₦airaland Forum

This is a welcome development . Thanks to the Governor for doing the right thing.

Delta Beyond Oil DBO is a policy thrust that I love so much. It means self sustainable development without oil revenue. Let the State pursue this policy vigorously and it shall be well with us. Thanks to the Governor for this laudable vision.

This is a beautiful edifice. We do hope that subsequent administrations will make good use of it.

Thank God for the life of His Excellency. To God be all the glory.

Uduaghan on point. Kudos for the Umeh Road Project. We still look forward to the commencement of Emevor Orogun Road.

Work is at advanced stage at the much talked about Refinery Road Warri. The Contractors to the project ARC Construction Limited assured the Delta State Governor Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan during an inspection tour of the project. The Governor urged the contractors to speed up work before the rains set in.

Warri Industrial Park is On-going- Uduaghan

LAST week, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan was on a phone-in programme on DRTV Warri and spoke with a cross section of journalists and media practitioners.
Read on!

What is happening at the Warri Industrial Park Project?

It is just that our understanding of an industrial park was not properly explained. There are processes of getting an industrial park and some time before you started seeing something on ground; like in Lagos, for instance, it took about 10 years for them to even go to the site because it requires land issues, structural designs and all the studies that have to be done like EIAs (Environmental Impact Assessments) and others. And for us where land is a big issue, we acquired the land and some people took us to court … and we had to pay compensation and up till now we are still having challenges of taking over the land properly because some of the companies that were there and really have nothing to do with industrial park are refusing to relocate and they have also refused to take the compensation that was given to them. What they said is that they want to be part of the industrial park. Industrial park is not just a place where every company can be part of. It is specifically for manufacturing companies. We also have challenges of even the acquisition of the land due to the nature of the site. Two, most of those things we are dealing with now, if you noticed like the advertisement in the papers, we have already advertised for contractors to bid for infrastructures because the first thing you will see on ground is infrastructure. I think the bid will be opened by next week and in another three to four weeks the contractors will be named and after then, they will start coming to site and start some form of construction of infrastructure which is the first thing that you will see visible on ground in an industrial park.
Is it possible that the project will be completed before the end of your tenure?
In fact, the project will not be completed in my life time. It is usually an on-going project.

Governor Uduaghan is truly committed to the prompt and timely co plebeian of the Refinery Road dualisation project.

Kudos to the visionary leader Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan CON for his commitment to the development of Delta State.

We dey watch the situation.

Encomiums as Ochei Empowers Constituents.
The Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Engr. Victor Ochei FNSE today at the Pilgrims Baptist School IseleUku empowered over 1,000 women across the 10 wards in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State. Speaking at the occasion, The Governor of Delta State HIs Excellency Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan CON called for more empowerments for the people in order to alleviate the poverty in the land.
In his welcome address, the Speaker Rt. Hon Engr Victor Ochei said the empowerment program is a fulfilment of his electoral promise to the people of his constituency.
Present at the ceremony were Secretary to the State Government Comrade Ovuozuorie Macaulay, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Senior Political Adviser to the Governor Chief Ighoyota Amori JP, the state PDP Chairman Barrister Peter Nwoboshi, members of the state executive council, honorable members of the State House of Assembly and other dignitaries.

Oshiomhole @ 60 Birthday Symposium
Dignitaries at the 60th birthday Symposium of the Comrade Governor of Edo State, His Excellency Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshomhole Mni. His Excellency the Governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan CON, His Excellency the Chairman of NGF Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, His Excellency the Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, The Celebrant Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Business Mogul and Africa's Richest Man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote GCON, Former EFCC Chairman Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and others.

