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Lesotho strengthens one health collaboration through national bridging workshop

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Lesotho strengthens one health collaboration through national bridging workshop

By: Michael Mike

In a bid to strengthen coordination between human and animal health sectors, Lesotho’s Ministries of Health, Agriculture and Food Security, and Environment in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), convened a three-day National Bridging Workshop in Maseru District.

The workshop aimed to enhance the country’s One Health approach, recognizing the close link between human, animal, and environmental health. Many emerging and endemic diseases affecting humans originate from animals, transmitted directly, through food, or via the environment.
Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Deputy Principal Secretary at the Ministry of Health, Ms. Matsoanelo Monyobi, emphasized the importance of dismantling sectoral silos to build a more resilient and responsive health system.

“Capacity must be comprehensive. If we want to build, we must first break down the silos that keep systems fragmented,” Ms. Monyobi said, highlighting the need for a unified approach to public health, animal health, and environmental challenges.
Representing WHO, Public Health Officer Dr. Sirak Hailu stressed the urgent need for integrated health approaches in the face of rising zoonotic threats.

“A majority of emerging, re-emerging, and endemic human diseases originate from animals,” he noted, citing recent outbreaks of Ebola, novel coronaviruses, and pandemic influenza as stark reminders of the interconnectedness of human and animal health.

Dr. Hailu also pointed out that the Ebola crisis revealed critical gaps in preparedness and underscored the need for a more solidary, multisectoral approach to health security.

Speaking on behalf of the FAO Representative, Mohlophehi Maope stressed the urgency of adopting the One Health approach. “This is no longer a choice, but it is a necessity,” he said. “Through this workshop, we have made tangible progress in building a shared understanding and developing a joint roadmap to enhance collaboration across the animal-human-environment interface. The joint planning, consensus-building, and prioritization efforts demonstrated here mark a significant step forward in putting the One Health Strategy into action.”
Dr. Mookho Ntiea, Director, Veterinary Field Operations, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, emphasized the importance of cross-sector collaboration in addressing health challenges. She added that this initiative will help us build stronger systems and partnerships to safeguard the well-being of our communities.

Sello Mabatla, District Environment Officer, expressed his enthusiasm for participating in the One Health workshop, highlighting its potential to foster a more integrated approach to tackling health issues in Lesotho.

“I’m pleased to be part of this One Health workshop. It presents a valuable opportunity to promote an integrated approach to addressing health issues in our country. By bringing together different ministries, this initiative will help bridge gaps and foster collaboration among key stakeholders. Together, we can develop a joint action plan to tackle health challenges more effectively.”

The One Health workshop concluded with a shared commitment to advancing multisectoral collaboration in Lesotho. Participants endorsed a consensus-driven roadmap aimed at improving coordination between the animal health, human health, and environmental sectors for the prevention, detection, and response to health threats. With clear ownership from all stakeholders and prioritization of the top five activities, the workshop laid a solid foundation for actionable progress. By aligning the WHO’s International Health Regulations Monitoring and Evaluation Framework (IHR MEF) and WOAH’s Performance of Veterinary Services (PVS) Pathway, Lesotho is poised to strengthen its national health systems and build a more integrated, proactive approach to safeguarding public health.

This activity was made possible through funding from the Pandemic Fund.

Lesotho strengthens one health collaboration through national bridging workshop

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President Tinubu Storms Jos Today To Commiserate With Residents Of Angwa Rukuba Massacre

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President Tinubu Storms Jos Today To Commiserate With Residents Of Angwa Rukuba Massacre

By: Bodunrin Kayode

President Bola Tinubu will today visit the Plateau state capital Jos to commiserate with residents who lost loved ones during the Palm Sunday shooting spree by criminals that took place at Angwa rukuba area of the city.

The President who was scheduled to visit Ogun state postponed his scheduled trip to Iperu, meant to flag off operations at the Gateway International Cargo Airport.

From the Plateau, the President is expected to travel to Lagos to observe Good Friday public holiday which ushers the beginning of the Easter public holiday which rounds up the lent period.

A state house release signed yesterday by the Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga noted that President Tinubu will travel to Ogun State for the commissioning of the Cargo Airport and the inauguration of two commercial aircrafts for the export and import of goods, aimed at boosting the state’s economic growth on Saturday April 4th.

“He will also inaugurate the new edifice of the Federal Operations Unit of the Nigerian Customs Service and its operational vehicles.

“He will return to Lagos to continue the Easter holiday, during which he is also expected to commission infrastructural projects undertaken by the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

“These projects include: the iconic Ojota/Opebi Link Bridge; the Lagos State Geographic Information System Building; the Multi-Agency Complex named after the President, and a school Complex.

