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Again, Nigeria Secures 41 Million COVID-19 Vaccine Doses

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Nigeria has again secured 41 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, said on Thursday.

However, the date of the vaccine’s delivery into the country remains unknown as vaccine manufacturers struggle to meet global demand in time.

Kano to Immunise more than 600 Thousand Children

“We do not have an exact date,” Dr Ehanire said during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today. “The date it comes out depends on when the manufacturers are able to deliver, and that is not something that any country can enforce at this time.”

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The 41 million doses were secured as part of efforts by an African Union task team to help countries on the continent gain equitable access to vaccines.

The AU earlier on Thursday had announced that it had secured an additional 400 million doses of the vaccines for the continent.

This comes on top of an earlier announcement by the AU that it had secured 270 million vaccine doses.

Many African countries, including Nigeria, are yet to start vaccination programs even as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise across the continent.

Nigeria was expected to take delivery of 100,000 vaccine doses via the WHO-backed Covax sharing facility by the end of January, but the timeline has now been shifted to February, Minister Ehanire confirmed on Thursday.

“The timelines are not in the hands of the recipient,” he stressed, noting that blocs like the European Union who had preordered vaccines since last year were yet to get enough supplies.

The 41 million vaccine doses are expected to come from three major sources: Pfizer, AstraZeneca (through the Serum Institute of India), and Johnson & Johnson.

Because most African countries fall under the class of middle and low-income countries, the purchase of the vaccines will be financed by the African Export–Import Bank, also known as Afreximbank.

However, countries are expected to make a down-payment of about 15 per cent and repay the cost over a five to seven-year period.

“Nigeria is mobilising resources,” Minister Ehanire said. “We have some funds ready. We will make a substantial deposit when it is time.”

Channels reports that the Covax vaccines expected in February are expected to be free, for the first 20 percent of the population. But the country will pay for the “logistics of delivery and administration.”

 

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Governor Yusuf Approves 200 Riyals Support, Ihram for Each Kano Pilgrim

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Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has approved a cash support of 200 Saudi Riyals and Ihram to each intending pilgrim from the state for the 2026 hajj exercise.

 

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, represented by his Deputy, Murtala Sule Garo, disclosed this on Sunday during the launch of the practical demonstration session organised by the Kano State pilgrims Welfare Board for prospective pilgrims in Kano.

 

Speaking at the event, Alhaji Murtala Sule Garo explained that the exercise was organized to educate, inform, spiritually prepare the intending pilgrims for the Hajj rites from Ihram to Tawaf, from Sa’i to Arafat, from Muzdalifah to Mina and the symbolic stoning of the Jamarat.

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He stated that the administration of Abba Kabir Yusuf remains committed to the welfare and well-being of all the pilgrims from the state.

 

Garo said, “This demonstration is a vital aspect of Hajj preparation. Hajj is not merely a journey of travel; it is a sacred act of worship that requires adequate knowledge, discipline, patience and sincere devotion to Allah.”

 

Garo further conveyed the Governor’s goodwill gesture to the pilgrims.

 

He added, “I also wish to give the good tidings to our pilgrims that the Kano State Government has approved the sum of 200 Saudi Riyals and Ihram to each and every intending pilgrim as a compliment from His Excellency, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.”

 

The Deputy Governor also revealed that the administration has secured conducive accommodation arrangements to ensure the comfort and convenience of the pilgrims throughout their stay in Saudi Arabia.

 

According to him, the state government has equally deployed well-trained medical personnel to complement healthcare services provided by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), saying qualified Islamic scholars have also been selected to provide spiritual guidance during the exercise.

 

He urged the intending pilgrims to be worthy ambassadors of Kano State and Nigeria by obeying the laws of Saudi Arabia and conducting themselves with discipline, humility, and responsibility throughout the pilgrimage.

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6 Kano Central Senatorial Aspirants Withdraw for Senator Ibrahim Shekarau

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Six Kano Central senatorial aspirants have withdrawn for Senator Ibrahim Shekarau in the forthcoming 2027 general election.

One of the senatorial aspirants and a former Kano State Head of Service, Alhaji Usman Bala Muhammad, stated this while addressing journalists at Aminu Kano House in Abuja.

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Those that Withdraw for Malam Ibrahim Shekarau are Dr Muhammad Zango,Alhaji Danyaro Yakasai,Usman Bala Muhammad ,Shaaban Ibrahim Sharada and Shehu Isah Direba.

 

The aspirants have already purchased their nominations forms and submitted to APC secretariat before they were called for a consensus by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.

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Obi Thunders at NDC Convention: ‘Rethink Now, Tyrants! Nigerians Will Reclaim Power in 2027!

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

 

 

The presidential hopeful of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Peter Obi, vowed today at the party’s national convention in Abuja to reclaim power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) with the support of Nigerians.

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In his words: “To the beneficiaries of democracy who have now turned themselves into agents of destruction, depriving Nigerians of the democracy they enjoy—who think we will not have a free and fair election in 2027—let them rethink now, because we are going to have a free, fair, and credible election.”

 

The party’s convention today officially unveiled the NDC as the country’s second most vibrant opposition platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.

 

With both Mr. Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso in the NDC, and Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi, and Hayatu-Deen in the ADC, the political atmosphere is set for a power play in 2027.

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