The Honourable Minister of Works Arc. Mike Oziegbe Onolememen visited His Excellency the Governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan (CON) at Government House, Asaba.
The visited afforded the Minister the opportunity to showcase the Project map for the construction of the 2nd Niger Bridge which has been awarded to the Julius Berger Construction Company. The Minister told the Governor that the 40 km approach to the bridge was redesigned to take traffic away from the center of Onitsha that used to create gridlock for travelers and assured that it will be delivered before the end of 2015.
In his response, His Excellency Governor Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan commended the Federal Government for approving the construction of the 2nd Niger Bridge and lauded the efforts of the Minister of Works in making the project a reality.
The Minister was accompanied at the visit by Julius Berger Nigeria Plc Managing Director Engr. Wolfgang Goetsch as well as Service Chiefs.

Governor Uduaghan Inaugurates Delsu Governing Council
His Excellency Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan (CON) today 15th March, 2013 at the Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba inaugurated the Governing Council of the Delta State University, Abraka.
The Governor charged the Chairman and members to fashion out ways to improve the university. In his acceptance speech on behalf of other members the chairman of the Governing Council Mr Tony Elumelu (CON) said " This is a call to duty and we will give our best to make the university a world class citadel of learning". My personal belief is that, "What is above the ground is more valuable than what is beneath the ground" which means that brain power is more valuable than natural resources.
The Chairman and members of the Governing Council are as follows.
1. Mr Tony Elumelu- Chairman
2. Mr Jite Okoloko- Member
3. Professor Dafe Otobo- Member
4. Professor ( Mrs) Ahbor ighorodje- Member
5. Dr Ikoyo Eweto- Member
6. Dr ( Mrs) Beatrice Omeni - Member
7. Dr Bright Okogu - Member
8. Professor Sam Pabor-Member

Governor Uduaghan Inaugurates Delsu Governing Council
His Excellency Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan (CON) today 15th March, 2013 at the Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba inaugurated the Governing Council of the Delta State University, Abraka.
The Governor charged the Chairman and members to fashion out ways to improve the university. In his acceptance speech on behalf of other members the chairman of the Governing Council Mr Tony Elumelu (CON) said " This is a call to duty and we will give our best to make the university a world class citadel of learning". My personal belief is that, "What is above the ground is more valuable than what is beneath the ground" which means that brain power is more valuable than natural resources.
The Chairman and members of the Governing Council are as follows.
1. Mr Tony Elumelu- Chairman
2. Mr Jite Okoloko- Member
3. Professor Dafe Otobo- Member
4. Professor ( Mrs) Ahbor ighorodje- Member
5. Dr Ikoyo Eweto- Member
6. Dr ( Mrs) Beatrice Omeni - Member
7. Dr Bright Okogu - Member
8. Professor Sam Pabor-Member

Delta is in safe hands. Let's be patient with His Excellency the Governor of Delta State Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan (CON) to enable him deliver more dividends of democracy.

If you talk about provisions made for Housing I agree with you that it's inadequate while the N9 billion provided for Administrative building is uncalled for. The provisions made for the Warri Industrial Park is in order. Provisions for sewage is necessary but I think the amount allocated is high though. The Provision for the Leisure Park and ICT Park is in order but for Osubi Airport is not necessary. If I were Governor, after taking care of all recurrent items, I will plough in the remainder on roads, drainages and bridges and buildings.

Thank you Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan (CON) . Keep raising the bar and it will be well with ou state. God bless you sir.

Dr Uduaghan built Asaba Airport, completed the Olomu bridge, constructed over 1000 kilometers of road, lighted up our streets, reorganized our transport system, remodeled and renovated our public schools, Delta has the largest workforce all over the country, turned Asaba into a beautiful city. His administration pays bursary and scholarship up to Ph.D level. I can go on and on. Our health sector in the state is the best in the country.

Please I suggest you channel this complain to the present Commissioner for Works Hon Chief Funkekeme Solomon. He can do something on this.

You are a big liar, no Governor will ever make such statements.

Worried by the perceived neglect of the Urhobo Nation by the Goodluck Jonathan led administration, and the dwindling political fortune, the Urhobo youths have been called upon by Comrade Rex Anighoro, an Urhobo youth leader, to take their destiny in their hands and join forces together to wrestle back the lost glory of the Urhobo Nation.

