By Kingsley Agim
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Utilities, Dr. Jerome Egbe, has faulted protesters over the vandalism of the General Hospital, Calabar, urging that attention be redirected to road safety concerns following the tragic accident involving students of the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS).
Dr. Egbe made the remarks while joining the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, and his delegation on an on-the-spot assessment of the facility after the ill-fated protest by UNICROSS students on Monday.
The state government has since condemned the destruction, describing it as avoidable and counterproductive to ongoing efforts to strengthen the health sector.
Expressing condolences to the university community over the tragic accident that claimed the lives of some students, Dr. Egbe said the attack on the hospital was a misdirected response.
“First, let me express my condolences to the management of UNICROSS and the students in general,” he said. “Even as we condemn the destruction visited on this hospital, government is working hard to recalibrate and strengthen public services.”
Dr. Egbe noted that medical personnel at the General Hospital made genuine efforts to attend to the injured, stressing that no deaths were recorded at the facility.
“We feel deeply pained because the hospital staff tried to do their best. From available reports, no casualties were recorded here. The three persons who died did so at the scene of the accident,” he stated.
He maintained that while citizens have the right to protest, such actions should be properly directed, particularly toward addressing underlying issues such as road safety.
“If there must be protests, attention should be drawn to the condition of the highway. That would make more sense than targeting a hospital where efforts are ongoing to save lives,” he said.
The Special Adviser commended the swift intervention of the health authorities in managing the emergency and engaging stakeholders to restore calm.
He warned that the destruction of medical infrastructure could have lasting consequences on healthcare delivery across the state.
“What has been destroyed here today will set back care for patients who depend on this facility. These are services everyone—including the students and their families—may need,” he added.
Dr. Egbe called for restraint and civic responsibility, urging residents, especially young people, to adopt peaceful and constructive means of expressing grievances.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to restoring the damaged facility and strengthening systems to prevent a recurrence.
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