‎The lecture to be held at the Secretariat Mosque Multi-Purpose Hall, Alausa, starting 10.00 a.m. has as its theme, “Faith, Justice and Human Dignity: A Muslim Perspective on Nigeria’s Designation as a Country of Particular Concern.”

‎Two prominent speakers are billed to address the gathering.

They are the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of AAS & Associates, and the immediate past vice chairman of the Insurance Sectoral Group of the Chartered Institute of Directors, Nigeria, Dr Abdullahi Shuaib, and a TVC Your View co-anchor, Nyma Akashat Zibiri.

Shuaib will speak on “Nigeria’s economic dimensions of tribal land conflicts: A call for action,” while Zibiri will speak will address “Social support systems for Nigeria’s victims of violence and their dependants, a necessary step to cushion the pains.”

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The post Lagos NUJ holds annual Ramadan lecture on March 3 appeared first on Frontpageng.

He is challenging his unlawful withdrawal from the Senior Executive Course (SEC) 47 of the institute.

The case, which was assigned to Justice Binta Nyako, according to the hearing notice made available to newsmen on Sunday, had been fixed for hearing.

Shuaib had dragged NIPSS before the court to challenge his alleged unlawful and arbitrary withdrawal from SEC  47 of the institute.

He said that was after his admission had been approved by President Bola Tinubu and necessary payment and conditions precedents had been fully met.

Shuaib, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1329/2025, is demanding ₦1 billion in general, special, and aggravated damages against NIPSS over emotional trauma and reputational damage he suffered as a result of the action of NIPSS against him.

The plaintiff, a renowned public relations expert, is also seeking an additional ₦100 million as litigation costs, having issued a pre-action notice on June 16, 2025, to the institute’s Director General, Professor Ayo Omotayo, which was allegedly ignored by the management.

The case, filed on his behalf by Yunus Abdulsalam, SAN, seeks a court order setting aside his withdrawal from SEC 47 and reinstating him with full rights, benefits, and privileges.

Shuaib is also asking for a perpetual injunction restraining NIPSS, its agents, or officials from further harassment, intimidation or cyberbullying.

In his originating summons, the plaintiff raised eight issues for determination.

He argued that the publication of a news article by PRNigeria, an independent media organisation, cannot lawfully be attributed to him as misconduct when he neither authored nor endorsed it.

He also questioned whether NIPSS’s alleged access and use of his private email without consent violated his constitutional right to privacy under Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution.

Shuaib further contended that disciplinary action against him for professional opinions expressed in a published article breached his right to freedom of expression guaranteed by Section 39(1).

He argued that barring other participants from interacting with him and removing him from official platforms amounted to harassment, cyberbullying and forced isolation.

He maintained that denying him participation in the international study tour, despite his full payment of ₦18.3 million course fees, constituted discrimination and breach of contract.

Shuaib also faulted his suspension and withdrawal from the course based on alleged “externalisation of the subject” without a fair hearing, describing it as a violation of his constitutional right under Section 36(1).

He is therefore seeking declarations that the actions of NIPSS were unlawful, unjustifiable, discriminatory and unsupported by any regulation guiding the institute.

In a 40-paragraph affidavit, Shuaib stated that he was nominated by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) to represent it at the course, a nomination approved by the President of Nigeria.

He attached his admission letter, proof of payment of ₦18.3 million and evidence of compliance with NIPSS requirements, including handing over of responsibilities at his company, Image Merchants Promotion Limited, publishers of PRNigeria.

He alleged that despite complying with institutional rules, he was subjected to harassment, intimidation and arbitrary disciplinary actions.

According to him, on March 24, he received a query over a PRNigeria article titled “NIPSS Goes Digital; Launches Paperless Platform after Submitting Landmark Report to President Tinubu.”

Shuaib insisted he neither authored nor edited the article, which other media outlets had widely reported.

He further alleged that on April 25, NIPSS again queried him about an internal email concerning an editorial, “Understanding the ‘Blue’ in the Blue Economy.”

He stated the article was a professional reflection containing no sensitive information, yet NIPSS intercepted it before it could be published.

Shuaib claimed that the queries were unfounded and not supported by the NIPSS Code of Conduct.

