General
UK, Others Raise Funds to Distribute COVID-19 Vaccine to Nigeria, Others
By Ahmed Rahma
Funds are already being raised to pay for one billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines to be distributed to Nigeria and 91 other developing countries in 2021.
So far, the United Kingdom, which colonised Nigeria, has joined others like Canada, Japan and Germany to raise over $1 billion for this gesture.
Nigeria recently announced that it was expecting the vaccines soon and it is believed that 100,000 doses should be shipped into the country by the second quarter of the year.
The doses would be given to the nation of about 200 million people through the COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC).
“We’ll only be safe from this virus, when we’re all safe — which is why we’re focused on a global solution to a global problem,” Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said in a statement.
The United Kingdom is making efforts to tackle the virus. Its Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has so far approved three vaccines; the one made by US company Pfizer in conjunction with German’s BioNTech; another developed by Oxford University in partnership with AstraZeneca; and Moderna, produced by an American firm.
For the last vaccine, the UK government has made orders for 17 million doses expected in April. In total, the country has made orders to doses more than its entire population. The vaccines would be administered two times, with the second coming about two weeks after the first.
For Nigeria, which said it was expecting 100,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine through the World Health Organisation (WHO) soon, it would inoculate 40 per cent of the population this year and another 30 per cent net year.
To demonstrate the efficacy of the jabs, President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the 36 State Governors would be vaccinated on live television.
The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Mr Faisal Shuaib, confirmed this last Thursday at the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 briefing in Abuja, said the President.
The next day, Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Mr Kayode Fayemi, reaffirmed this when he spoke with newsmen in Abuja
“We too will like to demonstrate to our citizens that we believe that vaccines will work.
“The Governors’ Forum managed the polio vaccines administration in the country and we have garnered a lot of experience.
“We have worked with the Primary Healthcare Development Agency and the Federal Ministry of Health.”
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, has disclosed that the state government has not restricted the movement of people during the re-introduced monthly environmental sanitation exercise.
Responding to an enquiry by an X user, Faveo Autos, on Saturday, he said the exercise was not brought back to restrict the movement of residents, noting that arresting anyone during the sanitation was unlawful and not backed by law.
However, he encouraged Lagosians to use the period to keep their surroundings clean.
“What is the fine for movement during environmental [sanitation]?” Mr Wahab was asked by Faveo Autos today.
In his response, the Commissioner said, “For clarity, there is no restriction on movement during the monthly environmental sanitation exercise. Consequently, arresting anyone on the basis of movement during the exercise is unlawful and does not represent the position or policy of the Lagos State Government.
“The monthly environmental sanitation exercise was reintroduced primarily to restore and strengthen the culture of environmental cleanliness across the state.
“The initiative is backed by the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law, 2017. However, the law does not provide for any restriction on movement during the exercise.
“Our focus is on encouraging Lagosians to embrace environmental sanitation as a civic responsibility and a shared commitment to maintaining a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable Lagos, rather than relying on enforcement measures.”
Life is full of unexpected moments that test our patience, strength, and perspective. Everyone experiences setbacks, disappointments, and periods of uncertainty. While these moments can feel overwhelming, they also provide opportunities for personal growth and self-discovery.
One of the most valuable lessons we learn is that difficult situations rarely last forever. Time, reflection, and a willingness to adapt often help us move beyond even the toughest circumstances. Maintaining a positive outlook and focusing on practical solutions can make a significant difference.
Relationships also play an important role in overcoming hardships. Support from family, friends, or mentors reminds us that we are not alone. At the same time, learning to let go of anger and resentment can free us from emotional burdens that prevent us from moving forward.
The only way out of the labyrinth of suffering is to forgive. It is nothing to die. It is frightful not to live. Everything was beautiful and nothing hurt.
Personal growth is not about avoiding challenges but about responding to them with resilience and wisdom. Every experience, whether positive or negative, contributes to the person we become. By embracing change and practicing gratitude, we can create a more meaningful and fulfilling life.
In the end, moving forward requires courage, forgiveness, and hope. When we choose to focus on what we can control instead of dwelling on the past, we open ourselves to new opportunities and a brighter future.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The establishment of four new army divisions has been approved by President Bola Tinubu, bringing the total to 12.
In a statement on Thursday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, it was stated that the President also authorised the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel to strengthen national security.
The new divisions created include 5 Division, with the headquarters in Makurdi covering Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi States; 9 Division, with the headquarters in Ilorin covering Kwara and Niger States; 10 Division, with the headquarters in Jalingo covering Taraba and Adamawa States; and 83 Division, with the headquarters in Benin City covering Edo, Delta and Bayelsa States.
It was disclosed that the establishment of the new Divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City will significantly improve command and control, decentralise operational decision-making, strengthen border security, enhance the protection of critical national infrastructure, improve counter-insurgency and internal security operations, and ensure faster military response to emerging threats nationwide.
Implementation of the new force structure will be done in two phases. The first phase, covering the establishment of the 5, 9, and 10 Divisions and the reorganisation of existing formations, will be completed by September 2026. The second phase, involving the establishment of the 83 Division and further reorganisation, is expected to be completed by December 2026.
The statement said the expansion of the Nigerian Army’s structure from eight to twelve divisions will improve the operational effectiveness of the security agency and strengthen national defence capabilities further.
Before now, the Nigerian Army operated 1 Division, with the headquarters in Kaduna covering Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States; 2 Division, with the headquarters in Ibadan covering Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo States; 3 Division, with the headquarters in Jos covering Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe States; 6 Division, with the headquarters in Port Harcourt covering Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States; 7 Division, with the headquarters in Maiduguri covering Borno and Yobe States; 8 Division, with the headquarters in Sokoto covering Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States; 81 Division, with the headquarters in Lagos covering Lagos and Ogun States; and 82 Division, with the headquarters in Enugu covering Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo States.
Mr Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s determination to continue investing in the Armed Forces, ensuring they remain adequately equipped, highly motivated, and fully capable of protecting the nation and guaranteeing the safety and security of all Nigerians.
He lauded the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Ibrahim Shuaibu, and all officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army for their dedication, professionalism, and steadfast commitment to defending Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
