Connect with us

News

Lagos state govt explains why N6k fee is necessary for COVID vaccine at private facilities

Published

on

Akin Abayomi, Lagos commissioner for health, has explained why the state fixed N6,000 as administration fee for persons who want to receive the COVID vaccine at private facilities.

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, had announced the fee while flagging off the state’s mass vaccination exercise on October 27.

Giving the clarification in a statement issued yesterday, Abayomi said the government is working with the private sector as part of efforts to ensure that the vaccination process covers those who prefer not to receive the vaccine at public facilities.

“The State Government, through the Primary Health Care Board, does not have the capacity alone to ramp up vaccination to this massive level in such a short time and before the deadline, hence the need to include the private sector,” the statement reads.

“The public private partnership is similar to the strategy we deployed for escalating our COVID-19 testing which resulted in a dramatic increase in testing done in Lagos from an average of 200 a day to over 2,000 a day culminating in a total of 800,000 tests in less than a year and Lagos State accounting for more than 30% alone of all COVID-19 PCR tests done in Nigeria. This demonstrates the power of public private partnerships, with the inclusion of the significant capacity of the private sector but government retaining strict regulatory oversight and quality function.

“With this approach, we intend to ramp up our vaccination strategy using the existing public facilities as well as inclusion of some private facilities. It is imperative to emphasise that the vaccines administered in public facilities is free and would remain free to the public as they were contributed to us by the Federal Government and our donor partners, those wishing to receive the vaccines can go to any of the designated 206 government facilities and receive their dose totally free of charge.

“However, those that wish to receive the vaccines within the comforts of a private facility can do so at a minimal administrative cost of N6,000 for two doses which covers the cost that the private sector will incur to facilitate the administration of the vaccine which includes logistics, personnel, quality oversight, administrative and overhead costs.

“The cost will be proportionally lower for single dose or those wishing to take a single booster dose.”

Persons who wish to receive the vaccine at public facilities are expected to register here, while those who want to visit private vaccination sites can book their slots here.

News

Internal Security: Police EOD Recovers Explosives, Prevents Calamity In Borno

Published

on

By

As IGP Commends Officers, Assures of Continuous Strides in Ensuring Safety, Security

The Nigeria Police Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit has again successfully recovered unexploded military ordnances in Maiduguri on 22nd November 2024, following reports from vigilant residents.

Acting swiftly, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal – Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) team was deployed to secure the affected areas.

All ordnances were safely evacuated without any loss of life, injury, or property damage, and normalcy has been restored.

In the Dala Kacchallah area, the operatives recovered six (6) unexploded projectiles and one (1) mortar bomb near an uncompleted building.

Reports indicate that the items, washed ashore by recent flooding, were abandoned by local scavengers. Similarly, at the Gwange Riverbank, a military hand grenade was discovered.

In both instances, the EOD-CBRN team safely removed the ordnances, declared the areas safe, and conducted explosive risk awareness campaigns to sensitize residents.

Commending the professionalism and prompt response of the EOD-CBRN Unit, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D, NPM has assured Nigerians of the Force’s commitment to ensuring public safety and security.

The IGP also noted that the EOD team in Borno State has been consistent in responsiveness and professionalism in preventing series of calamities as many IEDs have been safely recovered in many instances within the state. Investigations are ongoing to trace the origins of the recovered items and to prevent future occurrences.

The Inspector-General of Police urges members of the public to refrain from handling suspicious objects and to promptly report such discoveries to the police.

The Nigeria Police Force remains steadfast in its mandate to protect lives and property across Maiduguri and its environs.

ACP OLUMUYIWA ADEJOBI, mnipr, mipra, fCAI
FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
FORCE HEADQUARTERS, ABUJA

23RD NOVEMBER, 2024

Continue Reading

News

Fire guts LAUTECH teaching hospital

Published

on

By

Property worth millions of naira were on Saturday destroyed at the Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, as a result of a fire incident.

The incident, which happened around 5 am in a paediatric consultant’s office, affected electronic gadgets, engines, books, office equipment, roofs, and others worth millions of naira.

A credible source told our correspondent that the fire incident was suspected to have started from an electric spark.

It was learnt that about 16 patients had to be quickly rushed out of the ward.

However, in a statement sent to PUNCH Online in Ibadan, the state capital, on Saturday, the Public Relations Officer of the institution, Ogunleye Omotayo, said no life was lost in the fire incident.

The statement read, “The management of the institution wishes to state that the fire incident that occurred early this morning (Saturday), as carried by some news media, was put out without any remarkable damage to the hospital.

“Noting that no human damage was recorded in the incident, the management wishes to state that Investigation is still ongoing with regard to the cause of the incident.

“At the moment, light has been restored, and work activities have resumed in the section where the fire incident took place.

“The management wishes to thank all staff, the state Fire Service, and all other well-wishers for their concerns and prompt response. The fire incident raised no cause for alarm. Everyone is advised to go about their normal daily activities without fear.”

Continue Reading

News

Nothing wrong having a Christian as Alaafin of Oyo, says Oladigbolu

Published

on

By

Rahman Oladigbolu, a Nigerian filmmaker, says he sees no reason why the Alaafin of Oyo cannot be a Christian.

Two years ago, Lamidi Adeyemi, Alaafin of Oyo, died at the Afe Babalola Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, after battling an undisclosed illness.

He was 83 years old and had been on the throne for 52 years — the longest-reigning Nigerian monarch at the time.

Since his death, the throne has been vacant.

Speaking in an interview with Rudolf Okonkwo, Oladigbolu, a prince in the Oyo kingdom, said religion should not be a factor in the selection of the next Alaafin.

“In Oyo, where I came from, we are trying to select a new king. It has been the tradition for some decades that the Alaafin of Oyo will be a Muslim,” he said.

“Now, we have some Christians among the people vying for the position, and there are discussions about whether Oyo can have a Christian Oba. Of course, if you can have a Muslim Alaafin, I see no reason you can’t have a Christian Alaafin.

“The whole point should be to ensure that people would not be talking about religion in issues like this, but it is difficult because of the agenda of people wanting to impose their religion on others.

“So these are where all the problems still lie, and until we’re able to understand it, I don’t see how we can move forward.”

Oladigbolu said education and enlightenment are necessary to solve division caused by religion.

“It is only enlightenment that can carry people to the point where religious considerations no longer matter in societal affairs,” he said.

“When people are enlightened to the point where it doesn’t, then it won’t.

“But today, they still see each other from their religious prism because even the behavior of people that occupy positions in society gets influenced by religion.”

Continue Reading

Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

Most Read...