Category: General News

The Kebbi government has confirmed that 26 people have died following a suspected outbreak of cerebrospinal meningitis in three Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.

The three local governments are Aliero, Gwandu and Jega.

The Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Musa Ismaila, confirmed this during a press briefing in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday.

“In week seven, we are saddled with the unfortunate situation of an outbreak, with a rising number of cases more than usual, characterised by symptoms like fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, stomach ache, vomiting, diarrhoea and sensitivity to light.

“A total of 248 suspected cases was line-listed; 11 samples were taken and sent to the National Reference Laboratory, Abuja, for confirmation.

“Two sample results turned negative from the national reference laboratory in Abuja, one in Jega and another one in Gwandu LGAs.

“Nine sample results are pending from the National Reference Laboratory, Abuja.

“26 deaths – Gwandu 15, Jega 6, Aliero 4 and Argungu 1,” he explained.

Ismaila said that an advocacy visit to stakeholders was carried out in partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF).

He added that the state government had released N30 million to purchase drugs and other consumables for the responsive activity to cushion the effect.

He also said that drugs and other commodities had been distributed to affected local government areas.

“Isolation centres were set up in Gwandu, Jega and Aliero, while drugs and other consumables were also provided,” he said.

The commissioner, then, called on the general public to comply with health instructions and report any suspected case to the nearest health facility for necessary action. (NAN)

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Flowerbudnews

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in Kebbi State has raised concerns over the poor storage conditions of vaccines in most local government cold rooms.

The state coordinator of NAFDAC, Muyideen Sulaiman, made this known during a recent courtesy visit to the Commissioner of Health at the Ministry of Health in Birnin Kebbi

Sulaiman clarified that the agency has never received expired vaccines from the 21 local government areas in the state. However, he expressed concern over the conditions observed during inspections.

“What we saw in the cold rooms of local councils is not encouraging. We appeal to the state government to improve their vaccine storage facilities,” he said.

Speaking on the fight against counterfeit and expired drugs, Sulaiman revealed that NAFDAC has introduced the Greenbook App, a digital tool designed to detect fake or expired drugs.

The app contains a database of all registered drugs and products, complete with expiration dates and authentic NAFDAC registration numbers.

He further appealed to the state government to establish Coordinated Wholesale Drug Distribution Units, where all drug supplies would be screened before being distributed to patent stores and pharmacies.

This, he said, would allow NAFDAC officials to verify drug authenticity before they reach medicine vendors across the state.

In response, the Kebbi State Commissioner for Health, Yunusa Ismail, pledged to collaborate with NAFDAC to ensure the safety of drugs and food in the state.

“We are ready to partner with the agency to train our staff on how to use the Greenbook App. We will also ensure that local councils improve their vaccine storage conditions and reactivate vaccine delivery vans across all LGAs,” he assured.

By Tony Nnezianya

The President of Commonwealth Games Nigeria, Engr. Habu Gumel, has observed that the twin challenges of drug use and abuse among youths will destroy communities if society does not take steps to address the issue.

Gumel made this observation on Monday in a speech marking the celebration of this year’s Commonwealth Day.

The event was held at the Nigeria Olympic Committee Sports Ground in the Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos.

The main objective of the program is to uphold the fundamental values of the Commonwealth by promoting unity, equity, and youth empowerment.

Gumel noted that the consumption and abuse of drugs have assumed a dangerous proportion among youths and is even threatening to destroy them.

“This is one fight that all—parents, teachers, and the government—should join hands in tackling.”

Unless addressed head-on, our communities should be ready to face the dire consequences.

The purpose of the effort was to provide an avenue for social interaction among the youths by encouraging healthy communication and collaboration among them.

The Secretary-General, Babatunde Popoola, represented the President, Gumel.

Participants were drawn from four secondary schools around the Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos.

A medical officer, Dr. Olubukola Bojuwoye, served as the resource person who worked with the students.

He educated them on the proper use of drugs and the inherent dangers of drug addiction and abuse.

“Using drugs can make or mar you, but the ultimate choice is yours.”

