Connect with us

News

Polio: UNICEF Supports Bauchi Govt. With Over 2.5 Million Vaccines

Published

on

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has supported the Bauchi state government with over 2.5 million doses of Oral Polio Vaccines to be administered to children in the state.

Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, UNICEF Chief of Bauchi Field Office, stated this on Thursday at the cold store of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) where the vaccines were kept.

Advertisement

According to her, the vaccination exercise is starting in the whole of Bauchi state from 24 to 29 of April, 2025.

She called on all stakeholders to ensure that there was massive awareness campaign before the commencement of the exercise. This, she said would enhance the level of turnout of parents and guardians.

READ ALSO: UNICEF To Involve Taraba Fathers In Healthcare Advocacy

Advertisement

“This is because Bauchi state is one of the very important states in which we have 13 out of 20 local governments that have zero dose children.

“Zero dose children means that no vaccines ever reached them and the comprised of almost 556,000 children who have never received any vaccines. You can imagine how high risk they are.

“We are starting with these LGAs on 24 and I request you to give this message to all communities in Bauchi state that this is the month for polio campaign.

Advertisement

“UNICEF has supported in bringing in the 2.5 million plus doses of polio vaccines which are already here in the cold room of this hospital.

“We are targeting every under 5 children in this campaign but in those 556,000 children who are zero dose, we are hoping that they will not be anymore zero dose,” she said.

READ ALSO: UNICEF Moves To Advance Digital Education In Bauchi Schools

Advertisement

The UNICEF boss also advocated for all communities to cooperate and mobilise resources to go to the vaccination centres or anywhere the teams would be going to get their children vaccinated.

She affirmed that this, was not only important for them but for the future of the generation to come in Nigeria.

Also, Mr Patrick Akor, Health Officer, UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, explained that UNICEF has also provided pen markers that would be used to finger mark the children already vaccinated.

Advertisement

We are going to ensure that all the local governments, all teams have adequate vaccines during the implementation exercise,” he assured.

Bappah Jika, a representative from the Bauchi state Primary Healthcare Development Board, who confirmed the receipt of the vaccines from UNICEF, appreciated the Fund for the ‘life saving’ support.

Advertisement

News

Sanwo-Olu makes U-turn, Unblocks Lawyer Who Sued Him Over Blocking On X

Published

on

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has unblocked human rights lawyer, Festus Ogun, on X after a meeting with him at Lagos House, Marina, on Friday.

The lawyer, who had accused the governor of rights violations, announced the development in a post on his X account on Saturday.

Advertisement

According to him, Sanwo-Olu personally invited him for a brief meeting to address his complaints.

Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has unblocked me on X (Twitter). I met briefly with him yesterday at Lagos House Marina, on his invitation, to amicably resolve my complaint of human rights violations. We will continue to hold authorities accountable, regardless. Aluta continua!” Ogun wrote.

READ ALSO:Lawyer Sues Sanwo-Olu For Blocking Him On X

Advertisement

Tribune Online reports that Ogun had earlier filed a suit against Sanwo-Olu at a Federal High Court in Lagos, accusing him of violating his fundamental rights by blocking him on his verified X account.

In the suit marked FHC/L/CS/1739/25, which he shared on Facebook, the lawyer claimed the governor blocked him over his 2021 “constructive criticisms” and “demand for accountability” on the October 2020 #EndSARS killings.

In 2021, I noticed that the Governor blocked me on his official X handle @jidesanwoolu owing to my constructive criticisms of his policies and demand for accountability in respect of the October 2020 #EndSARS Massacre.”

Advertisement

READ ALSO:‘Court Of Corruption’ — Obasanjo Knocks INEC Chairman, Judiciary In New Book

Ogun said the action has prevented him from accessing vital government updates and information.

“Blocking me on X has prevented me from accessing public updates and receiving information about policies and governance in Lagos, which constitutes a violation of my right to receive information without interference,” he said.

Advertisement

In his originating summons, he asked the court to declare the move unconstitutional, arbitrary, and discriminatory.

 

Advertisement
Continue Reading

News

Tragedy Deepens As Prime Suspect in Taraba Student’s Death Found Dead

Published

on

The investigation into the death of Comfort Jimtop, a 100-level Mass Communication student at Taraba State University, has taken a dramatic turn following the discovery of the lifeless body of Emmanuel Kefas, the prime suspect in the case.

