News
Minister Urges Nigerians To Donate Blood
The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, says 1.8 million units of blood are needed annually in the country to save lives, while calling on Nigerians with no health challenge to donate blood.
Adewole gave the figure last Wednesday at a news conference to mark the 2017 World Blood Donor Day.
The slogan of this year’s celebration is “What can you do? give blood. give now. give often”.
He said that the campaign underlined the role every single person could play in helping others during emergency situations by giving the valuable gift of blood.
“It also reinforces the message that it is important to give blood regularly, so that the blood stock is adequate before an emergency arises.
“Emergencies increase the demand for blood transfusion and make its delivery challenging and complex, adequate supplies of safe blood units during emergencies cannot be overemphasised.
“Our limited national data indicate that voluntary non-remunerated blood donation accounts for only 10 per cent of our total blood collection.
“Family replacement donations and commercial donations account for 30 and 60 per cent respectively,” he said.
Adewole said that the situation needed to be reversed as the nation moved toward the attainment of 100 per cent voluntary non- remunerated blood donation by the year 2020.
“We are creating the enabling environment for the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) to thrive.
“A draft bill for the establishment of a National Blood Service Commission is currently being prepared by my ministry for presentation to the Federal Executive Council as an executive bill.
“This will grant the NBTS the autonomy it requires to carry out its mandate in consonance with global best practices,” he said.
He added that regularisation of the appointments of core technical staff previously engaged on the programme was being pursued in order to ensure that relevant skills were available to optimize service delivery.
He said that the NBTS would thus have a proper mandate to provide safe, quality and adequate blood in an equitable and cost-effective manner to Nigerians.
The National Coordinator, National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS), Dr Oluwatoyin Smith said that low budgetary allocation was affecting NBTS operation.
According to Smith, cost implication for the procurement of adequate supplies of blood safety consumables for one quarter amounted to a total cost of N100,196,500.
She said that this brought the cost of one unit of blood to approximately N34,000 comprising mainly consumables and maintenance of cold chain.
“There is need to increase the Blood Access Fee from N2,000 to N5,000 per unit of screened blood particularly in the face of concomitant falling oil price,” she said.
The Acting Country Director, U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , Nigeria, Dr Omotayo Bolu said that every June 14, the organisation raised awareness and dispelled myths about blood donation.
“We should not wait until we have an emergency before donating, we should donate blood often.
“By donating blood, many lives are saved and hope is given to many whose situation might otherwise be hopeless.
“It also brings joy to many; you impact not only the patient whose life may depend on your donation, but also all those who depend on that patient,” she said.
President Bola Tinubu has expressed confidence that the country would win the fight against insecurity.
The President gave the assurance at the Argungu International Fishing Festival in Argungu town, Kebbi State, on Saturday.
He noted that the relative peace currently being enjoyed in Kebbi and neighbouring states was the result of sustained investments in security intelligence, coordination among security agencies, and community engagement.
Tinubu assured farmers and fishermen of sustained federal support to guarantee food security and safety across the country.
“The peace we are witnessing today is not accidental. It is the outcome of deliberate and sustained efforts. I assure you that the fight against banditry, insurgency, and insecurity will be won.
“Our farmers, fishermen, traders, and families will go about their lawful activities without fear,” he assured.
The President commended the organisers of the festival for sustaining the cultural event for decades, noting that it had endured for 83 years despite social and security challenges.
Describing the Argungu festival as a powerful symbol of unity, resilience, and peaceful coexistence, Tinubu stated that it reflects the richness of the country’s culture and the opportunities to harness its natural and human resources for national growth.
He said, “Today, this festival stands as a powerful symbol of unity, resilience, and peaceful coexistence among our people.
“It reflects the richness of our culture, the strength of our traditions, and the opportunities inherent in harnessing our natural and human resources for national development.”
The President was received by a large crowd of residents, traditional rulers, fishermen, tourists, and government officials from across the country.
The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to youth and women empowerment, irrigation development, rural electrification, and agricultural productivity.
Earlier, the Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, said his administration was determined to elevate the Argungu Fishing Festival to full international standards while pursuing aggressive development across critical sectors of the state.
The United States Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will be closed today, in observance of Presidents’ Day.
The mission made this known in a notice shared on its official X page, yesterday.
“The U.S. Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will be closed on Monday, February 16, 2026, in observance of Presidents’ Day,” the post read.
According to the embassy, Presidents’ Day was originally established to honour the birthday of the former US President, George Washington, but has evolved into a day to celebrate all U.S. presidents and their leadership in shaping the country’s history.
The embassy noted that the holiday also recognises the influence of U.S. presidents on global affairs.
In a related message, the mission highlighted that Washington created the first “Badge of Military Merit,” which later became the Purple Heart. The medal still bears Washington’s image today.
Presidents’ Day is observed on the third Monday of February annually in the United States as a federal holiday.
News
Guterres Backs Nigeria’s Bid For UN Security Council Seat …Hails Tinubu’s Reforms, Regional Security Role
United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has charged Nigeria with spearheading Africa’s quest for a restructured global order, describing the country as uniquely positioned to lead the continent toward superpower status.
Guterres, who backed Nigeria’s bid for the world body’s security council seat, also praised the economic reforms of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration as well as Nigeria’s leadership in stabilising the Sahel and ECOWAS regions, despite facing its own security challenges.
The UN scribe made the remarks last Friday night during a high-level bilateral meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima on the sidelines of the 39th African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Speaking during the meeting, Guterres said Nigeria’s large population, sustained democratic governance, vast natural and human resources, and longstanding commitment to multilateralism placed it in a unique position to lead Africa in the evolving global order.
“Given Nigeria’s demographic strength, democratic continuity and deep resource base, the country stands a real chance of leading Africa to becoming the next superpower in the evolving global architecture,” he said.
The UN Secretary-General and the vice president discussed key developments in Nigeria and the country’s expanding leadership role in promoting regional stability across West Africa and the Sahel.
Guterres commended the remarkable and outstanding reforms of the administration of President Tinubu, noting that Nigeria’s bold economic restructuring and security commitments have strengthened its continental standing.
The meeting focused on strengthening Nigeria–UN collaboration to advance global economic growth, peace and security, sustainable development, and a coordinated humanitarian response across Africa.
In his remarks, Shettima thanked the UN Secretary-General for his leadership in advancing global peace, noting that Africa has benefited immensely from his tenure, even as the United Nations undergoes internal restructuring.
“We remain committed to multilateralism and to deepening our partnerships with the United Nations and other global institutions,” the vice president said.
Shettima also reiterated Nigeria’s longstanding call for comprehensive reform of the United Nations system to reflect evolving global realities.
He emphasised that Africa must have stronger representation in global decision-making structures and declared that Nigeria deserves a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.
Both leaders pledged to deepen cooperation, with Guterres reaffirming the UN’s support for Nigeria’s reform agenda and its growing leadership role in advancing peace, security, and development across Africa.
