NEWS
First vaccine against malaria not for adults — FG
The Federal Government has said that the first malaria vaccine recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), would be administered in four doses to 5-month-old babies.
WHO had said the vaccine would be effective against the deadliest parasite, especially common in Africa and it’s not for adults.
The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said this on Tuesday in Abuja at the Ministerial bi-weekly meeting on the update of COVID-19 response and development in the country’s health sector.
The 2021 World Malaria Report (WMR 2021), indicates that Nigeria contributes 27 per cent of the global malaria cases and 32 per cent of global malaria deaths.
The minister said that the country witnessed a total of 57 million clinical cases per year and annual deaths of about 100,000.
“It is also estimated that about 60 per cent of all out-patients and 30 per cent of all hospital admissions across the country are due to malaria”, he said.
Ehanire said that vaccines for malaria were still under review with the first one known to have reduced the risk of malaria by 40 per cent in children in Africa as of 2020.
“The global target of the WHO is to reduce the incidence of malaria by at least 30 per cent by 2030,” he said.
The minister said that malaria remains one of the most common diseases prone to misdiagnosis and self-medication.
“In Nigeria especially, any symptoms of chills, body pain and headache often equal the purchase of anti-malarial drugs; sometimes coupled with typhoid drugs; from the nearest pharmacy.
“Although effective in some cases, this ideology can be detrimental to our health due to complications and increasing resistance to some anti-malarial drugs,” he said.
He said that efforts were in place to combat the malaria scourge.
“Recently, President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated the Nigeria End Malaria Council (NEMC) and mandated it to ensure successful implementation of the programme.
”The right implementation of strategies utilising collaboration and interventions would be based on the resolve of the administration to ensure the protection of the health of Nigerians and in the spirit of one health,” he said.
He said that the FMOH placed strong importance on interventions that would limit vector-human contact towards protecting people from diseases.
“There are more than 30 anopheles species of mosquitoes that have been reported across the five geo-ecological zones in the country.
“One reason why the mosquito has thrived across all parts of the country is its ability to breed and proliferate under unusual conditions.
“The importance of this critical vector and the diseases it transmits established the Integrated Vector Management Branch within the National Malaria Elimination Programme.
“The essence of the programme is to coordinate all efforts to mitigate the impact of the diseases,” he said.
Ehanire said the objective of the National Malaria Strategic Plan was to seek to improve access and utilisation of vector control interventions to at least 80 per cent of the targeted population by 2025.
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“Some of the vector interventions being deployed include mass distribution of Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) on the principle,” he said.
The minister said that the NMEP, in collaboration with partners, had established 29 entomological surveillance sentinel sites across the country.
He said the purpose of the establishment was to monitor the vector behaviour and insecticide resistance patterns across the different ecological zones of the country.
The minister said that the country had been profiled for critical locations where Indoor Residual Spraying was urgently required in about 25 states.
Recall that according to the 2010 Nigeria Malaria Indicator Survey (NMIS 2010), there has been a continuous decline in malaria from 42 per cent in 2010 to 27 per cent in 2015.
In the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS 2018), there was a further decline in malaria cases from 27 per cent to 23 per cent.
This decline was believed to have resulted from a thorough programme implementation of the National Malaria Strategic Plan.
The country is currently implementing the National Malaria Strategic Plan of 2021 to 2025, with the intent to achieve a parasite prevalence of less than 10 per cent.
It is also expected to reduce mortality attributable to malaria to less than 50 deaths per 1,000 live births by the year 2025.
It will take about N1.89 trillion to implement this five-year plan.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following recognition by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of Nigeria’s role in an international operation targeting sextortion networks exploiting minors.
The commendation followed a letter from FBI Director Kash Patel to EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, acknowledging the Commission’s contribution to Operation Artemis, a joint investigation targeting criminal networks involved in the sexual exploitation and extortion of children.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, disclosed this in a statement released on Saturday.
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The operation resulted in the arrest and extradition of two Nigerian suspects, Adebola Festus Adekunle and Mudasiru Afeez Olawale, in August 2026. Both suspects are facing federal charges in the United States.
In his letter, Patel credited the EFCC’s cooperation for the successful outcome of the investigation.
“The successful outcome of these cases would not have been possible without your assistance and dedication to international law enforcement collaboration,” the FBI Director wrote.
Reacting to the recognition, President Tinubu described the commendation as evidence of Nigeria’s progress in tackling financial crimes and strengthening international law enforcement cooperation.
