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Government Advised to Fight Malaria Beyond Distribution of Mosquito Nets

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Government Advised to Fight Malaria Beyond Distribution of Mosquito Nets

By: Michael Mike

The fight against malaria in the country should not stop at distribution of mosquito nets, the Pest Control Association of Nigeria (PECAN) has advised government, stating that at stakeholders at all levels should implement other preventive measures against the disease.

Speaking at the commemoration of World Mosquito Day at Jahi II community in Abuja on Tuesday, the Chairman PECAN, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter, Mr. Terungwa Abari, said the main purpose of the World Mosquito Day is to raise awareness about mosquito-borne diseases and their impact on global health in honour of Sir Ronald Ross’s discovery on August 20 in 1897 that anopheles mosquitoes transmit malaria.

Quoting the World Health Organisation (WHO) 2022 report on the disease, Abari who is also the national vice chairman of PECAN, said malaria is a major public health concern in Nigeria, with an estimated 68 million cases and 194,000 deaths due to the disease in 2021.

He noted that: “Nigeria has the highest burden of malaria globally, accounting for nearly 27% of the global malaria burden. The risk of transmission exists throughout the country, all year round. However, the incidence of malaria is highest in the northern and north-eastern parts of the country,” he said.

He said beyond commemorating Sir Ronald Ross’ seminal discovery, the day provides another opportunity to review how far the fight against mosquito has gone in the country and enlighten more people, assist communities, save lives, and make a difference.

He said mosquitoes also cause dengue, West Nile virus, yellow fever, Zika, and chikungunya diseases.

He said: “According to the Atlanta based Center for Disease Control and Prevention, malaria alone claimed over 600,000 lives in 2022, a stark reminder of the challenges we face in eradicating this preventable disease.

“The theme for the world mosquito day 2024 is ‘accelerating the fight against malaria for a more equitable world’. This year‘s theme stresses the need to address the gaps in accessing malaria prevention, detection and treatment.

“PECAN Abuja is, therefore, calling on all stakeholders from the Government, Health Organizations, Environmental Health Practitioners, International Donor Agencies, Non-Governmental Organisations, Media Practitioners, Civil Society Organisations, Community based Associations, Faith based organisations, to synergise their efforts in tackling the world’s deadliest killer – the mosquito, through multi-pronged approaches.

“We call on governments at all levels to step up deliberate efforts at controlling and minimising mosquitoes in our communities to the barest minimum. A lot of attention has been focused on diagnosis and treatment which is commendable. There has also been some progress in vaccine development. But more efforts need to be directed at the causative agent – the source of the whole malaise – the mosquito,” Abari added.

He stressed the need for continuous enlightenment and increased advocacy for sustainable practices that protect the environment while controlling mosquito populations is critical. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approaches, which combine cultural practices, biological control, habitat management, technological innovations and community participation, can be effective in reducing the scourge of the mosquito.

“Source site management has to be enhanced. That’s where we the professionals come in. Intensive source site management activities including larviciding, adulticiding and other professional interventions will go a long way in this battle against this tiny devastating devil -the mosquito,” he further said.

He highlighted the need to engage only licensed and certified professionals in this sector should be engaged in this fight, to ensure the safety of both human health and the environment. Engaging the services of quacks can lead to more dangers than expected gains.

During the commemoration, members of the association cleaned the dirty Jahi environment, fumigated some parts of the slum and distributed over 50 mosquito nets.

The Pest Control Association of Nigeria (PECAN) was established in 1989 as an Association of Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) certified professional pest control providers. The objectives of the Association include maintaining ethical and professional standards in the pest control industry as well as safeguarding the health and wealth of the public and the environment.

Meanwhile, Suleyman Fatima, an Environmental Health Officer who represented the Registrar, Environmental Health Council of Nigeria, Dr. Yakubu Baba, said health education is critical in the fight against malaria, saying most locals in rural communities lack adequate knowledge on the dangers of mosquito as a vector.

The Chief Jahi 2 community, Salihu Adamu, in the Abuja Municipal Area Council, thanked PECAN for the intervention in their community, saying it will go a long way in helping the people fight the killer disease malaria.

