Headlines

COVID-19: Buhari govt has strengthened Nigeria’s health security – Minister

Published

4 years ago

July 27, 2021

The Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, on Tuesday, said the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has put measures in place to strengthen the country’s health security.

Mr Ehanire stated this at the maiden edition of the Nigerian Conference of Applied and Field Epidemiology, NiCAFE, 2021 in Abuja themed: “Building Back Better: COVID-19 and other disease outbreaks.”

The minister said the measures included the establishment of National Reference Laboratory and the establishment of at least one molecular laboratory in all the states of the federation and the FCT.

According to reports, the conference, organised by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), was aimed at strengthening the country’s preparedness for emergencies in the event of outbreak of infections.

The conference provided an opportunity to discuss the epidemiology of infectious diseases in Nigeria and their impact on regional and global health security.

Mr Ehanire, who was represented by the NCDC Director-General, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, said Nigerians must think of the other public health challenges that could emerge in the future.

The minister stressed that the country’s population was growing at a rapid rate and this would have an impact on the health system over the next few years.

“This is the reason we’re having the NiCAFE conference because we are not only faced with the pandemic in Nigeria but with multiple disease outbreaks.

“Every single week, we detect cases of yellow fever, Lassa fever, measles, and other infectious diseases.

“In Nigeria, we’ve had over 128,000 infections and more than 2,000 deaths officially. It pains me to say that there is the possibility that we are yet to see the worst of this pandemic,” he added.

He stressed that the COVID-19 pandemic had turned lives upside down, noting that it had affected over a 190 million people and sadly, the world had lost over four million globally.

The minister, however, expressed commitment to addressing the challenges posed by infectious diseases such as the coronavirus pandemic and Cholera.

The Chief Scientist of the World Health Organisation, WHO, Soumya Swaminathan, reflected on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, including research, development and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics.

Mr Swaminathan, who spoke on “Building Back Better on COVID-19 and other diseases,” highlighted countries, territories and variants of concern.

She said there were already 124 countries affected by the Delta variant.

The WHO, representative to Nigeria, Walter Mulombo, noted that the COVID-19 pandemic had, indeed, exposed critical gaps in the health systems of African countries.

“We need to review lessons learned so far in order to inform future public health responses,” Mr Mulombo advised.

In her goodwill message, the Director Centre for Global Health, Centre for Disease Control, CDC, Rebecca Martin, said the world had learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that the public health workforce was a cornerstone of every country’s health security.

Dr Martin stressed that working together to strengthen routine immunisation programmes, had supported the COVID-19 response and vaccination programme in the country.

In his remarks, the Director General of the West African Health Organisation, WAHO, Stanley Okolo, said the NCDC had been a leading light in the response against the fight against the COVID19 pandemic in the country.

“Through solidarity, collaboration, coordination and communication, I believe the region is better prepared to continue to fight the pandemic and for future health security threats,” Okolo re-assured.

The conference was organised by NCDC, in collaboration with partners, and scheduled to hold between July 26th and 28th.

The NiCAFE conference brought together public health professionals, laboratory scientists, field epidemiologists, researchers and health care professionals and members of the public.

NAN

Headlines

Akwa Ibom APC Gears Up to Receive President Tinubu as Governor Umo Eno Joins Party

Published

2 weeks ago

June 20, 2025

Matthew Eloyi

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State has announced its readiness to host President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other top party leaders as it officially welcomes Governor Umo Eno into its ranks.

Speaking at a press briefing in Uyo on Friday, APC chieftain and former presidential aide, Senator Ita Enang, disclosed that the party was fully prepared to receive the president, Vice President Kashim Shettima, APC National Chairman, and governors elected on the party’s platform for the historic reception.

Governor Umo Eno had on June 6 formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, in a move widely described as a political game-changer in Akwa Ibom.

Enang, a former Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly and Niger Delta Affairs, said the governor’s defection had effectively aligned the state with the central government.

He assured Governor Eno and his supporters that the APC would embrace them wholeheartedly and honour all agreements reached.

“As progressives, we shall work with the governor and his supporters to ensure that they fit into the party without hitches,” Enang stated. “We will also work with them to align programmes of the state government with the ideals and manifesto of the party.”

He further described the governor’s move as a “merger” that promises significant benefits for Akwa Ibom and its citizens.

The planned reception is expected to mark a major political event in the state, signaling a realignment of forces ahead of future elections.

