Gombe partners media to boost polio, HPV vaccine uptake

The Gombe State Government has engaged media professionals and stakeholders to strengthen awareness on polio immunisation and boost vaccine uptake ahead of upcoming campaigns across communities in the state.

The engagement, on Thursday in Gombe, is part of preparations for the May round of Intensive Supplemental National Immunisation Plus Days (SNIPDs) campaign targeting improved coverage and community participation statewide.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the session with journalists and social media influencers was organised by the Gombe State Primary Health Care Development Agency (GSPHCDA) to enhance public communication strategies.

The agency partnered with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, World Health Organization, and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to coordinate efforts aimed at increasing awareness and acceptance of vaccines among residents.

The May campaign will focus mainly on polio vaccination and the Human Papilloma Virus vaccine, targeting children and young girls to prevent disease outbreaks and long-term health complications.

Mr Abubakar Mu’azu, District Health Information Officer, (GSPHCDA), highlighted the importance of awareness, urging media stakeholders to encourage caregivers to present eligible children for vaccination during the campaign period.

Mu’azu disclosed that more than 963,000 children were vaccinated against polio during the March 2026 round but noted a decline compared to previous exercises conducted within the state.

He said more than one million children were vaccinated in June 2025, while 968,710 received doses in November, stressing the need to reverse the downward trend through intensified advocacy.

He explained that engaging the media was a strategic step to improve public trust, counter misinformation, and drive increased participation in both routine immunisation and mass vaccination campaigns statewide.

Mr John Markez, Social and Behavioural Change Consultant with UNICEF, emphasised the importance of promoting polio and HPV vaccines in preventing disease outbreaks and reducing long-term health risks among populations.

“Not all cervical cancer issues are HPV related but about 70 per cent of them are associated with HPV.

“Capturing these girls at the age of nine provides long-lasting protection,” he said.

He added that mass vaccination campaigns and routine immunisation services had significantly reduced polio risks in Nigeria compared to levels recorded about 15 to 20 years ago nationwide.

Emily Madina, Consultant with the Christian Health Association of Nigeria, reiterated the critical role of the media in driving awareness, influencing behaviour, and improving vaccine acceptance in underserved communities.

Gombe partners media to boost polio, HPV vaccine uptake

Unlocking the Benefits of Zero-Tariff Measures to Elevate the China–Africa Community with a Shared Future to a New Level

By Yu Dunhai,
 
On May 1 this year, China will fully implement zero-tariff measures for 53 African countries that have diplomatic relations with China. This represents a concrete step by China to expand high-level opening up and deepen China–Africa cooperation. As the policy enters its implementation phase, China–Nigeria cooperation is also reaching a critical juncture, transitioning from an “opportunity window” to the delivery of tangible outcomes.
 
This measure is characterized by comprehensive coverage. Previously, China had already granted zero-tariff treatment on 100 percent of tariff lines to 33 least developed African countries. Starting May 1, China will further extend zero-tariff arrangements, through preferential tariff rates, to 20 non-least developed African countries, including Nigeria, thereby achieving full coverage of all African countries with diplomatic relations with China. As a result, China has become the first major economy in the world to unilaterally implement comprehensive zero-tariff treatment for all such countries, demonstrating through concrete actions its commitment to providing market opportunities to African partners.
 
Zero tariffs measures directly reduce the cost of Nigerian products entering the Chinese market. From sesame, ginger, and cashews to cocoa and other specialty agricultural products, as long as they meet rules of origin as well as inspection and quarantine requirements, they can access the Chinese market more smoothly. This “channel effect” helps translate potential demand into stable orders and convert market opportunities into tangible benefits.
 
Beyond enabling products to be “sold,” this measure will also help them be “sold better.” The removal of tariffs will both encourage and incentivize enterprises to improve quality standards, optimize product structures, and strengthen brand development, thereby supporting sustainable growth in China’s high-standard market. As export volumes expand and quality improves, the international reputation of “Made in Nigeria” will be further enhanced.
 
From a broader perspective, the measure will promote localized value addition, inject new momentum into Nigeria’s industrialization and agricultural modernization, create employment opportunities, and improve livelihoods. Clear and stable expectations for exports to China will attract increased domestic and foreign investment into sectors such as agriculture, food processing, mineral processing, and manufacturing. Value addition through local processing prior to export will help extend industrial chains and stimulate the development of supporting industries, including R&D, quality inspection, packaging, warehousing, and logistics. In this way, Nigeria will be better positioned to transition from primary commodity exports to more diversified, higher value-added exports, enhancing the resilience and dynamism of its economy.
 
