Gwoza: Zulum reinstate 23 suspended Health Workers
….directs the deployment of 4 Doctors, 10 Nurses to General Hospital.

By: Our Reporter

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has approved the reinstatement of 23 health workers previously suspended for absence from their duty posts at Gwoza General Hospital.

This decision was announced during the Governor’s inspection of the hospital’s newly renovated maternity and child center, as well as other ongoing projects.

The health workers had initially been suspended after Governor Zulum’s earlier visit, where he found them absent from their duties.

Addressing the staff, Governor Zulum emphasized the importance of dedication to work and assured them of improved working conditions and other incentives.

“Complaints were made about the 23 medical workers who were absent during my last visit,” he noted. “No one is perfect, so the government has pardoned them, although no arrears will be paid.”

In response to a staff shortage raised by the Principal Medical Officer of Gwoza General Hospital, Dr Nuhu Nasiru Wakawa, Governor Zulum directed the immediate deployment of four additional doctors and ten nurses to the facility.

He further announced that Gwoza General Hospital will be upgraded to support training for nursing students from the new school of nursing under construction.

“The Commissioner of Health, together with the Chief Medical Director of the Hospitals Management Board, will work on this deployment,” Zulum added. “We will also recruit community health workers from Gwoza to strengthen local healthcare services.”

In addition to his healthcare initiatives, Governor Zulum inspected the crusher plant base under construction in Pulka, which will produce up to 300 tonnes of stones per hour.

He said the completion of the crushing and asphalt plants is expected to facilitate new road networks across Borno State.

The Governor also visited other development sites, including the 500-unit mass housing project in Wala B, Gwoza Local Government Area, and a proposed site for a high Islamic school in Bama, underscoring his administration’s commitment to infrastructure and educational advancement.

Gwoza: Zulum reinstate 23 suspended Health Workers

USAID Announces $2.3 Million Commitment to Procure Life-Saving Malaria Tablets from Swiss Pharma

By: Michael Mike

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has committed $2.3 million to procure 4.8 million doses of life-saving malaria tablets from Swiss Pharma (Swipha) in a landmark partnership that will expand access to essential medicines in Nigeria and West Africa.

This procurement, to be facilitated through the U.S. Government’s President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), underscores the United States’ dedication to advancing Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure and ensuring life-saving treatments reach vulnerable communities.

A statement on Tuesday said for years, Nigeria has faced significant challenges in procuring affordable, high-quality medicines due to the high cost of production and the inability of many local pharmaceutical companies to meet international quality standards.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), fewer than 10% of medicines manufactured in sub-Saharan Africa meet global standards, limiting local companies’ ability to supply essential drugs and meet healthcare needs. These barriers have particularly affected access to medicines for malaria and child health, as local production has often fallen short of both quality and quantity requirements.

In response, USAID partnered with Swipha in their efforts to attain World Health Organisation (WHO) prequalification for sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine (SP) tablets, a vital medicine for malaria prevention during pregnancy. Swipha is now the first pharmaceutical company in Nigeria and in West Africa to achieve this WHO certification, marking a critical step forward for the region’s pharmaceutical capacity.
“USAID’s support was pivotal in helping us reach this milestone,” said Swipha Managing Director, Frederic Lieutaud.

“The WHO prequalification not only validates our commitment to producing high-quality medicines but also enhances our capacity to scale production and serve both local and international markets with trusted, essential medicines.”

With the WHO prequalification, Swipha is well-positioned to expand its reach, supplying these essential medicines to international donors and procurement agencies, ultimately strengthening healthcare delivery across Nigeria and the broader West African region. This achievement also represents a significant boost to Nigeria’s healthcare system by enhancing local manufacturing capacity and contributing to public health efforts to combat preventable diseases.

During her visit to Swipha’s facility in Lagos, USAID Mission Director to Nigeria, Melissa Jones, commented “This achievement is a testament to the power of collaboration in improving healthcare in Nigeria. We are proud to have supported Swipha in reaching this milestone and look forward to continuing our partnership to ensure more quality medicines reach those who need them most. Together, we are building a healthier future for Nigeria.”

USAID Announces $2.3 Million Commitment to Procure Life-Saving Malaria Tablets from Swiss Pharma

Angola to kickstart Year 2025 with the Meeting of Angola-Nigeria Bilateral Joint Commission

By: Michael Mike

Angola has expressed willingness to improve trading and bilateral relations with Nigeria, revealing that the year 2025 would be opened with the meeting of Angola-Nigeria Bilateral Joint Commission to update all legal instruments that guide the two countries political, economic and military cooperation.

Speaking at the celebration of the 49th Angola Independence Day in Abuja on Monday evening, the Angola Ambassador to Nigeria, Benin, Niger and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Jose Bamoquina Zau said
as part of the efforts to strengthen relations with Nigeria, “By 2025, we want to open the year with the Angola-Nigeria Bilateral
Joint Commission Meeting to update all legal instruments that guide our political, economic and military cooperation.”

Angola, an oil rich country got its independence from Portugal on the 11th November, 1975. The country was engulfed in armed struggle for national liberation which came to a halt in January 1975 following the change of government in Portugal.

Speaking at the Independence Day celebration, the envoy commended Nigeria and other countries for standing by them during the armed struggles for political emancipation and war.

He added: “Here we renew our invitation to investors from the countries that you
represent, to invest in: Little Wolf Corridor; Lobito Refinery; Tourism Infrastructure; New Luanda International Airport; Special Economic Zone; Barra do Dande Free Trade Zone; Agri-food industry and In the construction project of 1,300 kilometers of the 1st Angola Highway that will connect the North and South of the country passing
through 13 Provinces.”

The envoy, talking on the bilateral relations
with Nigeria, said: “Our brotherly and cooperation with the Federal Republic of Nigeria have lasted more than 60 years. dating back to the beginning of the Armed Struggle for National Liberation for the Independence of Angola, end of the war and peacekeeping through the United
Nations.

“Today our cooperation with Nigeria is strongly based on increased trade between Luanda and Lagos. In the exchange of business missions from the Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the
Angola-Nigeria Business Council (ANBC).

“We are also committed to permanently agreeing positions in the African Petroleum Producers Organization (APPO) and defending common interests through the Gulf of Guinea Commission, where important fishing and hydrocarbon reserves are concentrated.”

The envoy added that: “Angola has created a better environment for business with the review of legislation on private and foreign
investments, protection and repatriation of profits,” while revealing that they are diversifying the economy and also carrying out energy transition to the use of clean and environmentally friendly energy.

He said: “We invested $4 billion in photovoltaic, green hydrogen, biofuel and
hydro-electric dams to have 8 giga watts of electricity available by 2025.”

The envoy therefore urged Nigerians to seize the opportunities to invest in the various sectors of the economy, assuring them of a better investment environment

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar has sent his warmest greetings and congratulations to the Minister of External Relations of Angola, His Excellency Téte António, on the occasion of their National Day.

Tuggar, in a statement signed by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Eche Abu-Obe, said: “It is a great honour to extend our warmest wishes to you, the government and people of Angola on the auspicious occasion of your National Day.

“We note with great satisfaction the excellent relations between our two countries and the efforts we are making to build on these firm foundations for the benefit of our peoples.

“We wish Angola and the people peace, prosperity and progress and Nigeria’s continuing friendship and support.”

Angola to kickstart Year 2025 with the Meeting of Angola-Nigeria Bilateral Joint Commission