This is coming on the heel of the call on the President by Chief (Maj-Gen.) Patrick Aziza (Rtd.), President General of the Urhobo Progress Union to appoint an Urhobo son/daughter into the federal executive. council in order to correct the perceived neglect.

According to him, “The Urhobo nation has become a laughing stock, greatly derided by friends and enemies, the urhobo people strong, intelligent and creative but lacking in common purpose. The urhobo nation which is bigger than over 70 independent nations has lost her leadership role in the Niger Delta, the Nigerian enterprise and African project.”

Anighoro lamented that with the Urhobo greats fast declining with no adequate and ready replacement; it is high time that the youths rose to the occasion by staking a claim to reclaiming its lost glory.

In his words, “ Today, as the first generation of Urhobo greats, like the Oshues;  Mowoes, Salubis, Okumagbas, Dafinone, Ovie whiskeys, Akpores,  Ibrus, Brumes, and the rank and file gets more depleted, I fear if there are adequate replacements.” 

Some Crucial Urhobo Losses
According to Obiomah, below are some of the losses suffered by the Urhobo in Warri.
a) The creation of the Midwest Region from Western Region was dear to Urhobos who put their body and soul into the effort to have it created. Itsekiris opposed it. See "The Guardian", Sunday supplement 23rd August, 1987, which graphically compares Itsekiri conduct in 1963 and 1987. Although Midwest Region was created, Delta State was not created in 1976, 1987 and in 1989. In 1987, page 6 of the Guardian of Friday, September 18th, 1987 may have contributed to failure, a case of disunity among Urhobos. But the Itsekiri did behave true to pattern, attacking Urhobo support for the creation of the state for fear as they claimed of Urhobo domination.

b) Over the years only Itsekiris have held political appointments at state and Federal Government level to represent Warri. In the result indigenous Urhobos of Warri have been sort of flotsam and jetsam or gypsies who do not belong. And that is the same image shared by other Urhobos.
c) The first governor of the Midwest Region was an Urhoboman but he had to step down for Chief Dennis Osadebey to be Premier while an Itsekiri became Attorney General and Minister of Justice. Also an Urhoboman was speaker of the Midwest House of Assembly but an Itsekiri man was more or less awarded the position of Permanent Secretary as well as the Olu of Warri becoming the permanent Vice-Chairman of the State Council of Chiefs. Did Urhobos who worked hard for the creation of the Midwest Region benefit any more than the ltsekiris? All in all Urhobos lost.

Unnecessary Competition among the Urhobos
According to Edafe 2012,   Urhobo had several opportunities to control power and be feared in the state and even beyond. It had the opportunity to teach Gov Uduaghan a bitter political lesson and send fears across the spine of every politician and political pundit and at once end the cries of marginalization. It had a candidate in the person of Chief Great Ogboru that was generally accepted across the state but for the treachery and personal gain over Urhobo collective gain, our Urhobo politicians wasted those opportunities. Some of them had judged that instead of Ogboru to be in power and they would not likely walk the corridor of power, it is better Uduaghan continues whether good or bad. This is the bedeviling wickedness of the Urhobo man. If those, Urhobo politicians fought for, had our advantage, Urhobo would be second class citizens for lifetime. If you doubted me, then go to Benue State and ask about the experience of the Idoma in the hands of the Tiv. No political class will fear a greed devastated majority like Urhobo. Except the mindset and political approach is changed, Urhobo will continue to grope behind minorities in the new order – especially as Magege’s model recognized that election could be won without her so-called majority vote.

