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FG Issues New Policy To Standardise Drug Procurement

Published

2 hours ago

September 26, 2025

Editor

The Federal Government has rolled out a new policy framework aimed at standardising the procurement of medicines and health products across the country.

Also, it declared a renewed commitment to combat rabies, aiming to eliminate the disease by 2030, in accordance with global health targets.

Meanwhile, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) called for urgent support to countries battling cholera, monkey pox (mpox) and Ebola.

Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Mamman Ahmadu, disclosed the new policy, yesterday, at the Celebration of Success ceremony for graduates of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) Level 4 Qualification Programme in Abuja.

The CIPS Level 4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply equips procurement professionals with globally recognised skills and ethical standards, preparing them to deliver transparent, efficient and impactful procurement services.

The BPP boss said the move was designed to guarantee quality, affordability and value for money in Nigeria’s healthcare system. He said the reform was part of the strategy to professionalise procurement and close long-standing loopholes that enable waste, fake drugs and inflated contracts.

Ahmadu urged the newly certified professionals to register on the National Procurement Officers Management System, a database designed to strengthen oversight, promote transparency and enhance accountability.

Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, stated, at a Joint Ministerial Press Briefing held on World Rabies Day 2025, themed ‘Act Now: You, Me, Community’, yesterday in Abuja, emphasised the urgency of addressing rabies, which, he said, remains one of the deadliest zoonotic diseases affecting Nigerians.” He assured of government’s determination to eradicate it through a ‘One Health Approach’.

The minister pointed out: “Government alone cannot win this battle. It requires you, me, and our communities working hand-in-hand. Together, we can make Nigeria rabies-free.”

He further highlighted ongoing nationwide vaccination campaigns for dogs and cats and reiterated efforts to strengthen veterinary services in underserved communities.

“Our approach is deliberate: to ensure that no family suffers the needless pain of losing a loved one to rabies,” he added. In his remarks, Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammed Pate, pledged continued support to efforts at eliminating the disease.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Chinyere Akujobi, represented by Stephen Ohaeri, the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, noted that “rabies is nearly 100 per cent fatal once symptoms appear” but is completely preventable through vaccination and responsible pet ownership.

In another forum, Africa CDC said climate change-driven flooding is worsening outbreaks and limiting humanitarian access. Deputy Incident Manager for the Incident Management Support Team, Africa CDC, Yap Boum, said this during a virtual press briefing yesterday.

During a regional update, Mr Boum said while some countries were reporting declines in cholera cases, others remain of “critical concern,” particularly Chad, where the epidemic that began in a refugee camp in mid-July has now spread to additional health zones. He said present hotspots include Wadai and Sila districts.

Boum highlighted the need to scale up surveillance, cholera treatment centres and rehabilitation efforts, warning that climate change is intensifying health risks across the continent.

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Africa CDC teams are deploying additional support in affected areas. Meanwhile, Mr Boum said Ebola remains a concern in the Democratic Republic of Congo, highlighting progress in contact tracing, targeted vaccination and preparedness in neighbouring Angola.

He welcomed fresh commitments made on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, where Gavi pledged to support 10 million doses of vaccine for mpox, and UNICEF promised to back key pillars of the continental response plan.

News

NYSC Reiterates Provision Of Community Development Services

Published

22 minutes ago

September 26, 2025

Editor

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has reiterated its commitment to provide community development services where they are most needed especially, in the rural areas across the country.

Brig:-Gen. Olakunle Nafiu, the Director General of NYSC stated this in Bauchi on Friday during the swearing in ceremony of the 2025 Batch ‘B’ stream II corps members posted to the state.

Represented by Mr Umoren Kufre, the Bauchi state Coordinator of NYSC, Nafiu informed the corps members that they were expected to adhere strictly to the orientation course timetable.

He also urged them to adhere to the NYSC Bye-laws, extant rules and other relevant policies, warning that any deviation from these rules could result in appropriate sanctions.

“May I assure all and sundry that the corps members will continue to provide services where they are most needed, especially in the rural areas.

“While we continue to pray for wisdom and strength for Gov. Bala Mohammed to lead the state, I want to put on record that we remain very grateful for his support to the scheme.

“I can’t stop appreciating him for the complete renovation of corps members’ hostels at the Mallam Y.M Baba NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Wailo and the construction of a brand new multi-purpose Hall.

“There can be no better demonstration of commitment, love and fatherly care than what we are seeing in the camp now. It is now clear for all to see that the governor is a great lover of the youths and particularly the corps members,” he said.

The NYSC DG further explained that out of the 1,900 corps members posted to the state, a total of 1,022 comprising 497 males and 525 females had been successfully registered.

