By Stella Kabruk

The Kaduna State Primary Health Care Development Agency has renewed its call for residents to collect their second jab of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

Dr Hamza Abubakar, Executive Secretary of the agency made the call while addressing newsmen on Wednesday in Kaduna.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the State Government confirmed it received 180,000 doses of the vaccine for frontline health workers, essential staff and those covered in Phase 1.

He said the vaccination was ongoing in the state and residents who collected the first dose should endeavor to collect the second one irrespective of the date written in their cards.

“We are appealing to residents to endeavor to collect second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

” We are experiencing low turnout for the second dose of the vaccines.

” If you have collected the first dose and is up to six weeks, you are due for the second dose.

” We have started giving the dose and we are in the fourth week now. Remember vaccination is for the prevention of COVID-19.

” We urged you all to go to the centre where you received the first dose for the second dose,“he said.

Abubakar further stated that the state has enough vaccines to cover for everyone that had received the first dose and is free of charge.

NAN also reports that the state Government was also planning to secure one million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine for its residents.

In February, the State Government signed an MoU with a medical delivery firm, Zipline, to use a drone for the shipment of the vaccines.

Abubakar assured that the vaccines are available in all primary health care facilities in the state.

He urged residents to disregard the myth surrounding the vaccine, adding that the vaccine was safe.

“Nobody should deceive you that the vaccine has effect on human body, the vaccine has undergone clinical trial and it is safe.

“I have received my second dose of the vaccine, I am appealing to the people of this state to make themselves available for the vaccine.

Also Speaking, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina Mohammed-Baloni urged residents to comply by taking the second dose.

She commended the people of the state for their role in helping to reduce infection rates in recent days and urged them to continue to observe the necessary precautions. (NAN)

==========

Edited and published by Sani Idris

===========

Senate denies receiving N37 billion to renovate leaky NASS building

Samson Toromade

June 23, 2021 5:23 PM

Senate says lawmakers are not responsible for the maintenance of the building.

Nigerian senators insist the complex deserves to be renovated [Tope Brown]

The Senate has dismissed claims that it renovated the National Assembly complex with N37 billion, claiming instead that one kobo has not been released.

RECOMMENDED ARTICLES

President Muhammadu Buhari had in 2019 approved the sum for the renovation of the complex as part of the 2020 budget of the Federal Capital Development Administration which owns the building.

Many Nigerians kicked against the allocation as excessive, but the subject resurfaced on Tuesday, June 22, 2021 after a leaky roof caused the lobby of the complex to be waterlogged.

Cleaners were pictured scooping water from the floor into buckets, images that were received with scorn and mockery by many Nigerian commenters.

National Assembly complex lobby being mopped after the roof leaked rainwater [Punch]

Senate spokesperson, Ajibola Basiru, said in a statement after plenary on Wednesday, June 23 that lawmakers are not responsible for the maintenance of the building.

"While it is true that an initial appropriation of the above stated sum was made due to the decaying nature of the National Assembly Complex which has not witnessed any major maintenance or overhauling since construction, the said amount was reduced to N9 billion after the breakout of COVID-19 pandemic.

"Even with this reduction, the sum of N9 billion or any amount is yet to be cash backed or released to the National Assembly.

"None of this amount is even appropriated for the National Assembly bureaucracy or its leadership," he said.

While speaking during Wednesday's plenary, Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, lamented that the complex has not been upgraded in over 20 years.

The 62-year-old said Tuesday's leak incident is a vindication of the National Assembly leadership's well-intentioned effort to renovate the complex.

"If this complex leaks, the interpretation is we're not holding our democracy with the respect it deserves.

"This symbol of democracy must be protected.

"This house is the house of Nigerians, not members of the National Assembly," he said.

The Senate President called on the press to inform the public responsibly.

twitter.com