Urhobo politicians cannot stake anything for Urhobo collective good. If they were good politicians that actually want Urhobo to control political power in the state, what they could have done prior to the last election, was to form a secret alliance with Ogboru at the wee hours to the elections to sabotage the rigging plot of Uduaghan in favour of Urhobo. By that, Uduaghan would have been given a shocker of his life as Gov Ikedi Ohakim of Imo. When Deltans and indeed the PDP would have seen that kind of unanimous politicking and unfaltering patriotism on the part of the Urhobo politicians, Urhobo would been feared in subsequent elections and seen to be prepared to control political power in the state. Thereafter, many entreaties both from the Federal Government and PDP would have come her way unsolicited for. Unfortunately, Urhobo does not have such caliber of politicians with selfless and patriotic spirits to take such pro-people and pro-democracy bold steps. They feared being in the opposition. For them, opposition is the road to irrelevance and poverty. They cannot understand that opposition makes democracy the best form of government. Lagos State, since 1999 is in the opposition. Is there any PDP state that is feared or can rank shoulder with Lagos? Opposition makes Bola Tinubu thick, a hero and political demagogue. Our politicians obviously need political upgrade.

Until Urhobo makes democracy to work and make her majority vote to decide election winners in the state, we are not good politicians but clanging cymbal. In every democracy, there are population density areas known to determine election winners. In the U.S areas like New York, New Jersey, Los Angeles, Florida, Ohio, etc. are feared and honored for their high vote potentials. Abusively, in our own Urhobo scenario, election is anyhow. One of their captains said, “It is better to be a king in hell than to be a slave in heaven”. This, alternatively put, meant it is better to roam around in Uduaghan’s government than stay outside Government under Ogboru. Paradoxically, this is the operational political philosophy of those who rated themselves as Urhobo political leaders. What greatness can Urhobo achieve when politicians with these kinds of debilities, awful and damaging mindset are on the saddle? But only the fool cares less about life in hell. The biblical rich fool trivialized and underestimated the calamity in hell until he landed in hell. He never wished that his living brothers should join him in hell. Though he was a first class king in hell yet wanted Lazarus, a slave in heaven to help with a finger dip quantity of water to quench his taste. That is the nature of life in hell. Urhobo politicians, I’m sure are not enjoying their kingship in hell either. Hell is the same everywhere. Their lamentations and many cries of marginalization abound in the newspapers. They lament daily about how President Jonathan and Gov Uduaghan marginalized them incurably. They have no solution to these marginalizations. I know some of them that were worshipped as commissioner of commissioners, political Jesus, governor behind the Governor that are now ordinary advisers to Gov Uduaghan, a man they once despised among the ranks as a barren Nazareth. Isn’t that hellish? But I trust Uduaghan. I don’t know how many times in a month he consults them for advice on state matters. Urhobo politicians have a resemblance of power but are floaters and have no power of their own to decide on anything good may be only to rig election in Urhobo land.

Urhobo politicians don’t have back-men or stabilization force. Once they fall, they fall flat to the ground. They don’t appreciate even helpful criticism and their tactics have been to recruit fuddy-duddies as loyalists that they could hush down at the slightest provocation. Their team lacks connection, diplomacy and intelligence to stand in the days of calamity. They believe they will forever be up. Every true leader looks beyond the gains of office to get the best men. Sadly, in Urhobo land, politicians believe the best men are not loyal and would overshadow them in due time or ask question when there is no idea, initiative or programme that requires loyalty. Urhobo has not got its politics right. Magege wants her to concur to the PDP. In a recent interview he said, “Delta is a mono-political party state. No other party would win election in Delta State”. This is gross misdemeanor mixed with political stupidity.  There is no democracy that is mono-political party except in Magege’s contraption. No majority can become powerful by been apologetic to a political party as Magege wanted. The fear of a nation is the fear of its strength in warfare. Urhobo can indeed control political power in the state but not by Magege’s prescription but by positioning itself to allow its advantageous majority vote to decide election winners – I mean by allowing patriotism to rise above greed or allowing her vote to be breathtakingly waited upon to speak doom or victory in every election. In situation where Urhobo politicians unsavagely ruined her political fortune in order to confer relevance on minorities, Urhobo will remain marginalized. It behooves on Urhobo to make democracy work in Delta State. A wise majority would do so. Election rigging and result falsification can only make minority a false giant. Delta is waiting on Urhobo to take the lead towards a peoples’ democracy. I do not agree with those who blame Urhobo political woes on our republican nature. Republicanism only allows for independent thought development and judgment, it does not ostracize a sense of group cohesion and pursuit of collective aspiration. I also do not agree with those who think Uduaghan has dwindled Urhobo political fortune. This is shallowness. Urhobo political fortune is not in the hand of Uduaghan to determine. Urhobo political fortune lies with the Urhobo man himself. No one would expect Uduaghan to surrender power in a jiffy. He lives in Nigeria where nobody voluntarily surrenders power especially where the discretion for a second term exists. Like Uduaghan, Gov. Ohakim of the PDP rooted for a second term in Imo but the strong will of a resolute and enlightened political class who knew the essence of government brushed him out to lick his wounds – arrogance and wickedness. Uduaghan was only a strategist who found some garrulous Urhobo politicians as hand tools to achieve his end. Uduaghan did not rig election in Ethiope West, snatch ballot boxes in Sapele nor frustrated voting in Ughelli and other Urhobo LGAs. It was Urhobo politicians who are wise in their own eyes, who gauge themselves as political experts whereas are party bigots playing lily-belly politics of who becomes councilor, LG chairman or Assembly member did. They are Urhobo political leaders in the PDP yet don’t know how people become Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, parastatal Heads, agency Directors and DGs and Presidential aides in Abuja.

