Metro

You Owe Edo People Explanation On State Of Central Hospital, EDOCSO Tackles Obaseki

Published

1 year ago

June 9, 2024

Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOCSO) has demanded explanation from Governor Godwin Obaseki the current state of the state-owned Central Hospital.

The CSO’s demand followed rumours making the rounds that the Obaseki-led administration in the state is on the verge of permanently shutting down the Central Hospital.

Recall that Obaseki, a few years ago demolished the Edo Central Hospital located in the centre of Benin City and relocated various units of the hospital to different hospitals and sister agencies, and thereafter started construction of a museum on the land.

The civil society members during their General Assembly held over the weekend, said if the planned closure comes to fruition, Edo will be the only state without state-owned Central Hospital.

EDOCSO, in a statement jointly signed by Leftist Austine Enabulele,
Interim Technical Executive Council (TEC) Chairman, and Leftist Grace Okike, interim TEC Secretary, and read during the General Assembly, the civil society members lamented that rather than improving on the hospital built with tax payers money, Obaseki has caused more damage to the hospital and has made it unaffordable for the masses it was initially built for.

According to them, all policies being implemented by Obaseki regarding the Central Hospital is a departure from the purpose the hospital was established over a century ago.

They said: “Most recently is the sharp increment of hospital bills, like case file which used to be N6000 (six thousand naira) has been increased to N15000 (fifteen thousand naira) this is just example of the increment that touches everything which has further contributed to the pains of the common man in Edo State.

“As we speak Edo state do not have Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in the state hospital which finally suggests that healthcare is gone and of no interest or importance to the government of the day.

“It should be noted that, our forebears established the central hospital in such a strategic location for easy access and affordability for the people.

“What the government led by Mr. Godwin Obaseki currently doing is a far departure from it, and this is anti-people, wicked and a devalue for the lives of Edo people and residents respectively.

“One would think the new hospital built using tax payers’ money by the former governor of Edo state, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole would have been equipped with modern health equipment as an expansion of the Edo Central h ospital to boost the government health facility in the state by this OBASEKI’s administration as at when he took over in 2016, instead it was surreptitiously privatized by him, which has become far from the reach and affordability of the poor.”

The civil society members, while rejecting “in its entirety the total close down of Edo Central Hospital and recent increase in Hospital bills of the average and poor Citizens in Edo State, using the Edo Central Hospital facility,” demanded a “reversal of all the astronomical increment of charges in the public hospital for easy access and affordability by commoners.”

They also demanded employment of Doctors “to cover the current shortage being experienced,” and “training and retraining of all medical personnel in the hospital.”

They warned and reminded Obaseki of the implication of his policy in the health sector on his candidate in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

Metro

Edo Police Arrest Doctor Over Woman’s Death During Caesarean Section

Published

12 hours ago

August 22, 2025

Editor

The Edo State Police Command has said that it arrested a medical doctor following the death of a woman during an operation at a private hospital in Uromi, the administrative headquarters of Esan North-East Local Government Area of the state.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, Moses Yamu, while confirming the arrest said that detectives were investigating the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death.

“I can confirm the arrest of the doctor, and the command’s detectives are also investigating the matter.”

Police identified the doctor as Festus Ogheghele of Dickson Medical Centre, Uromi.

He was said to have performed a Caesarean section on the deceased, Susan Omoye-Okporan, 36, on August 2, 2025.

It was gathered that the woman reportedly developed complications and died shortly after the procedure, though her baby survived.

Her bereaved family members accused the doctor of gross professional negligence, which prompted a police investigation.

A family source said that the doctor may have been careless while performing the surgery, noting that they were ready to pursue the case to the highest level.

“I am sure the doctor was careless. Performing a cesarean section is one of the easiest surgical operations due to advancement in technology. The family is ready to pursue the case to the highest level,” the source added.

Findings at the command headquarters in Benin revealed that operatives of the Homicide Section, State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), took over the case from Uromi police over two weeks ago.

It was further learnt that an autopsy had been conducted, and the result is awaiting interpretation by police medical experts to determine the next line of action.

Metro

NDLEA Arrests 65 Suspects In Abia, 7 Prosecuted, Convicted

Published

13 hours ago

August 22, 2025

Editor

The new Abia State Commandant of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Joseph Owoputi has disclosed that sixty five suspects were arrested by the Command between June and August 2025 with about 82 kilo gram of substances seized from them.

Owoputi who said his Command secured seven convictions within the period under review, disclosed twelve of the arrested suspects are currently being prosecuted.

He stated this on Wednesday, when he led a team of officials from his Command visit Abia State Governor, Alex Otti.

The new NDLEA Commandant also said thirty eight other individuals are undergoing counselling and rehabilitation in the Command’s facility.

Owoputi assured the Abia Governor that he would consolidate on the achievements recorded by his predecessor and solicited the assistance of the state government in providing them with operational vehicles for more efficient performance.

He further thanked the Abia Governor for the support he extended to the immediate past NDLEA Commandant in Abia, which he said, assisted the agency in the fight against drugs abuse and illicit drug transactions.

Responding to the new Abia NDLEA boss’ appeal, Governor Alex Otti approved two new Hilux vans for the agency and directed that NDLEA’S abandoned vehicles should be retrieved and fixed by the Abia State government.

Otti who called for tougher legislation against drug abuse and illicit drug dealers in Nigeria, lamented that drug abuse is destroying many young persons, including students.

Metro

Village Youths Capture Bandit During Midnight Attack In Benue

Published

17 hours ago

August 22, 2025

Editor

Gunmen suspected to be bandits launched an attack on Bigwa village in Mbayenge, Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State, in the early hours of Tuesday, August 19, 2025.

Witnesses said the attackers invaded the community around 2 a.m., but were resisted by local youths who mobilized to defend the village.

During the confrontation, one of the bandits was overpowered and captured, while others fled with injuries.

Several youths were also said to have sustained injuries in the clash.

The captured suspect has since been handed over to security agencies for investigation.

Community members praised the courage of the youths in standing up to the attackers, but appealed to government and security forces to step up protection in the area to prevent further assaults.