From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa

Bayelsa State Governor, Sen. Douye Diri has described as shocking the sudden demise of one of his predecessors, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (rtd).Olubolade, who was military administrator of the state from June 27, 1997 to July 9, 1998, died on Sunday, May 11, 2025.

Diri, who spoke during 163rd state executive council session in Government House, Yenagoa, said the news of his death was received with profound sadness by the government and the people considering Olubolade’s indelible contributions to the development of Bayelsa during the state’s formative years. A minute silence was observed by the state cabinet in honour of the late former administrator.The Bayelsa governor described Olubolade as selfless, an astute administrator and a man of exceptional humility.He particularly expressed sadness that late last year, the state celebrated Olubolade’s 70th birthday in Yenagoa and that he was full of life at the event.Diri said out of office, the former military administrator identified with the state through the years and was one of the key supporters of his administration.He extended the condolences of the government and people of the state to the Olubolade family and prayed to God to grant them and his loved ones the fortitude to bear the loss.

From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa

The Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) is set to sign contractual agreements with air carriers and ground handlers in June for the 2025 Pilgrimage Exercise to Israel, Jordan, Rome, Greece and Turkey.This was disclosed by the Executive Secretary of NCPC, Bishop Stephen Adegbite, during the financial bid opening for airlifting and ground handling services for the 2025 pilgrimage exercise on Tuesday in Abuja.

In a press statement signed by the Deputy Director and Head, Media and Public Relations Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, Celestine Toruka, Bishop Adegbite emphasized that transparency and openness are the hallmarks of his administration. ”We urge service providers to up their game by ensuring they put in their best efforts in rendering services to the Commission.Our corporate slogan, ‘Service and Satisfaction,’ cannot be compromised. We assure you that your labor of love will not be in vain.”He expressed satisfaction with the bid process, which followed due process in line with procurement procedures. “We will not cheat any service provider, and neither will they cheat the Commission,” he affirmed.On air carrier and five ground handlers qualified through the first bid opening process conducted by the Commission on April 2, 2025. Observers commended the Commission for upholding transparency, justice, and fair play.”NCPC remains committed to providing excellent services to pilgrims and ensuring a successful pilgrimage exercise”. The statement read.Meanwhile, the National Director, Mobilization and Contact, Nigeria Liberty Movement, NLM Alhaji Suleiman Yunusa on Tuesday says there is need for every stakeholders in Allied Peoples Movement, APM and Nigeria Liberty Movement to collaborate in a way that would see to the fruitfulness of the NLM political ideology.The call for collaboration was contained in a statement by the capacity leader that has been in the forefront of grass root mobilization for NLM during an official merger and release of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC certificate by APM to NLM in Abuja, on Tuesday, May 13th, 2025.The national director, while commending the wisdom of the leadership and stakeholders of APM to merge with NLM said, “as the historic event of today has put the necessary power in the hands of NLM to fully partake and participate in any future political activities in Nigeria, we now need to put NLM ideology of creating a new breed of leadership to full motion and be in a continual collaborative synergy that will see to the empowerment of the downtrodden.”He called for continued support and commitments of its mobilization team members, stakeholders and well-wishers across the country to go all out for grass root mobilization as this is a national call to action.Speaking further said, “I thank the Founder and the incumbent Chairman of the Allied Peoples Party, APM, Alhaji Muhammadu Musa Bagana, for his leadership and wisdom in merging with the Nigeria Liberty Movement, NLM.“I also thank the National Chairman, Ambassador Meshach Thompson, the National Director, Coalition, HRH, Ogah Attah Alhaji Tijani Musa and the National Director of Operation, Otunba Kingsly Adejumo for your sagacity and doggedness in seeing that the merger is a success”.“I also thanked each and everyone here that leaves whatever you are doing and be here today to witness this epoch-making event as it unfolds”.On his part, Alhaji Muhammadu Musa Bagana, Founder and the incumbent Chairman of the Allied Peoples Party, APM said it is time to focus and dump any selfish interest now that the merger has put the necessary political power in the hands of NLM.Bagana who was represented by APM National Organising Secretary/Personal Assistant to the Chairman, APM, Pastor Frank Oluwa said, “We are now full members of NLM and we ceased to operate as APM and I am saying this with full authority in the power vested on me.”“I have the full authority to speak here today on behalf of the National Chairman and I am ably representing him here today. And if you are in doubt, you can call him and confirm what somebody is saying now.”He further admonished the leadership of Nigeria Liberty Movement to make judicious use of the merger as the certificate is released to NLM on a platter of Gold.

From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa

Bayelsa State has recorded 98 percent coverage in the first round of the 2025 National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs) programme conducted from the 3rd to 6th of this month across the eight local government areas of the state.Ewhrudjakpo, who disclosed this at an enlarged meeting of the state’s taskforce on immunization in Government House on Tuesday, said the government’s ultimate target was to achieve 100 percent coverage in subsequent immunization campaigns.

The deputy governor expressed gratitude on behalf of the state government to the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Ministry of Health, the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), and other critical stakeholders for the feat achieved so far.He, however, urged them not to rest on their oars as much still has to be done for the state to achieve its target of 100 percent immunization coverage.Ewhrudjakpo, who underscored the need for early preparations ahead of the second round of 2025 NIPDs scheduled for July, assured that funds for the programme would be released not later than two weeks to its commencement.While assuring that the government would spare no effort towards realizing the set target, the Deputy Governor directed all council chairmen to flag off the second round of the 2025 NIPDs programme at any community other than their respective local government headquarters.He also told the LGA chairmen to meet with the various traditional rulers, school proprietors, and religious leaders in their areas to sensitize them on the importance of immunization and why they must play an active role.Senator Ewhrudjakpo reiterated his warning to parents, schools and churches who deprived their children of immunization, stressing that “thegovernment is serious about enforcing its public health law and executive order on compulsory immunization.”His words, “We have taken our immunization coverage up to 98 percent. But we want to take it to 100 percent this time around, and that is why we have convened this meeting.”Let me thank the WHO, UNICEF, NPHCDA, the ministry of health and all our partners for the feat achieved so far. But there is still room for improvement in the state’s coverage of health immunization.”To achieve our target, we need to start early preparations. For that, funds would be released two weeks before the take- off of the programme on July 7.”We are also going to make an upward review of the logistics to reflect the present economic realities in the country.”Detailed field reports from the exercise were presented by Dr Marcus Oluwadare of the WHO, and the Director of Disease Control, Bayelsa State Primary Healthcare Board, Dr Gbanaibulou Orukari, revealing that majority of the LGAs scored high percentage in the recent health immunization coverage.They commended the Deputy Governor for handling issues concerning health with utmost dispatch, but identified poor workload rationalization, data falsification and lack of commitment on the part of some personnel as challenges facing routine immunization in the state.According to Dr Oluwadare, “We commend the Deputy Governor of the state for flagging off the NIPDs and chairing all the state ERMs despite his tight schedule.”His Excellency has set a good record for other states to emulate. Bayelsa State was the only state to have full complements of her stakeholders in attendance during the April NIPDs in the whole of Nigeria.”The local government primary healthcare coordinators also took turns to brief the Deputy Governor on the outcomes of the NIPDs, highlighting drawbacks that needed to be addressed before the next round of the programme.The Commissioner for Health, Prof Seiyefa Brisibe, the Executive Secretary, state Primary Healthcare Development Board, Dr. Williams Appah and all the eight local government council’s chairmen attended the interactive meeting.