NEWS
UNICEF Flags-off Integrated Vaccines Campaign in Plateau
From Jude Dangwam, Jos
The United Nations Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF) Bauchi Field Officer has flag-off an integrated vaccines campaign with the view to prevent the menace of Human Papilloma virus that causes cervical cancer cases in women, Polio eradication campaign and administration of supplements to pregnant women across Plateau State.
The Health Specialist, Bauchi Field Office, Dr. David Audu while monitoring the admittance of the HPV vaccines across some school in Jos South local government area of Plateau State on Friday said the campaign intended to cover every single girl within the age of 9-14 years old in all the 17 LGAs of the state.”This exercise is an HPV vaccination campaign. HPV stands for Human Papillomavirus, a virus that causes the majority of cervical cancer cases. Fortunately, there is a vaccine that prevents girls from contracting this virus.”We are currently in the Jos South local government area vaccinating nine-year-old girls as part of this campaign. Although the HPV vaccine has already been introduced into Nigeria’s routine immunization schedule, this campaign serves as a boost to increase coverage. Our aim is to vaccinate as many girls aged 9 to 14 as possible,” he emphasizedThe Health Specialist further explained, “To achieve this, we have integrated the HPV vaccination into the ongoing Polio Campaign and the Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (MNCH) Week. This means we’re providing polio vaccines, micronutrient supplements for children and pregnant women, and administering the HPV vaccine all in one coordinated effort.”We are calling on all nine-year-old girls in the state to come out and receive the HPV vaccine. It is a safe and effective way to protect them from cervical cancer in the future.”In terms of targets, we are not looking for just a few; our goal is to vaccinate every nine-year-old girl in the state. The Federal Government, with support from UNICEF and GAVI, has made adequate vaccines available. These vaccines are not only safe and effective, but also more convenient. It’s now a single-dose vaccine, unlike the previous version which required two doses. So we encourage all eligible girls to take advantage of this opportunity and get vaccinated.” He appealedAt the flagging off ceremony held at the PHC Naraguta in Rigiza District of Jos North, Audu noted thus; “As you know, the Minister of Health has directed that we work in an integrated manner by ensuring that the campaigns we are having are overlapping each other so that we make use of the human resources and financial resources for the betterment of the children.The representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) Oche James from the Polio National Emergency Operation Centre Abuja assured of their readiness towards providing technical support reiterated that parents must not take the exercise considering the fact that the Nigerian environment has exposed a lot of citizens to all kinds of disease.The wife of the Executive Chairman of Jos North Local Government Chairman, Tina John while expressing gratitude to UNICEF and World Health Organization (WHO) for the intervention, called on all women in the LGA to bring forth their children for vaccination which is aimed at boosting their immunity and make them strong against any form of disease or infections.The Director PHC Jos North, Martha Milat Kummiap “All our men are spread across the corners of Jos North it took us over a week to continue to create awareness, to citizens of the locality. All stakeholders have been engaged and ready for it.The District Head of Rigiza HRH, Pozoh Luka Wariya assured the readiness of his people to fully participate in the exercise to caution his wards from resisting the vaccines.NEWS
They Planted Juju in my Jacket at Davido’s House – Peruzzi
Singer Peruzzi has narrated how a charm was planted in his jacket during his stay at Davido’s house.
Peruzzi was signed to Davido’s record label, DMW, in 2017.
Davido dissolved the label in April 2024.
However, discussing his experience during his stay at Davido’s house, Peruzzi narrated how a charm was planted in his jacket.
Speaking in a video interview online, he said, “I took a shower one evening, like at 6 pm. Just a shower and then went to go and meet them back downstairs because I was chilling there before I went upstairs in David house when I was still living there.
“And then I was done taking the shower. I go to my wardrobe to get my clothes, and then one of my jackets is just telling me, ‘Pull me, wear me, wear me, wear me.’ I don’t know how to explain it, but I was just having the urge to wear it.”So, I carry am (the jacket), and something just dropped inside, and when I looked, it was jaz, better juju inside my room. A jacket that just came from the laundry.”