He further alleged that his withdrawal letter dated June 2, was curiously addressed only to NIPR without being officially served on him.

The plaintiff, therefore, is asking the court to reinstate him into SEC 47 with full privileges, among other reliefs.

Source: NAN

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Lt.-Col. Umar Shuaib, the acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 1 Division Nigerian Army, stated in a statement issued on Friday in Kaduna.

Shuaib said, “Acting on credible intelligence while on fighting patrol, the gallant troops of 37 NDA Demonstration Battalion intercepted and arrested 3 suspected gunrunners along Kauya – Old Afaka – Sabon Birni Road area in Igabi LGA of Kaduna State.”

He identified the suspects as Yakubu Jilbril, Abubakar Yahaya, and Isiya Sani, driving in black Golf 4 car, with registration number Abuja YAB 385 K7.

Shuaib said that they were also arrested with a large cache of arms and ammunition suspected to be meant for criminals in the bush.

READ ALSO: Lateef Jakande Memorial Lecture holds July 23 -NGE

“Items found in their possession include quantity 9 x AK 47 rifles, 389 x 7.62mm (special) live rounds, quantity 54 rounds of 5.56 x 45mm (NATO) ammunition, 17 magazines, four GSM handsets, one magazine carrier, and one machete.

“Others included some charms, one MTN wifi modem, suspected illicit substances, tyre cold patch materials as well as cash sum of N365,600 among others,” he added.

Shuaib said the suspects were presently under custody for further interrogation and investigation.

“The Nigerian Army wishes to assure law abiding citizens that it will continue to deny terrorists and their sponsors freedom of action in order to enhance safety and security in Nigeria,” Shuaib said.

Source: NAN

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When Dr. Abdul Kareem Oloyede, son of the retiring Prof Is-haq Olanrewaju Oloyede walked up to the stage to thank everyone who had made it to the two-day ceremonies organized in honour of his dad, his speech almost turned out to be a character sketch of the honouree. “Daddy would give you an assignment… Once he begins to feel that you’re not likely to be prompt with timing, the next thing is a call from him. That call is to inform you that he has done the same job.” Dr Abdul Kareem however wished his retiring dad a good life and hoped he would make the best of it. “He is a most loving dad. One that would do his best to offer excellent support, advice and guidance. Always there…”

The strongest reinforcement to Prof Oloyede’s character of relentlessness was the pleasantly surprising announcement by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’adu Abubakar III. The Sultan had encountered a most daunting experience trying to make it to Ilorin. His flight was arbitrarily rescheduled even as the notice of rescheduling was rather short. Making it to Ilorin for Oloyede was a task that must not only be done but timeously too, he had resolved.

According to the Sultan, he had watched with relish Oloyede’s relationship with Prof Olaolu Ali, SAN, who, not a few will readily conclude is Oloyede’s alter ego.  Until this occasion however, Sultan confessed, he had never seen Ali wear a turban. It was Ali’s style of announcing his new status as, Kuliya Ngeri of Ilorin. Never in want of wit, Ali had reiterated to the Oloyede festival audience packed full in the University of Ilorin’s biggest auditorium that he would like to self-indulge by being the only one that could casually pronounce Oloyede’s name without any of his earned titles. He went to emphasize loudly that he was also at the event representing the Emir of Ilorin, thus wearing, according to him, two mega caps. Ali’s messages sank in well into the audience.

The Sultan’s turn to talk was yet another twinning opportunity for Oloyede and Ali. He promised to attend the turbanning ceremony of Ali to the loud applause of the entire auditorium. He then went on to express his personal appreciation of Oloyede’s integrity, industry and all, largely the live version of the words of commendation in the unusually long presidential tribute from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Prof Oloyede.

Beyond the tributes, the Sultan also prayed for Oloyede and stated how proud he had always been associating with Oloyede. To crown it all, His Eminence personally announced the title of Kuliya of Sokoto for Oloyede.  Loud shouts of surprise and praise for both the Sultan and Oloyede suffused the hall immediately.  Suddenly, two Kuliya in the same hall, both soulmates!

