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RSG To End Malaria Scourge By 2020 …Plans Peace, Reconciliation Initiative For Communities
Rivers State joined the rest of the world to celebrate the World Malaria Day yesterday with the aim of becoming a malaria-free state by the year 2020.
Speaking to newsmen, the Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Health, Mrs Caroline Wali, revealed that the prevalence rate for malaria in the state was 7.2% while the national average was 45 per cent, stating that the state had made significant progress in malaria control in recent times despite the challenges.
With the year’s theme, “End Malaria for Good, what is your role, Wali said this year’s theme speaks to everybody to do a re-assessment of their roles in a bid for a malaria-free Rivers State.
Every citizen of the state has a role to play to eliminate malaria in the state, Wali revealed saying that Nigeria accounted for 32 per cent of the global annual estimate of 627,000 malaria deaths, which is approximately about 200,640 deaths and stressed the need not to downplay the negative impact of the disease.
In her words, “ today, we join the rest of the world to celebrate their success stories and the various strides made in the various intervention areas, and also remind all stakeholders of the commitment to achieving the target of providing, at least, 80 percent of targeted population with appropriate preventive measures by 2020.
The permanent Secretary further urged all partners and stakeholders to rise to the occasion of playing their roles, saying ‘ be an advocate for malaria eradication by playing your roles of sleeping under the insecticide treated net, taking intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) during pregnancy, get tested and treated at the first signs of malaria, treat malaria with Arteminsinin Combination Therapy (ACT) and maintain a clean environment”.
In his opening remarks at the grand finale of the celebration at the Rivers State College of Health Science and Technology, the Director, Public Health in the ministry, Dr Nnanna Onyekwere noted that so much resources had been spent on malaria eradication, expressing optimism that Nigerian and indeed, Rivers State would achieve the set target by the year 2020.
Onyekwere said the health personnel alone can not make this happen. It requires the concerted efforts of everyone to achieve this target, and so we all must play our roles.
Meanwhile the member representing Opobo/Nkoro constituency in the Rivers State House of assembly, Hon Adonye Diri, has regretted that despite government investments in healthcare sector, recent statistics show that Rivers State has been listed as one of the malaria endemic states in Nigeria.
He stated this during the celebration of World Malaria Day in Port Harcourt, yesterday. Diri said the world malaria day which is observed globally ever April 25, as part of efforts to control the malaria scourge should be seen as an opportunity to eliminate the epidemic in the state.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Government says it would partner for a state-wide reconciliation programme with a view to ensuring genuine and lasting peace in the state.
Special Adviser to the state Governor on Conflict Resolution, Chief Okori Abelekum disclosed this yesterday in Port Harcourt at the Mediation and Community Reconciliation workshop for community leaders in conflict affected communities in the state.
Abelekum, said that the new vision programme of the present administration was to ensure a peaceful state where everybody will live in peace.
The Special Adviser also stressed the need for the people to key into the vision of the administration by making their contributions towards the development of the state.
According to him, the workshop, which has the theme, ‘ Mediation and Reconciliation” was aimed at building local capacities for peace-building, indentifying the root causes of conflicts and enabling community leaders to activiely play their role of building sustainable peace in society.
Lady Godknows Ogbulu & Susan Serekara-Nwikhana
The ECOWAS Parliament has adopted a budget of 19,636,030 Units of Account (UA) (26 million dollars) for the 2026 fiscal year, and announced plans to commemorate its 25th anniversary in November.
The Speaker of the Parliament, Hadjia Memounatou Ibrahima, who announced this, said the development followed the recent conclusion of its 2025 Second Extraordinary Session in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
She said the budget was adopted by the Parliament during plenary, stressing that, beyond being a mere accounting act, it was the engine of parliament’s commitment to West Africans.
”It will enable us to carry out our priority missions, including implementing the conclusions of the seminar on AI, while ensuring virtuous and transparent management of public funds entrusted to us.
”This budget represents a five per cent increase compared to the 2025 fiscal year budget, reflecting an upward adjustment of UA 939,233 from last year’s UA 18,996,897.
”Out of the budget of UA 19,636,030 for 2026, the sum of UA19, 368,394 representing 98.64 per cent is expected to be financed through the proceeds from the Community Levy, while UA257,636, equivalent to 1.36 per cent, will accrue from other sources,” Ibrahima said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ECOWAS Community Levy is a mandatory 0.5 per cent tax imposed on goods imported into ECOWAS member states from non-ECOWAS countries.
Member states are under statutory obligation to pay the community levy, which is the main source of funding for ECOWAS institutions and their activities.
Ibrahima, however, expressed dismay that some members of the community were still defaulting on the payment of the levy, and warned that, going forward; such would be met with sanctions.
She also said that the commemoration of its 25th anniversary in November would highlight the ECOWAS Parliament’s achievements in deepening regional democracy, cooperation and growth, amid formidable challenges.
The Speaker described the forthcoming anniversary as “a chance to showcase resilience and chart a more innovative, youth-focused future for the community”.
The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has begun the celebration of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary with a Juma’at service where prayers were offered for the progress of the state and Nigeria.
Governor Fubara, who advocated for peace and unity of Nigeria during the prayers on Friday at the Rivers State Central Mosque, Port Harcourt, indicated that without peace, the accelerated development of Nigeria will remain in a limbo.
Governor Fubara, who was represented by Alhaji Abdurrazaq Diepriye, therefore urged citizens to remain patriotic.
According to him, “Allah has brought us this far. Without peace, we can not have progress and economic development. I call on all citizens irrespective of creed or tribe to remain patriotic.”
He thanked President Bola Tinubu for restoring peace in Rivers State while also using the forum to appreciate security agencies for their relentless effort in upholding the peace and unity of Rivers State and Nigeria.
The Chief Imam of Rivers State Central Mosque, Imam Ibrahim Yaloo, admonished Moslem faithful to always speak the truth, adding that those who obey Allah will be directed to good deeds and their sins forgiven.
Prayers were offered for Rivers State and Nigeria.
Other activities to mark the 65th Independence anniversary in the state include an Inter-denominational Church Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, 28th September and Parade Ceremony on Wednesday, 1st October.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima departed New York on Sunday after representing President Bola Tinubu at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
In a statement released on Sunday by the VP media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President is now headed to Germany, where he will hold strategic meetings with officials of Deutsche Bank.
The statement read, “Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed New York, United States, after successfully representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
“During his participation at UNGA 80, VP Shettima secured UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ commendation for Nigeria’s bid for a permanent UN Security Council seat.
“He also showcased Nigeria’s $200 billion energy transition opportunity to global investors and strengthened strategic partnerships with the UK on trade, defence, and migration issues.”
Nkwocha added that the VP delivered Tinubu’s national statement, calling for UN reforms and a permanent seat for Nigeria at the UN Security Council, and “demanded Africa’s control over its $700 billion mineral wealth, and digital inclusion initiatives.”
“He also engaged with the Gates Foundation on healthcare and education expansion, positioning Nigeria as the natural hub for the African Continental Free Trade Area’s $3.4 trillion market.
“VP Shettima was seen off at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, by cabinet Ministers who were part of the UNGA 80 delegation and Nigerian Mission officials.”
The aide noted that Shettima will return to Nigeria immediately after his engagements in Germany.
The Tide source recalls that the VP departed Abuja, yesterday.
He led other Nigerian officials at the Assembly.
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