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Covid-19: “No private sector engagement in vaccines administration”-Health Minister

Confidence Okwuchi
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Nigeria has announced that it will not engage any Private sector in the administration of the Covid-19 vaccines in the country.

The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire said this as the country is set to receive its first doses of 4 million Covid-19 vaccines from the COVAX facility on Tuesday, the 2nd of March, 2021.

Dr Ehanire said the vaccines would arrive from Mumbai to Nigeria as all plans and arrangements have been finalised to ensure a hitch free rollout of vaccination, including training of health workers, secured logistics and cold chain equipment to receive vaccines in all wards of the federation.

“There will, for now, be no need for ungoverned private importation of vaccines. Vaccine deployment will be by NPHCDA, till further notice and I can assure all citizens that they are in a position to cater to the needs of all persons, as in the rollout strategy, but also able to respond to institutions, clusters and settings, including closed settings like prisons and IDPs, with deployment of NPHCDA vaccination teams. This is upon application and special arrangements,” he explained.

Dr Ehanire added that Nigeria was expecting enough vaccines of three types, to cater for its needs, with the option to increase supply if need be.

 

Confidence Okwuchi

Covid-19: Nigeria enters NPI + vaccine phase

Confidence Okwuchi
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Nigeria has announced its transition from the Non pharmaceutical Interventions phase to a Non Pharmaceutical Interventions Plus Vaccines phase of its National Response.

Chairman of the Presidential Task Force, PTF, on Covid-19 in Nigeria, Boss Mustapha announced this in Abuja, at its National Joint Media briefing,

As Nigeria awaits the arrival of four million doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines on 2nd march, 2021, Mustapha said this development offers a huge ray of hope that comes with its own challenges and responsibilities and all Nigerians must be prepared to take responsibility.

He noted that the development of Vaccines as a ray of hope was a welcome development, but that Vaccines alone cannot be a solution.

He said accessing vaccines has been strategic and deliberate, and assured that vaccines coming to Nigeria shall be safe and efficacious.

The PTF Chairman however, emphasised that the achievement of the core objectives behind the aforementioned facts on vaccines shall remain farfetched if Nigeria fails to overcome the following:

i.  Vaccines Hesitancy and scepticism

ii. Elite resistance

iii. Possible emergence of unauthorised or fake vaccines

  1. Collaboration and support from sub-nationals
  2. Double Registration and fake Information
  3. Security

Boss Mustapha further said that despite the challenges, the PTF wishes to commend the National Response as successful adding that at inception, the primary aim was to strengthen the health system to withstand the Covid-19 and other pandemics.

 

Confidence Okwuchi

Covid-19: NAFDAC to analyse vaccines in 24hours

Confidence Okwuchi
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0

The Nigerian Government says its National Agency for Food Administration and Drug Control, NAFDAC will analyse the first batch of the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine in 24 hours as its arrives in the country.

Executive Secretary, National Primary Health Care Development Agency,NPHCDA, Dr Faisal Shu’aib said this at the National Joint Media briefing by the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19.

He said a few vials of the vaccines would be handed over to the NAFDAC team which they would analyze over a period of two days (Wednesday March 3rd and Thursday March 4th).

” Further to the clearance by NAFDAC, the PTF, FMOH, NPHCDA and strategic leaders will be at the treatment center of the National Hospital on Friday March 5th 2021, where the first vaccination site will be set up to commence the vaccination of the front-line health workers and support staff,” he stated.

According to the Executive Secretary, these Staff would also be electronically registered in the Covid-19 vaccine database and would receive their Covid-19 vaccination card which has a QR code that can be verified worldwide.

He explained that, “On Saturday, March 6th, Key Strategic leaders will receive the first dose of the vaccine. On Monday March 8th 2021, more vaccination sites would have been set up at designated locations such as National Assembly clinic, State House clinic and Federal medical centre, Jabi where strategic leaders such as the SGF, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Attorney General of the Federation, Inspector General of Police, the Ministers and Ministers of States, Senators, House of Representatives, traditional leaders and religious leaders would be vaccinated.

After this launch and initial roll-out phase, Vaccine distribution to the States for the phase 1 vaccination process will begin.

“This phase is the vaccination of all frontline health workers, their supporting staff and strategic leaders,” he  explained.

