News

Traditional Leaders Strengthen Immunization Efforts as New Incentives Expands Support

Published

1 year ago

January 30, 2025

Traditional leaders in Bauchi State have reaffirmed their commitment to supporting routine immunization efforts following recent visits from the New Incentives – All Babies Are Equal (NI-ABAE) program team. These visits to the Emirs of Dass and Misau highlight the ongoing collaboration between traditional institutions and health-focused organizations to improve childhood vaccination rates.

The Emir of Dass, Alhaji Usman Bilyaminu Othman, is a key advocate for immunization. He noted that financial challenges often prevent caregivers from accessing health services. “Many parents in rural areas want to vaccinate their children but cannot afford the transportation cost to health facilities,” he explained. “New Incentives has helped bridge this gap by providing support that encourages parents to complete their children’s immunization schedules.”
Since launching in Bauchi State in June 2022, the NI-ABAE program has expanded across all 20 local government areas, offering small financial incentives to caregivers who bring their infants for routine immunization. This approach has significantly improved vaccine uptake, especially in rural and hard-to-reach communities.

In Misau local government, the program has recorded remarkable milestones. Mustapha Kabir, New Incentives’ Operations Director for Bauchi and Gombe States, shared that over 23,000 infants have been enrolled in the program, with more than 300,000 vaccinations facilitated. The organization has also disbursed over ₦100 million to caregivers to ease financial barriers.
The Emir of Misau, Alhaji Ahmed Sulaiman, commended the initiative while acknowledging its impact on reducing childhood diseases. “This is a responsibility we should be handling, but New Incentives has stepped in to assist,” he said. “The small cash support you provide makes a difference for families struggling with poverty. We appreciate this program and we will continue to support it.”
The Emir of Dass acknowledged that vaccine hesitancy could arise from communities feeling neglected in government projects. “Some communities resist activities linked to government initiatives due to political grievances,” he noted. “This is why continuous community engagement is crucial. And we are happy that our people listen to us when we speak to them to understand the importance of the vaccination on their children.”
NI-ABAE has always worked in partnerships with traditional institutions to address these challenges. Ibrahim Ahmad, National Partnership Officer for New Incentives, highlighted the essential role of traditional leaders in the program’s success.
“Their influence has helped us overcome initial resistance, and we are now seeing a stronger commitment from parents to complete their children’s immunization schedules,” he said. According to Ibrahim, despite these noticeable challenges, the All Babies program, operating in 42 public hospitals in Dass, have enrolled over 12,000 infants in the local government and disbursed over 54 million to caregivers since 2022.

As the program which started in 2017 in Katsina State has now expanded to 11 states in northern Nigeria. “So far, we have enrolled more than 4 million infants into our program, encouraging more than 64 million vaccinations across the states,” added Ibrahim.

The organization also works to strengthen vaccine awareness campaigns through radio jingles and community health talks to ensure that even urban working-class parents—who may forget due to their busy schedules—are reminded to complete their children’s vaccinations.

News

NSA Nuhu Ribadu Meets JD Vance to Bolster US-Nigeria Counterterrorism

Published

3 minutes ago

May 9, 2026

Nigerian Tracker

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Nuhu Ribadu, national security adviser (NSA), recently met with JD Vance, vice-president of the United States; and Marco Rubio, US secretary of state; over counterterrorism cooperation in West Africa.

In a post on X, Secure Nigeria, a social media platform focused on security issues, stated that the meeting reinforced the partnership between Nigeria and the US in combating terrorism across the region.

The post added that President Bola Tinubu appreciates the partnership and continued support of the US government under President Donald Trump.

“@officialABAT is grateful for @realDonaldTrump’s partnership and continued U.S. training and intelligence support as Nigerian forces intensify operations to dismantle terrorist networks, protect Nigerian Christians, and defend all vulnerable communities,” the post reads.

“Africa’s largest democracy isn’t wavering. Nigeria stands as a frontline U.S. partner against ISIS, Boko Haram, and rising terror threats across the Sahel.”

