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Dr Betta Edu ‘s Financial Dealings, Where It All Started.

Published

2 years ago

January 10, 2024

Charles Flames

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By Duke Imandu

When I first saw the accusations and counter-accusations against Dr. Betta Edu, the Honourable Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, the first thing that came to my mind was to look into her trajectory down to her pre-ministerial position era. I will briefly tell you what I found out.

But before that, let me clear the table for this public discussion by reiterating in clear terms that Dr. Betta Edu is not being accused of squandering, stealing or “eating” public funds, rather, the whole outcry is that she approved the sending of the project money meant for the vulnerable Nigerians in Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Ogun and Lagos States to a private account which has since been found out to belong to the project’s accountant. That option became necessary being that the grant project was to be cash-in-hand since most of the beneficiaries are unbanked.

Looking at the track record of Dr. Edu, the smearing storyline of misappropriation is neither here nor there. As a medical doctor who would rather prefer rendering humanitarian services with her personal resources and professional skills, she would do more with public funds.

As a missionary, her father didn’t only instil discipline but the life of a humanitarian to the young Betta. With diligence and honesty, she grew to enviable ranks both in her medical profession and politics. In 2013, as the Medical Officer of Health in her state, Cross River, she was put in charge of the Staff Clinic. She achieved so much including reorganising and strengthening health policies within the Primary Health Care Department in 2014.

In 2018, she emerged as the Vice Chairman of the Forum of all CEOs of Primary Health Care Agencies and Boards in Nigeria. While she held sway, Dr. Edu reformed national policy decisions for Primary Health Care development in Nigeria and collaborated with the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency to ensure full implementation of the Primary Health Care Under One Roof policy in all 36 states and FCT in Nigeria. She advocated regularly to the President, National Assembly and key stakeholders to influence the institutionalisation and full implementation of key health policies, particularly the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).

In 2015, she became the Special Adviser on Community Health to the Executive Governor of Cross River State, Prof. Ben Ayade. In this, she made so many landmark achievements including facilitating partnerships locally and internationally. In 2016, she became the first Director General of Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (CRSPHCDA) and up until 2019, she facilitated the creation of Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency and the enactment of the Agency’s establishment Law, the creation of Cross River State Health Insurance Scheme and the enactment of the Agency’s establishment Act, Produced the first ever Minimum Service Package for health care in the State, Revitalised over 200 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) in line with the PHC Revitalisation policy of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, Constructed 60 New PHCs to promote equitable access to primary care in unreached/underserved communities.
Then, in 2019, she became the Commissioner for Health, Cross River State which she held till March 2022. She established partnerships with local and international development partners and mobilised over 10 million USD into the state health system to support strategic investments in Resilient Systems for Sustainable Health (RSSH) and quality healthcare service coverage.

When the daredevil COVID-19 surfaced, Dr. Edu was appointed as the Chairman of the Cross River State COVID-19 Response Taskforce and with her leadership and core technical skills successfully coordinated the Cross River State COVID-19 Response, established and coordinated the Emergency Operations Centre for COVID-19 in the state and implemented the Incident Action Plan for Cross River State.

In March 2022, she emerged as the National Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) where she oversaw numerous empowerment and humanitarian outreaches to millions of APC women and non-party women as well. Her ingenuity resulted in the mobilisation of over 20 million Nigerian women in support of President Tinubu’s election bids.

Within the few months she had served as the Honourable Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu had transversed the nooks and crannies of Nigeria delivering humanitarian materials to the vulnerable people of the country. We saw her move to the creeks that even security agents detest. Her passion and dedication to her duty was contagious, to say the least

In all these, she was not caught in the web of any financial mismanagement or misappropriation. Instead, she earned herself numerous awards within and outside the shores of Nigeria; over 600 awards from reputable organisations.

