News

Exclusive :Seven Women Rejected My Marriage Proposal – Polio Survivor

Published

5 years ago

July 2, 2021

Even though he grew up knowing himself as a polio survivor – the predicament he has been managing for 48 years – Mr Bashir Idris isn’t deterred from reflecting on his unpleasant experience at every slight opportunity.

Born hale and hearty five decades ago, Idris’ dream of becoming a Soldier was cut short when he contacted the polio disease at the tender age of two.

“I was told I contacted polio when I was just two years old, now I’m 50 years old, meaning I have been battling with this condition for 48 years, how I wish there was an awareness campaign about polio immunization like this then, I love to be a Soldier or medical Doctor, now I am a Carpenter, but in everything we give thanks to almighty Allah”, Idris explained.

Sitting on bare floor and smiling beckoningly to get the attention of crowd who came to catch a glimpse of the just concluded rally of polio immunization plus days at Agadasawa, Yola and Madatai settlements in Kano Municipal Area Council, members of Journalist Against Polio (JAP) observed the 50 years old Idris’ conspicuous enthusiasm to share his experience so as to serve as deterrent to other parents.

When approached for comment, Idris energetically narrated how his several attempts to marry a Woman of his choice without polio disease hit a brick wall as seven women rejected his marriage proposal due to the polio stigmatization and their belief that the disease is hereditary, hence they were skeptical about giving the green light to his proposal.

“I attempted to marry a woman without polio disease on several occasions, about seven ladies ran away because of stigmatization. Then, they believed if they marry a polio survivor, there is the possibility of them giving birth to a child with polio disease (smiling), now we thank God that such myth is fading away, but that doesn’t change the fact that polio did not allow me to marry a woman of my choice” he spoke further.

Idris is however urging Parents and Guardians in Kano to release their wards of less than five years for Polio Immunization so as to spare them of such avoidable lifetime bitter experience.

We Don’t Want Our Members to Increase Anymore – Chairman Polio Survivors

Meanwhile, the dream of most organizations is to increase their membership base, but on the flip side, the reverse is the case for the Polio Survivors Association as its mandate is to get rid of new members to avoid the spread of the highly tasking and challenging virus.

“We decided to join this rally to tell the general public about the challenges we are facing and the need for them to embrace polio vaccine for their wards so that they will not end up like us, enough is enough, we don’t want our members to increase anymore” Yahaya A Yahaya, Chairman of Polio Survivors Association in Kano Municipal posited.

Yahaya lamented how his members are being segregated and marginalized even when they are qualified for a certain position in the society due to their difficulty.

“I was a three years old when I got polio disease, how I wish they gave me polio vaccine then because being a cripple person is not easy in Nigeria, we are being marginalized anywhere we go, no equal opportunity, you know contacting polio disease is a lifetime experience that you wouldn’t wish your enemy” he stated.

Speaking with JAP Correspondents at the rally conducted simultaneously in four zones including Bichi, Gwale, Tofa and Nasarawa, the Nasarawa Zonal Health Educator, Haladu Muhammed said the essence of the campaign was to draw the residents’ attention to the importance of the polio immunization considering the fact that some settlements in the affected zones experienced a pocket of noncompliance during the last Immunization Plus Days (IPDs) which was conducted in this year January.

Nigeria Must Not Relax Despite Polio Free Status – Official

On his part, a Local Immunization Officer of Nasarawa Local Government Area, Sani Abdul Sani Mai Nagge described the turn out of the exercise as very impressive. He assured that the targeted population of 165,085 in the LGA will be immunized during the four days campaign.

“Of course, the immunization of the target population is achievable because before the implementation of this house to house, we had conducted 2 days DOPV, going from one street to another, for example, motor parks, markets, busy streets, we used to visit them before this four days campaign and during the period, we immunized over 50, 000 children and we have over 237 teams going from one house to another and there are 108 special teams visiting markets, schools and other strategic places, so we can easily cover the targeted population”

Nigeria was certified polio free in July 2020, asked why the need for the continued polio immunization exercise after attaining the feat, Sani Mai Nagge however said “after the declaration of polio free in Nigeria, even you yourself, can you tell me how many children were born from that time to now and how many were supposed to be vaccinated? We must not relax just like that and allow the virus to resurface again in the country”

Kano State Government is targeting over three million under five years old children for special immunization this month, with over 3.9 million doses of polio vaccines, the move aimed at ensuring that every child in the State is safe against the virus.

News

KANSIEC Chairman Advises Fruits Sellers Association to Modernize Business

Published

1 day ago

September 12, 2026

Nigerian Tracker

The Fruits Sellers Association, Kano State Chapter, has been advised to develop a strategic plan within a specific timeframe to modernize its business operations.

The Chairman of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission, KANSIEC, Professor Sani Lawal Malumfashi, gave the advice during a courtesy visit by members of the association to his office.

Professor Malumfashi stated that the fruit business anywhere in the world serves customers from all backgrounds, both rich and poor, due to the importance of fruits in food consumption.

He maintained that the association should seek recognition across the three tiers of government in order to benefit from government policies and programmes.