The platform said both countries remain committed to defeating terrorism and strengthening regional security cooperation.

“This fight is winnable, and together, the U.S. and Nigeria intend to finish it,” the post added.

News

PGF Splits as Uzodimma, Abiodun Camp Emerge

Published

15 minutes ago

May 9, 2026

Nigerian Tracker

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

A deepening leadership crisis has split the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), the body of state governors elected under the All Progressives Congress (APC), into rival factions.

The incumbent chairman, Hope Uzodimma, governor of Imo State, maintains that he remains in charge of the forum alongside his deputy, Uba Sani, governor of Kaduna State. However, a competing bloc has reportedly coalesced around Dapo Abiodun, governor of Ogun State, and AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, governor of Kwara State.

Governors aligned with the Abiodun-AbdulRazaq camp hail from Adamawa, Zamfara, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Rivers, Bayelsa, Niger, Kwara, Plateau, Enugu, and Katsina states.

On the other side, governors backing Uzodimma include those from Kano, Taraba, Kebbi, Yobe, Lagos, Gombe, Kogi, Edo, Ekiti, Ondo, Sokoto, Jigawa, Ebonyi, Nasarawa, and Kaduna states.

On Friday, the governors supporting Uzodimma passed a vote of confidence in his leadership during what was described as an emergency meeting at the Imo State Lodge in Abuja. The gathering occurred just hours after the PGF denied reports that Uzodimma had been removed as chairman.

Governors present at the meeting included Umar Namadi (Jigawa), Hyacinth Alia (Benue), Nasir Idris (Kebbi), Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), Abba Yusuf (Kano), Ahmed Ododo (Kogi), Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi), Babagana Zulum (Borno), Ahmad Aliyu (Sokoto), Agbu Kefas (Taraba), Uba Sani (Kaduna), and Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo). Emmanuel Akabe, deputy governor of Nasarawa State, attended on behalf of his principal.

Earlier reports had claimed that Peter Mbah, governor of Enugu State, emerged as the new chairman of the PGF following an extraordinary meeting of APC governors in Abuja on Thursday night. According to those reports, about 20 governors—including those from Ogun, Bayelsa, and Enugu states—attended the closed-door session, which was said to have resulted in Mbah succeeding Uzodimma.

As of the time of this report, the precise cause of the disagreement remains unclear, and neither faction has issued a detailed official statement explaining the split.

News

Former Presidential Aide, Ja’oji, Gets House of Reps Ticket

Published

1 hour ago

May 9, 2026

Nigerian Tracker

From Abbas Yushau Yusuf

As a result of diligent and transparent consensus supervised by the Kano state Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, between aspirants for House of Representatives seat from Tarauni federal constituency, the former Senior Special Assistant to the President, on Citizenship and Leadership, Nasir Bala Aminu (Ja’o’ji), picks the ticket.

He will contest in the forthcoming 2027 general election, under the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC), as he got the endorsement of sixteen (16) out of nineteen (19) stakeholders, from the constituency.

As Ja’oji’s opponents accepted consensus as the easiest way for victory, governor Yusuf, assured them of carrying all, as partners in progress in his administration. Thanking them for their foresight in the patriotic effort they exhibited.

On his part, Ja’oji thanked all the stakeholders and other party faithful, for the good understanding they show before and during the consensus period. Urging them to support the candidature for the betterment of the people of Tarauni, and Kano in general.

“I assure you of my total commitment and loyalty to your cause. Which is ultimately ours and party’s. I will also make sure that I always consult those who were there before us, in our legislative engagement,” he pledged.

As his nomination form, has already been handed over to him, by the governor, he thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for supporting youth inclusion in politics and governance.

Adding that, “As one of the pillars of Renewed Hope Initiative, youth inclusion, I will not relent in assuring our youth that, they will have a competent and committed Ambassador to the National Assembly. I will also make our able President appreciate our timely inclusion.”

Other opponents were reported to have appreciated governor Yusuf’s elderly intervention in the entire consensus process. Promising to support Ja’oji with all their political strength and influence.