Headlines

Ekiti Launches Aggressive Anti-Flood Campaign, Dredges Ofigba River

Published

2 weeks ago

June 20, 2025

Matthew Eloyi

The Ekiti State Government has intensified efforts to prevent flooding across the state with the launch of a comprehensive dredging campaign, targeting critical waterways in both rural and urban areas.

Chairman of the Ekiti State Environmental Protection Agency (EKSEPA), Chief Bamitale Oguntoyinbo, disclosed this on Friday during an inspection visit to the ongoing dredging project at the Ofigba River in Ise-Ekiti.

Oguntoyinbo, who was accompanied by EKSEPA board members, said the visit was to assess the progress of work being carried out to mitigate flood risks in the community. He expressed satisfaction with the pace and quality of the dredging work.

“I and other board members of EKSEPA are delighted with the level of job done by the site engineer because he is actually working with the directives of three-kilometer dredging of waterways,” he said.

According to him, the dredging commenced on June 4, and so far, 1.8 kilometers of the river have been successfully cleared.

He applauded Governor Biodun Oyebanji for prioritizing the safety and welfare of residents by initiating the state-wide anti-flooding campaign.

“I want to commend our amiable governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, for embarking on zero tolerance campaign against flooding in every community and town in Ekiti,” Oguntoyinbo stated.

He also praised the General Manager of EKSEPA, Mr. Olukayode Adunmo, for his commitment to the project’s supervision and success.

In his remarks, Adunmo emphasized the urgent need to clear waterways choked by refuse, which impede water flow and contribute to flooding during the rainy season.

“Dredging of Ofigba River in Ise-Ekiti in Ise/Orun Local Government Area is necessary because some of the waterways have been blocked by refuse,” he explained. “There is the need for us to remove every blockage to enhance free flow of water and avert flooding during heavy rainfall.”

Adunmo also commended Governor Oyebanji for taking proactive steps to protect lives and properties across the state.

Residents of Ise-Ekiti have welcomed the government’s intervention. Chief Godwin Ojo, a community leader, expressed gratitude to the governor for his timely action.

“We thank the governor for the move to avert flooding in our community,” Ojo said. “May God grant him more wisdom to pilot the affairs of the state to an enviable height.”

The dredging campaign forms part of the Oyebanji administration’s broader commitment to environmental safety and disaster prevention.

Developmental

Tinubu to visit Kaduna Thursday to inaugurate key projects

Published

2 weeks ago

June 19, 2025

Saadatu Sahabo

Tinubu commiserates with Akwa Ibom governor over wife’s death

President Bola Tinubu is expected in Kaduna State Today Thursday for the inauguration of several key developmental projects executed by the administration of Gov. Uba Sani.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the visit forms part of activities marking Sani’s two years in office.

The projects lined up for inauguration include the 300-bed Specialist Hospital in Millennium City, Kaduna, built by the state government to bolster the provision of healthcare services.

Tinubu will also inaugurate the Institute of Vocational Training and Skills Development in Rigachikun, road projects in Soba, and Samaru Kataf LGA’S as well as the 24-kilometre Kafanchan Township Road.

Others are the Tudun Biri Road, the 22km road linking Kauru and Kubau LGAs as well as the Vocational and Skills Training Centre in Tudun Biri.

Tinubu is also expected to unveil 100 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses, as part of efforts to modernise the state’s public transportation system.

The projects are part of the administration’s focus on infrastructurde evelopment, healthcare delivery, youths empowerment, and economic growth.

The state government described the visit as a significant moment for the people of Kaduna and an opportunity to showcase ongoing efforts to transform the state through impactful governance.

Sani, who marked his second year in office this month, has prioritised human capital development, rural infrastructure, and jobs creation since taking office in 2023.

Tinubu’s visit to Kaduna State was rescheduled from Wednesday to Thursday.

He was initially supposed to visit Kaduna on Wednesday, but due to the recent attacks in Benue, he shifted his trip.

The president visited Benue on Wednesday to commiserate with the victims of the recent attacks and assess the humanitarian crisis.

During his visit to Benue, Tinubu met with stakeholders, including traditional rulers, political and community leaders, and youth groups, to seek lasting solutions to the hostilities.

He also condemned the ongoing violence and called on the residents to embrace peace and mutual understanding.

NAN recalls that the Benue Government had declared a work-free day for Tinubu’s visit, urging the residents to turn out in large numbers to welcome him.