“Before returning to Abuja, President Tinubu will visit Bayelsa State on April 10 to commission some of Governor Duoye Diri’s completed projects.” Said the release.

Sadly several residents lost their lives during the black Palm Sunday shooting spree which is suspected to have been carried out by auto bike riding bandits following after their patterns in the hinterlands of the state.

These bandits who had tormented, killed and destroyed homes of residences of the Jos north axis of the state for several years after September 7th 2001

This damnation let loose on innocent residents is resurfacing after hundreds of killings had occurred in the Jos North council area of the state from September 7th 2001 till date.

And because of the myriad of challenges creeping into the federal security system sub regionals have geared up to manage their on police and Intel services which would assist greatly because they are masters of their territories.

The Federal government is fast tracking the process of state police to ensure that each sub nationals take charge of their environment to ensure that they support the center in the maintenance of internal security.

President Tinubu Storms Jos Today To Commiserate With Residents Of Angwa Rukuba Massacre

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NiMet predicts 107 to 138 days of rainfall in Gombe

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NiMet predicts 107 to 138 days of rainfall in Gombe

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has said that in 2026, the length of the rainy season in Gombe State is expected to be between 107 and 138 days.

This is contained in the Agency’s 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) document, which Gayus Musa, the meteorological manager for Gombe State, made available to Our Correspondent in Gombe on Tuesday.

The total amount of rainfall across Gombe State in 2026 is predicted to be between 701 mm in the northern part of the state (Nafada) and 1089 mm in the South (Shongom).

The onset of the rainfall is expected to commence in the state on May 29 (Shongom) and cease by October 22 (Yamaltu/Deba).

Similarly, in the prediction, four local government areas of the state, namely: Nafada, Yamaltu/Deba, Dukku and Funakaye were likely to be impacted by a severe dry spell (21 days and above) between June and August.

Musa while speaking to Our Correspondent on the first rainfall experienced in some communities in Akko, Gombe and Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Areas of the state on Monday urged farmers to resist the temptation of early planting of crops.

He described the first rain as false onset, explaining that the rainfall was false because it would not support any germination as seeds planted with such rain would not survive.

“This (first rain) is a false onset because the precipitation cannot carry any germination and so any seed planted would not survive.

“So farmers should not engage themselves in planting but to prepare their farmlands while getting their seeds and other inputs ready,” he said.

Musa advised farmers in the state, to make use of the prediction in carrying out farming activities towards avoiding losses in view of the impact of climate change on agriculture.

He further urged relevant authorities in the state to take proactive measures towards tackling environmental issues associated with the rainy season.

NiMet predicts 107 to 138 days of rainfall in Gombe

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Tuggar Resigns from Tinubu’s Cabinet, Sets for Bauchi Governorship

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Tuggar Resigns from Tinubu’s Cabinet, Sets for Bauchi Governorship

By: Michael Mike

The rumoured interest of Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar in becoming the governor of Bauchi State come 2027 may have been confirmed he resigned on Monday to prepared ground for actualization of his political ambition.

The resignation was ahead of the deadline set for political appointees seeking elective positions in the forthcoming general elections.

In a resignation letter submitted to the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Tuggar expressed profound gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the opportunity to serve the country and contribute to the implementation of the administration’s Four-D foreign policy strategy.

The former minister also appreciated the management and staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and members of the diplomatic community for their cooperation and support throughout his tenure.

During his time in office, Tuggar was credited with advancing Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives through initiatives focused on people-centred diplomacy. These included humanitarian evacuations, facilitation of scholarships for Nigerians abroad, and sustained support for citizens in the diaspora.

His tenure also witnessed increased diaspora engagement, including efforts to develop a structured database of Nigerians living abroad aimed at strengthening their participation in national development.

In addition, Tuggar strengthened bilateral and multilateral relations through strategic engagements with traditional partners and regional alliances, particularly across the Global South. His leadership also promoted regional security cooperation and supported the formation of the Regional Partnership for Democracy initiative.

He also prioritised economic diplomacy, positioning Nigeria as an attractive destination for foreign investment, especially in the energy sector, while facilitating diplomatic interventions that secured the release of detained Nigerians in foreign countries and improved bilateral relations.

The resignation letter was received on behalf of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation by Dr. Abubakar Kana, Permanent Secretary, General Services Office, ahead of the March thirty-first deadline directed by President Tinubu in line with provisions of the Electoral Act.

Tuggar’s resignation was conveyed in a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media and Communications Strategy, Alkasim Abdulkadir.

Tuggar Resigns from Tinubu’s Cabinet, Sets for Bauchi Governorship

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