Urhobo problem is the greed of our politicians, their selfishness, naivety, narrow mindedness and sense of betrayal for personal gain. There is a serious need for them to moderate their irritating party politics, desperation for power retention and sustenance of narrow selfish interest. It was Chief K. K.Omokri, Vice President, UPU Rivers State who asked the question, “How can members of one political party (PDP) be an Urhobo political congress? Where else have you seen that happen? There is no Igbo political congress but one Ohaneze Ndigbo; No Yoruba consultative forum but one Afenifere and no Hausa political forum but one Arewa. The UPU has to urgently stem the trend. Any meaningful Urhobo political congress ought to be one that is pro-Urhobo with its membership composition cutting across party divides and its leadership duly elected” he said. “Those who profess ethnic interest don’t tie themselves to political parties such that the collapse of their party does not adversely affect their ethnic interest. They constantly read the signs as to where public ovation tilt and align their ethnic interest” Omokri added. Our politicians have proved incapable of drawing a line between partisanship and patriotism. They glibly talk about the Urhobo interest but have a ruinous heart.

Let no one misinterpret me as an ethnic jingoist, though have no apology for that, as anyone could see that even the Northern Governors most of which PDP, are beginning to root for Northern Presidency in 2015. I am a true democrat – one who strongly believes that anyone’s quest to rule over another must be by consent and approval. I have no pact with the imposition of candidates or forceful rule over others. That happens only amongst animals. I have no problem with anybody becoming Governor in Delta State but that desire can only be by the consent of the people and not by imposition.

The issue of making democracy work, good governance and credible elections in Delta State is not one to be left in the hand of power-hungry politicians. If democracy succeeds in the state, Urhobo stands to gain more but if the barbarism and agberoism continues it looses more too. It is time the UPU should wake up and call to order our politicians. Chief Charles Obule made this appeal to the UPU long ago. He said, “The UPU should regulate Urhobo politicians’ reckless use of the Urhobo name” that are visibly used to undo Urhobo.

Our kings have a role to play. Government gifts and staff of office should not tuck them in or blind them to the shenanigans of the Urhobo politicians and ills in our society. They need to lend a strong voice to the call for political morality in the state. Urhobo politicians have derailed; none of us can claim ignorance of that point and somebody has recommended moral excursion for them. They need to see how democracy works elsewhere. At a time where different geopolitical zones are consolidating and angling for power, Magege is calling for a debate with Amori. At least I can agree that we are active and powerful only when it is Urhobo vs Urhobo war. What achievement will Magege’s debate bring to Urhobo? Whose interest is it meant to serve? Magege, should rather challenge Delta North to a debate over 2015. I canvass for a democracy that will secure a future for our children, keep society safe for them and prospers their labours.

