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NTLC reiterates commitment to support FG in fight against COVID-19
As part of efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, Northern Traditional Leaders Council (NTLC) says it will fully support government through sensitization in ensuring that eligible persons take the COVID-19 vaccine.
The chairman NTLC and Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Samaila Mera said this at the Fourth Quarter Meeting of the NTLC organised by the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) in Abuja.
He also urged leaders at various levels to join hands in addressing all forms of rumours, mistrust and rejection of the COVID-19 Vaccine for an improved success story in the acceptance of the vaccine.
Alhaji Mera further said to combat vaccine hesitancy, the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID19 must borrow a leaf from past actions taken to address major public health concerns like the wild polio virus.
He said “As this year rolls to an end and a new year kicks to begin, I want to call on all of us to rededicate ourselves to work selflessly and with all the influence we can muster to ensure the interruption of the spread of Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Virus and mitigate against rumours, mistrust and rejection of the Covid Vaccine in the coming year.
“I want to call on the Presidential Committee on Covid to reflect on past efforts against major Public Health concerns and re-strategies to convert vaccine hesitancy, misuse and the spread of covid19 in Nigeria. With the establishment of a sister committee akin to NTLC in the South West by NPHCDA, i believe the whole nation and the Presidential Committee stands to benefit from the Influence the full engagement of Traditional and Religious Leaders can bring to bear on the campaign against Covid19 by these committees”.
Mera however commended health workers at the fore front in the fight against COVID-19, for their good work and urged them to protect the name of the country and uphold the trust and oath of their professions by ensuring that vaccines and vaccination certificates are honestly and credibly administered and issued as stated in the programmes.
Also, Executive Director, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Faisal Shuaib said over 8 million eligible Nigerians have been vaccinated against COVID-19 signifying a noticeable improvement since the implementation of the mass vaccination campaign.
According to him, a lot of work still needs to be done in order to achieve herd immunity as the targeted number of eligible persons for the vaccination is 112 million.
Speaking on the booster vaccine, Dr Faisal said
“the booster dose is meant to strengthen immune response to COVID-19 infection. People who take booster dose have greater protection against COVID-19.
“To be eligible for the Pfizer Bio-N-Tech booster dose, you must be 18 years or above, and you must have received your second dose of AstraZeneca or Pfizer Bio-N-Tech at least 6 months ago. A time interval of 2 months or more is required for those who received Johnson & Johnson to qualify for a booster dose.
“For those who received the Moderna vaccine, a booster dose of Moderna is given 6months after the completion of their second dose. The administration of booster dose commenced throughout the country on 10th December 2021 and can be taken in any vaccination site free of charge.
“While we call on all eligible Nigerians to take advantage of this opportunity to get their booster doses, it is important to mention that booster dose has the approval of WHO and is already being safely administered to eligible persons in Europe and America” he added.
He urged persons issuing out vaccines cards to People who are yet to get the vaccine to desist from it as the Joint Task Force on vaccine monitoring and accountability is steadfast and are on alert to catch fraudsters.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has expressed his heartfelt condolences to the Governor of Katsina State, Malam Dikko Umar Radda, over the passing of his mother, Hajiya Safarau Umar Baribari.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu, Dr. Ganduje described Hajiya Safarau’s death as a profound loss that has left a deep void in the hearts of her family, friends, and the people of Katsina State.
Extending his sympathies, the APC National Chairman condoled with Governor Radda, the bereaved family, and the entire people of Katsina State during this difficult time.
He acknowledged the remarkable contributions of the late Hajiya Safarau and prayed for Almighty Allah (SWT) to grant her eternal rest in Jannatul Firdaus while strengthening the family to bear this irreplaceable loss.
Dr. Ganduje urged Governor Radda and others affected to find comfort in the cherished memories and enduring legacy of the deceased.
Reaffirming the APC’s support, the former Kano State governor assured the people of Katsina State of the party’s solidarity in their time of grief and prayed that Allah (SWT) grant the departed soul Al-Jannah Firdaus. Ameen.
The wife of Senator Isah Jibrin (Echocho), Hajia Aishat has offered cash and food items worth millions of naira to widows and vulnerable women across Dekina local government Councils, promises to take similar gesture across the nine local government in Kogi East.
The exercise which was tagged: “Widows Empowerment”, saw the Senator’s wife distributing cash and food items to cushion the effect of Ramadan.
Items distributed are bags of rice bags of salt, cartons of seasoning, maggi etc, which were evenly distributed to widows and vulnerable women across party lines.
A beneficiary who spoke with our correspondent at Odu in Dekina Local Government Council, Hon Fitumi thanked Hajia for her continuous effort in coming through for widows and vulnerable regularly.
She acknowledged similar gesture by Senator Isah Jibrin (Echocho), a fortnight ago at Ankpa when youths in their numbers from three Local Government Areas were trained in Agriculture and empowered, stressing that people are now living testimony to the effort of the lawmaker.
“”We are aware of several intervention projects, empowerment and developmental projects of Senator Echocho and we are not surprised seeing Hajia toeing the similar path.
“The distribution of food items and cash today is not only a rekindling of hope to the beneficiaries, but an encouragement that despite their condition, they were not forgotten.
Hajia Labran, and other APC Women leaders who spoke on behalf of women, applauded Hajia Aisha Echocho and pray Allah to strengthen her to carry on, urged others to emulate her sustainable initiatives.
The women advised other political office holders to emulate what is good and just, which they believed would strengthen the party.
As part of the activities to celebrate the golden anniversary of the University of Calabar, the wife of the President of the Senate, Mrs Ekaette Unoma Godswill Akpabio was on Saturday, March 22, 2025 conferred with an honorary doctorate degree in Education Management.
The ceremony held at the main campus of the institution in Calabar, Cross River State also saw the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike awarded the honorary doctorate degree in Law.
Other awardees included Major General Moses Bisong Obi (rtd) (Doctor of Peace and Conflict Studies) and Supreme Court Justice, Emmanuel Akomaye Obi (Doctor of Law).
In her acceptance speech after the conferment by the 15th Emir of Kano and Chancellor of the University, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, the wife of the Senate President, Mrs Akpabio thanked the Governing Council and Management of the University for finding her worthy of the honour.
A statement by the Special Assistant on Media/communication to the President of the Senate, Anietie Ekong quoted Mrs Akpabio as saying “I am happy to be honoured with this award from the prestigious University of Calabar that I have heard so much about from my dear husband, an alumnus of this great institution.
“I was wondering when I will join him as a great Malabress and that day has come and I am grateful to the University for this honour,” she said.
Mrs Akpabio promised to work with other awardees especially the Minister of the FCT to provide infrastructural assistance to the university.
In a citation the University extolled Mrs Akpabio for her philanthropic and humanitarian efforts towards uplifting the lives of women and the vulnerable of the society through her non governmental organisation, the Family Life Enhancement Initiative.
She was also recognized as a Champion of women’s rights and as one who used her position as the First Lady of Akwa Ibom State to fight for the inclusion of more women in governance.
On his part, Chief Wike said he was honoured to be among the recipients of award. He extolled the Visitor of the University, President Bola Tinubu for working tirelessly to promote tertiary education in the country.
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