News
Adamawa Begins Mass Cattle Vaccination After Deadly Outbreak in Taraba
Veterinary officials in Adamawa State have commenced a large-scale vaccination campaign for cattle in several local government areas following the outbreak of a deadly disease that claimed the lives of over 1,000 cows in neighbouring Taraba State.
The vaccination initiative, which began over the weekend, is specifically targeting areas that share borders with Taraba State and the Republic of Cameroon, after the disease, identified as haemorrhagic septicemia, swept through Taraba, killing a significant number of livestock.
The Commissioner for Livestock and Aquaculture in Adamawa State, Tijjani Marksha, led a team of officials and veterinary doctors to Gongoshi, located in Mayo Belwa Local Government Area, to officially launch the vaccination drive.
During the event, Marksha recounted that the outbreak of the highly contagious disease, which primarily affects cattle, originated in Sardauna Local Government Area in Taraba State.
It has since spread to several other local government areas in Taraba, leading to an alarming number of cattle deaths.
To safeguard the livestock within Adamawa State, the Ministry of Livestock and Aquaculture has taken proactive measures by mobilizing all divisional veterinary officers and other relevant personnel to remain on high alert.
The ministry has also initiated an urgent mass vaccination exercise aimed at preventing the spread of the disease into Adamawa’s territory.
The Director of Veterinary Services in Adamawa, Dr Berthilimous Nyalas, revealed that the vaccination campaign will first focus on nine local government areas that are most at risk due to their proximity to Taraba and the Cameroon Republic.
These areas include Numan, Demsa, Lamurde, Toungo, Fufore, Maiha, Mubi North, Mubi South, and Mayo Belwa, where the vaccination program has already commenced.
Dr Nyalas explained that the selection of these specific LGAs for the first phase of the vaccination was strategic, as their geographical location makes them vulnerable to the spread of diseases from both neighbouring Taraba and Cameroon.
By prioritizing these border areas, the state government hopes to prevent an outbreak of haemorrhagic septicemia within Adamawa.
In a gesture of gratitude, Ardo Abfu Gajere, a leader representing the cattle owners in Gonhoshi, thanked the government on behalf of other livestock owners.
He noted that this vaccination initiative marks the first time the state government has proactively launched such a program without the cattle owners having to formally request assistance.
This, he said, demonstrates the government’s commitment to protecting the livelihoods of herders and ensuring the health of the state’s cattle population.
The mass vaccination effort underscores Adamawa State’s determination to curb the spread of the disease before it becomes a crisis within its borders, reflecting a coordinated approach to disease prevention in the livestock sector.
News
“You Can Still Have Subsidy Without Long Queues” — Rufai Oseni Speaks On Subsidy
TV anchor Rufai Oseni makes headlines as he speaks on fuel subsidy in Nigeria. He shared that Nigeria can have fuel subsidy without the long queues at filling stations.
“When we were still paying subsidies, there were no long queues. We were subsidising. So you can still have a subsidy regime going on, and there will be no long queues because production was close by. Dangote had it. That’s just it. That argument also falls flat.
“The biggest beneficiaries of subsidy are not Nigerians. They are crony capitalists that have big infrastructure, and they do contracts. They have been the biggest beneficiaries of the subsidy,” he said.
News
Sanwo-Olu Speaks on Lagos’ Power Challenges and the Need for Change
Lagos State Governor, Sanwo-Olu, speaks to those in the electricity sector about the usual blackouts in the state.
He speaks on ways things can change in the state and how electricity can be provided.
“We need to drop corporate egos, abandon long-standing excuses, and confront the harsh realities obstructing progress in the power sector.”
“We, state governments, used to give excuses that everything is centralised, so the Federal Government has unbundled it now. What have we done in a year and a half?” Sanwo-Olu asked.
“We take two steps forward, we go five steps backward,” he said.
News
Sanwo-Olu Declares August 20 Public Holiday in Lagos for Isese Festival
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has declared Thursday, August 20, a work-free day for public servants in the state to mark the Isese Festival.
Speaking on the celebration, he said “Ìṣẹ̀ṣe is not a relic. It is a living expression of our traditions and a celebration of Yoruba spirituality as an important part of Nigeria’s cultural and religious landscape,” he said.
He added “When the drums sound in Lagos on Thursday, they answer drums in Havana, in Salvador, in Port of Spain. Fifty-five million people and counting. Lagos is not observing a local holiday. Lagos is standing at the centre of a global heritage,” Aregbe said.