Also speaking, governor Mohammed reminded the corps members that the primary aim of the NYSC was to promote national unity and integration.

Represented by Adamu Gabarin, Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Mohammed added that the philosophy and initiatives of the scheme acknowledged the significance of physical, psychological, mental, and intellectual development of youth through the orientation course.

“It is now your responsibility to cease this opportunity and make the best use of it during the orientation exercise.

“May I urge you to justify the trust the nation has in you. I challenge you to take the lead and advocate for national development and transformation,” said the governor.

News

Bauchi Begins Production Of Exercise Books, Chalks For Schools

Published

33 minutes ago

September 26, 2025

Editor

The Bauchi state government says it has begun the production of exercise books and chalks for onward distribution to schools to enhance academic excellence in the state.

Dr Muhammed Lawal, the state’s Commissioner for Education, stated this in Bauchi on Friday while inspecting the production site of the materials at the state’s Education Resource Centre (ERC).

According to him, the state was not only locally producing exercise books and chalks, it was also rebranding all forms of textbooks to make them look new.

“You can see that exercise books are being locally made in Bauchi state under the supervision of the Ministry of Education with the support of Gov. Bala Mohammed. The government has not sunk in resources wastefully. This has paid off.

“The fact that we can produce exercise books in Bauchi state is a great achievement in this administration and we are getting enough support from the governor by making this happen.

“There is no point going to China and by this development, it will phase out the number of undue, unqualified contractors that supply substandard materials.

“I’m so impressed and overwhelmed seeing what is going on here and as you can see, we are producing not only exercise books, we are rebranding textbooks to make them new.

“If we can have our textbooks made and rebranded in the state, our chalks are being made in the state, what else do we need?” He queried.

The commissioner, who expressed happiness over the development, said that the centre was a clear indication that education was working in the state through the commitment of governor Mohammed.

He explained that the primary aim of setting up the production site was to ensure that the government supplied the schools with ‘home made products’ such as textbooks, exercise books and chalks.

“When we are well fed, then we can think of exporting these chalks for revenue generation to the state and to the ministry as well.

“The chalks are made in millions. We make them, we know how to source the materials and the producers are all our staff who are being paid,” said Lawal.

Also speaking, Kabiru Ahmed, Director, Education Resource Centre, who was supervising the production commended the workers for the pace at which they work and their show of commitment and zeal to deliver.

This, he said, has helped in the production of many exercise books and chalks as well as rebranding of textbooks in the state

News

NILDS Organises Quiz Competition For Secondary School Students In Bauchi

Published

53 minutes ago

September 26, 2025

Editor

The National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) has organised an inter-school quiz competition for secondary school students in Bauchi state.

Speaking before the commencement of the 2025 edition of the national debate on the legislature, democracy, and governance, the Director General of the NILDS, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, said the exercise was to deepen the knowledge of legislative and democratic governance at the level of secondary school students.

According to him, it was to also inspire young Nigerians to cultivate the interest to participate in legislative governance.

He explained that enhancing the knowledge of young Nigerians in the legislature would not only foster inclusive and participatory legislature in Nigeria but would also serve as an avenue for citizen engagement in the legislative process.

Represented by Dr. Hadiza Sa’idu, NILDS Coordinator, Sulaiman added that the quiz competition was taking place in all the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“This 10th edition of the competition is therefore the fourth time the competition is being held at the national level.

“As the 2025 NILDS National Quiz Competition is declared open, I therefore urge all competing students and their teachers to abide by the rules of the game so that the desired objectives of the competition are achieved,” he said.

Also speaking, Dr Muhammed Lawal, the state’s Commissioner for Education said that the exercise was a welcome development in the circle of education, adding that it’s a ground where students in the state could be tested among other students.

“This will enable us to improve on the quality of our deliverance in our various schools to our teeming students across the state.

“I want them to take it upon themselves that in an engagement like this, there is no loser. You put in your best and if at the end of the day, you don’t make it up to the top, your efforts will be crowned.

“I hope this will be well covered because it will stimulate other schools to be part and perform better so that they can come up to this level as well,” said the Commissioner.

Announcing the winner of the competition, the Chairman House Committee on Education, Bauchi State House of Assembly, Mr Nasiru Alah, declared Government Day Secondary School, Bulkachuwa as the overall winner.

He also announced Government Secondary School, Gamawa as the first runner up while Government Girls Day Secondary School, Dagauda came as the second runner up.

Other schools that participated in the competition in the state included; Fariah Foundation School, Government Secondary School Ningi, and Government Day Secondary School Rimin-Zayam.