From Ifeanyichukwu Nwannah, Gusau

The All Progressives Congress (APC), in Zamfara State has conducted wards and Local Government congresses in the 147 political wards and the 14 Local Government Areas of the State.

The party executives produced by the congresses emerged through consensus in a peaceful and well-coordinated exercise.

Addressing newsmen in Gusau, the State capital, the Chairman of the Congresses committee, Barrister Babande Babakura Imam said the exercises were conducted successfully in a peaceful manner.

Imam noted that both Wards and LGAs congresses in the State recorded an impressive turnout of party stakeholders and members across the state.

“All the party wards and LGAs executives produced by the congresses emerged through sincere consensus and affirmation”, he added.

“The congresses were monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, security agencies, party officials from the APC National Secretariat, Abuja, and the state APC representatives”

Also speaking, the State APC Chairman, Alhaji Tukur Danfulani described the successful exercise as a welcome development.

Danfulani commended the committee for the successful conduct of the ward and LGAs congresses for adhering strictly to party guidelines in overseeing the conduct of the exercise across the State.

“As we all know, the all progressive Congress is committed to transparency and inclusive process”

“This successful congresses would enhance and strengthen unity and internal harmony in the party”

The party Chairman expressed the optimism that APC remained united in the State, with the emergence of new executives across the State.

“This is an indication that the party will reclaim its stolen mandate by PDP in the State. We are quite sure that in the upcoming 2027 general elections, the party will run away with landslide victory”

“In Zamfara State, the APC leadership remains committed towards the re-election of President Bola Tinubu and all party candidates in the upcoming 2027 general elections”

The State APC chairman expressed satisfaction with the level of participation of members and the orderly conduct of members across the State.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), said it has tracked the execution of three borehole projects in Ondo awarded by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).

Its Spokesperson, Okor Odey disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

According to Odey, the contract valued at N54,7 million was tracked and verified under the ICPC’s Constituency and Executive Projects Tracking Initiative (CEPTI),

“The ICPC team carried out the tracking exercise alongside representatives from National Primary Health Care Development Agency and other accredited Project Management Consultants.

“The projects were approved at the NPHCDA Tenders Board meeting held on November 20, 2024, and formally awarded on November 21, 2024, to Workman Network Equipment Resources Ltd.

“The contract valued at N54,758,244.00 inclusive of taxes, covered the drilling of motorised boreholes at the three Primary Health Care Centres in Ondo State,” he said.

Odey added that the project included Basic Health Centre, Danjuma – Akure South Local Government Area, Basic Health Centre, Awaye – Ile-Oluji/Oke Igbo LGA and Boa II Primary Health Centre – Akoko South West LGA

“ICPC’s monitoring team confirmed that the boreholes were executed and are functional, providing much-needed potable water to the health facilities and surrounding communities.

“At the Basic Health Centre in Ile-Oluji, Oke Igbo, the Primary Health Care Officer-in-Charge, Mrs Ajiromoke Mercy, expressed satisfaction with the quality of work delivered.

“She commended the initiative, noting that the borehole project has effectively addressed long standing water challenges within the health centre and has significantly benefited the host community,” he said.

The commission, he said, reiterated its commitment to ensuring transparency, accountability, and value-for-money in the implementation of public-funded projects across the country.

According to him, through sustained tracking and verification exercises, ICPC continues to promote effective service delivery and deter corruption in the execution of government projects,” he said.

The commission encouraged members of the public to support its efforts by providing timely information on the status of constituency and executive projects within their communities. 

Kogi Targets 4.5m Residents for River Blindness Prevention Treatment

The Kogi Ministry of Health’s Neglected Tropical Disease (NTDs) Programme, in collaboration with Sightsavers, has inaugurated the 2025 Mass Administration of Medicines (MAM) for Onchocerciasis (River Blindness) prevention in the state.

The mass medicine distribution aimed at preventing river blindness will cover all 3,200 communities in the state, targeting 4.

The State’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adeiza Abdulazeez, who declared the two-day MAM meeting open on Monday in Lokoja, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eliminating river blindness in the state.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Steven Momoh, the commissioner said the meeting aimed to review progress, identify gaps, and develop strategies for the upcoming Mectizan distribution cycle in March.

He noted that the state had made progress in controlling the disease through mass drug administration campaigns and dedication of health workers and stakeholders.

He acknowledged the support of development partners, including Sight Savers, and urged participants to actively engage in discussions to ensure no community was left behind.

“Kogi Govt, led by Gov Ahmed Ododo, is committed to improving residents’ health and well-being.

“The Ministry of Health will provide leadership, coordination, and support for neglected tropical diseases elimination programmes,” he said.

The state NTD Coordinator, Musa Momohjimoh, explained that Kogi was endemic for Onchocerciasis due to its water-rich environment, with River Niger and Benue flowing through several local governments.

“The treatment of river blindness has been ongoing in Kogi since 1997, with over 27 rounds of treatment administered.

“While we have achieved great success, there are still challenges, and the disease remains endemic in some areas,” Momohjimoh said.

He urged residents to participate in the mass medicine distribution in March.

Sightsavers Programme Officer, Phoebe Hindan, emphasised the importance of strategic implementation to ensure no one misses out on the intervention.

“The exercise aims to close gaps observed in previous implementations and ensure the elimination of the disease, not just continued treatment.

“The distribution will last for 10 days, and we urge participants to ensure their communities are involved in the planning and implementation process, ” she said.

NTD Data Manager, Sightsavers, Betsy Ibenu said the meeting aimed to review implementation strategies, develop a work plan for achieving geographical and therapeutic coverage.

She emphasised that it would discuss strategies for micro-planning and deep dive investigations.

Stakeholders at the meeting include HOD health departments and NTD team members, Kogi branch of Parasitology and Public Health Society of Nigeria (PPSN) NAFDAC, CAN, JNI, among others.

Participants pledged their commitment to achieving the aims of the exercise.