The way forward
As observed above, the Urhobos lack replacement for their leaders and this is happening because the Urhobo leaders keep recycling and projecting people old enough to be grand fathers for a position as Chairman Local Government Transition Committee while their counterparts in other Senatorial Districts are projecting relatively young people. 

The future of any nation lies in the youths and if the Urhobo Nation is to come out of her present political comatose, a change in approach is highly recommended.

Strategic and Sustainable Health Development in Delta State

Delta State under the leadership of His Excellency Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan (CON) has continued to score vital landmark poits in her quest to improve the Health condition of the people of the state.

As at 2012, Delta State has well over 65 Government Hospitals with over 253 Medical Doctors , 53 Consultants, 19 Dental Officers and several Nursing cum Health Officers. Delta State is reputed to be the state with the highest number of Medical Doctors in the payroll of the state.

Free Maternal Health Care Programme.
This programme was initiated by His Excellency Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan (CON) in 2007 and it entails free treatment and drugs for pregnant women from conception to delivery. This programme has endeared the Governor to many Deltans including the writer whose wife has put to bed twice in a Government Hospital in Delta State free of charge.

Free Under Five Health Care Programme
This programme was initiated by His Excellency Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan (CON) in 2007 and it entails free treatment and drugs for children below the age of five years. 

Maternal Mortality Rate
As a result of the various free health Care programmes embarked upon by the State Government, the MMR has dropped from 456/100,000 births  in 2008 to 221/100,000 births in 2011 as against a national MMR at 545/100,000 live births.

Delta State University Teaching Hospital  Delsuth-Oghara
Since the inauguration of the Hospital, it has witnessed several medical breakthroughs including the knee cap replacement and recently a memorandum of understanding with a foreign Hospital to enable her perform kidney transplants in Nigeria. 
The Hospital has graduated 2 sets and about to graduate the third set of Doctors who are already on various House Jobs across the state and country.
When the Uduaghan Administration came to power in 2007, the infrastructural development of the hospital was at 85 % completion while the administration completed it he structures and has so far spent Over N4 billion in equipping the hospital to international standard.

Other Giant Strides in the Health Sector
The State Government is building a world class Maternal Child Care Centre at the Central Hospital Warri and also rehabilitating the Eku Hospital to an international standard and the Hospital has been tipped to be an international centre for Family Planning.
Government is also committed to complete the Okpanam Hospital started by Former Governor James Ibori. According to sources from the state ministry of health, the Okpanam Hospital is to be remodeled and reshaped to meet modern standards and plans are underway to contract it to a renowned firm of hospital Construction and that adequate funding has been made available to complete the project in 2013 fiscal year.
In recognition of these giant strides in the health sector, His Excellency Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan (CON) was recently honored as a Fellow of SOGON at the 46th AGM & Scientific Conference of the Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria held at Abakaliki the Ebonyi State Capital.
Worthy of commendation is also the appointment of a seasoned Medical Doctor, Dr Joseph Otumara as the Honourable Commissioner for Health Delta State.

Challenges before the Health Sector in Delta State
Despite the huge success recorded, there are several challenges ranging from inadequate staffing to high wage bills. As observed, salaries and emoluments of health workers are usually very high. 
For instance, the Abraka Hospital has two Doctors and one Pharmacist. The Nurses are inadequate hence the Chief Matron of the hospital is made to run shifts. The story is the same in virtually all the hospitals across the state. I urge His Excellency to look into the area of manpower shortage in the Hospitals since the people are now leveraging on the benefits of the Free Health Care Programmes in the State.

Governor Uduaghan Presents 2013 Budget.