The President praised the EFCC Chairman and his team for their professionalism and commitment, stressing that Nigeria must not become a safe haven for individuals involved in criminal activities.
“This is the kind of institutional performance we are determined to build across our country. I commend the EFCC Chairman and his team for their professionalism and dedication,” Tinubu said.
He added: “Nigeria must never become a haven for criminals who exploit innocent people, whether at home or abroad. Our law enforcement and anti-corruption institutions have my full support to pursue offenders and bring them to justice in accordance with the law.”
The President’s commendation comes amid growing international recognition of Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen its financial crime prevention framework.
Nigeria was removed from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list in October 2025 and the European Union’s list of high-risk financial jurisdictions in January 2026.
Tinubu said the developments demonstrate his administration’s commitment to improving financial integrity, restoring international confidence and creating a secure environment for legitimate businesses and investments.
“Our fight against corruption is not measured by publicity but by results. Stronger institutions, effective law enforcement and international cooperation are essential to building a Nigeria where honest enterprise can thrive, and criminals are held accountable,” the President stated.
He also urged the EFCC and other law enforcement agencies to sustain their efforts, assuring them of his administration’s continued support in protecting Nigerians, combating financial crimes and strengthening the country’s relationship with international partners.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) is set to begin a five-day nationwide enforcement operation targeting motorists using fake, covered, defaced and obsolete vehicle number plates.
The operation, code-named Operation Guduma Phase Two, will run from Monday, November 2, to Friday, November 6, 2026, as part of efforts to strengthen road safety enforcement and address security concerns linked to fraudulent vehicle registration plates.
The announcement was contained in a statement issued on October 31, 2026, by the Corps Public Education Officer, Osondu Ohaeri, at the FRSC National Headquarters in Abuja.
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The exercise, approved by the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, will be conducted across selected states, with designated senior officers assigned to coordinate and supervise the operation.
The renewed crackdown follows the first phase of Operation Guduma conducted in May 2026, during which the FRSC recorded 1,691 arrests across 11 states.
According to the Corps, 1,003 motorists were arrested for various number plate-related offences, while 683 were apprehended for overloading and mixed-loading. Five others were arrested for using fake diplomatic number plates.
The FRSC said the second phase was prompted by growing concerns raised by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) over the increasing use of fake, covered, defaced, obsolete and counterfeit diplomatic number plates.
It warned that vehicles operating with fraudulent or unidentifiable registration plates could allow criminal elements to evade identification, undermine security surveillance and frustrate investigations.
Beyond the enforcement of vehicle registration regulations, the operation will also focus on maintaining free-flowing traffic along designated corridors, emergency rescue interventions and the prompt clearance of road obstructions.
Speaking ahead of the exercise, Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed warned that the use of fake, concealed, defaced or obsolete number plates would no longer be treated as a minor traffic offence because of its implications for public safety and national security.
He urged motorists to ensure their vehicle registration plates are genuine, valid, clearly visible and properly displayed, while calling on members of the public to cooperate with FRSC personnel during the operation.
Mohammed also directed officers participating in the exercise to discharge their duties professionally, maintain discipline and respect the rights of citizens.
He particularly emphasised that engagements involving diplomatic number plates must be handled with appropriate courtesy and in accordance with applicable diplomatic protocols.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, has rolled out a short television campaign series titled Tinubu Aviation Revolution Series to showcase the achievements of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration in the aviation sector ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The initiative marks one of the first campaign communication interventions by Keyamo following his appointment as Director of the Directorate of Air Transport Mobilisation under the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council (APC PCC).
The directorate is responsible for coordinating and facilitating air transportation for authorised campaign activities in support of President Tinubu’s re-election bid.
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Demonstrating his commitment to the new assignment, Keyamo swiftly mobilised his team to produce a 30-second television campaign material highlighting the administration’s achievements in the aviation sector.
The campaign material, which has been fully paid for, is scheduled to commence airing on November 1, 2026, across major television stations. The broadcasts are expected to continue until a few days before the presidential election.
According to a press release issued on Saturday by Tunde Moshood, Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister, the Tinubu Aviation Revolution Series is designed to present a concise, compelling and accessible account of the transformation of the aviation sector under the Tinubu administration.
Through the short-format television production, the campaign seeks to bring the government’s aviation record directly to the voting public, highlighting the sector’s progress and its contribution to national development.
The statement noted that aviation serves as a critical driver of economic growth, tourism, trade, investment and international connectivity.
It added that the series is intended to draw attention to the sector’s role in advancing the Renewed Hope Agenda and encourage an informed public assessment of the administration’s performance.
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