The KANSIEC Chairman added that the present administration under the Executive Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, is transforming Kano into a modern metropolitan city with many parks. He said fruit sellers should secure designated spaces around the corners of flyovers across the city.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Fruits Sellers Association of Nigeria, Kano State Chapter, Alhaji Safiyanu Abdullahi, said they visited KANSIEC to seek guidance on how to conduct free, fair, and peaceful elections within the association.

Bashir Habib Yahya
Media Aide to the KANSIEC Chairman
Date: 11/09/2026

News

Breaking :Former PDP National Chairman Alhaji Bamanga Tukur Is Dead

Published

1 day ago

September 12, 2026

Nigerian Tracker

Former Chairman of the peoples Democratic party during Jonathan’s administration Alhaji Bamanga Tukur is dead .

A credible source in Yola the capital of Adamawa state informed Nigerian Tracker that Alhaji Bamanga Tukur passes on in Abuja.

The source said his body will later be conveyed to Yola the capital of Adamawa state for funeral at the palace of Lamidon Adamawa Alhaji Muhammad Barkindo .

Alhaji Dr. Bamanga Mahmud Tukur (CON) was a prominent Nigerian politician, businessman, administrator, and elder statesman who has had a towering impact on Nigeria’s socio-political and economic sectors for over six decades.

He was widely recognized for his roles as the former Governor of the old Gongola State, the former Minister of Industries, and the former National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Early Life and EducationDate of Birth: Born on 15 September 1935 in what is today Adamawa State, Nigeria.

Higher Education: He obtained a Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree from the University of Pittsburgh in the United States.

Honorary Recognition: He was awarded an honorary Doctorate Degree in Law (Honoris Causa) by Benue State University in Makurdi, Nigeria.

Traditional Titles: Reflecting his high regional and cultural status, he holds the distinguished traditional titles of Tafidan Adamawa and Wakilin Ganye in Adamawa State.

Career in Public Service & Governance
Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA):
Served as General Manager/Chief Executive from 1975 to 1982, managing port congestion and modernizing seaports.

Governor of Old Gongola State: Elected during the Second Republic in 1982, serving a brief term before the December 1983 military coup.

Minister for Industries: Served under General Sani Abacha’s military administration from 1993 to 1995.

Business and Continental Leadership Founder of BHI Holdings (Daddo Group),

Tukur expanded his economic influence across Africa:

Africa Business Roundtable (ABR): Founder, past president, and Life Patron.

NEPAD Business Group: Elected Chairman in March 2002.

International Maritime Stature: First African Vice President of the International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH)

PDP National Chairmanship (2012–2014)Elected PDP National Chairman in March 2012.

News

Nigeria’s Oil Output Hits 1.573m bpd as OPEC Production Rises–Report Says

Published

2 days ago

September 11, 2026

Nigerian Tracker

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Nigeria’s crude oil production, excluding condensate, rose by 35,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 1.573 million bpd in August 2026, from 1.537 million bpd in July, according to the latest data from the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

The increase, representing a 2.3 per cent month-on-month (MoM) growth, places Nigeria among OPEC members that recorded higher production during the month.

OPEC, in its latest monthly data based on direct communication from member countries, said Nigeria’s August output was its highest monthly production level in the data provided for 2026.

The August figure also exceeded Nigeria’s average production of 1.552 million bpd in the second quarter of 2026, indicating a gradual improvement in upstream output.

The development comes amid renewed efforts by the Federal Government and oil producers to boost production through improved security, fresh upstream investments, new projects and the rehabilitation of existing assets.

Across OPEC, crude oil production increased by 346,000 bpd to 24.081 million bpd in August, from 23.735 million bpd in July.

Iraq recorded the largest increase among OPEC members, with output surging by 664,000 bpd to 3.378 million bpd. Kuwait followed with a 49,000-bpd increase to 1.894 million bpd, while the United Arab Emirates added 54,000 bpd to reach 3.835 million bpd.

Venezuela also increased production by 23,000 bpd to 1.145 million bpd.

However, some major producers recorded declines. Saudi Arabia’s output fell by 75,000 bpd to 7.276 million bpd, while Algeria and Libya declined by 8,000 bpd and 9,000 bpd to 999,000 bpd and 1.355 million bpd respectively.

Iran recorded the largest decline, with production dropping by 399,000 bpd to 2.086 million bpd.

Beyond OPEC, total production by the broader OPEC+ group, comprising OPEC members and participating non-OPEC producers under the Declaration of Cooperation (DoC), rose by 297,000 bpd to 38.055 million bpd in August.

Within the non-OPEC DoC group, Kazakhstan increased production by 159,000 bpd to 1.807 million bpd, while Russia cut output by 160,000 bpd to 8.718 million bpd.

For Nigeria, the latest production increase could provide some relief to government revenue and foreign exchange earnings, given the continued importance of crude oil exports to the economy.

Nigeria has set a target of raising crude oil production towards three million bpd by 2030, making sustained increases essential to achieving the ambition.

However, the country still faces significant challenges, including ageing fields, infrastructure constraints, crude theft, funding difficulties and the need to attract new investment into the upstream sector.

The August performance therefore represents progress, but maintaining the upward trend will be crucial if Nigeria is to close the gap between current production and its ambitious 2030 target.