News

Diphtheria: 6 States Account For Staggering 97% Of All Reported Cases — NPHCDA

Published

3 years ago

October 4, 2023

The National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, said yesterday six states account for staggering 97 per cent of all reported diphtheria cases in the country.

The agency’s director general, Dr Faisal Shuaib, who disclosed this at the Diphtheria Outbreak Response briefing in Abuja, listed the states to include Kano, Yobe, Katsina, Borno, Kaduna, and Bauchi.

While noting that the six states were bearing the brunt of the disease in the country, Dr Shuaib said Kano alone carried the weight of over 84% of the cases, making it the epicenter of the outbreak.

Also regretting that Diphtheria, a preventable disease, had cast a dark shadow over communities, and particularly impacting children who he described as “our most vulnerable citizens”, Shuaib said the agency had in recent times, launched rapid and comprehensive vaccination campaigns across the affected regions.

He said: “These campaigns have been meticulously planned and executed, with a laser focus on the epicenter of the outbreak.

“Kano, as the epicenter of this outbreak, has been at the forefront of our vaccination efforts. Working with the state governments, we implemented rounds one and two of the vaccination campaign in five high-burden local government areas in February and April 2023 respectively.

“Subsequently, round three was integrated into routine immunization intensification, further bolstering our response. A additional eight LGAs in Kano underwent reactive vaccination exercises in the last week of August.

“Today, we stand united in the face of a public health challenge that demands our unwavering attention and swift action.

“Diphtheria, a preventable disease, has cast a dark shadow over our communities, particularly impacting our most vulnerable citizens, our beloved children.

“As we confront this crisis head-on, let me share with you the vital role of vaccination in our battle against this formidable foe.

“In this ongoing outbreak, you have heard that some states have been affected, with Kano, Yobe, Katsina, Borno, Kaduna, and Bauchi bearing the brunt, accounting for a staggering 97 per cent of all reported cases.

”Kano alone carries the weight of over 84 per cent of these cases, making it the epicenter of this outbreak. The burden falls disproportionately on our young, with over 73 per cent of cases occurring in children aged one to 14 years. Alarmingly, only about 18 per cent of those affected had received any vaccinations.”

”Borno State also conducted reactive vaccination exercises in four LGAs during the same period.

“For the phase one response conducted in August, 2023, significant numbers were reached. In Kano State alone, 476,962 children received Td vaccines, while 28,700 children received Penta vaccines.

”Katsina, had 313,615 children vaccinated with Penta vaccines and 421,045 with Td vaccines; Bauchi, vaccinated 162,840 children with Penta and 257,075 with Td vaccines; Kaduna, reached 174,857 children with Penta and 245,805 with Td vaccines. Yobe, vaccinated 82,601 children with Penta and 207,418 with Td vaccines. These figures do not include the daily routine vaccination efforts ongoing in these states.”

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

2 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

2 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.

News

N5m, N10m Zero-interest Loans: SheVentures Opens Applications For Women Entrepreneurs

Published

4 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has opened a new round of applications for its SheVentures proposition, offering zero-interest loans of up to ₦10 million to women entrepreneurs to ease access to working capital and support business growth.

The facility provides loans ranging from ₦500,000 to ₦5 million under a general category, and ₦5 million to ₦10 million for sector-specific businesses, with funding capped at up to 50% of an applicant’s average monthly turnover.

At the centre of the offering is a 0% interest rate, with all charges embedded in a transparent structure.

Repayment is structured over four or six months, allowing businesses to match obligations with their cash flow cycles.

Yemisi Edun, Managing Director and Chief Executive of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), said the initiative reflects a deliberate approach to inclusive growth.

“Inclusive growth requires access to capital and the right conditions for businesses to deploy that capital effectively.

“Women-led enterprises are critical to economic activity, yet they face structural barriers.

This intervention aims to help close that gap by providing financing that supports job creation, business expansion, and long-term sustainability for women entrepreneurs.”

“Access to affordable finance remains a major constraint for women entrepreneurs,” said Nnenna Jacob-Ogogo, Group Head, SheVentures and Impact Segments at First City Monument Bank (FCMB).

“By removing the cost barrier and offering quick, flexible funding, this zero-interest loan is designed to safeguard existing jobs, enable businesses to invest in growth initiatives, and foster resilience in challenging economic conditions.”

Women-owned businesses account for a significant share of Nigeria’s small and medium-sized enterprises but continue to face high borrowing costs and limited access to credit.

Through these efforts, SheVentures tackles persistent financing gaps facing women-led businesses, combining targeted funding with broader support to empower women entrepreneurs, encourage business innovation, and enhance their ability to compete on a national scale.

Applications for the zero-interest loan are now open.Apply now.