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Earlier in the year, like a bolt from the blues, Ali, most deservingly, had also been announced as a professor of practice to the profound delight of the mutual friends and admirers of both Oloyede and Ali for which many congregated at Ile-Ife for a grand reception.

The entire stretch of the two-day Oloyede Festival put together by all the universities in Kwara State otherwise referred to as KU8+ was as bounteously colourful as it was punctuated by poetic timing. The flier announcing the programme had stated that the second leg of the ceremony would feature the public presentation of the book written in honour of Prof Oloyede.  Initially conceptualized as one volume comprising two parts, the project was so heavily oversubscribed that the organisers were compelled to settle for two volumes, one containing tributes and the other containing scholarly works. The event was scheduled for the 10th hour on the 10th of October, the birthday anniversary of the man of the day.

The Oloyede Festival was nothing short of a 10/10 bouquet of congratulations for the one presidentially declared “an uncommon scholar…”

Prof Olaolu Ali with all of his numerous capacities managed the public presentation of the two volumes.  In addition to the vitality of the Naira rain, almost everyone expected to launch the book was either physically present or well represented.

The 10/10 event had a keynoter that came all the way from Ghana in person of Prof Olusola Bandele Oyewole, Secretary General of the Association of African Universities, AAU, Accra, Ghana. It was another colourful tribute Prof Oyewole presented. He recalled how Oloyede, serially sacrificed his own status for others to rise.  He did not forget to announce in clear terms that he remained a great beneficiary of Oloyede’s selflessness.

Further to Prof Oyewole’s claim on Oloyede, the Vice-Chancellor of  African School of Economics, Prof Mahfouz Adedimeji posited that one leadership lesson derivable from the retiring don’s career was the need to be like coffee in hot water. “If hot water is applied to potatoes, eggs and coffee they react differently…coffee  dominates and changes the challenging environment and its rich aroma fills the place.  We can all feel this aromatic coffee as Prof Oloyede has mastered the art and science of converting daunting challenges to opportunities.”

Although a distinct volume was dedicated to tributes, event 10/10 induced almost as many tributes as may be published in another volume.  Indeed the height of it all was the call for yet another publication. That call came from the governor of the home state of Prof Oloyede, Prince Dapo Abiodun, of Ogun State represented by Senator Salis Shuaib incidentally representing the senatorial constituency of Prof Oloyede. In a most outstanding appreciation of Oloyede’s successful career and public conduct as an inimitable icon of integrity, Gov Abiodun, according to Senator Shuaib had requested that Oloyede should please commence the writing of his memoir for the upcoming generations to inspire them to greatness.  So much really, to learn from Oloyede.

The previous day, he had given a special lecture, another in the series of University Lecture. Oloyede’s scholarly adventure and administrative acumen have always been such that revealed rare versatility often reflective of borderlessness of knowledge. The professor of Islamic Studies spoke on Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanities. He was as magisterial as he was demonstrative and even didactic. He betrayed a most serious concern for the moral degeneracy of his fellow scholars of Islamic studies waxing lyrical to register his message: “Eni kewu akelo, l’oni kewu, eni kewu akelo, l’oni kewu…”

He alerted the entire audience to the danger of over reliance on AI which may often vomit garbage fed it either ignorantly or mischievously. According to Oloyede, the quality of the response you get from AI will always be dependent on the quality of your pre-existing knowledge on the subject of your enquiry.

According to Oloyede, AI is trans-disciplinary, indeed as applicable as to the sciences as it is to the humanities.  In his usual didactic manner, the JAMB Registrar listed up sets of recommendations for users of AI as well as for those who may be mandated to formulate policy on AI given that the novel and bourgeoning technology has come to stay. Oloyede concluded his presentation on the dot of 12:12 pm! How much more poetic can timing be?

In what seemed a full affirmation of “charity begins at home” foremost Ogun State politician with local and international rating who is Nigeria’s immediate past High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Alhaji Sarafa Tunji Ishola sat in for the entire duration of the lecture. He later announced that in addition to his own personal presence, he was standing in for the Alake of Egbaland, the traditional ruler of Oloyede’s roots in Abeokuta.

