Ned Nwoko Emphasises Increased Investment In Health Sector

Published

2 years ago

April 30, 2024

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Ned Nwoko Emphasises Increased Investment In Health Sector—-Sen. Ned Nwoko (PDP-Delta) has emphasised the need for increased investment in the health sector to give Nigerians the best healthcare services.

He made the call on Monday in Abuja during the launch of an expanded Caroline Medical Centre.

Nwoko who is a member, Senate Committee on Primary Healthcare and Disease Control, said that such investments should not be in government hospitals alone, but private institutions also.

He also said that focus should be on training and upgrading medical personnel and to try to bring back those who emigrated for greener pastures.

Nwoko, representing Delta North Senatorial District, said “there is need to encourage medical experts who left the country for greener pastures to return and assist.

“Part of what I have decided to do is to sponsor a motion that all federal medical centres must be of high standard, we should be able to have a semblance of facilities in other countries.

“It does not cost too much to buy those equipment and we have very good and well-trained doctors.”

While launching the new facility, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, said the centre stands as a testament to the renewed focus on healthcare by the Federal Government.

Represented by Prof. Muhammad Mahmud, the Chief Medical Director (CMD), National Hospital Abuja (NHA), Pate listed investment in infrastructure, equipment, human resources and clinical governance systems as essential parts of the President’s agenda.

He said “this facility is more than just a building; it is a symbol of progress, a shining light in our fight against the burden of medical tourism and the high mortality rate associated with renal diseases that afflict our citizens.

“Caroline Medical Centre is a symbol of hope for Nigerians. It promises to provide world-class treatment right here at home, reducing the need for Nigerians to go abroad for medical care.

“This commitment to the well-being of Nigerians means access to better health, life-saving treatments, and a brighter future.

“By keeping this promise, the centre is helping to build a healthier, more prosperous Nigeria.”

He, however, said that to meet the target of health for all, Ministry of Health focused on improving the quality of governance in the health sector and improving population health outcomes by increasing the efficiencies of healthcare service delivery.

It would also ensure medical industrialisation by unlocking the value chains and prioritise health security, he added.

The CMD of the centre, Dr Elijah Miner, said that regarding treatment of kidney diseases, the cost of medical tourism is over one billion dollars.

According to him, it is a lot of money and the only way to reverse the trend is by having such centres.

“It requires our people to be engaged. Just like we have done this, you can imagine a private enterprise being able to do this and the government can do a lot more, so we look forward to that.”

Miner said that the centre, which started operations four years ago, carried out dialysis on over 1000 patients and also carried out about 100 kidney transplants.

On whether there would be some kind of partnership, he said government may not be able to provide funds for the private sector but could help by providing some kind of succour to patients.

“It will be for those that are having dialysis and those that are having transplants. Some countries are doing it so this is the way forward.

“The only way to subsidise is for us to start producing the consumables in Nigeria. If you cannot do that then you are left at the mercy of those that produce them and they have increased prices, so it has become extremely expensive.

“That is why once government comes in, what it can do is to shore up and support dialysis patients, which is the only way to help in the interim.

“Ultimately, we should produce our own consumables, do our own surgeries and hopefully produce our own dialysis machines.”

A patient on dialysis, Mr Itoro Out, said he was diagnosed of Chronic Kidney Disease in 2022 and since then, he had been on dialysis.

He said it had not been easy but it is something one has to deal with and manage.

“I am planning to have a transplant. The cost of managing the disease is very expensive, though some of us have families that are here for us but some people cannot, especially with the situation we are in Nigeria now, it can be very difficult.

“We urge government to subsidise the treatment the way HIV/AIDS is subsidised for both dialysis patients and people that have done transplant because if you do transplant, the drugs too are very expensive.

“Sometimes, you save up to N23 million to carry out the transplant and still live on drugs till death and these drugs are not cheap at all so they should be subsidised”, he added.

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Abia 2031: Competence Will Dictate My Successor, Says Governor Otti

Published

2 weeks ago

September 18, 2026

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Abia 2031: Competence Will Dictate My Successor, Says Governor Otti—-Gov. Alex Otti of Abia says he will neither be a godfather nor impose his successor on the state after serving his second tenure in 2031.

Otti spoke on Thursday in Umuahia, while receiving a former Social Democratic Party Gubernatorial Candidate, Mrs Ngozi Johnson-Chukwunenye, and her supporters into the Labour Party (LP).

He said that leadership succession should be based on identifying the most suitable person for the job, rather than perpetuating a “sit-tight” culture.

He said that the person who would succeed him would be better equipped to provide quality leadership to the people.

Otti said: “The most important thing you can give a people is good governance.

“And once people test good governance, it will be very difficult for them to allow you to take them back.

“So, if you are afraid that we will go back to Egypt, it will never happen and what I can assure you is that, by the time I’m done, the person who will succeed me will be better than me.

“I don’t want to be a godfather and I don’t tolerate godfathers.

“We will all sit down, look at everybody and say, who is the best person for this job and then all of us will agree and we will campaign for him.

“He will win and we will take a back seat.”

The governor also reiterated his earlier stance not to seek another elective position after completing his second tenure.

He said his administration’s focus was to provide good governance and create an environment, where younger people could emerge as capable leaders.

“We should stop this sit-tight. It’s only you. It can’t be only you.

