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Security challenges contribute to increasing zero dose immunization prevalence in Borno state

Security challenges contribute to increasing zero dose immunization prevalence in Borno state
By: Bodunrin Kayode
The Director of Public and Community Health in the Borno State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (BSPHDA) Dr Mala Abdulwahab has said that security challenges contribute to the high prevalence of zero dose.
Dr Mala regretted that a lot of the “zero-doses” of immunization being recorded in Borno state comes from the lingering level of insecurity plaguing the state adding that a reduction of the prevalence would take place only if these insecurity gaps are closed.
Dr Mala made these assertions during a review meeting of the Borno state annual score card for immunization accountability 2024 as put together by the Committee of Practice (COP) and the Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN) which held in maiduguri recently.
He said that the lingering insurgency in the state has definitely put a clog in the wheels of a lot of progress which should have been made in the reduction of the zero dose when it comes to immunization adding that it is the hope of the COP that this primary challenge would soon be a thing of the past.
Speaking on further challenges working against health workers during zero dose immunization, Dr Mala regretted that a lot of residents actually assume that because elites are expected to have some form of education, resistance or carelessness will not emanate from them or even core insiders in the medical profession.
Mala’s sadness on this issue stems from the fact that a large chunk of some medical personnel in Borno state are not helping to attack the rising prevalence of the zero dose cases in the state, because they equally take the campaign for granted depriving their kids from having the relevant vaccines as at when due.
The Director of public and community health revealed that Borno state contributes a whopping 60 percent of the measles prevalence in the country adding that something urgently must be done by health workers and educators to reverse this unsatisfactory trend within the sector.
The Director Community health posited that theses kids who are yet to start their regimes of the vaccines especially penta 1,2 and 3 are equally contributing to the embarrassing statistics being reeled out from within the system.
“There is really no reason why we must be having zero-dose cases up till now within this part of the country. It is very unfortunate that this preventable occurrences keep coming up in spite of our efforts.
“Some of the zero-does do come from the elites in the country while some are compromised by prevailing security challenges especially around the state capital areas and some other parts of the state too. But we must keep trying.
” Let me tell you how we used to handle difficult fulani people in the bush, we go with our veterinary doctors and by using the veterinarians they talk to the fulani people to fall in line in terms of taking the vaccines. They see their cattle getting better and their kids too.
” However, it is regrettable that some medical practitioners are not allowing their kids to be immunized against the six killer diseases. This should never be allowed to thrive within the on coming immunization campaigns.
“And this is why I am calling on all of us here to pay relevant visits to VIPs, stakeholders and influencers to ensure that the civil society, media and others are carried along to reduce zero-doses to the nearest minimum.
“For immunity to be maintained, we need to work on the 65 percent coverage of immunization in the state to something better. We must make better progress in the pending campaigns.
” I also urge that advocacies should be done in large numbers to ensure effectiveness. Community leaders will take you more serious when you go in large numbers to make your points heard” Said Mala.
The Director called on field representatives to make deliberate efforts to ensure they anchor their advocacies with the traditional rulers of each domain like the Shehu of Borno in the state capital to make the expected progress.
Also present in the review session, Peace Ambassador, Ahmed Shehu assured the round table of stakeholders that their convergence will close a lot of gaps on the entire vaccination architecture in the state.
He assured that activists like him will do their best to ensure that the zero-dose prevalence becomes a thing of the past as they forge ahead in the 2025 campaigns.
Also speaking, Dr Musa Melton, a senior field coordinator of the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) in Borno state noted that the exercise was meant to open the remaining vestiges of existing challenges caused by the zero dose and dealing with them decisively from the coming campaigns to be mounted by the community of practice (COP).
He however noted that the last review of actualities on ground was not all that gloomy because epidemiological statistics indicated that the number of zero-doses have actually reduced in the state and the entire country.
Melton commended Dr Aminu Magashi the founder of the Africa health network for bringing the vital budgetary issues to the fore adding that with the new push to bringing down the number of zero-doses in the state and the willingness of the state govt led by Prof Babagana Zulum to spend more on health, there is good news at the horizon.
Dr Melton stated that measles has however dropped drastically in the state and the entire country from last year’s statistics to this year’s adding that they will soon celebrate the end of the zero-dose prevalence as the campaigns intensifies.
UNICEF immunization officer and representative in the round table Bashir Elegbede frowned at dishonest immunization officers adding that inspectors will be in the field for the next campaign to hunt down such people and reduce such misbehaving practitioners contributing to the zero dose.
He warned that everyone will answer his or her fathers name this time around as business as usual will never be tolerated from anyone.
Present at the occasion were stake holders from within the state and some from outside like Dr Aminu Magashi who is the global convener of the community of practice (COP) on accountability and social action on health and a member of the global action plan for SDG 3 advocacy group.
A child in contemporary Nigeria is said to be out of the zero-dose prevalence when such a child had been subjected to BCG, OPV O, Hepatitis BO all at birth.
Within six weeks the same child should have taken Pentavalent 1, PCV 1, OPV1, IPV1, and ROTA 1 while at 10 weeks, Pentavalent 2, PCV2, OPV2 and ROTA 2.
At 14 weeks a child is expected to have taken Pentavalent 3, PVC 3, OPV 3, IPV2 and Rota 3.
At five months the malaria vaccine should be infused while at six months the vitamin A 1st dose even as the malaria vaccine is followed at seven months.
By nine months one’s baby should be done with measles first dose, yellow fever, Meningitis vaccine and vitamin A second dose even as the measles second dose and malaria vaccine are administered at 15 months.
Updated data received from the COP indicated that by 9 Years, children should be ready for the human Papilloma virus vaccine and that should make them good to go by world standards to avoid zero-doses.
This is the contemporary ideal and expectations for all children as laid down by the national primary health agency of Nigeria.
Security challenges contribute to increasing zero dose immunization prevalence in Borno state
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Zulum commissions 20 road projects in Maiduguri to mark Democracy Day

