News

Polio: Community Leader Leads Successful Campaign Against Vaccine Rejection In Bauchi

Published

2 months ago

May 1, 2025

Bano Usamatu, a retired Director at the Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Board, has leveraged his experience and expertise to help the Nasarawa community overcome its hesitancy toward polio immunisation.

Speaking with newsmen on Thursday, Usamatu said he combined his experience with sensitisation efforts by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to overcome resistance.

Usamatu is currently the community leader of Nasarawa in Itas-Gadau Local Government Area of Bauchi State,

Usamatu told newsmen that he successfully mobilised community members who had previously rejected the vaccine to now embrace it.

“I tapped from my wealth of experience as a health expert, along with UNICEF’s extensive sensitisation campaigns, to engage skeptical households and convince them of the benefits of the lifesaving polio vaccine,” he said.

According to him, the resistance stemmed from widespread myths, particularly the belief that the polio vaccine was a Western ploy to cause infertility and reduce the African population.

“This misconception has long hindered immunisation efforts in the area.

“Today, I can confidently tell you that no household in this community rejects the polio vaccine. The era of rejection is over.

“We are now focused on securing our children’s future.”

Usamatu commended UNICEF and the Bauchi State government for their support in addressing vaccine resistance, describing their role as instrumental to the community’s success.

He also called for enhanced training for the ad hoc staff responsible for vaccine administration, stressing that building their capacity would further strengthen immunisation efforts.

In Anguwan Tsangaya, another community in Itas-Gadau, 48-year-old Haruna Idris shared a similar experience.

He admitted to initially rejecting the vaccine due to fears fueled by misinformation.

“The popular myth that the polio vaccine causes infertility influenced my decision,” Idris said.

“But thanks to UNICEF’s continuous sensitisation, I now understand the truth. All my eight children now participate in every vaccination exercise.”

He added that witnessing the debilitating effects of polio on children in his neighborhood also contributed to his change of heart.

With the growing acceptance of polio vaccines in Nasarawa and Tsangaya communities, the fight against the crippling disease has gained renewed momentum in Bauchi State.

Dr David Audu, Health Specialist at the UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, affirmed that efforts were underway to reach all hard-to-access settlements across the state to ensure every eligible child is vaccinated.

News

Edo To Dredge Ikpoba River For Revenue, Flood Control

Published

14 hours ago

July 3, 2025

Editor

Edo State government has proposed the dredging of Ikpoba River to curb flooding and exploring potentials for enhancing revenue generation in the state.

The state Commissioner for Mining, Hon. Andrew Ijegbai, disclosed this when he led a delegation on an inspection of the river in Benin City.

According to him, the initiative was to find a lasting solution to the incessant challenges of flooding and river overflow on the busy road.

He added that his team was on the ground to assess the condition of the river to get a firsthand observation of its impact on communities near its bank.

Also speaking, Director of Mining in the ministry, Mr. Omoruyi Ihianle expressed the state government’s determination to turn challenges into successes.

He stated that the primary objectives of the project were to generate revenue for the state government through mining and to mitigate flooding in the host communities.

“As a government, we have found a way of converting our challenges until success.

“As a result of the silted river channel, the host communities have been suffering from flooding, hence the Edo State Government is stepping in to desilt while raising revenue for the State Government,” he said.

News

JUST IN: Ex-Eagles Goalkeeper, Peter Rufai, Is Dead

Published

15 hours ago

July 3, 2025

Editor

Peter Rufai, the former Super Eagles goalkeeper, has died.

Waidi Akanni, a former teammate and associate, confirmed the legendary goalkeeper’s death to TheCable on Thursday.

Rufai, affectionately nicknamed Dodo Mayana, died at 61 after a reported battle with long-term illness.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria also announced the demise of the former goalkeeper on the team’s official X account.

“Forever in our hearts, Dodo Mayana. We mourn the passing of legendary Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Rufai, a giant of Nigerian football and a 1994 AFCON champion,” the post reads.

“Your legacy lives on between the sticks and beyond.”

Rufai is regarded as one of the best football goalkeepers Nigeria has ever produced. He was the Eagles’ first-choice goalkeeper when Nigeria won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

He also represented Nigeria at the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the US and the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France.

Rufai had over 60 caps for the Super Eagles over the course of a decade with the team.

News

AMCON Sells Ibadan DisCo For N100bn

Published

19 hours ago

July 3, 2025

Editor

The Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) has announced the sale of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) for N100 billion.

AMCON’s Managing Director/CEO, Gbenga Alake, disclosed this at a media parley on Thursday.

Apart from IBEDC, AMCON also manages other distribution companies, including the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), Benin Electricity Distribution Company, Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company, and Kano Electricity Distribution Company.

Alake said, “Today, I announce to you that Ibadan DisCo has been sold. When we came in, it had already been sold, but we renegotiated the price and got almost double of what it was initially going to be sold for.”

Regarding ongoing legal issues, Alake stated, “We have sold it, and whatever is still happening in court, we will face it.”

However, officials of IBEDC did not respond to inquiries about the sale.