Kefas’s body was discovered on Friday in the Tudiri community, Ardo-Kola Local Government Area, under unclear circumstances, intensifying public concern and adding a tragic dimension to a case that has already gripped the university community and residents across Taraba State.

Advertisement

Confirming the development on Saturday, the spokesperson for the Taraba State Police Command, James Lashen, said the police received a report from the village head of Tudiri about the discovery.

READ ALSO:Army Kills Notorious Bandit, Babangida, In Kogi

A lifeless body was found in Tudiri, and a Tecno Android phone was recovered beside it,” Lashen stated.

Advertisement

Upon charging the phone, investigators found a photograph showing the deceased with the late Comfort Jimtop, suggesting they were in a romantic relationship.”

Lashen added that the body has been taken to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Jalingo for autopsy. At the same time, efforts are ongoing to officially identify the remains through the suspect’s family.

READ ALSO:Four Feared Killed As Gunmen Attack Burial Ceremony In Anambra

Advertisement

Police have yet to determine whether Kefas’s death was the result of suicide, homicide, or an accident. Investigations into both deaths are continuing.

Comfort Jimtop’s mysterious death had earlier sparked outrage on campus and across the state, with students and rights groups demanding justice. Kefas was named a prime suspect in the case, which remains open.

This latest development has left many unanswered questions and deepened the grief surrounding the case.

Advertisement

Students, residents, and civil society groups are closely monitoring the situation, calling on authorities to ensure a thorough investigation and bring clarity to the tragic chain of events.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

News

Ossiomo, Chinese Impasse: This Is Our Story — Management

Published

on

The management of Ossiomo Power Plant has cleared the air on the dispute between its Chinese partners and the circumstances surrounding the shutting down of the power plant early this month.

Representative of Ossiomo management, Engineer Festus Evbuomwan, during an interactive session with customers on the impasse between the two partners, said contrary to the rumour making the rounds, the management of Ossiomo Power Plant had paid over ₦2bn to its Chinese partner — Jiangsu Communication Clean Energy Technology (CCETC) — since the power plant started operation.

Advertisement

Recall that representative of CCETC who identified himself as Mr. ‘W’ had, during a telephone phone interview two weeks ago, claimed that “instruction to shutdown was because we lost lots of money and did not get any return on investment,” adding that “all the $20m investment was done by us including the distribution lines.”

But Evbuomwan during the interactive session, said the management was not aware of the $20m investment the Chinese partner claimed, just as he disclosed that “when they generate power, we sell and pay them.”

READ ALSO:Edo Govt Denies Shares As Ownership Tussle Rocks Ossiomo Power

Advertisement

He disclosed that after shutting down the power plant, the Chinese partners came up with a request of ₦185m to be paid to two Chinese not known to the management, stressing that this was declined.

According to him, the Chinese partner, having seen how lucrative the business is, “went to some quarters and raised some issues probably thinking they can manoeuvre us with the help of some big persons, so that they can use their machines to generate power and sideline us but this is not possible.”

The Chinese partners also claimed that they borrowed $20m from their native land to invest, we are not aware of such investment, and we do not know where the money was invested up till now.

Advertisement

“They have been also saying they have not been receiving anything, but I want to tell you unequivocally that first, the partners run a joint account where their investment is going into. More so, The Chinese partners have received over ₦2bn so far for the power they generate with their machines. When they generate the power, we sell and pay them.”

READ ALSO: Five Years After, Edo Govt Reconnects To BEDC As Ossiomo Shut Down

Engr. Evbuomwan, while apologising to customers for the power outage caused by the dispute between the two partners, said Ossiomo had started power generation though not in full capacity, assuring that power generation would be fully restored soon.

Advertisement

“We have purchased turbines, and one have started working. They are working on the second one, so, by the time our five turbines start working we will be in full capacity. Even with that, those connected to the government may not be reached immediately. This is because the government bought the poles and contracted the wiring, and we cannot force the government to do our bid. Also, we are making efforts to site 33kva transformer along Airport Road and Lagos Road as soon as possible, so that our customers there will get power.”

He said the Edo State government does not have a stake in the company, just as he appealed to the “government to let us supply power to customers in through their Lines. I want to emphasise that Ossiomo is not completely shut down.”

He further urged the “government to encourage the Nigerian citizens to invest and not to work against local investors.”

Advertisement

Continue Reading

Trending