The Oloyede Festival was nothing short of a 10/10 bouquet of congratulations for the one presidentially declared “an uncommon scholar…”

*Tunde Akanni is an associate professor of journalism at LASU. Connect with him on X:@AkintundeAkanni

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Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon gave the order while delivering judgment in a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Shuaib challenging his detention without trial since his arrest in 2023.

The judge also ordered the DSS to release Shuaib immediately having wrongfully detained him without trial since January 16, 2023.

Justice Olajuwon held that the DSS flagrantly flouted the 1999 Constitution which prohibits detention of any Nigerian beyond a maximum period of 48 hours without an order of court.

She noted that on March 29, 2023, the DSS got an order of the Federal High Court to hold and detain the driver for only 20 days to investigate and charge him to court if indicted of any crime.

She held that since the DSS failed to apply to the court for extension of the 20 days detention period and did not arraign Shuaib, further detention was unlawful, illegal, unconstitutional, and null and void.

Justice Olajuwon held also that the fundamental right of Shuaib to freedom of movement had been breached by the DSS.

She faulted the claim by the DSS that the detainee had been moved to the military detention facility in Gwa Gwa, Niger, on alleged terrorism.

According to her there is no evidence to that effect before the court.

The judge nullified the continued detention of the driver and ordered his immediate release from the DSS custody in Abuja.

Shuaib sued the DSS through his lawyer, Mr Bala Dakum, for breach of his fundamental rights.

He told the court that the DSS had accused him of possession of firearms with the intention to supply same to terrorists.

He asked the court to order his release and order the DSS to pay a compensation of N50 million to him for the unlawful detention.

Source: NAN

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Dr. Faisal Shuaib, Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHDA, virtually briefed State House correspondents after a virtual NEC meeting anchored from the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Shuaib said he made a presentation to the council on three broad areas—the COVID-19 vaccination update, polio eradication and also routine immunisation.

“In terms of where we are with COVID-19 vaccination, we now have vaccinated successfully, 46 million Nigerians.

“This represents about 42 per cent of the totally eligible Nigerians and it is in keeping with what the Presidential Steering Committee and the Federal Ministry of Health have been tracking in term of our targets.

“We have also recognised an increase in the number of people who are getting vaccinated; a few months ago, by the average daily vaccination rate was about 200, 000 people per day but now we are vaccinating over 350, 000 Nigerians per day.

“And this is really commendable; it is worth mentioning as well that the federal government has adequate numbers of COVID-19 vaccinations to cover all Nigerians.’’

According to Faisal, there is the need for more Nigerians to come out enmasse to take the vaccinations.

On polio eradication, the NPHDA boss said that the last case of the wild polio virus in Nigeria was in August, 2016.

“So, this means that as we celebrate world polio virus day by nest week Monday, President Muhammadu Buhari has actually fulfilled his promise that he will not hand over a Nigeria that has children with these viruses.

“Then, we have seen in the last 24 months, increase in the reported cases circulating variant polio viruses but thanks the incredible work of states working with our partners under the leadership of the president.

“We recorded a decrease in the numbers of circulating polio viruses from 806 cases around this time last year, we now have reported 133 cases in 2022 given the same period.

READ ALSO: Lagos kicks-off COVID-19 Scale 0.3, states reason

“And then the number of local government areas that are reporting circulating variant polio viruses have also decreased from 186 to just 48 local government areas.

“Again significant improvement in the success rate; thanks to Nigerians coming forth with their children and getting vaccinated.’’

He added that there had been massive improvements in routine immunisation.

According to him, Nigeria is only one of five countries globally where the pandemic did not negatively impact routine immunisation coverage.

“Again, thanks to all the leadership we have seen at the national and sub-national level and of course, the hard work of frontline health workers,’’ he said.

Source: NAN

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The handover of the vaccines was done on Monday at the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, National Strategic Cold Store, Abuja.

The EU ambassador, Mr Samuela Isopi, who presented the vaccines, said the donation was part of the EU’s commitment to jointly combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Executive Director, NPHCDA, Dr Faisal Shuaib, said the federal government also, in combating the pandemic, had procured over 39 million doses of the J&J vaccine, through the AFREXIM bank.

The federal government in August 2021 took delivery of 177,600 J&J vaccines in Abuja, marking the first wave of arrivals of COVID-19 vaccines procured through the African Union.

