News

CITAD Decries Non Payment Of Covid Vaccine Administrators

Published

4 years ago

December 9, 2021

Abbas Yushau Yusuf

The centre for information technology and development has decried non payment of Covid 19 vaccine to Administrators.

Hamza Ibrahim,Project Manager,Public Education Vaccine Project Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) stated this while addressing Journalists at the Headquarters of CITAD in Kano.

According to Hamza Ibrahim the centre implemented the Public Education on COVID Vaccine project.

He pointed out that the project which is supported by MacArthur Foundation is aimed to educating and enlightening the public on the role and relevance of COVID vaccine.

He noted that they work with 18 partners across six northern states, namely: Bauchi, Borno, Kano, Kaduna, Kogi and Plateau.

Hamza Ibrahim asserts that COVID outbreak is no doubt one of the pandemics the world has witnessed recently where Deaths have been recorded in towns and villages, movements have been restricted, lockdowns imposed, gatherings banned, and people have really felt the consequences of the pandemic greatly, these measures were laudably taken to address the pandemic.

“Therefore standing against COVID should not be the role of governments at different levels, civil society or private sector-led initiatives, rather the larger members of the society have a crucial role to play.

Efforts no matter how carefully tailored cannot alone succeed in addressing the virus if members of the society do not support and cooperate with the initiatives, taking the vaccine is surely one way to prevent ourselves from the virus.

COVID Vaccine Administration Situation from States
The data we at CITAD gathered from researches and engagements conducted by our 18 partners across six states of the north has given us a broader perspective on the hindrances and challenges of the COVID vaccination in those states. The hindrances and challenges differ from state to state as can be seen below”

The project manager public education further cited example with Borno state where there are 87 vaccination spots across the 27 local governments of the state but said the main challenge of getting as people as possible vaccinated are as follows,lack of COVID certificate seal or barcode in 70% of the vaccination spots , Nonpayment of COVID vaccine administrators , Misconception on vaccine amongst government officials,lack of sufficient information on where and how to be vaccinated .

Hamza added that the above problems are creating serious hindrances to COVID vaccine administration in the state.

He said established partners that more than 70% of the vaccination centres had ran out of seal to place on the vaccine certificates of the vaccinated people.

” We therefore appeal to Borno state government to immediately access the seals for smooth vaccination exercise to take place in the state. Another critical challenge is in the area of nonpayment of the health workers involved in the vaccine administration. Lack of that motivation has further made some of the staff to be completely absent at the vaccination spots or close before time. This situation has made people who want to be vaccinated not to access the vaccine. There are also misconceptions and conspiracy theories around the vaccine that some government officials in the state have which has also been a serious problem to getting people vaccinated, this has not only demoralized many people, but it has also reinforced their disbelief and rejection of the vaccine”

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In Plateau state, while there is information on where and how people can get vaccinated, the major hindrances are however stated as follows

Fear of Future of Consequences of the Vaccine
, Conspiracy Theories of Opinion Leaders
While there is information on vaccination spots in the state, the major challenge as found by our partners in the state is the fear that many people have on the vaccine, believing that it has future consequences on the people that accept the vaccine.

Hamza noted that the rumour circulating on the vaccine remains a critical hindrance and to complement the earlier negative narrative, some opinion leaders in the state hold strong negative views about the virus and its vaccination, that is a major problem to getting more people accept the vaccine despite considerable information flow on accessing the vaccine.

CITAD therefore urge the state government to look into that and address those problems.

For Kogi state Hamza said more people are accepting the vaccine and that is largely due to role of elites, federal and state civil servants in accepting the vaccine.

Coming to Kano state Hamza said findings indicate that teachers in Tsangaya schools reject the vaccine because according to them their numerous problems have been left unattended to and unaddressed as well.

Some of them feel the vaccine is not as important as other critical problems they have which is also a major hindrance.

It is unfortunate that despite the difficult moment COVID has pushed people into, vaccination against the virus in the country is still very low.

CITAD therefore recommend the following steps to be adopted

1. As a matter of urgency we appeal to all unvaccinated Nigerians to quickly go and take the vaccine.
2. We urge stakeholders and opinion leaders in Plateau state to work together to address misconception theories on COVID and its vaccination as well as enlighten the public on the relevance of the vaccine.
3. We urge authorities in Borno state to ensure the provision of sufficient seals to the vaccination spots and motivate vaccination staff by paying their allowances
4. We urge people to disregard fake narratives around the vaccine as the narratives were not scientifically proven. Reputable health agencies have confirmed the efficiency of the vaccine as such people should disregard the rumours
5. Health authorities in various states should prioritize information sharing on how and where people can get the vaccine.
6. To this end we would like to strongly appeal to traditional and religious leaders, the media, community associations and opinion leaders in the society to join us in the campaign to enlighten people on the relevance of the vaccine and taking it.
7. We want traditional leaders to use their chain of leadership to emphasize the role of the vaccine and taking it, we equally want religious leaders to sensitize their members and followers in various fora on taking the vaccine.
8. We want to urge all and sundry in the society to corporate with authorities in their quest to curbing the spread of the virus by adhering to all measures being put in place.
9. COVID is not over yet, therefore measures such as putting on face masks and avoiding crowd or maintaining social distancing where necessary should still be observed.
10. If you are not vaccinated, quickly and get vaccinated!