Government Advised to Fight Malaria Beyond Distribution of Mosquito Nets

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VP SHETTIMA AND THE ILLOGICAL PERMUTATIONS FOR 2027

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VP SHETTIMA AND THE ILLOGICAL PERMUTATIONS FOR 2027


By: Inuwa Bwala

As happened in 2023, when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was to name his running mate, vested interests are again up in arms, trying to hoodwink or armstwist him into doing their bids.
What people forget, however, is that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a master schemer and knows exactly what to do at the appropriate time. Contrary to what many people think, he has his own game plan and can not be compelled to play to the gallery.
In the last few weeks, I have read a plethora of writeups trying to give President Bola Ahmed Tinubu prescriptions on how to chart a new political course if he hopes to achieve his second term bid in the 2027 general elections.
Many of the write ups contain permutations in the event of the emergence of a perceived strong opposition and that unless he drops his Vice President for another person, he will have a difficult task.
As a student of political history, and given our experiences, I dare say that if Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kashim Shettima could win in the face of all the obstacles placed in their ways from within and from without there does not appear any threat to this same ticket in 2027.
I must confess that I have not yet met a shrewed political strategist in Nigeria like the President who against all permutations settled for Kashim Shettima neither am I aware of any politician who could be as loyal dedicated and determined to his Boss as Shettima has demonstrated over the years.
The game is already on, and the biggest threat to Tinubu in 2027 is indeed any attempt to shift the goalpost in the mu
middle of the game.
As far as I know, the combination has given a very good account of itself, and with the rays of hope beyond the immediate horizon, Kashim Shettima remains President Bola Ahmed Tinubu best choice
I am aware that people have been trying to drive a wedge between them by framing false narratives that are neither here nor there. So as not to embolden those who are heating up the polity unnecessarily, the silence maintained on political permutations remains the best by both the president and the vice president.
Silence on certain issues has paid off for both of them before, and it will again pay off.
When people thought Bola Ahmed Tinubu was sick and weak and may even die before the end of his first tenure, he maintained a golden silence on his health status and rather magnified it as real thereby tricking all Nigerians into believing it was true.
Now that he has proven to be healthy and strong, the voices that predicted a doom for the presidency are silent.

VP SHETTIMA AND THE ILLOGICAL PERMUTATIONS FOR 2027

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Nigerien Army Deserter Who Joined Boko Haram Surrenders in Diffa Region

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Nigerien Army Deserter Who Joined Boko Haram Surrenders in Diffa Region

By: Our Reporter

A deserter from the Niger Republic Armed Forces who reportedly joined the terrorist group Boko Haram has surrendered to local authorities in Kindjandi, located in the Diffa Region of southeastern Niger Republic.
The individual, identified as Abba Ibrahim, had been serving with the Nigerien Armed Forces since 2022 before deserting his post in Bosso on March 8, 2025, according to military intelligence sources. He fled alongside a fellow soldier, Bandam Dala, and subsequently joined a Boko Haram faction active in the Lake Chad area.
Security sources disclosed that Ibrahim surrendered on April 21, 2025, arriving in Kindjandi on horseback with a rifle. He was accompanied by an unidentified young man whose details are yet to be confirmed.
Ibrahim was taken into custody by the Nigerien Armed Forces on the morning of April 22, 2025, and is currently undergoing debriefing and interrogation by military intelligence.
The Diffa Region has remained a hotspot for insurgent activity due to its proximity to Lake Chad and border areas with Nigeria, where Boko Haram and other extremist groups operate.

Nigerien Army Deserter Who Joined Boko Haram Surrenders in Diffa Region

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ECOWAS @50: WADEMOS Commends Subregional bloc for Inviting Mali, Burkina-Faso, Niger to Launch

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ECOWAS @50: WADEMOS Commends Subregional bloc for Inviting Mali, Burkina-Faso, Niger to Launch

By: Michael Mike

The West Africa Democracy Solidarity Network (WADEMOS) has commended the initiative by ECOWAS to extend an invitation to the governments of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger for the official launch of ECOWAS’ golden jubilee in Accra.

The Network, in a press statement on Tuesday, said it supports the initiative by ECOWAS to ease tensions and foster diplomacy in a bid to sustain the common heritage, shared history, and longstanding socio-cultural ties of the peoples.

The statement read: “As ECOWAS opens its doors and extends an arm of friendship and collaboration to Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, the Network encourages the three countries to reciprocate the gesture, upholding the spirit of good neighbourliness and cross-border cooperation. Such
cooperation is necessary now more than ever, especially as we require a concerted effort to confront matters of common interest to the subregion, such as security and trade.

“WADEMOS maintains the position that the restoration of trust and confidence between
Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, on the one hand, and ECOWAS, on the other hand,
remains critical to sustaining cooperation and enhancing the free movement of goods and people. Building trust and confidence, we believe, is also critical to effectively combat the growing threat of terrorism across the subregion.

“Considering the close ties that exist among the West African peoples, WADEMOS
continues to urge the three Sahelian countries to be reconciliatory in their engagements with ECOWAS.”

WADEMOS is an independent and non-partisan network of diverse national and transnational civil society organisations and civic groups working to promote and defend democracy, good governance, and inclusive development in the West Africa region.

It mobilizes, coordinates, and leverages the collective voice and power of civil society and other pro-democracy actors, resources, and opportunities within the West Africa region to advance its mission. The current membership of WADEMOS stands at 47 spread across West Africa.

The WADEMOS Secretariat is based in Accra, Ghana.

ECOWAS @50: WADEMOS Commends Subregional bloc for Inviting Mali, Burkina-Faso, Niger to Launch

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