From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja

The Kogi State Primary Health Care Development Agency is to commence a campaign for vaccination of children against Measles Rubella from October 4 to 13 this year.

The Executive Director of the Agency, Dr. Musa Muazu disclosed this at a one day media orientation forum held for selected media organisations in Lokoja on Monday.

The Executive Director who was represented by his Deputy Director, Administration, Mallam Musa Bashir, hinted that Measles Rubella also known as German Measles is meant for children between nine months and fourteen years.

Dr. Muazu said that the essence of the one day media engagement is to acquaint journalists with relevant information about Measles Rubella that would enhance effective awareness creation and enlightenment of citizens down to the grass-roots on the preventive campaign.

According to the Executive Director, the preventive Measles Rubella vaccination campaign is expected to be carried out in the 21 Local Government Areas of Kogi state at designated posts such as palaces of traditional rulers, market places and motor parks.

“However, after the October campaign, Measles Rubella vaccination would now return to our normal immunization routine” Dr. Muazu explained

He then called on parents across the 21 local government areas of the state to make their children available in their large numbers for the preventive vaccination against the dreaded disease.

He stressed that the media partnership would no doubt give adequate publicity that would facilitate huge success of the preventive vaccination campaign project

Dr. Abdulrahman Hudu of UNICEF had earlier briefed participants during the orientation gathering that Measles Rubella is a respiratory illness which can be contracted through transmission, airborne and direct contact

He explained that Measles Rubella which is also called German Measles is a little bit different from the normal measles saying that the only way to tackle the disease is through preventive measures of vaccines application since it is not curable.

He further explained that the virus could be tackled through 95% preventable vaccination

“Symptoms and hazards of measles or measles rubella includes; skin rashes, running nose, fever, brain damage, cough, blindness and death” Dr. Hudu enumerated

Shittu Momoh, State Vaccine Mobilization Officer, said that the media has a greater role to play in dissemination of information about routine immunization and urged the participants to take the project very seriously.

He reiterated the determination of the Kogi State Primary Health Care Development Agency to strengthen health services in the state through advocacy visits to relevant stakeholders and sensitisation of citizens to embrace attitudinal spirit geared towards complementing government’s efforts to achieve the laudable goal.

By Laide Akinboade, Abuja

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has commenced the registration of intending pilgrims for the 2026 Hajj exercise.The Director of the Board, Alhaji Kadiri Edah, who disclosed this at a meeting in Abuja said Intending Pilgrims who wish to participate in the exercise through the board are to deposit a minimum of N8.

5 million only to book for a seat with the Board. Kadiri Edah said prospective pilgrims are to book for the seat via a bank draft from any commercial bank payable to the FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Abuja before 2nd of December 2025.According to the Director, the draft and the international passport of the intending pilgrims should be submitted to officials of the Board at any of the six area councils of the territory before the deadline.The Director warned that only bank drafts would be entertained as no cash payment is allowed while registration is on first-come–first–served basis in line with the principle of fairness in the services of residents of the territory.He advised Intending Pilgrims who have made deposits and could not participate in previous hajj exercises and still have their money with the Board are to declare their intention to the board before the deadline so as to book for a seat in the forthcoming hajj exercise.He said that the Board has resolved to redouble its effort in improving services to the registered Intending Pilgrims through the new strategies introduced for the forthcoming Hajj exercise.The Director advised intending pilgrims to deal with the Board directly and avoid any deceit from any third party requesting for additional payment outside the hajj fare which is a complete package for the exercise fixed by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).

By Laide Akinboade, Abuja

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has reiterated its commitment in the clearance of all illegal settlements, especially shanties harbouring criminals and preventing developmental projects in the Federal Capital City, adding that; “the ongoing onslaught on criminal hideouts in Abuja will continue.

”The FCTA described as worrisome, security threats from parts of Durumi District, particularly Area 1 in Garki District, saying; “High level criminal activities such as robbery, carjacking, drug peddling and other heinous crimes with its attendant security implications to law abiding FCT residents cannot be allowed to continue. ”In his bid to ensure a safer FCT, the Minister, Nyesom Wike, set up a Stakeholders Committee, comprising heads of security agencies, FCTA officials, Civil Society Organisations, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and others. This was contained in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, said it was identified at the committee meeting that apart from preventing land allottees from making use of their lands, and government from carrying out developmental projects, the shanties in Area 1, Durumi have become operational base for criminals, especially kidnappers, drug peddlers and one-chance operators.Three months ago, when security agencies carried out an operation in Area 1, Durumi, over 120 miscreants were arrested. Among those arrested in the operation that lasted over three hours were drug peddlers, one-chance operators, carjackers and armed robbers.Seven stolen vehicles, and 79 stolen motorcycles were recovered, while 155 ATM cards were recovered. These ATM cards were those snatched from victims of one-chance operators, using the settlement as their base.Then, some of the shanties in Area 1, Durumi were cleared. But today, the shanties are back and the criminals have regrouped, making the area uninhabitable for law-abiding Nigerians.Also, these shanties and makeshift houses are built on land allocated more than 20 years ago, but the illegal settlers and criminals who have turned the area to their abode have made it impossible for the allottees to make use of their lands. Even government agencies have found it difficult to use their land in Area 1, Durumi.Consequently, the FCTA is already clearing shanties in the City Centre, and those in Area 1, Durumi will be cleared very soon.