In September 2021, additional 1,123,200 doses of the J&J vaccine were received, which the NPHCD said were part of the 39,800,000 doses procured by the federal government.

The single-shot J&J vaccine was received through the African Vaccine Acquisition Team, AVAT, of the African Union, a facility provided by Afri.

Shuaib said about 12 million doses of the single-shot vaccine were currently in the cold store.

According to him, the J&J vaccines will be given to those who are in the hard-to-reach areas (riverine areas, desert areas and security-compromised areas).

He said that was because the J&J vaccine required only a single dose for full vaccination, noting that by that, the health workers would be able to do what was called a ‘touch and go’ without compromising their safety.

He said the federal government was committed to a safe, equitable and effective COVID-19 vaccination programme.

“Let me also mention that the availability of different vaccine brands does not in any way mean that some categories of people are selected for high quality vaccines while others are targeted for low quality vaccines.

“All COVID-19 vaccines approved by the World Health Organisation are safe and can deliver adequate protection against the disease.

“While choice of vaccine is left for eligible persons to make, it is important to note that no particular vaccine brand is preferable to the other,” he said.

The NPHCDA stated that the country had vaccinated 15,792,392 (14.1 per cent) of her eligible population with the first dose.

“We are using the platform of COVID-19 vaccination to also make available access to other primary healthcare interventions.

“We have been engaging with the poor performing states to identify areas where they would require more support from us and to also help them in identifying areas where they can improve in order to ramp up their vaccination coverage.

“Last week, we were in Enugu State where we engaged all the stakeholders in the five South East states with our attention now focused on the states.

“We hope to see a more rapid vaccine coverage over the next couple of weeks,” he said.

Source: NAN

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The Executive Director, NPHCDA, Dr Faisal Shuaib, said this at the bi-weekly briefing of the Presidential Steering Committee, PSC, on Monday in Abuja.

The over three million vaccinated Nigerians were vaccinated eight months after the country started the vaccination of its citizens against coronavirus.

Shuaib said 5,891,305 eligible Nigerians had received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, which represented 5.3 per cent of the eligible population.

He added that 3,252,067 Nigerians had received their second dose and were fully vaccinated, representing only 2.9 per cent of the overall population of eligible persons.

He explained that the overall population of eligible Nigerians targeted for COVID-19 vaccination to enable the country reach herd immunity against the virus was 111,776,503.

The NPHCDA boss said the federal government had adequate doses of vaccines in store to cover a large percentage of the population.

He added that the country had received 3,924,000 doses of AstraZeneca (AZ) in batches between October 22 and  25th from the COVAX facility.

He noted that the country also received a combination of 1,022,400 doses of AZ as donations from the governments of Germany, Switzerland, and Italy from COVAX last week.

Shuaib said the federal government had received commitment of over 11.99 million and 12.2 million doses of Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines respectively.

“We also have received commitment of 4,953,600 doses of Moderna as donation from US government through COVAX. These are a few of the doses coming in batches in December and January 2022.

“We would also like to remind us that the Federal Government procured 39,800,000 doses of J&J COVID-19 vaccine through the AVATT and these have been coming in batches,” he said.

He appealed to persons 18 years and above and unvaccinated to simply walk into the nearest vaccination site to take their COVID-19 vaccine.

“It is free, safe, effective and protects you, your family and your community. And if you have taken your first dose, check your vaccination card for your due date and ensure you take the second dose for full protection,” he said.

He stated that the agency would initiate the COVID-19 Mass Vaccination Campaign to reach more Nigerians.

He said the idea of mass vaccination campaign was to quickly increase the number of fully vaccinated eligible population.

This, he hinted, would move the country towards achieving herd immunity and creating an enabling environment for economic recovery and a return to social normalcy in the country.

“The mass vaccination campaigns will require mass mobilisation of Nigerians for increased vaccine uptake.

“This cannot be done successfully without the support of all critical stakeholders including governors, commissioners, the LGA chairmen, traditional and religious leaders, the Civil Society Organisations, the State Ministries of Health, the State Primary Healthcare Boards, all health professionals and our professional media community,” he said.

Shuaib said efforts were ongoing to engage with stakeholders to promote awareness and vaccine confidence.