Dr Shu’aib added that the deployment of vaccines to the States would be based on the assessment of their level of preparedness.

Confidence Okwuchi

Police arrests Barcelona’s ex-President Bartomeu

Mercy Chukwudiebere
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Former Barcelona President Josep Bartomeu has been arrested as part of a police investigation into last year’s BarcaGate scandal.

Bartomeu, who resigned as president in October, was among several arrests made just six days ahead of the club’s new presidential elections on Sunday.

Barcelona’s current chief executive Oscar Grau, head of legal services Roma Gomez Ponti, and Bartomeu’s advisor Jaume Masferrer were also arrested by Catalan police, who searched the club’s offices on Monday morning.

”Bartomeu, Masferrer, Grau, and Gomez Ponti are being detained at the police station as part of the operation,” a source with the knowledge of the case said.

Statement
Barcelona released a statement confirming the operation is linked to last year’s BarcaGate controversy when the club was accused of covering up payments made to a company called I3 Ventures, hired to boost the image of then-president Bartomeu on social media.

A Catalan police spokesman said on Monday morning “arrests are taking place” and the operation was run by officers from the financial crimes unit.”

Part of the social media campaign included criticising current and former players, like Lionel Messi, Pep Guardiola, and Xavi Hernandez. Messi described the controversy as “strange” in an interview with Catalan newspaper Mundo Deportivo.

Barca’s statement on Monday reads: “Regarding the entry and search by the Catalan Police force this morning at the Camp Nou offices by order of the Instructing Court number 13 in Barcelona, which is in charge of the case relating to the contacting of monitoring services on social networks, FC Barcelona have offered up their full collaboration to the legal and police authorities to help make clear facts which are subject to investigation.

“The information and documentation requested by the judicial police force relate strictly to the facts relative to this case.”

Spanish radio station Cadena Ser claimed Barca paid I3 Ventures an inflated fee and put payments through in smaller, separate amounts to avoid the club’s financial controls.

Emili Rousaud, who resigned as Barcelona vice-president in March last year, said in an interview with RAC1 at the time: “If the auditors tell us the cost of these services is 100,000 euros and we have paid one million, it means someone has had their hand in the till.” The club took legal action against him.

Rousaud was among six Barca executives to leave their posts, with a joint letter citing the scandal as a key issue needing to be resolved.

Bartomeu maintained the company had been hired only to monitor posts on social media and announced an internal audit by PricewaterhouseCoopers, which cleared the club of financial corruption in July.

He said; “Let one thing be clear.

”To the question: Have we commissioned the monitoring of social networks? The answer is yes. “To the question: Have we commissioned to discredit people or institutions through social networks? The answer is no and we will take action against all those who accuse us of that.”

Yet Bartomeu resigned in October, avoiding a vote of no confidence triggered after more than 20,000 club members signed a petition against him.

His departure came in the same month Barcelona announced losses of 97 million euros ($114 million) for last season and debts that had more than doubled to 488 million euros.

As well as a series of political blunders, Bartomeu had also overseen a dramatic decline in performances on the pitch and a personal falling-out with Messi, who tried to leave for free last summer.

Messi accused the club of “always juggling everything and plugging gaps” under Bartomeu’s leadership.

Bartomeu’s successor is due to be elected on Sunday, when club members will choose between the final three candidates, Joan Laporta, Toni Freixa and Victor Font.

“In light of events that took place today, we express our respect for the police and the judiciary, and we defend the presumption of innocence. And we deeply regret that these events diminish the reputation of the club,”  Laporta said.

“Too many people want to hurt Barca,” wrote Freixa on Twitter. “We will not allow it.”

 

 

AFP/Mercy Chukwudiebere

 

 

NP/Mercy Chukwudiebere

Anambra Poll: Airline Boss joins gubernatorial Race

Lateefat Ibrahim
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The Chairman United Nigeria Airlines, Obiora Okonkwo has declared his intention to run for Anambra state’s gubernatorial seat under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP).

Okonkwo who declared his intention at the PDP Secretariat, Awka, Anambra State, stated that the yearnings of the people challenged him to vie for the governorship seat.

