for people to participate in their health care service, Edo North had consistently come top and so, one of the statistics that the digital agency has also drawn out and has also contained what you have said is that Edo North has a very high health-seeking behaviour even when manpower deficit is the same across board.”

He restated, “What we are doing is using that statistics to inform those in other senatorial districts to improve their health-seeking behaviour because what that generates or what it relates to is that for those who have health-seeking behavior, they have more longevity, their life expectancy is better, their quality of life is better and ultimately their productivity is better.”

Also, the State Coordinator, NHIA, Theodore Ehanire, expressed satisfaction over the contribution of the state government in keeping with its mandate to provide continuous health care assistance to vulnerable people in the State, including people living with disabilities.

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BREAKING: Rivers State House Of Assembly Gets New Speaker

Published

1 hour ago

May 8, 2024

Editor

The political crisis rocking Rivers State took a new dimension Wednesday evening as a new Speaker of the House of Assembly emerged.

It was gathered that Hon. Victor Oko Jumbo, a member loyal to Governor Sim Fubara, has been sworn in as the new Speaker.

More to come…

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Nollywood Veterans React To Death The New Masquerade’ Actress, Ovularia

Published

3 hours ago

May 8, 2024

Editor

Nollywood actors and actresses have reacted to the death of Madam Elizabeth Evoeme, who starred as Ovularia in the 80s TV sitcom ‘The New Masquerade’, is dead.

Reacting to her death, veteran actor, Jide Kosoko wrote: “We lost another gem though at a ripe age. I pray the almighty God grants her soul a peaceful rest. We worked together on ‘The New Masquerade.’

“I was a guest artiste at the time. She was just fantastic. May her soul rest in peace and may God continue to keep us that are still alive.

“Her virtue of discipline that has to do with keeping to call time, submitting to the directors’ wish at all time and other professional ethics she stood for, should be emulated by all other actors.”

Adebayo Salami, popularly known as “Oga Bello,” described the death of the actress as shocking.

He said, “We are all getting older but no one wants to die. We are going to miss her but her legacies still remain with us. We love her but God loves her most.”

Actor Fred Amata also expressed shock over the death of the actress