He said the government aimed to vaccinate at least 50 per cent of the  population by the end of January 2022.

“We will be conducting the national flag off of this mass vaccination campaign this Friday November 19 by 10 a.m.,” he said.

The NPHCDA boss said any Nigerian found obtaining the COVID-19 vaccination card illegally (buying or selling) would be made to face the law.

He said the Joint Task Force on COVID-19, which included security agents from the ICPC, DSS and other relevant security agencies remained on alert at every corner of the country and were regularly making impromptu checks.

He noted that it would also be extremely difficult to use fraudulently obtained cards outside the country.

“There is a case of one Mr Amako who attempted to travel outside the country with a vaccination card that could not be validated.

“Upon investigation, the reason for the non-validation was that the expiry date of the 1st and 2nd dose was altered, there were inconsistencies with the vaccine expiration dates and batch number and the QR code scanned belonged to another person.

“This clearly showed that Mr Amako illegally obtained the vaccination card without getting vaccinated. He was denied travel and his case is currently with the law enforcement authorities,” he disclosed.

Source: NAN

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The government may not also engage in any business dealing with any potential business partner that refuses to get the vaccine before the expiration of the deadline.

The state governor, Mr. Dapo Abiodun, on Monday, issued the warning while flagging off the COVID-19 Mass Vaccination exercise in the state capital, Abeokuta.

Noting that the target was to vaccinate two million people across the state in the next 60 days, the governor said all unvaccinated residents of the state risked being barred from government offices, schools, markets and public transportation.

According to the governor, as from January 1, 2022, there would be ‘Operation Show Your Card’ as evidence of full vaccination will be required for anybody who might wants to do business with the state government and for entry into government offices and schools, after the expiration of a given window.

Abiodun, while giving the ultimatum during the flag-off of the mass vaccination against COVID-19 at the State Secretariat, noted that the campaign was being conducted by Ogun State Primary Health Care Development Board, OGPHECADEB, in partnership with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).

Abiodun said the state’s target was to vaccinate more than two million people from the age of 18 and above, against the pandemic, adding that the 60-day window would allow unvaccinated residents to take their jabs as part of moves to flatten the curve.

He said: “We are going to give a window to allow for this vaccination exercise and that window starts from today till the next 60 days.

“Anybody after 60 days that is not vaccinated will not be allowed in our offices, schools. Such persons will not be allowed to do business with us. We will chase these persons from our markets.

“You will be required to carry your vaccine cards with you at all times. If you don’t have a card, you will not come to our secretariat, we will not do business with you.

“We will not allow ‘Okada’ to carry you, we will not allow the taxi to carry you, you will not be allowed in our markets. We will enforce this card. To be forewarned is to be forearmed,” he said.

Abiodun also disclosed that the state had increased vaccine centres from 131 to 509 to allow eligible residents to have access to the vaccination.

According to him, the vaccination exercise would take place between November 1 and December 25 this year.

He recalled that the index case of the pandemic was discovered in the state, saying his administration’s swift response mechanism helped in combating the disease within Ogun despite its proximity to Lagos, which is the epicenter of COVID-19.

“Through our competent, structured approach to governance issues, health facilities already in place, particularly since May 29, 2019, Ogun State has been able to fight the pandemic to a standstill. And, we have continued to demonstrate our resolve in the continued provision of good health-care for the people of Ogun State. This is why we have been able to combat the pandemic head-long despite our proximity to Lagos State, the epi-centre of the pandemic.

“Indeed, within weeks, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) commended our administration for efforts at curbing Corona virus spread. Both organizations were delightfully impressed and expressed their satisfaction with the quality of facilities on ground, the human capital and the willingness of our administration to go an extra mile at ensuring that Ogun State did not become a safe haven for the COVID-19 pandemic,” the governor added.

The governor further declared that his administration would take the mass vaccination as part of the health measures and protocols in place at this period of pandemic.

“We cannot afford to lose our guards. We will ensure that the vaccination processes adequately administered in our healthcare facilities across all parts of our dear state. I enjoin our people to embrace this mass vaccination towards ensuring their safety and wellbeing against COVID-19.

