News
UNICEF Solicits Leaders Support In Polio Eradication
By Sule ALIYU, Bauchi
UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative, Mohamed Malick Fall has solicited the support of traditional institutions in Bauchi state in the areas of polio eradication and routine immunization towards the well-being of children in the state.
Mr. Fall, who made the plea when he paid homage to the Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu, explained that without the active support of traditional and religious leaders, polio eradication in the country would not be possible.
“We all know that before we get the mobilization of traditional and religious leaders, Nigeria was an extremely big concern for the humanity”, Mr. Fall said.
The UNICEF Country representative also alerted the traditional institution of other problems facing children which are severe acute malnutrition and low coverage of routine immunization.
“Until recently based on most recent data, only one child out of five reach the third coverage of vaccination which is extremely low by international standard”.
He regretted that Nigeria is lagging behind with many polio cases, saying “If not for the conflict in Borno state where fresh cases were recorded due to inaccessibility to many communities, Nigeria would have been declared polio free by now”.
Mr. Mohamed Fall explained that it is only when the traditional institution decided to mobilize; reach out to the communities, engaging the communities in desirable behavior that good results could be obtained.
Fall; maintain that if Nigeria succeeds in polio eradication, routine immunization, fighting malnutrition and promoting girl child education, much country would follow.
According to him, Nigeria is very strategic in Africa in the recent projection which showed that the country will be the third populated in the World in three decades to come.
“In three decades, one child out of ten will be Nigerian, one child out of three in Sub-Saharan Africa will be Nigerian, and black person out of four will be Nigerian. A Country like that should set the tone, should serve as blueprint, and should set a standard for the rest of the World to follow”.
Fall, while acknowledging that Bauchi state was making progress in the areas of education, child protection, and sanitation hygiene, assured that staff UNICEF Bauchi Field Office is at the disposal of the emir whenever he needs their technical services on any issue related to children.
The Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu has while responding told the UNICEF chief that the emirate had four structures at ward, village, district and emirate levels on polio and routine immunization to promote the good health of children.
Alhaji Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu realized that without children coming out healthy, they will not contribute to the socio-economic development of the country, citing example with the need for the recruitment of healthy youth into military and para-military to buttress his claim.
He said, “If there is polio going all over the place, then this domain will not be represented adequately, hence the need for healthy people to whom we are doing a lot, especially in immunization and polio eradication”, he added.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to maintain the status quo in a dispute over the party’s candidates emerging from the Benue State APC primaries for the 2027 general election.
The order was made on Thursday by Justice Inyang Ekwo during proceedings in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1429/2026, filed by Engr. Sesugh Akaagba and other aggrieved APC candidates from Benue State against the APC and INEC.
The plaintiffs had, through an ex parte motion filed on July 5, 2026, sought six interim reliefs, including an order restraining the APC from substituting its validly nominated candidates in Benue State through its June 29, 2026 correspondence, or any subsequent communication, to INEC, pending determination of the substantive suit.
They also sought an order compelling the APC to immediately transmit to INEC the names of candidates validly nominated during the primaries monitored by the electoral commission.
When the matter first came up on July 8, 2026, the court declined to grant the interim application immediately, directing both APC and INEC to appear and respond before any decision was taken. The matter was adjourned to July 16.
At Thursday’s proceedings, counsel representing the APC and INEC were present in court, while the plaintiffs were represented by Mohammed Ndarani, SAN, alongside his legal team.
In his ruling, Justice Ekwo held that since issues had been joined by the parties particularly with INEC now before the court, the defendants were required by law to preserve the subject matter of the litigation pending determination of the substantive suit.
When counsel to the plaintiffs urged the court to caution APC and INEC against taking any further action that could affect the disputed list of candidates, the judge responded that it was “not a matter of advice but of law,” stressing that the defendants were bound to maintain the status quo.
The court consequently restrained APC and INEC from taking any action capable of altering the disputed list of candidates pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
The defendants did not object to the restraining order.
At the commencement of proceedings, the court noted that all parties had voluntarily submitted to its jurisdiction by duly filing and exchanging their respective processes.
It held that there was no procedural or jurisdictional impediment to the expeditious determination of the substantive action, and directed that the matter be heard without further delay.
In furtherance of the objective of preserving the res and safeguarding the efficacy of the judicial process, the court ordered all parties to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and final determination of the substantive suit, restraining any act or omission capable of prejudicing the rights of the parties or rendering the proceedings nugatory.
The court further directed that INEC be served forthwith with the originating and all consequential processes.
The effect of the subsisting order is that INEC is restrained from tampering with the existing list of candidates pending final determination of the suit, and from receiving, recognising, or acting upon any purported substituted list of National Assembly candidates from Benue State submitted by the APC.
The matter was adjourned to July 21, 2026, for hearing of the substantive suit.
Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and former First Lady Patience Ibifaka Jonathan recently celebrated a significant family milestone as they attended the graduation ceremony of their son, Ariara Goodluck Jonathan, at Manchester Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom.
The proud parents joined family members and well-wishers to witness Ariara receive his degree, marking the successful completion of his academic programme. The occasion was filled with joy as the Jonathan family commemorated the achievement, highlighting the importance they place on education and personal development.
The graduation ceremony attracted warm congratulatory messages from friends, associates, and admirers, who wished the graduate continued success in his future endeavours.
The Following names joined the political family of Sen. Dr. George Akume today after leaving the sinking Alia ship .
Under the leadership of Barr. Emmanuel Jime .
The are ;
Chief Nelson Alapa
Douglas pepe SAN senatorial Aspirant zone A,
Engr Peter Ashiekaa
QS Clement Beetseh
Former commissioners
Joy Luga
Ann itodo
Barr martins Shaagee
Miss Dorcas
Prof Usar Joseh
Prof Cephas Tushima
Chief Patrick Idoko
Hon Patience Akor
Hon Fred Idoko
Hon Lawrence Ekpo Onoja Jnr
Hon Andrew Abah
Hon Agbo Innocent Ikwumonu
Hon Simon Omachoko
Hon David Egboja
Dr John Garba
Among together,
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