As Act of Compassion Lets All go out and Donate Blood to Save Lives” Senator Oluremi Tinubu CON

By: Our Reporter

World Blood Donor Day, observed every year across the globe, was established in 2004 by the World Health Organization (WHO) in collaboration with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). The day aims to raise public awareness about the need for safe blood and blood products, highlight their impact on patients’ lives, encourage regular blood donation and recognize the invaluable contributions of voluntary unpaid blood donors in saving lives.

Marked with different themes each year on the 14th of June, World Blood Donor Day has become a significant event in global health with various activities and campaigns organized worldwide to promote blood donation.

The theme for 2025, “Give blood, Give hope: together we save lives,” highlights the message of hope that every drop of donated blood carries.

In commemoration of the day, the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, took part in the Abuja City Marathon Walk, from Millennium Park to Eagle Square. Represented by the Wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima, the First Lady encouraged Nigerians to donate safe blood.

In her remarks, Hajiya Nana Shettima stated:
“As we run side by side, walk in solidarity, and come together as one, we honour the selfless gift of blood donation a powerful act that brings healing, offers hope, and saves lives.”

Senator Oluremi Tinubu expressed hope that the marathon would mark the beginning of a movement where voluntary blood donation becomes a norm in every Nigerian community. She encouraged people to embrace the noble act of blood donation, noting that it carries the power to heal and often makes the difference between life and death for a mother in childbirth, a road accident victim, or a patient undergoing surgery.

The Minister of Health, Dr. Ali Pate, represented by Dr. Jimoh Salaudeen, Director of Hospital Services, stated that the day serves as an opportunity to raise awareness about blood donation as a testament to community compassion. He called for increased community efforts to donate blood in order to meet the life-saving demand for blood nationwide.

Dr. Pate further noted that the Federal Government has provided adequate funding to the National Blood Service System, established centers across various states, and launched several initiatives to bridge the gap in blood supply and management.

The Director General of the Nigeria Blood Service Agency, Professor Saleh Yuguda, while acknowledging the generosity of volunteers in saving lives, emphasized the need for safe blood donation. He stressed the importance of building a sustainable pool of donors sufficient to meet the needs of patients requiring transfusions.

According to Professor Yuguda, Nigeria is among the countries facing a shortage in blood supply. Despite needing two million units of blood annually, the country collects only half of that amount, leading to avoidable deaths — not due to lack of treatment, but because of the unavailability of blood in many cases.

He emphasized that developing a culture of regular, voluntary blood donation is crucial to improving the situation.

In a goodwill message, the World Health Organization, one of the key development partners, hailed blood donors as the heroes of our society.

Climax of the Event included Honors for Highest Blood Donors , Medals for the winners of Abuja City Marathon, unveiling of NBSA magazine as well as individuals Donating Blood to the NBSA blood bank.

As Act of Compassion Lets All go out and Donate Blood to Save Lives” Senator Oluremi Tinubu CON

We launched a policy on displaced persons to address the challenges of IDPs in Yobe—Governor Buni

By: Yahaya Wakili

Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State has revealed that his administration launched the State Policy on Internally Displaced Persons to address the challenges faced by the IDPs.

He further said his administration has allocated five percent of the state budget to provide more infrastructure and facilitate the resettlement and integration of IDPs with dignity.

Governor Buni stated this while receiving the Chief of Mission IOM UN Migration in Nigeria, Sharon Dimanche.

He assured more partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), a UN migration organization, to enhance the resettlement, reconstruction, and recovery program of the state government.

According to Buni, the government has invested in education, agriculture, healthcare delivery, roads, electricity, and water supply to fast-track the resettlement and recovery process of the government.

“I am happy this has worked for us, and we do not have an IDP camp in the state, as our displaced persons have been resettled with dignity, which has become a point of reference,” Buni said.

Speaking earlier, the Chief of Mission, Sharon Dimanche, commended Governor Buni for his commitment to the cause of displaced persons in Yobe State. She reiterated the commitment of IOM to partner with the Yobe State government to improve the lives of the people.

She revealed that “it takes a leader with a special heart to show such great concern for the resettlement of displaced persons with dignity.”

We launched a policy on displaced persons to address the challenges of IDPs in Yobe—Governor Buni

Plateau Killings: Community Leader Calls for Collaborative Action of Political Leaders to Tackle Escalating Herdsmen Attack

By: Michael Mike

A community leader in Plateau, Chief Yohana Margif has called on the state governor, Caleb Mutfwang and members of the National Assembly from the state to join hands and end the escalating herdsmen attacks on parts of the state, especially Mushere community.

He made the plea at a news conference in Abuja on Saturday, stressing that there was urgent need for collective action by political leaders to save Plateau people from the herdsmen’s relentless killings.

Margif, the Waziri Mushere of Mushere Chiefdom, Bokkos Local Government Area, also appealed to the Federal Government and the international community for support and urgent intervention to save the people’s lives.

According to him, the timing of the attacks, particularly during the farming season, and harsh weather conditions, has exacerbated the suffering of the victims, who are largely rural farmers.

The community leader further said that so many villages in Mushere Chiefdom, such as Kadim, Hokk, and Nawula, among others, had already been ravaged and sacked by the marauding herdsmen.

He said: “These attacks culminated in countless loss of lives, destruction of homes, displacement of inhabitants, whose lands were now occupied by the herders, depriving them access to their ancestral homes and livelihoods.

“The situation demands immediate attention, and I appeal to Gov. Caleb Mutfwang, the Federal Government, our National Assembly members, security chiefs, other critical stakeholders, and the international community for support in bringing an end to this violence.

“The current escalation of attacks and wanton killings across Plateau State necessitates collective action to restore peace and security.”

Margif also noted that the herders were emboldened by the lack of effective response from the authorities, hence the killings and land grabbing were replicated in several communities across Plateau.

He said: “As leaders, we cannot stand idly by while our people are being brutalised and our lands taken over. Our people cannot perish in silence, we must take decisive action to save them and restore peace and security.

“The cries of our people seem to fall on deaf ears, and it is imperative that we, as leaders, take urgent action to address this situation.

“The killings and land grabbing from one community to another, is not a good testament to our leadership, so we must urgently collectively intervene and stem the spread of bloodshed.”

The community leader also proffered some measures that would bring about the immediate cessation of hostilities and the restoration of peace in the affected areas.

He suggested an immediate change of strategy by the government and relevant security agencies, stressing that “the business-as-usual approach of doing the same thing in the same way would only culminate in the same outcome.”

Plateau Killings: Community Leader Calls for Collaborative Action of Political Leaders to Tackle Escalating Herdsmen Attack