Reasons for the interest
“Almost 30 years after the state’s creation, it’s yet to have infrastructural presence. Very little exists in the state capital, Awka by way of critical public infrastructure as many key government institutions continued to operate from the same makeshift structures they have been using since 1991.

“One only have to visit other state capitals around the country, some of which were created years after Anambra State, to be able to appreciate the very poor condition of our state capital, Awka in view of basic infrastructure. A state that prides itself as the Light of the Nation should do better,” he reiterated.

“Roughly 10 years ago, Anambra was widely acclaimed as having the best intra-state network of roads in the country. Today, very sadly, most of those roads have fallen apart due to neglect and poor maintenance culture.

“Good roads, functional public hospitals, pipe-born water, regular power supply, good public transportation, among others are just the basics any serious government should provide for its people.

“Our people have been so dehumanised by decades of poor governance that we now settle for crumbs from our governments,” he expatiated.

Stating that decent people would no longer remain on the sidelines and complain about bad governance, Okonkwo implored the PDP in the state to offer him its ticket for the poll to turn around the fortunes in the interest of all.

Intentions declared
“It is for the above reasons and with great humility that I come before you. Having listened to the yearnings of our people for a government that will be responsive to their needs and in total obedience to the will of God, I solemnly declare before you, my intention to contest for the office of governor of Anambra state in the governorship election fixed for November 6, 2021.

“God in his infinite goodness has abundantly blessed me in my personal life. I am now, more than ever, driven to give back to society through public service as there is not so much one can do as a private citizen,” he stated.

Moreover, the PDP state Chairman, Ndubuisi Nwobu when speaking to news men stated that every aspirants on the platform of the party will be given same level playing ground.

 

Lateefah Ibrahim

Olympique Marseille Chief Scout in Kwara State for AA Talent Hunt 

Mercy Chukwudiebere
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Olympique Marseille of France  Chief Scout for Africa, Omar Sciola, has arrived in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, North Central Nigeria for Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s  1st (AA) Talent Hunt football programme.

Sciola who arrived on Monday  was received by the programme’s Coordinator,  Bashir Badawiy and the Chairman of the Kwara Football Association, Malam Idris Musa at the Ilorin International Airport.

The former Manchester United, Monaco and AC Milan of Italy Chief Scout later took a tour of the Alhaji Usman Mustapha Football House, where he described what he saw as ‘world class.’

He was later conducted round the Main Bowl of the Kwara Stadium Complex, Ilorin where the scouting programme will take place .

The Kwara Stadium Manager, Wale Obalola,  accompanied by Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) Ilorin FC, Director of Football, Alloy Chukwuemeka, took Sciola round the stadium.

Obalola explained to Sciola that ”the facility can simultaneously host many sporting events at the same time.”

The Olympique Marseille  Africa Chief Scout, said ”he was impressed with what was on ground and hoped for a hitch-free scouting programme.”

On the part of Badawiy, the programme was introduced to  appreciate the contributions of the State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to the development of youth and sports.

“The exercise is all about the youth, as we plan to discover talents from the nooks and crannies of the state, which is in line with the policy thrust of the administration of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

“It is being staged to also honour a sport loving Governor, for lifting sports in the state, especially from the grassroots, as well as the renovation, modernisation and construction of new sports infrastructure in the state,” he said.

 

Mercy Chukwudiebere

Ivory Coast launches first vaccination drive with COVAX shots

Olajumoke Adeleke
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Ivory Coast launched the world’s first Covid-19 inoculation drive on Monday with doses imported from the COVAX sharing facility, a milestone in the race to extend vaccine access to poorer countries.

The Secretary-General at the presidency, Patrick Achi, was the first to be vaccinated at a sports complex in the commercial capital Abidjan. Onlookers cheered as a health worker in a white coat and pink scrubs delivered the injection.

Medical personnel, teachers and security forces members were also being vaccinated in the first phase of the campaign targeting 3% of the population.

“The vaccines offer us the hope of returning to normal in the coming months,” Achi said.

Ivory Coast has recorded 36,109 infections and 192 coronavirus-related deaths.

COVAX, which is led by the GAVI vaccines alliance along with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners, aims to deliver over 1.3 billion doses to 92 low- and middle-income countries, covering up to 20% of their populations.