News

Legal Troubles Mount for El-Rufai as ICPC Takes Him into Custody

Published

4 hours ago

February 19, 2026

Nigerian Tracker

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The legal challenges facing the immediate past Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, intensified on Wednesday as he was taken into custody by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

The anti-graft agency confirmed the development in a statement on Thursday, signed by its Head of Media and Public Communications, J. Okor Odey.

“The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) writes to state that Malam Nasiru El-Rufai the former Governor of Kaduna state is in our custody as at close of work, Wednesday the 18th day of February, 2026,” the statement read. “Malam Nasiru El-Rufai is in the custody of the Commission in connection with investigations.”

While the ICPC did not disclose the specific details of the allegations, his detention marks a significant escalation in the scrutiny of his eight-year tenure and follows a recent high-profile arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

El-Rufai’s transfer to ICPC custody comes immediately after he spent two nights with the EFCC over allegations of large-scale corruption and embezzlement. Those allegations stem from a Kaduna State House of Assembly ad-hoc committee report, which indicted his administration for allegedly siphoning approximately ₦432 billion through questionable contracts and money laundering.

Sources revealed that while the EFCC had granted the former governor administrative bail, the process was derailed under controversial circumstances. The bail conditions reportedly required a Permanent Secretary and a Director in a federal ministry to stand as sureties. However, after one of the proposed sureties—a Permanent Secretary—arrived at the EFCC office to complete the formalities, the agency allegedly hesitated and later declined to proceed.

Further compounding the issue, it was learned that the Permanent Secretary subsequently withdrew from the process, citing alleged threats. This has raised concerns about possible intimidation and interference in the case.

El-Rufai was scheduled to appear before the ICPC on Wednesday for questioning over separate corruption allegations, leading to his transfer to the commission’s custody.

In a parallel legal front, the Department of State Services (DSS) has filed charges against El-Rufai at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The charges, filed under suit number FHC/CR/99/2026, allege that the former governor unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.

According to court documents dated February 16, 2026, the prosecution’s case hinges on comments El-Rufai made during a televised interview on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme on February 13, 2026.

In the first count, the former governor is accused of unlawfully intercepting the NSA’s phone communications, an offense said to be contrary to Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.

The second count alleges that El-Rufai admitted to knowing individuals involved in the interception but failed to report them to relevant security agencies, an offense under Section 27(b) of the same Act.

In the third count, prosecutors allege that El-Rufai and “others still at large” used technical systems to compromise public safety and national security by unlawfully intercepting the NSA’s phone communications, contrary to Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.

El-Rufai has consistently denied all allegations leveled against him, describing them as politically motivated “witch-hunts.” However, with the EFCC, ICPC, and DSS all pursuing separate investigations, the former governor now faces an unprecedented multi-agency legal offensive.

News

Veteran Kano Broadcaster Lami Maccido Dies at 72

Published

1 day ago

February 18, 2026

Nigerian Tracker

A veteran Kano broadcaster who worked with the Kano State pioneer-owned television station, Lami Hafsat Maccido, has died at 72.

According to multiple sources, including veteran journalists, Hajiya Lami Hafsat Maccido died in the early hours of Wednesday.

She was among the pioneer casters of CTV 67, which is now ARTV, established by the first civilian Governor of Kano State, Late Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar Rimi.

Before Hajiya Lami Maccido retired from the state television station, she captivated her audience with eloquent news presentation and was a role model for young journalists.

Tributes have continued to pour in for the late veteran journalist from her senior and junior colleagues.

Former Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Kano Council, Abbas Ibrahim, described Hajiya Lami Hafsat Maccido as a very humble journalist who corrected her juniors with humility.

News

Tinubu Signs Electoral Act Amendment Bill Into Law Ahead of 2027 Polls

Published

1 day ago

February 18, 2026

Nigerian Tracker

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday gave his assent to the Electoral Act 2022 (Amendment) Bill, 2026, a move that comes just days after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) unveiled the official timetable for the 2027 general elections.

The signing ceremony took place at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, shortly after 5:00 pm. The event was attended by key leaders of the National Assembly, who facilitated the bill’s speedy passage a day earlier.

The newly signed amendment has thrust the contentious issue of electronic transmission of election results back into the national spotlight. While the legislation signals a continued commitment to technological integration, the specifics of the amendment are expected to shape the operational framework for INEC in the upcoming electoral cycle.

Civil society organizations and opposition political parties have consistently advocated for the mandatory real-time transmission of results directly from polling units to INEC’s central viewing portal. They argue that such transparency is critical to safeguarding the electoral process, reducing human interference, and bolstering public confidence in election outcomes.

This demand follows the technical glitches experienced during the 2023 general elections, where the malfunction of INEC’s Result Viewing Portal (IReV) led to widespread allegations of manipulation and sparked protests.

While the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has expressed general support for deploying technology to enhance electoral integrity, the implementation strategy remains a point of contention. Some political stakeholders and technical experts are advocating for a cautious approach, citing significant disparities in network connectivity and telecommunications infrastructure across the country. They propose a phased or hybrid model that would allow for manual collation as a failover in areas where electronic systems are unreliable, ensuring that no voter is disenfranchised due to technical failures.

With the amendment now law, attention turns to the execution of the 2027 elections. According to the previously released INEC timetable, voters will head to the polls on Saturday, February 20, 2027, to elect the President and members of the National Assembly. This will be followed by the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections on Saturday, March 6, 2027.