I will wrap this up with an analogy of what my late mother used to say whenever she prayed. In Igbo language, she would say, “anyị bụ azụ anyị agaghi agọ agọ mmiri.” Literally translated, it is “We are fishes we can’t deny water.” She used this whenever she wanted to ask for forgiveness of sin, meaning that “we have the nature of sin and we can’t deny having any sin in us.” Humanitarian work is in the nature of Dr. Betta Edu, she can’t deny it. A friend once told me that Betta’s zeal for this work would get her into trouble one day. If my friend was to be a prophet, his church would be flooded by now. Those who are very zealous and committed to their jobs do have lots of traps. Sometimes it’s either they unintentionally get themselves into trouble or others around who are envious of them would fabricate problems just to get them out of the way. In this Betta Edu’s scenario, the latter is the case.

I will employ the president, His Excellency, Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu to tamper justice with mercy. Dr. Edu’s zealousness, dedication to her duties and achievements in this short period supersede her errors, if any.

BETTA EDU CAN BE TRUSTED.

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A Review of Akwa Ibom State Government’s July Delivery Meeting

Stakeholders at the meeting delivered goodwill messages, commending Governor Umo Eno for institutionalising the Delivery Meeting as a platform for transparency, accountability, and inclusive governance.

Published

2 days ago

July 4, 2026

OCHEFA

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Image: Governor Umo Eno

The Akwa Ibom State Government’s Monthly Delivery Meeting concluded its two-day July session, with Governor Umo Eno presiding over an extensive review of the administration’s strategic projects across key sectors.
Hon. Aniekan UmanahCommissioner for Information, reported that the meeting forms part of ongoing efforts to monitor implementation, evaluate progress, and ensure the timely delivery of projects under the ARISE Agenda.
In his opening remarks on Day Two, Governor Eno reiterated that the Delivery Meeting has become a vital accountability mechanism for tracking the performance of government projects and ensuring that every initiative delivers measurable value to the people of the State.
He stressed that the sessions provide an opportunity for honest appraisal, collective problem-solving, and improved coordination among implementing agencies as the administration continues to deliver on its commitments under the ARISE Agenda. Quoting the Greek philosopher Socrates, the Governor said, “An unexamined life is not worth living.”
Before the commencement of the Day Two session, Governor Eno paid an unscheduled visit to the ARISE Palm Resort, an audacious tourism project built on a 73-hectare gully reclamation site, to verify claims made during the previous day’s presentations and assess firsthand the level of progress on the facility, which is scheduled for commissioning later in the year.
The meeting received comprehensive presentations on key projects across multiple sectors of the state’s development programme, including agriculture, trade and investment, maritime and transportation, health, internal security, housing, tourism, local government administration, direct labour projects, and other flagship initiatives.
Under the agricultural sector, presentations were made on the Ibom Model Farm, Agric Equipment Leasing Company, Distribution of Oil Palm Seedlings Programme, Dakkada Global Oil Palm Project, and the Akwa Ibom Agricultural Development Programme (AKADEP), with emphasis on mechanised farming, food security, and job creation.
The Ministry of Trade and Investment presented updates on the International Market, Ikot Ekpene, highlighting its role in boosting commerce, attracting investment, and strengthening regional trade.
The meeting noted the significant progress recorded on the project and urged the contractors to sustain the pace of work.
In the maritime and transport sector, updates were presented on the Oron Maritime Infrastructure Project, which is aimed at improving maritime transportation, boosting commerce, and stimulating economic growth as part of the administration’s broader Blue Economy development initiatives.
The health sector presentation covered the Ibom International Hospital, General Hospitals in Ukanafun, Ibiono Ibom, Ikot Ekpene, Iquita-Oron, Ikot Ekpene Udo, and other State of Emergency Health Projects, reinforcing the government’s commitment to providing accessible, affordable, and quality healthcare services.
The Ministry of Internal Security and Waterways presented progress on the Counter Terrorism Unit Base, aimed at strengthening security infrastructure and enhancing public safety across the state.
The Ministry of Housing provided updates on the Doctors’ Residence and the Executive and Legislative Quarters, projects aimed at providing decent accommodation while supporting urban renewal and improving living standards.
In the tourism sector, progress on the Ibom International Hotel at the Convention Arena was reviewed, with emphasis on repositioning the facility to boost tourism, hospitality, and investment opportunities.
Updates from the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs covered the Chairmen’s Lodges, with an assurance that all 31 lodges will be completed by December 2026 to strengthen administrative efficiency at the grassroots level.
The Direct Labour Committee reported progress on the Youth Development Centres, the One Project Per Local Government Area (Phase II), the Judiciary Village, and the House of Assembly Complex, all aimed at strengthening governance infrastructure and promoting youth development.
Other strategic projects reviewed included the ARISE Shopping City, ARISE Park Beach Villas, AKBC Project, Model Secondary School, Senior Citizens Centre, and the Nigeria Formr Women Project, reflecting the administration’s broad development agenda across multiple sectors.
Stakeholders at the meeting delivered goodwill messages, commending Governor Umo Eno for institutionalising the Delivery Meeting as a platform for transparency, accountability, and inclusive governance.
Senator Effiong Bob commended the Governor for consistently engaging stakeholders in the governance process, noting that the ARISE Agenda is making measurable progress while praising the administration’s openness and transparency. Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Assam Assam, described the meeting as the most impactful yet, citing visible progress across sectors, particularly in healthcare infrastructure and service delivery.
The Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong, lauded the Governor’s leadership and assured him of the continued support and collaboration of the State House of Assembly.
The Oku Ibom Ibibio and President-General of the Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers, His Eminence, Ntenyin Dr. Solomon Etuk, JP, expressed pride in the administration’s developmental strides and commended Governor Eno’s inclusive approach to governance.
In his closing remarks, Governor Umo Eno appreciated all participants, Heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Delivery Advisors, stakeholders, and contractors for their contributions to the two-day review exercise, noting that the sessions were rigorous but necessary in strengthening governance and ensuring accountability.
The Governor stated that the administration is entering its “harvest season” as it gradually winds down its first term, adding that observations from the meeting would be used to further improve service delivery and implementation efficiency.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to completing all ongoing projects within set timelines and urged implementing agencies to sustain the momentum and maintain high standards in project execution for the benefit of the people of Akwa Ibom State.
At the conclusion of the Delivery Meeting, Governor Eno led stakeholders on an inspection visit to the Ibom Convention Arena to assess ongoing work on the 200-bed Ibom International Hotel project, which is billed for commissioning later in the year.

