News
COVID-19 vaccine shipments boost for Africa –WHO
After a near-halt of COVID-19 vaccine shipments to Africa, delivers have ramped up in recent months, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Thursday.
According to the UN health agency, nearly four million doses of coronavirus vaccines from the UN-partnered COVAX initiative arrived in Africa last week, compared with just 245,000 for all of June.
Reminding that the continent was still “in the throes of the pandemic’s third wave.”
WHO Regional Director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti told a virtual news conference with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, “we are not out of the woods yet”.
WHO said that it hoped COVAX would ship 520 million doses to Africa by the end of 2021.
This it noted was in addition to more shots from other sources, including deliveries from the African Union, which is expected to supply about 45 million jabs by the end of the year.
In total, almost 79 million vaccine doses had reached Africa but only 21 million people, or just 1.6 per cent of Africa’s population, are fully vaccinated.
“We are beginning to see positive signs as vaccine deliveries to Africa are picking up pace after nearly coming to a halt,” Moeti said.
About 30 countries had used more than three-quarters of the vaccines they received, according to WHO.
In spite the vaccine supply crunch, seven countries, including Equatorial Guinea, Mauritius, Morocco and Seychelles, had reached vaccination rates significantly above the continental average.
“Considering a two-dose schedule, as is the case with most COVID-19 vaccines, 820 million vaccine doses are needed to reach the target of fully vaccinating 30 per cent of Africa’s population by the end of this year,’’ the UN official said.
Africa still needs more than 700 million doses to reach this target.
To this end, COVAX has sealed deals with Sinopharm and Sinovac to immediately supply 110 million doses to low-income countries, of which 32.5 million are destined for Africa.
“These doses have been allocated to countries this week and will be delivered as soon as countries are ready to receive them,” Moeti said.
And with more vaccine candidates and manufacturing sites at the tail end of the review process for Emergency Use Listing by WHO, the COVAX facility was confident that it would deliver at least 520 million doses to Africa by year’s end.
Moreover, the African Union recently announced plans to start delivering 400 million Johnson & Johnson doses to countries throughout the continent.
With the expected influx of doses, WHO underscored the importance of scaling up all the aspects of vaccine rollouts to reach as many people as possible – from mobilising adequate resources to increasing vaccine confidence.
“Noting that initial rollouts prohibited countries from unlocking funding because their costing schemes often omitted critical expenses, such as cold-chain storage, delivery logistics and paying vaccinators,” Moeti said,
She said WHO would continue to support countries to better plan and cost vaccine operational and delivery processes.
According to her, Tanzania kicked off its vaccination campaign this week with the first delivery of about a million Johnson & Johnson vaccine doses through COVAX from the United States.
“Together, we can begin to turn the tide against this untold human tragedy,” she said (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Indications emerged that the personal Assistant to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF Senator George Akume, Hon. Andrew Torhile Uchi, is currently in the facility of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC over allegations bordering on corruption, bribery and money laundering amounting to a whooping N10 billion.
A highly placed source at the Commission yesterday, confirmed to our correspondent that the embattled Uchi was invited by the operatives of the Commission on Monday, upon a petition received by the anti-graft agency over Alleged properties he acquired in Abuja, Jos, Makurdi, Gboko and Wannune in Tarka, local government Area of Benue State amounting to over N6 billion.
According to the source, further investigations so far, has revealed that between December 2023 to date the anti-graft agency has been able to trace a whooping N1.6 billion that was allegedly used in buying purch cars through four new generations banks to nine car dealers in Abuja, Kaduna, Lagos, Jos and Makurdi respectively.
The source further added that two Bureau de change operatives are currently been investigated by the Commission, over their alleged involvement in the scam, owing that most of the funds credited to embattled Torhile Andrew Uchi, emanated from their coys.
He said that the Commission is currently working towards getting a court nod to widen the scope of their investigations to the properties in Abuja, Jos and other part of the country to ascertain the source of the income and how the properties were allegedly purchased.
As of the time of filing in this report Mr. Uchi, is still in custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, telling the dreaded operatives of the Commission how he allegedly got the funds which is largely believed to be proceeds from bribes.
Efforts to reach the spokesman of the Commission, Mr Dele Oyewale, proved abortive as his phone lines was said to be switched off.
The Nigerian Senate has formally responded to Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s complaint to the United Nations Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), refuting allegations that her suspension was linked to claims of sexual harassment.
According to Vanguard, Senator Natasha had petitioned the global body, seeking intervention over what she described as an injustice against her.
However, in a letter signed by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, the Senate insisted that her six-month suspension was due to “gross misconduct and unruly behavior”, not allegations of sexual harassment or assault.
The letter, read by Hon. Kafilat Ogbara, Chairperson of the House of Representatives Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, stated:
“The authority of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria firmly refutes the deliberate misinformation and false narrative being circulated by certain media organisations regarding the six-month suspension of Senator Natasha-Akpoti-Uduaghan.”
It further emphasized that “Senator Uduaghan was suspended solely for her persistent act of misconduct and disregard for the Senate Standing Orders.”
Additionally, the Senate called for a thorough investigation into the allegations she raised against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, maintaining that all due procedures were followed before her suspension.
Senator Natasha, however, vowed to continue her fight against “injustice”. Meanwhile, Senate President Akpabio has denied the accusations, asserting that he has never assaulted any woman.
The dispute between the two lawmakers intensified on February 20, 2025, after Natasha’s seat was changed during plenary. Their tensions date back to July 2024, when Akpabio rebuked her for alleged misconduct, telling her the Senate was “not a nightclub where anybody can talk anyhow.” He later apologized for the remark.
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has reinstated the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon. Samson Osagie, exactly 37 days after his suspension.
A letter addressed to Osagie by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Umar Ikhilor, Esq., and marked SGA. 15/NOL.XV111/215, conveyed the governor’s directive. The letter, dated March 12, 2025, and released at 8:15 p.m., stated that an investigative panel had exonerated Osagie of alleged financial infractions.
The letter read: “Having considered the report of the Investigative Panel set up by Government to investigate allegations of financial infractions reported against you, which has exonerated you from the said allegations, I write to convey the directive of the Governor of Edo State, His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, that you resume duties as the State Hon. Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice with effect from 12th March, 2025.”
Reacting to his reinstatement, Osagie expressed appreciation for the governor’s leadership, describing the decision as a testament to Okpebholo’s sincerity and vision for Edo State.
“I appreciate his sincerity of purpose and vision for the state. This is a clear indication that His Excellency, Sen. Monday Okpebholo, means well for the state. I use this medium to reiterate my commitment and loyalty to him and his administration,” Osagie said.
He further pledged to support the governor in advancing Edo State, emphasizing his dedication to ensuring progress and recovery in the state’s governance.
China’s new chapter in global innovation
Chinese democracy in action:a village bench meeting shapes national law
Chinese modernization: blueprint for global progress
-
News15 hours agoN10bn Alleged Loot: EFCC Probes SGF Akume’s PA ,Torhile Uchi
-
Foreign13 hours agoSmall packages, big Momentum: how logistics reflects China’s economic strength
-
Foreign12 hours agoChina’s meteorological early warning solutions benefit the world
-
Foreign12 hours agoChina’s economic resilience: overcoming challenges, advancing with confidence
-
Foreign12 hours agoHigh-quality Belt and Road cooperation create opportunities for global growth
-
Foreign11 hours agoChinese democracy in action:a village bench meeting shapes national law
-
Foreign11 hours agoChinese modernization: blueprint for global progress
-
Foreign11 hours agoChina’s new chapter in global innovation