Cultists vandalise Benue school, Gov. Ortom reacts

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State on Monday described the vandalism of facilities at St. Catherine Primary School, Makurdi by cultists as needless and barbaric.

Ortom said this while speaking at an inspection tour of some facilities and projects in Makurdi.

The governor expressed worry that the school had become a haven for cultists, saying: “I am told that the vandalism on this school was done by cultists.”

He said the renovation of the school would be captured in the forthcoming phase of schools upgrading exercise. Ortom called on security agencies to strengthen security around school facilities in the state to avoid similar acts of vandalism.

He said: “I also urge the Universal Basic Education Board and the school management to fortify security within school premises.

“Employ security guards to watch over school premises and ensure that cultists and hoodlums do not come near.”

The governor further expressed concerns that the school had become a shadow of its former self because of the activities of cultists.

He said: “This is where I finished my primary education in 1976, I left here and proceeded to Idah for my post primary education.

“This school is very dear to me, this is the reason I came to see things personally.

“I am worried at the level of decay and vandalism.”

Ortom also decried the level of infrastructure decay at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital.

He said the state government had released N150 million for the repair of some leaking roofs in the hospital.…

Senate passes establishment bill for Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo

The Senate has passed the bill for the establishment of Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Benue State.

This followed the consideration of two reports by Senate Committees on Health (Secondary and Tertiary); and Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND at Tuesday’s plenary.

The Chairman of the Committee on Health, Senator Yahaya Oloriegbe (APC- Kwara), in his presentation said the the bill for the University of Medical Sciences, Otukpo would give legal backing to the institution which was already in existence.

Oloriegbe said: “Mr. President and Distinguished Colleagues, this is coming at a very important time in our history. “With the challenges of the pandemic and the importance of the health sector generally in Nigeria and globally, creation of a University of Health Sciences is very necessary.

“More importantly, the Federal University of Health Sciences Otukpo is already in existence but needs legal backing to effectively carry out its mandates.”

The lawmaker explained that the bill sought to among other things, address the dearth in admission of students aspiring to study Medicine and Allied Health Sciences in Nigeria.

Oloriegbe said the university would fill the vacuum created by the loss of manpower in the country’s health services industry to migration and brain drain.…