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

Published

2 years ago

May 8, 2024

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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JUST IN: EFCC Declares Ex-Bayelsa Governor Timipre Sylva Wanted

Published

35 minutes ago

November 10, 2025

Editor

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared Timipre Sylva, the former Bayelsa state governor, wanted.

A statement on Monday by Dele Oyewale, the EFCC spokesperson, said Sylva, who also served as minister of state for petroleum resources, is wanted in connection with an alleged case of conspiracy and dishonest conversion of $14,859,257.

The anti-graft agency urged anyone with useful information about his whereabouts to contact any of its offices or the nearest police station.

“The public is hereby notified that TIMIPRE SYLVA, a former Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, and former Governor of Bayelsa State, whose photograph appears above is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in an alleged case of Conspiracy and Dishonest Conversion of $14,859,257 – part of funds injected by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) into Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited for the construction of a Refinery,” the statement reads.

“Sylva, 61, is from Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. The notice follows a November 6, 2025 warrant issued by [a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos].

“Anybody with useful information as to his whereabouts should contact the Commission in its Ibadan, Uyo, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Benin, Makurdi, Kaduna, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Gombe, Port Harcourt, or Abuja offices, via 08093322644, e-mail info@efcc.gov.ng, or the nearest police station.”

In October, soldiers reportedly raided Sylva’s residences in Abuja and Bayelsa, arresting his brother amid allegations linking the former Bayelsa governor to a failed plot to overthrow the Bola Tinubu administration.

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Julius Bokoru, special assistant on media and public affairs to Sylva, confirmed the raid on Sylva’s residence, but said the claim was politically motivated.

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‘Why We Won’t Commemorate Saro-Wiwa, Other Fallen Heroes’

Published

5 hours ago

November 10, 2025

Editor

President /CEO Ogoni Liberation Initiative, Dr Fabeke Douglas, has stated categorically that they won’t commemorate November 10 when Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight innocent environmental activists were unjustly executed for advocating justice for their people.

Fabeke, in statement made available to The Guardian in Abuja, explained it’s due to numerous threat messages they received, and in the light of the planned attack when over 1,000 individuals gathered for prayer, which involves security personnel from the Bori division held two months ago.

Also, a former delegate of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) at the United Nations, John Idamkue, has urged President Bola Tinubu to wipe away the tears of Ogoni people in Rivers State

Idamkue, an environmental public policy consultant and former trusted aide to the late Ken Saro-Wiwa, made the appeal in a statement in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Sunday.

He lamented that successive Nigerian governments abandoned Ogoni ethnic nationality and failed to address issues which the late environmental activist, Saro-Wiwa, advocated for.

This is as Fabeke regretted that the heinous incidents that transpired on that day was an unprecedented attack in Africa’s and the world’s history, where they gathered for the innocent environmental activists and to pray for God’s intervention in Ogoniland and Niger Delta region in general.

“Many have inquired about the events we are organizing to commemorate this day”.

“We wish to inform the public that we will not observe the day to share the ideology of Ken Saro-Wiwa and other fallen heroes with few important diplomatic leaders outside Nigeria.”

The OLI President declared that this incident will continue to remain fresh in their minds, and they are awaiting the police report on the cause of this grievous attack, which, but for divine intervention, would have resulted in loss of lives.

“Upon personal investigation, I discovered that numerous individuals were involved, including some whom I hold in high esteem. The incidents leading to the manipulated judgment against Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight others were orchestrated by a high-level conspiracy involving evil conspirators from Ogoni.”

According to Dr Fabeke, these groups of people collaborated with those interested solely in exploiting Ogoni resources, rather than promoting the development of its people.

Explaining further, he maintained, “In this regard, we hereby announce to all members of the Ogoni Liberation Initiative to remain calm, as the organisation will not host any public events until we obtain answers regarding the events of September 27, 2025.

“We advise all members to continue praying and trusting in God to provide unexpected answers that will guarantee sustainable freedom for a better society. We have withdrawn from participating in public gatherings related to Ogoni issues until this matter is properly addressed.”

He therefore expressed concern that numerous young individuals have been unknowingly recruited into this evil circle, enticed by fleeting gains that cannot fulfill their destinies, but we are scared of their future. We pray that God will open their eyes and have mercy upon them.

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Why I Don’t Drink, Smoke – Actress Sunshine Rosman

Published

6 hours ago

November 10, 2025

Editor

Popular Nollywood actress, Sunshine Rosman has revealed that she doesn’t drink alcohol or smoke.

The movie star explained that she has a “natural highness” and doesn’t need to indulge in alcohol, cigarettes or illicit substances to enhance her energy.

Speaking in a recent episode of the Open Up podcast, Rosman shared that people are often amazed by how hardworking she is and her energy at parties despite not indulging in alcohol or illicit substances.

“There was a time I said I wanted to be sustaining myself from acting alone and gigs were coming but I felt empty. I felt like I was always searching for something to complete myself,” she said.

“People often ask me what I drink after seeing my videos. I don’t drink. I don’t smoke either. But guess what? If we are at a party, I would be more turnt than anybody in that room.

“I went to film in Enugu and the production team organised cast members and crew party -and I love celebrating with cast and crew members, especially when you created a beautiful body of work.

“Those are the kind of parties I like to be at, not randomly at a Lagos club. And we were dancing and partying, if you see me in those videos, I was like, ‘Jesus, who is this girl?’

“Somebody asked me what I drank, I said, ‘Nothing.’ I don’t drink anything. I don’t need anything to influence me. I have all the happiness and highness that I want inside myself. God has given it to me freely. I don’t need to take anything to influence me,” the actress added.