Zulum commissions 20 road projects in Maiduguri to mark Democracy Day
…Construction of 2 hospitals, int’l conference centre kicks off
By: Michael Mike
Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum on Thursday commissioned 20 road projects in Maiduguri, the state capital, to mark the 2025 Democracy Day.
They are Maina Kenindi Road, Talba Road, Yerima Road, Tafa Balewa Road, Cemetery Road, Park Road, Benue Road, Kinshasa Road, Homan Road, Kyari Sandabe Road, Elkanami Road and Onitsha Road.
Others are Dicharima Road, Sokoto I Road, Sokoto II Road, Engr Bukar Tijjani Road, Waziri Road, Marghi Road, Zajeri/Umarari Riad and Ambs Mahmud Ahmed Express Road in Gwange.
The combined 21.8 km projects were cited in Maisandari, Umarari, Ngarannam and Gwange, all in the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council.
The governor reaffirmed his commitment to providing democracy dividends for the people of Borno State till the end of his administration.
“In sha Allah, before the expiration of my tenure, people of Borno State will witness many more projects,” Zulum said.
…Construction of 2 hospitals, int’l conference centre kicks off
Meanwhile, the Borno State Government has started constructing three more projects, comprising two hospitals and a 4,000-person international conference centre.
One of the two hospitals is a specialised orthopaedic service centre with a 200-bed capacity in the Goni Kachallari area of Jere Local Government.
Zulum commissions 20 road projects in Maiduguri to mark Democracy Day
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Two Benue civil guards killed, others injured as security forces repel bandits’ attack in Tor-Donga

Two Benue civil guards killed, others injured as security forces repel bandits’ attack in Tor-Donga
By: Zagazola Makama
Two operatives of the Benue State Civil Protection Guards (BSCPG) have been confirmed dead, and three others injured following a late-night attack by suspected armed bandits on a military post in Tor-Donga, Katsina-Ala Local Government Area.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the attack occurred at about 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday when about ten armed bandits riding on five motorcycles stormed the army camp in Tor-Donga in an attempt to ambush troops stationed there.
The BSCPG operatives, who were on security duty at the location, intercepted the attackers. In the ensuing gunfire, one guard, identified as Torna Atim, was shot and died on the spot, while another, Fanga Gundepuun, sustained a gunshot wound to the leg and later died in hospital.
Three other guards l, Guusu Terver, Mzuuga Terzungwe, and Abugh Ivanbee , all residents of Tor-Donga, sustained varying degrees of injury and were rushed to Nguher Hospital in Katsina-Ala for treatment.
Reinforcements from the Nigerian Army and military and other security agencies responded swiftly and successfully repelled the bandits, who fled into the bush, abandoning two motorcycles at the scene.
The motorcycles have been taken into custody.
Two Benue civil guards killed, others injured as security forces repel bandits’ attack in Tor-Donga
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ActionAid Calls on Nigerians to Tap into Billion Dollars Plastic Waste Industry

ActionAid Calls on Nigerians to Tap into Billion Dollars Plastic Waste Industry
By: Michael Mike
ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) has called on Nigerians to tap into the billion dollars plastic waste industry.
The call was made on Wednesday in Abuja by the Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria, Andrew Mamedu at the “Beat Plastic Pollution Innovation Day” in commemoration of World Environment Day.
Mamedu, who was represented by Chair of ActionAid Nigeria Young People’s Forum, Favour Ikpe, while noting that currently, Nigeria generates 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, urged Nigeria to tap into the billion dollar plastic waste economy.
He said with 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste generated annually in Nigeria, only less than 10% of the waste is recycled, while the rest constitutes harm to the environment.
He therefore called for investment in recycling infrastructure and also support for the young Nigerians that are providing solutions.
He said: “To cut down drastically on single-use plastics,Invest in recycling infrastructure and Support the brilliant young people already building solutions from the grassroots.”
He stressed: “Let’s face it: the impact of plastic waste is right in front of us. In Nigeria alone, we generate over 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste each year, but less than 10% is recycled. That means the rest ends up in our drainages, our farmlands, our oceans, and these are harming our health and destroying livelihoods.
“But here’s the powerful part: change is already happening — and it’s being driven by young people. Nigeria is a young country — nearly 70% of our population is under 30. And we’re not sitting around waiting for change. We’re making it happen.
“Across the country, young people are taking plastic waste and turning it into opportunity — building startups, designing solutions, and creating sustainable alternatives.
“And there’s a big economic opportunity here. Globally, the recycled plastics market is projected to hit over $107 billion by 2032. Nigeria’s circular economy alone is already worth over $10 billion, and growing. The African Development Bank says that if we transition fully, Africa could unlock $350 billion in new economic opportunities by 2030.
“But we need the right systems to make this real. In Lagos, for example, the recycling economy was worth ₦18 billion in 2021 — yet 80% of the city’s waste still isn’t formally collected. That’s over $2.5 billion in lost value every year.
“Let’s reward innovation. Let’s fund community-led efforts. Let’s create policies that empower young recyclers and scale up sustainable solutions.
“Plastic may be part of the problem — but with the right approach, it can also be part of the solution. If we rethink, reuse, and recycle, we can turn pollution into possibility.”
He said what is needed today is to reimagine plastic — not as pollution, but as potential.
“So today isn’t just about raising awareness — it’s about celebrating action. From the live demos to the amazing gallery displays, what you’ll see here are examples of how youth are flipping the script. This is what transformation looks like.”
ActionAid Calls on Nigerians to Tap into Billion Dollars Plastic Waste Industry
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