 “This is a day many of us have been dreaming of and working for more than 12 months,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

In the next week, COVAX expects to deliver 11 million doses of the AstraZeneca/Oxford and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines, it said in a statement.

It added that the allocation of the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine to be delivered to participating countries between now and the end of May is expected on Tuesday.

 

Edited by Olajumoke Adeleke

Abducted Jangebe School Girls to Regain Freedom soon- Sirika

Lateefat Ibrahim
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The Leader of the Federal Government delegation to sympathise with the people and government of Zamfara State on the kidnapped Jangebe schoolgirls, Aviation minister, Hadi Sirika, on Monday briefed President Muhammadu Buhari on the outcome of their mission to the state.

 

Speaking to State House Correspondents after a closed door meeting with the President, Sirika, expressed optimism that the abducted female students of Government Girls Science Secondary School, Jangebe, would soon be freed from their abductors.

 

According to him, the government and people of Zamfara State have expressed satisfaction with the efforts of the federal government towards addressing the menace of banditry and kidnapping in the state.

 

He said: “Well, the message we’ve brought back to the President is that the government and people of Zamfara are very appreciative of the efforts of Mr President, including all of the things that the President had done towards Zamfara. 

 

“The Governor also said he has an unfettered access to Mr President and Mr. President has always given him a listening ear and they have helped him in so many ways in reaching a peaceful coexistence with his people.

 

“So he’s very glad and he’s very happy. He asked us to greet Mr. President and tell Mr. President that he should count him as a partner in this challenge.’’

 

Sirika had on Sunday delivered President Buhari’s message to the people and government of Zamfara, saying new measures had been developed by the federal government which would bring complete end to all forms of criminality in the nation.

 

“The President is saddened by the abduction of the students from Jangebe and reassures you that the government has all the resources and wherewithal to contain these criminals,” he said.

Other members of the delegation were the Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Maigari Dingyadi, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Hajiya Sa’adiya Umar-Faruk and Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs. Pauline Tallen.

 

Lateefah Ibrahim

Covid-19: Nigeria confirms 360 new cases

Mercy Chukwudiebere
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The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, has recorded 360 new cases of Covid-19 across the country.

With the latest figures, the confirmed cases of the virus have risen to 156,017 with 133,904 Discharged and 1,915 Deaths.

On its official Twitter page, @NCDCgov, is the breakdown of the new cases as recorded ;

Governor directs immediate provision of water supply to Fulani community

Mosunmola Ore
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As part of his sustained efforts to better the lives of people, especially at the rural level, the Kebbi State Governor, Senator Abubakar Atiku, has directed the immediate sinking of boreholes at some fulani hamlets in Bunza Local Government area.

In a statement by Bagudu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yahaya Sarki, said this was with a view to ameliorate the water scarcity they were facing in their hamlets.

Governor Bagudu first point of call was Rugar Bambala, a fulani hamlet, where he visited and found out about their broken down borehole.

Some fulani women, with a couple of men, told the Governor that, the existing borehole in their hamlet was not functional, while the generator needed servicing.

Without hesitation, the Governor directed the immediate repairs of the borehole.

Similarly, at Tungar Riskuwa, another fulani hamlet, the Governor interacted freely with the fulani community in the hamlet, taking time to know their needs.

The women, in unison, requested for water supply in their community.

According to one aged woman, Fatima Hajo, women in the area always had to walk for a long distance, to fetch water.

It was the same complaint from the Head of the community, Ruga Bello Hakimi, who lamented the recurring water scarcity too.

” We have to walk long distance to get water for our needs,’‘ he said.

Bagudu told them that , the state government was ready to sink a borehole for them.

He assured them that, officials from the Ministry of Water Resources would soon mobilise to the site of their choice, to begin work immediately.

He sought to find out if the fulani women had benefitted from any loan assistance.

He asked: ” Have you ever benefited from any Government loan facility ?.

‘ So, get yourselves together and form cooperative groups, so that you can take advantage of it .”

He charged them to live in peace with one another and send their children to school, as well as allow them to complete their studies.

The farmers-friendly Governor also made a stop over at Tsora village, where he met some water melon farmers and encouraged them to remain committed to their work.

The Kebbi Governor also inspected the Tilli/Zogirma bridge which was rehabilitated recently by the state government.

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