Whether the benefits of zero-tariff measures can be fully realized ultimately depends on effective implementation. African producers and exporters, including those in Nigeria, are encouraged to proactively align with Chinese market requirements in terms of product quality, supply reliability, and brand promotion. China will work closely with Nigeria and other African countries to create an even more enabling environment for expanding exports to China. This includes providing technical support through capacity-building programs, enhancing trade facilitation through “green channels” for agricultural products, and welcoming Nigerian enterprises to actively participate in major platforms such as the China International Import Expo, the Canton Fair, and the China–Africa Economic and Trade Expo to connect with buyers and promote their products. We also look forward to close coordination with relevant Nigerian authorities to ensure that products meet applicable origin rules, inspection and quarantine standards, and other regulatory requirements.
 
The zero-tariff arrangement is an innovative, phased, and pioneering measure in the ongoing negotiations on the Agreement on Economic Partnership for Shared Development between China and African countries. This agreement will more comprehensively reduce both tariff and non-tariff barriers, enhance trade and investment facilitation, and deepen cooperation across a range of development areas, thereby providing long-term, stable, and predictable institutional support for mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Nigeria.
 
Against the backdrop of persistent geopolitical tensions, global economic headwinds, and rising unilateralism and protectionism, China’s commitment to expanding opening up, while focusing on Africa’s development priorities and sharing the opportunities of its vast market and modernization, demonstrates both responsibility and strategic foresight. China stands ready to work with Nigeria to ensure that zero-tariff measures take root and deliver real results, advancing Africa’s modernization and elevating the China–Africa community with a shared future to a new level.
 
Yu Dunhai, is Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria

Unlocking the Benefits of Zero-Tariff Measures to Elevate the China–Africa Community with a Shared Future to a New Level

Fuel Hike Crisis: NHRC Warns Nigerian Workers at Breaking Point, Demands Urgent Government Action

By: Michael Mike

Nigeria’s worsening cost-of-living crisis came under sharp scrutiny on Thursday as the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued a strong warning that rising fuel prices and systemic economic pressures are pushing workers deeper into hardship, urging immediate government intervention to avert further deterioration.

In a statement marking International Workers’ Day 2026, the Commission’s Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu, said the recent petrol price hikes have triggered a chain reaction of economic strain, with transportation costs soaring beyond the reach of average Nigerians and severely eroding workers’ incomes.

He warned that the daily reality for millions of workers—particularly those dependent on commuting—has become increasingly unsustainable, with productivity declining as basic mobility becomes a luxury rather than a necessity. According to him, the situation is steadily undermining not just economic stability but also the dignity of labour in the country.

While acknowledging federal efforts to mitigate the effects of global inflation and economic reforms, the NHRC stressed that such measures have yet to translate into meaningful relief for citizens facing immediate and severe financial pressure. The Commission argued that the gap between policy intentions and lived realities continues to widen.

The NHRC identified transportation as a critical pressure point, noting that the absence of a functional and affordable public transport system has amplified the impact of fuel price increases. It cautioned that without urgent corrective measures, a significant portion of the workforce risks sliding further into economic vulnerability.

Beyond fuel and transport costs, Ojukwu drew attention to entrenched structural challenges worsening the crisis. These include controversial estimated electricity billing practices, persistent metering gaps, rising housing costs, and limited access to quality healthcare under the National Health Insurance framework. He also flagged recurring industrial actions in the health sector, attributing them to poor welfare conditions that ultimately affect both workers and the broader population.

The Commission further raised concerns over wage disparities among workers performing similar roles, calling for transparent and equitable salary harmonisation across sectors. It described delays in the payment of retirement benefits as a grave injustice, warning that such practices strip retirees of dignity and financial security after years of service.

Although the NHRC acknowledged ongoing investments in the railway sector, it insisted that broader and more inclusive transport solutions are urgently needed nationwide to ease the burden on workers.

Framing the crisis in rights-based terms, Ojukwu emphasized that the current economic hardship is not merely a fiscal issue but a human rights concern requiring immediate, people-centered responses. He called on all levels of government to adopt practical policies that directly improve living standards and safeguard workers’ welfare.

As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark Workers’ Day, the Commission delivered a blunt message: economic reforms must not come at the expense of citizens’ dignity. Without deliberate protections, it warned, Nigerian workers will continue to shoulder disproportionate hardship in a system that offers little relief.

Fuel Hike Crisis: NHRC Warns Nigerian Workers at Breaking Point, Demands Urgent Government Action