The one-day event was coordinated by NOC Assistant Secretary in Charge of Commonwealth Games Affairs, Austin Odigie.

(Tony Nnezianya is the Public Relations Officer of NOC)

The Senate has officially declared the Edo Central and Anambra South Senatorial seats vacant and has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct by-elections to fill them.

During plenary on Tuesday, Senate President Godswill Akpabio made the announcement, stating that the Edo Central seat has remained unoccupied since Monday Okpebholo was sworn in as Governor of Edo State in December 2024.

Okpebholo, who was elected as governor, had to vacate his Senate position, leaving the district without representation.

Similarly, the Anambra South Senatorial seat has been vacant since the passing of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah in July 2024.

Since his death, the district has been without a representative in the Senate.

In January 2025, INEC had stated that it could not proceed with a by-election for Anambra South until it received an official request from the Senate.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Anambra, Elizabeth Agu, also reaffirmed this during a stakeholders’ meeting organized by the International Press Centre (IPC) in Awka, the state capital.

With the two senatorial districts currently unrepresented in the upper legislative chamber, Akpabio stressed the need for INEC to conduct the elections without further delay.

He pointed out that the affected constituencies deserve to have their voices heard in the Senate, and the vacancies should be filled as soon as possible.

By Flowerbudnews

The Voice of Women Evolution (VOWE) Foundation, an NGO, has empowered over 100 women farmers with farm inputs and implements within Nkerefi Community in Nkanu East Local Government of Enugu State.

The farming inputs and implements, which worth millions of naira distributed, included: a bag of fertilizer and improved seedlings as well as hoe, cutlass and watering can among others given to each benefiting female farmer.

Presenting the inputs and implements to the women farmers on Monday in Nkerefi community, the Founder of VOWE Foundation, Mrs Sophia Uzodimma-Onovo, commended the women for their resilience and commitment in enhancing productivity in farming.

Uzodimma-Onovo, who was represented by Ms Chisom Nwagwu, Programme Officer of VOWE Foundation, said that the gesture was part of activities marking the 2nd Edition of ‘VOWE Women in Agriculture Scheme’.

The founder, who did not mention the monetary worth of the items, urged stakeholders to acknowledge the positive impact of women on food production and security, which impacts positively on the nation’s economy.

“Having joined the world in celebrating this year’s International Women’s Day, I urge us all to reflect on the important role of rural women, not just in agriculture but in every sector of our society.

“Let us continue to break barriers, open opportunities, and invest intentionally in women. Because when women succeed, our communities succeed. When women grow, Nigeria grows.

“To the 100 women receiving these farming implements today, we see your hard work, we recognize your strength, and we believe in your potential,” she said.

On the International Women’s Day, Uzodimma-Onovo said that the 2025 global theme of the Day, which is themed: “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress”, was not just a slogan for VOWE Foundation.

“It is a call to action, and a reminder that empowering women, especially rural women farmers, is one of the surest ways to foster development, food security and economic growth in our communities.

“Today marks a special milestone for VOWE Foundation. This event is not only a celebration of the resilience, strength, and contributions of women in our society.

“But it also marks the 2nd Edition of our Women in Agriculture Scheme, an initiative designed to support/empower rural women farmers as over 100 women farmers were also empowered during the first edition in 2024.

“Last year, we launched this scheme with the donation of farming tools and training to women in this community, and the positive impact has been truly inspiring,” she said.

Uzodimma-Onovo, who is also Chairperson, Board of Trustees of VOWE Foundation, noted that in the course of the years, women had increased their farm yields, improved their livelihoods and even begun small scale agro-businesses.

“Thus, they are helping to feed their families and educate their children as well,” she added.

One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Ada Ezeani, thanked the foundation for the gesture, adding: “The fertilizer and improved seedling are going to boost the yield in my farm in the forthcoming planting season.”

Another beneficiary, Mrs Amaka Ukandu, appreciated the foundation for supporting women empowerment through farming; adding: “This empowerment will greatly support me and my family as I anticipate bumper farm harvest this year.”