Delta State Governor Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan (CON) has presented a budget estimate of N398 billion for the 2013 fiscal year to the Delta State House of Assembly for consideration and approval. The breakdown of the budget shows that N145.94 representing 36.6% while N252 billion representing 63.4% will be spent on capital expenditure. In his budget speech, the Governor said the main objective of the 2013 budget is to drive Delta Beyond Oil, Job creation and completion of all ungoing road projects in the state.
Sources of fund: the 2013 budget will be funded from the following sources Internally Generated Revenue IGR N61.44 billion, Statutory allocation N198.5billion and 
N126 billion is expected from other capital receipts. The 
Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission DESOPADEC is to get N36.5 billion.

The Speaker, Rt Hon. Engr. Victor Onyekachi Ochei FNSE thanked the Governor for the prompt presentation of the budget and also commended the Executive for making Capital Expenditure more than the recurrent expenditure which is an indication that government is ready to improve on infrastructural development in the state. The Speaker assured that the budget will be given prompt attention.

The Delta State free Maternal Health Care is working wonders which has led to a lower Maternal Mortality Rate MMR of 456 per 100,000 live births in 2008 as against the National MMR of 1,100 per 100,000 live births.
As at November 2011, the free maternal health care programme had recorded a total antenatal booking of 193,888, routine ANC of 631,457, Postnatal Care of 25,866, vaginal deliveries 76,589, Caesarean Sections 9,537, live births 84,440, Perinatal deaths 3,628 and Maternal deaths 329. The MMR in the state dropped from 456/100,000 live births in 2008 to 221/100,000 in 2011 and the HIV prevalence amongst pregnant women from 3.6% in 2008 to 2.8% in 2011.
These results are not surprising as Delta State has the highest number of Consultant Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in her employment compared to other states. It is in view of this outstanding statistics that Dr Fred Achem President of SOGON presented the Fellowship Award of the Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria to His Excellency Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan (CON) for his sterling contributions to the reduction of Maternal Mortality Rate in Delta State at the 46th Annual General Meeting/Scientific Conference of the Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria SOGON Abakaliki-Salt City 2012. Theme: Challenges in Managing Gynaecological Malignances in Resource Poor Setting.

God bless His Excellency the Governor of Delta State.

This is good. God bless His Excellency Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan (CON)

Upgrading the Osubi Airport is not the challenge but the fund required to fund it considering that there is strong need and demand for infrastructural development?

The Financial Implications of Managing the N43,000 IDPs in Delta State.
By Nelson Egware

When the floods came late last month, no one expected that it will get to this magnitude it has taken so far. As at today, over 43,000 people have been displaced across the state and are presently being camped at the 18 Rehabilitation Centres across the state.

The financial implication of feeding these IDPs on a daily basis is quite a huge burden on the finances of the state and we can't but pray for the floods to recede very fast so that the IDPs can get back on their feet and fend for themselves.

For analysis sake, If the IDPs were to be fed at an estimated cost of N200 per meal it will cost a total of N8.6m per meal and given that they will be fed up to 3 times daily then it will amount to N8.6m *3 which amounts to N25.8m per day. Given that we have 30 days in a month, then we are expecting to spend N25.8*30 which amounts to N774m.

From the analysis above, if the floods do not recede on time and the state is to provide for them in the next 3months then we will be looking N2.322billion. This amount is just for feeding alone, other logistics not inclusive.

I want to appreciate the Delta State Government led by His Excellency Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan (CON) and other political office holders, NGOs, Churches, Philantropists and other well meaning Nigerians for their kind donations cum contributions in ensuring that the displaced persons are well rehabilitated. We call for more concerted effort in the management of the camps to ensure that complains of diversion of relief materials are nipped in the bud. The challenge of resettling the IDPs after the floods is the main task ahead and we welcome His Excellency's charge on the Committee and the Scholars from the Delta State University Abraka to fashion out ways of offering better resettlement for the IDPs in the post flood era.

God bless Delta State and may affliction never rise again a second time.

Thank you for the assurances Your Excellency. And kindly give DLA the much needed empowerment to fix some of the roads. God bless Delta State.