The Bayelsa State Government has reassured students, parents, lecturers and other members of the academic community that there are no plans to relocate the College of Health Sciences of the Niger Delta University (NDU), Amassoma, describing recent reports circulating on social media as false and capable of causing unnecessary anxiety within the state’s higher education sector.
In an official statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Daniel Alabrah, the government maintained that Governor Douye Diri had neither approved nor considered any proposal to move the College of Health Sciences from its present location. The statement described the claims as “unfounded” and originating from “the contorted imagination of its purveyors,” stressing that no committee recommendation on such a relocation exists before the governor.
The clarification comes amid widespread speculation suggesting that the medical college would be transferred from the university’s campus at Wilberforce Island, Amassoma. The state government, however, insisted that preserving academic stability remains a priority, noting that any relocation would undermine ongoing medical education and disrupt students’ training. According to the government, there is no justification for relocating the college, particularly when both the College of Health Sciences at Niger Delta University and the Bayelsa Medical University are operating within limited admission quotas. It explained that “any such action would disrupt the academic progress of the institutions and their medical students,” reaffirming that strengthening medical education—not relocating existing institutions—remains the government’s focus.
The government further appealed to members of the public to disregard the rumours and avoid spreading unverified information capable of creating confusion among students and their families. It warned that individuals deliberately circulating false claims, especially through social media platforms, could face legal consequences, adding that the administration would “not hesitate to bring down the weight of the law on purveyors of falsehood.”
The reassurance is expected to provide relief to students of medicine and allied health programmes, many of whom had expressed concerns over the reports. By reaffirming that the College of Health Sciences will remain at its established location, the Bayelsa State Government has sought to preserve confidence in the continuity of academic activities, clinical training and healthcare education at Niger Delta University.
The statement also reinforces the state’s commitment to expanding opportunities for medical education and improving healthcare manpower through sustained investment in its tertiary institutions.
As demand for medical training continues to rise across Nigeria, the government maintained that its priority is to strengthen existing institutions and provide an enabling environment for students and faculty, rather than embark on actions that could interrupt academic programmes or affect the quality of medical education in the state.