“There are smarter, more trained, better-trained, better-equipped younger people; our children. We need to give them opportunity,” he said.

Otti said that his administration was already preparing younger people to take over leadership responsibilities through various initiatives, including the Abia Leadership Academy.

He said that over 1,080 young people, between the ages of 16 and 25, had recently graduated from the academy.

“You will see how smart our children are. So, these are the people that will take over from us.

“And they are being trained now for tomorrow; so we can never go back,” he said.

The governor also said the administration’s effort to improve governance and infrastructure would continue, in spite of criticism.

He argued that development could not be achieved in one day.

He said his administration had prioritised the restoration of Aba and Umuahia before extending its interventions to other parts of the state.

“We are now moving into the hinterlands, and we will continue until we reach everywhere; so nothing will stop us,” he said.

He thanked Johnson-Chukwunenye for joining the party and for remembering less privileged children, including pupils from the School for the Blind.

Otti said such gestures demonstrated concern for vulnerable members of society.

In a speech, the National Vice-Chairman of the party (Southeast), Mr Ishmael Onuoha, said the party’s motto aligned with the ideals expressed in the third stanza of the national anthem.

Onuoha described the party as one committed to the masses and hope for Nigerians.

In a remark, the LP Chairman in Abia, Mr Peter Azubuike, said the growing support for the party was a by-product of Otti’s good governance and performance.

Azubuike said the party was ready for the 2027 elections, urging members to prepare for polling-unit-based campaigns and ensure effective mobilisation at the grassroots.

In a speech, Johnson-Chukwunenye said that she had closely followed the Otti administration and was convinced by its efforts to clean, light up and restore dignity to Abia.

She said she decided to support Otti’s second-term bid because she believed his administration’s policies aligned with her vision of a government that remembers the poor and promotes equity.

She called for legislation on “continuity and completion” to ensure that successive administrations continued projects inherited from previous governments.

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BREAKING: After Historic Osun Victory, Adeleke Backs Tinubu for 2027 Re-Election

Published

1 month ago

August 16, 2026

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BREAKING: After Historic Osun Victory, Adeleke Backs Tinubu for 2027 Re-Election—-Fresh from securing a second term as Osun governor under the Accord Party, Ademola Adeleke has reaffirmed his support for President Bola Tinubu’s bid for another term in 2027.

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has reaffirmed his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s bid for re-election in 2027, shortly after securing another four-year term as governor of the state.

Adeleke made the declaration in his victory speech following his successful re-election in the August 15 governorship election, where he contested under the Accord Party after leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The governor’s renewed endorsement of Tinubu adds another significant dimension to his remarkable political journey. Adeleke won his first term as governor in 2022 on the PDP platform but subsequently moved to Accord ahead of the 2026 election, successfully defending his seat as an incumbent under his new party.

Adeleke Praises Tinubu After Election Victory

In his post-election remarks, Adeleke expressed appreciation to President Tinubu, who had called to congratulate him on his victory.

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The Osun governor praised the President for what he described as his role in ensuring that democracy continued to thrive, while acknowledging Tinubu’s congratulatory gesture following the election.

Adeleke’s comments represent a notable development given the political rivalry and tensions that characterized the build-up to the Osun election.

Before the poll, the governor had repeatedly called on the Federal Government and security agencies to ensure a free, fair and peaceful election. His campaign also exchanged accusations with the APC over the conduct of the electoral process and the role of federal authorities.

Renewed Support for Tinubu’s 2027 Ambition

Adeleke’s endorsement of Tinubu for 2027 is not entirely new.

The governor had previously declared his support for Tinubu’s re-election campaign before the Osun governorship election. In June, while formally launching his Accord Party re-election campaign, Adeleke described his support for the President as “unshaken and total.”

He again reaffirmed that position after winning the Osun election, emphasizing his continued backing for the President’s second-term ambition. Vanguard and Punch both reported the governor’s renewed endorsement following his victory.

Adeleke also described Tinubu as a son of Osun, further highlighting the personal and political connection he says exists between the President and the state.

Adeleke’s Historic Political Switch

The endorsement comes just days after Adeleke achieved a major political feat by retaining the Osun governorship despite switching parties.

The governor was elected in 2022 as a PDP candidate but later abandoned the party following a prolonged internal crisis. He subsequently joined Accord and secured the party’s ticket to contest the 2026 election.

His decision created considerable political uncertainty because he was defending his position as an incumbent governor without the PDP structure that had originally brought him to power.

Adeleke ultimately overcame the challenge, winning another term under Accord and strengthening his position as one of the country’s most prominent politicians outside the traditional major-party platforms.

Tinubu Congratulates Adeleke

President Tinubu has also congratulated Adeleke on his re-election, describing the result as a reflection of the will of the people.

The President said the outcome demonstrated that democracy continues to flourish in Nigeria and urged the governor to use his renewed mandate to serve the people of Osun State.

The development creates an interesting political dynamic ahead of 2027, with Adeleke now firmly positioned as an Accord governor who is publicly supporting the incumbent President’s re-election bid.

For Adeleke, the immediate priority will be delivering on the mandate he has just received from Osun voters. But his decision to publicly back Tinubu also signals that his political calculations extend beyond the state and into the increasingly important national contest ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

After securing a historic second term under Accord, Adeleke has now turned his attention toward the next political battle — throwing his weight behind Tinubu’s bid to remain President beyond 2027.

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