NEWS
AFSNET Business Conference Kicks off in Calabar
From Ene Asuquo, Calabar
The 6th African sub – sovereign Governments Network Investment Conference has started in Calabar the cross river state capital as Afreximbank opens a $2 billion tap for Cross River State and other African sub-sovereign governments for the financing of bankable projects that can turn around their economies.
Making the disclosure in Calabar in a press briefing, The Director, Trade Facilitation and Investment Promotion, Afreximbank, Dr.
Gainmore Zanamwe, said the 6th African Sub-Sovereign Governments Network Investment Conference (AfSNET 2026) is going to be a three day event, running from Thursday 12th to Saturday 14th November, 2026.Dr Zanamwe stated that, the Bank has the facility ready to finance. According to him, “Some people say funding is a problem. From Africa we say no. The $2 billion is there,” Zanamwe said. “Go and tell your people. You people in the media, go and tell people that money is there,” stressing that the bank is fully prepared to spend the next three days, November 12, 13 and 14, in Calabar enlightening states on how to access the fund. “How do you then access the funding? He asked.
“That is what we’ll be telling everybody in the course of the next three days. We’ll be showing you how you can tap into the $2 billion to do your projects. We’ll make it very simple.” He maintained.
Zanamwe stated that only states that present properly packaged, bankable projects will benefit. “We’ll start tomorrow with a training on how to identify projects in your states. Some normally start by saying there’s a project in this, they then run to the investors. It doesn’t work that way. We’ll be breaking it down,” he said.
“We would like, under the leadership of your Governor, to be able to start from the vision and say this is the vision in terms of promoting trade investment in your states. Once you start from that big vision, you cannot do everything. You need to focus. Identify two or three sectors that you really need to focus on and promote,” he added.
He explained that capital can be raised in two ways: by preparing a project and making it bankable for financial institutions like Afreximbank, or by preparing a pitch deck to generate interest from potential investors.
He also promoted Africa Direct Investment, saying an investor from Lagos or South Africa can as well enjoy the same privileges and incentives given to an investor from America.
He stressed that governors will pitch their projects on November 13 and 14, adding that in the last five years, the initiative has facilitated opportunities worth more than $3 billion, trained over 2,000 people, and worked with 21 African countries.
Also speaking on behalf of Governor Bassey Otu, Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Pastor Ekpenyong Cobham, welcomed investors to the state.
“With Cross River State’s agrarian economy being rejuvenated by this administration, for the first time a very deliberate attempt is being taken to be able to make sure that our diverse products are being properly processed to meet international standards,” Cobham said.
NEWS
RMAFC Advocates Fair Share of 13 Per Cent Revenue Derivation Among Oil Producing States
By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has advocated a fair distribution of the 13 per cent derivation revenue among states that produce oil and gas.
The Chairman of the commission, Mohammed Shehu, made the appeal on Thursday in Owerri during the inauguration of an oil and gas wells verification exercise.
Shehu explained that the commission’s constitutional responsibilities under the 1999 Constitution, as amended, include monitoring revenue generated into and disbursed from the Federation Account, including funds allocated under the 13 per cent derivation arrangement.
He said the exercise would focus on identifying and confirming the geographical coordinates of disputed oil and gas wells, alongside newly drilled wells between 2017 and 2026.
According to him, an Inter-Agency Technical Committee established for the assignment would carry out physical inspections of the affected wells, verify their locations and ensure that their coordinates were accurately recorded using officially approved maps.
He added that the committee would also take relevant court judgments into consideration when addressing disputes involving oil and gas well locations.
Shehu said the committee would forward its technical findings directly to the commission for review, ratification and eventual adoption.
He described the verification exercise as essential to ensuring that revenue allocations from the Federation Account are accurate and fairly distributed, explaining that the geographical positions of oil and gas wells determine the financial entitlements of producing states.
“This exercise represents a crucial phase in establishing statutory accuracy, technical fidelity, and fiscal equity within the Federation Account allocation framework,” he said.
He further explained that the precise coordinates and geographical positions of oil and gas wells have direct implications for the legal and financial rights of the respective states.
The RMAFC chairman urged officials participating in the exercise to adhere strictly to professional surveying procedures, recognised maps and relevant legal requirements in carrying out their assignments.
He reiterated that the technical committee’s report would be submitted solely to the commission for administrative review and formal approval.


