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FG Begins Infant Vaccination For Covid-19

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5 years ago

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The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has integrated childhood vaccination at COVID-19 vaccination sites for children from 0-23 months.

This is to ensure that preventable childhood diseases are not neglected in the face of the response against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Executive Director, NPHCDA, Dr Faisal Shuaib, disclosed this at the National COVID-19 vaccines weekly briefing on Tuesday, in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this formed part of the first meeting for the 2022 to give an update on the progress made in the country’s COVID-19 vaccination process by the agency.

According to him, the integration of childhood immunisation is part of the Federal Government plan to involve childhood immunisation in its ongoing COVID-19 campaign train.

“In this phase of COVID-19 mass vaccination, the campaign would be integrated with childhood immunisation and other primary health care services.

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“What this simply means is that alongside the COVID-19 vaccines, childhood vaccines will also be available at COVID-19 vaccination centres.

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“Consequently, parents or guardians with children aged zero to 23 months are urged to take them along to the vaccination sites,” he said.

While calling on Nigerians to utilise the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination campaign across the country, Shuaib said the holiday season came with a spike in the number of COVID-19 cases.

The NPHCDA boss said that several unvaccinated individuals were migrating from the cities to the rural areas and back to the cities.

“Globally, we saw the emergence of new variants such as IHU variant in France which is said to have 46 mutations, Deltacron in Cyprus and the Omicron variant still being highly infectious with a BA.2 subvariant rapidly spreading.

“More of our citizens were coming down with the infection. Luckily for our vaccinated population, those who came down with the COVID-19 infection had mild symptoms which they managed at home due to the immunity the vaccination provided them.

“If they were not vaccinated, we cannot predict how these cases would have turned out. Vaccination prevents you from severe disease, hospitalisation and death,” he said.

He added that the reason for the emergence of these variants was because there was still a large proportion of the eligible population were yet to be vaccinated.

According to him, this gives the virus time to mutate and fight back.

“It is important that we protect ourselves and our loved ones by getting the jab. Our vaccination exercise was expanded to enable all eligible persons to have easier access.

“All vaccination sites are open to eligible persons, 18 years and above for first, second and booster doses. We call on Nigerians to avail themselves of this opportunity in the ongoing mass vaccination exercise to get vaccinated against COVID-19,” he said.

Meanwhile, the UNICEF Nigeria Representative, Dr Peter Hawkins disclosed that 298 million dollars had been used by the Nigerian government for the procurement of the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine in total at about 30 million doses.

Hawkins noted that this was a commitment and the drawdown comes as it becomes available and as it was required.

“Nigeria so far, but the actual figure as received was 51,014,140 doses. There’s 10 million that is being stored ready to come into Nigeria,” he said. (NAN)

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Shettima Leads FG Delegation to Ethiopia on Nutrition Mission

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7 hours ago

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October 7, 2026

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Vice President, Kashim Shettima has departed Abuja for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to lead a nutrition-focused peer exchange mission.

Shettima is attending the inaugural Nigeria-Ethiopia Nutrition Leadership Exchange Visit at the invitation of Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Tiruneh.

According to a statement released by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), the visit will enable both nations to share strategies on establishing a combined federal, state, and local compact for effective nutrition delivery.

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According to the statement, during the visit, the Nigerian delegation will study Ethiopia’s government-led, multi-sectoral approach to food security and tour several key sites, including: A wheat farm and banana plantation in Oromia, The ‘Bounty of the Basket’ Training Centre and community household initiatives in Mojo, and Jabdu Motors in Bishoftu.”

“The Vice President’s entourage includes Governors Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State and Umar Namadi of Jigawa State; Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu; Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari; and Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar Abubakar,” it added.

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JUST IN: Military, DSS , Police Rescue 20 Kidnapped NYSC Members, Civilian in Imo

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7 hours ago

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October 7, 2026

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Twenty prospective National Youth Service Corps members and a civilian abducted while travelling through Imo State have been rescued in a joint operation by security agencies.

The victims were rescued by operatives of the military, Department of State Services and police following an intelligence-led search operation launched after the abduction.

The development was confirmed by security sources, who said the victims were receiving medical attention at a DSS facility.

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The prospective corps members were reportedly abducted while travelling through the state, prompting security agencies to mobilise for their rescue.

The coordinated operation involved the military, DSS, police and other security agencies.

The sources said the operation was intelligence-driven, leading security operatives to the location where the victims were held.

The rescue comes amid persistent concerns over the safety of travellers and NYSC members in parts of the country.

Authorities have commenced investigations into the abduction and are working to identify and arrest other suspects linked to the incident.

The rescued victims are expected to receive further attention as security agencies continue investigations into their ordeal.

The agencies have yet to disclose details of the identities of the victims, the exact location where they were rescued or whether any arrests have been made.

Security sources said efforts were ongoing to apprehend other suspects involved in the abduction

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NDC Candidate Questions Barau’s Origin, Says He’s Not From Kano North

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7 hours ago

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October 7, 2026

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By Ahmad Muhammad.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate for Kano North Senatorial District, Nasiru Garo, has questioned the origin of the incumbent Senator, Barau Jibrin, saying he is not from the zone.

Garo, who spoke during his campaign tour of the district on Sunday, alleged that the Deputy President of the Senate had previously contested and won a House of Representatives seat in Tarauni Local Government, which is under Kano Central and not Kano North.

He claimed that from 1999 to 2023, Barau’s political base was outside Kano North, which is why he has not been sensitive to the needs of the people of the area.

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According to him, occupying a high office in the Senate should have translated to more development for Kano North, but the reverse is the case due to lack of commitment.

He listed the abandoned Gwarzo-Dayi Federal Road, which links several agrarian communities, as a major failure of the current representation in the district.

Garo also decried the failure to rehabilitate the Ghari Dam, noting that its revival would boost dry-season farming and create jobs for thousands of youths and farmers.

“The people of this zone have been shortchanged in terms of federal projects and employment opportunities,” he said.

The NDC candidate promised to give the district purposeful representation by ensuring completion of abandoned projects, reviving key dams, and attracting federal presence to the 13 local government areas of Kano North if elected

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