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Explosion rocks Apapa tank farm; NPA, NIMASA move to curtail spread

Following the outbreak the fire service departments of both the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) moved in to curtail the spread of the inferno.

Published

2 days ago

July 3, 2026

OCHEFA

28 Views

Panic erupted at the Lagos tank farm cluster at Ibafon, Apapa, on Friday morning after a fire broke out at the Bono Tank Farm, located within the Best Energy Tank Farm complex.

The inferno sent residents and workers in the area fleeing for safety as emergency responders moved in to contain the blaze.

Efforts to obtain comments from the management of Bono Tank Farm and Best Energy Tank Farm were unsuccessful, as phone calls and text messages sent to their representatives were neither answered nor acknowledged.

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FG slams 8-count charges on Adeyemi over fake agency ” I’m not a criminal”, he defends

It was learned that the alleged ‘‘fake’’ Presidential Economic Advisory Council/Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council was allocated N1.302 billion in the 2026 Budget of the Federal Government.

Published

3 days ago

July 3, 2026

OCHEFA

41 Views

Photo: Gbajabiamila, and Adeyemi

The Federal Government has filed an 8-count charges against Adeniyi Adeyemi, convener of a purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, PFIPC, over the controversy trailing the agency.

Adeyemi, however, fought back claiming that he was given an appointment letter.

Adeyemi, during an appearance on Channels Television claimed that the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila gave him an appointment letter, insisting that he is not a criminal.

However, it was learned that the alleged ‘‘fake’’ Presidential Economic Advisory Council/Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council was allocated N1.302 billion in the 2026 Budget of the Federal Government.

In a statement on Wednesday, Bayo Onanuga, presidential spokesperson, said the charges were filed by the Police on November 27, 2025, against Adeyemi and two accomplices at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Onanuga said Adeyemi is expected to appear in court on July 27, 2026.