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Nigeria faces $200m annual funding gap for immunisation
By Francesca Hangeior
Nigeria faces an annual funding gap of $200m for immunisation, Director General of the Budget Office, Dr. Tanimu Yakubu, revealed on Wednesday.
Speaking at the Multi-Stakeholders Technical Workshop for the Optimisation of Immunisation Financing in Nigeria, organised by the Vaccine Network for Disease Control in partnership with GAVI and the Global Health Advocacy Initiative, Yakubu emphasised the need for increased public sector funding to address the financial gaps in immunisation.
“Nigeria faces an annual funding gap of $200m out of the required $580m for immunisation. However, considering the public sector’s contribution of only $150m, the actual funding gap is more significant,” Yakubu said.
He noted that without international donors like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Global Health Advocacy Incubator, the gap would be $430m, highlighting the country’s reliance on external aid.
“I urge the public sector to increase its financial contribution to justify asking the private sector to do more,” Yakubu added.
The DG Budget Office also proposed legislation to mandate the public sector to achieve self-sufficiency in vaccine production, storage, and distribution logistics, aligning with the current administration’s goals of import substitution, medical industrialisation, and general industrialisation.
To address the funding gap, Yakubu recommended bridging the $200m deficit through increased public sector funding, prioritising the actual funding gap of $430m, and leveraging public-private partnerships to establish local vaccine production infrastructure.
“By taking these steps, we can ensure sustainable immunisation financing and protect our population from future pandemics,” he stressed.
The Chairman of the 9th Senate Committee on Health, Sen. Ibrahim Oloriegbe, has noted the importance of prioritising immunisation in Nigeria’s budget allocation.
Speaking at the event, Oloriegbe noted that “Immunisation is not only a health issue but also an economic and security issue. Investing in immunisation can save lives, reduce healthcare costs, and increase productivity.”
He highlighted the need to address the funding gap for immunisation, which currently stands at $200m, and proposed increasing funding for immunisation in the budget, exploring ways to increase revenue generation, and reactivating the bio-vaccine initiative to achieve self-sufficiency in vaccine production.
“Legislators have a critical role to play in ensuring that immunisation receives adequate funding. We must work together to prioritise immunisation and make it a national priority,” Oloriegbe said.
He also recommended removing counterpart funding for vaccines from the current supply chain and prioritising immunisation in budget allocation.
“Let’s work together to make immunisation a national priority and ensure that our citizens receive the necessary vaccines to prevent diseases,” Oloriegbe added.
Also speaking at the event, the Nigeria Coordinator for the Global Health Advocacy Incubator, Dr Emmanuel Hassan, stated that Nigeria is facing a critical vaccine immunisation financing crisis, with outstanding obligations from 2023 still unpaid and the 2024 payment due in June yet to be made.
Hassan urged decision-makers to take immediate action to settle the outstanding payments, emphasising the importance of prioritising health despite the country’s fiscal challenges.
“Health is a crucial aspect of our nation’s wealth, and immunisation is a key pathway to enhancing the health and well-being of all Nigerians,” Dr Hassan said.
The Deputy Chairman of the Senate Committee on Primary Health Care and Disease Control, Sen. Tony Nwoye, also called on the federal government to release counterpart funding for immunisation programmes to address the inadequate funding hindering Nigeria’s fight against vaccine-preventable diseases.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Kidnappers have killed a Nigerian Army non-commissioned officer, Abdulfatai Odutola, over a delay in ransom payment.
Recall that Odutola, a Senior Non-Commissioned Officer (SNCO), was abducted on February 15, 2025, along the Abuja-Jos highway.
He was reportedly travelling to Yola, the Adamawa State capital, at the time of the incident.
His kidnappers had demanded a ransom of N20 million for his release.
A military internal memo earlier obtained by SaharaReporters had read, “Pls information reaching me now from this sldr whisky that MWO Abdulfatai Odutola (CC 23 BDE Yola) was kidnapped yesterday along Abuja-Jos Road, while returning to Yola. He left Ilorin on Friday 14th of Feb 2025 and slept at Abuja. He continued his movement from Abuja yesterday b4 the incident happened to him.
“Currently they are demanding N20,000,0000 for his release. Pse appropriate authority should help the sldr.”
However, another internal memo revealed that the body of the senior personnel has been recovered.
“Information reaching us now from Yola is that the above MWO Abdulfatai Odutola’s body was discovered by police from Jos forest killed by his kidnappers after passing deadline for payment of 20 million naira ransom payment demanded by his kidnappers. Also his car was discovered. Kindly take action.”
SaharaReporters recently reported that Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists killed three army personnel during an attack on a military base in Borno State.
The terrorists reportedly attacked the military facility in Isige town, Gwoza Local Government Area, for several hours.
According to a source, the terrorists destroyed several buildings and stole two gun trucks during the assault.
“There was an attack recently in Borno, one Staff Sergeant with two private soldiers were killed. However, the army authorities are silent over the attack which happened at a base in Isige Town, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
“They burnt one military vehicle while they went away with two gun trucks, later reinforcement came from nearby unit but then the Boko Haram fighters have left,” the source said. (SaharaReporters: Text, Excluding Headline)
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Canada’s immigration authorities have clarified that seeking asylum does not provide an automatic exemption from immigration laws.
The Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) emphasised that individuals seeking asylum must demonstrate that returning to their home country would subject them to serious harm in order to avoid deportation.
The asylum system is designed to offer protection to those fleeing threats such as torture, persecution, and inhumane treatment.
IRCC has reiterated that the asylum process is not a shortcut to entering the country.
Applicants must provide verifiable evidence of persecution and undergo multiple checks, including medical examinations, biometric data collection, and security screenings.
The statement reads, “It is a rigorous process to determine whether you have a legitimate need for refugee protection according to Canadian and international laws. Our rules-based system will determine the validity of your claim. It’s important to understand that not all claims will be accepted. If you make an asylum claim in Canada, you will need to:
Have health, criminal, security and other background checks
Get a medical exam
Provide personal and biometric (photo and fingerprints) information
Provide concrete evidence of persecution and the risks of being in your home country
Declare on your application if you are working with a representative, even if you’re not paying them
“Providing false information on your refugee claim application is considered lying, and your application may be refused.
“You’ll be removed from Canada if you don’t have a legitimate claim or are not eligible to make a claim in Canada. It can take a long time to get a final decision on your asylum claim. There’s no guarantee that you will be allowed to stay in Canada.”
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Governor Ademola Adeleke has ordered restriction of vehicular movement from 5am to 5pm on Saturday 22nd February 2022 across Osun state.
The directive of the State Governor was sequel to the statewide local government elections that are scheduled to be held tomorrow across the state.
Governor Adeleke who reiterated his commitment to peace and security said the movement restriction is necessary to prevent importation of hoodlums into the state amidst local elections.
He therefore directed security agencies to enforce the restriction and only allow voters and accredited media and civil society organizations for the continued peace and security of Osun state.
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