“And, to demonstrate our seriousness to this vaccination exercise, we will give a time window to allow our people to get the vaccine. After that, evidence of full vaccination will be required for anybody who wants to do business with the government and for entry into government offices and schools,” Abiodun stated.

He noted that a total of 298,785 people in the state had had their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, while 148,200 people had had their second dose.

“We are not unaware of misinformation making the rounds against the effectiveness and efficiency of the vaccines and vaccination against COVID. I must say that these rumours and propaganda are nothing but fallacies. Those who are peddling the misinformation are not doing the people, nations, and the entire humanity any good. In fact, we have all seen how the vaccine and vaccination have helped in the general fight against COVID, and recovery of the economies around the world,” he said.

The governor disclosed that the state through its Primary, Secondary and Tertiary health facilities would partner with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, the Nigeria Solidarity Support Fund, NSSF and selected Private Health Practitioners in the campaign against the virus to ensure it reaches the two million target, stressing that Mass Vaccination Campaign would help the state achieve greater resilience to the virus.

In her address, the state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, said the campaign was part of efforts to stem the spread of the virus especially during festive periods.

“The Mass Vaccination Campaign is part of efforts to rapidly ramp up coverage of fully vaccinated residents and fast track the return of the state’s economy to pre-Covid 19 level, therefore, we need to intensify vaccination across all local government areas in the state,” Coker said.

In his remark, the Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, who commended the state on the utilisation of vaccines, said that the campaign was imperative to avoid the next wave of the pandemic, expressing confidence in the leadership of the state and the support of the people to achieve targets.

In their goodwill messages, representative, World Health Organisation, WHO; Dr. Dele David, General Manager, National Solidarity Support Fund; Dr. Fejiro Chinenye and Iya Loja of the State, Chief (Mrs) Kemi Oloyede commended the government for the initiative with a promise to continue to support all efforts to keep the people of Ogun healthy and safe.

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Dr. Faisal Shuaib, Executive-Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, stated this on Monday, in Abuja, at the national briefing by the Presidential Steering Committee, PSC, on COVID-19.

According to Shuaib, no fewer than 4,734,769 eligible people in Nigeria had received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine as at Sept. 26.

He said: “This comprises 3,040,000 with first dose AstraZeneca and 1,694,769 with the first dose of Moderna.

“This represents 4.2 per cent of the 111,776,503 eligible populations, targeted to receive full doses of the vaccines for Nigeria to achieve herd immunity.

“Out of the total vaccinated, 1,892,092 eligible persons have received their second dose of which 1,825,739 have been fully vaccinated with AstraZeneca, while 66,353 eligible persons were fully vaccinated with Moderna.”

The NPHCDA boss, however, warned that it was a criminal offence for anyone to fraudulently acquire COVID-19 cards without receiving the vaccine, just as buying and selling of COVID-19 vaccines and cards, through racketeering, were also criminal offences.

He said the federal government provided the vaccines free of charge to all eligible persons, warning that officers in charge of designated health facility would be held accountable for every vaccination card and Quick Response (QR) code.

He said: “These must match the quantities of vaccines and devices provided. Supervisors and the newly established joint task force (JTF) would be examining the records in health facilities to ensure consistency in inventories.

“States will be supported to strengthen their monitoring mechanisms, as well as urge all Nigerians to report anyone who tries to buy or sell the vaccination cards to the NPHCDA and other offices.”

He added that a statement on Saturday by the British High Commission, Abuja, that the vaccines administered in Nigeria were recognised and approved by their regulatory body, was a plus for Nigeria.

Shuaib also said that the British High Commission had, in the statement, noted that as from October 4 they would be simplifying their classification process to ‘red list’ and ‘rest of the World’.

“This indicates that the on-going vaccination exercise in Nigeria is widely recognised.

“Please, let us not let carriers of misinformation and disinformation prevent us from taking the decision to protect ourselves, our family and our loved ones,” he said.

The NPHCDA boss said that a lot more work needed to be done for Nigeria to reach its target goal of vaccinating not less than 70 per cent of the eligible population of 111,776,503.

He said that such vaccination should not only be done “in terms of provision of vaccines, but more importantly in terms of mobilising our friends, families and communities to get vaccinated.”

Source: NAN

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