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Economy

Tinubu Government Restates Commitment To Tackling Vaccine Hesitancy, Disinformation

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Government Restates Commitment To Tackling Vaccine Hesitancy

Tinubu Government Restates Commitment To Tackling Vaccine Hesitancy, Disinformation

Tinubu Government restates commitment to tackling vaccine hesitancy, disinformation. The federal government has reiterated its commitment to tackling vaccine hesitancy.

The federal government has reiterated its commitment to tackling vaccine hesitancy through strategic communication and the engagement of traditional and religious leaders.

The special adviser to the president on health, Salma Anas, said this during a panel session on vaccine hesitancy, held at the 24th Biennial Conference of the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria in Kaduna on Tuesday.

The session, organised by the Development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC), focused on the impact of vaccine hesitancy and the roles of traditional and religious institutions in promoting immunisation uptake.

Ms Anas said the government was taking decisive steps to address misinformation, malinformation, and disinformation that hinder public confidence in vaccines.

“The federal government is working towards achieving 80 per cent equitable coverage of all antigens by 2028. Religious and traditional leaders are critical partners in this journey,” she said.

The presidential aide added that under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, there has been sustained funding and policy realignment aimed at strengthening the nation’s primary healthcare system.

Earlier, Judith-Ann Walker, the executive director of the Development Research and Projects Centre, was represented by Hassan Karofi, the director of partnerships and communication at dRPC, who stated that vaccines remain central to the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, launched in 2023.

She stated that the initiative prioritised strengthening routine immunisation and rapid outbreak response under the sector-wide approach, with the goal of achieving universal health coverage.

Ms Walker disclosed that 12 million girls aged nine to 14 had so far received the Human Papillomavirus vaccine, which was introduced recently as part of the expanded immunisation schedule.

Despite this progress, she noted that vaccine hesitancy remained a significant challenge, driven by factors such as complacency, lack of confidence, and misinformation.

“Maternal and child health are deeply impacted by vaccine hesitancy. Women, as primary caregivers, are particularly vulnerable to disinformation,” Ms Walker said.

She commended ongoing efforts through initiatives such as the Grand Challenges Canada and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation-funded Partnership for Family and Child Health, which had deployed traditional and religious leaders in successful awareness campaigns across Northern Nigeria.

Government Restates Commitment To Tackling Vaccine Hesitancy

Government Restates Commitment To Tackling Vaccine Hesitancy

In his remarks, Abdulazeez Mashi of the Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, Katsina, called for a greater focus on health communication strategies to counter misinformation and build public trust in vaccines.

Outgoing MWAN president, Rosemary Ogu, advised healthcare providers to assess and adjust their approach to service delivery, warning that provider behaviour can also contribute to vaccine hesitancy.

“Service providers themselves need orientation. The way they communicate can either build or erode trust,” she said.

Economy

Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition

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Lagos Assembly

Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition

Lagos assembly strongly seeks suspension of Makoko demolition. The Lagos state house of assembly has called for the suspension of demolition activities in Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro waterfront communities following protests by displaced residents and growing public concern over the exercise.

The call was announced on Tuesday by Noheem Adams, chairman of an ad hoc committee set up by Mudashiru Obasa, speaker of the house, during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Lateef Jakande auditorium.

Adams called on all state ministries to cease demolition work and promised compensation to the affected residents.
“On behalf of the speaker and all 40 members of the house, we are directing that all demolitions in Makoko, Oko-Agbon, and Shogunro communities should stop from today until further notice,” New Telegraph quoted Adams as saying.

He called for transparency by demanding the full list of taskforce members and the criteria used for engagement, insisting that residents must be actively involved in the process.

“That the taskforce that was constituted, we want to see the list of the taskforce because we want the residents to be duly involved and to be carried along. So we want to have the schedule of those task forces and the criteria for those that we are inviting,” Adams added.

Lagos Assembly

Lagos Assembly

“To the residents of Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro communities, as your representatives, we are giving you all assurances that they will stop demolitions henceforth and there will be compensations for all those whose properties have been demolished.”

Stephen Ogundipe, member of the ad-hoc, said there is need for clear communication, adding that residents targeted for relocation or redevelopment must be informed of the government’s plans in advance.

Babatunde Olajide, special adviser to governor of Lagos on E-GIS and urban renewal, confirmed that $2 million had been earmarked since 2021 to transform Makoko into a modern, internationally compliant water city.

He said enumeration of affected properties is underway and reiterated the administration’s commitment to handling the situation with a human face, prioritizing resident safety and fair compensation.

Yusuf Sagra, baale of Makoko, described the assembly’s decision as a “word of peace,” while Orioye Ogungbure, another leader of the community, praised the “democratic responsiveness” of the government.

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Crime

EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video

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EFCC Probes Man

EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video

EFCC arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for alleged naira mutilation in viral video. The Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,   on Tuesday, February 3, 2026  arrested a Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa over alleged Naira mutilation.

Inuwa was arrested following a viral video circulated on social media platforms where she was seen conspicuously cleaning mucus from her nose using Naira notes.

EFCC Probes Man

EFCC

Following the release of the viral video, the Commission swung into action by tracing and subsequently arrested her to answer questions.
She is currently being held at the Commission’s detention facility while investigation is ongoing.

The suspect will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.

Dele Oyewale
Head,  Media & Publicity
February 3, 2026

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Economy

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime

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National Bank Of Kenya

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime

Access Bank gets new board chair Ifeyinwa Osime. Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29.

Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29, according to a statement to the Nigerian Exchange Ltd. on Monday.

Ms Osime, a legal practitioner, joined Access Bank’s board in November 2019 as an independent non-executive director and had chaired its Human Resources and Sustainability Committee and the Governance, Nomination, and Remuneration Committee. This role made her contribute significantly to the bank’s corporate governance, leadership development, and sustainability initiatives.

Additionally, Ms Osime is a director at Ebudo Trust Ltd. and a partner at McPherson Legal Practitioners, where she advises on corporate and commercial matters and contributes to strategic leadership.

She is also a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Women Corporate Directors, Nigeria Chapter, and the Chartered Institute of Directors, Nigeria, where she serves on the Executive Committee of the Women Sectoral Group.

National Bank Of Kenya

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime

Beyond her professional responsibilities, Ms Osime is committed to mentoring youths and is actively involved in the Autism and Developmental Delays Support Community, reflecting her dedication to inclusion and social impact.
Speaking on her appointment, the group chairman, Aigboje Aig-lmoukhuede, said, “Mrs Osime is a principled and experienced leader with a deep understanding of the Bank’s strategy and values.

“She has demonstrated strong commitment to the bank’s vision and mission, and I am confident that, under her leadership, the bank will continue to advance its strategic objectives of delivering sustainable value to shareholders and other stakeholders in the pursuit of its vision to become the world’s most respected African bank.”

Mr Aig-lmoukhuede also congratulated Mr Usoro on the completion of his tenure and on his exemplary leadership, dedication, and significant contributions to the group, saying he remains a valued member of the Access family.

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