News

Rwanda Achieves Who’s September Global Target As 10% of Population is Vaccinated

Published

4 years ago

September 24, 2021

Eric

By Dolapo Aina

Rwanda has fully vaccinated ten percent of its population against COVID19, reaching the September 2021 global target set by the World Health Organization which is aimed at widening vaccination and aiding to mitigate and curtail the spread of the corona virus pandemic.

Dr Salla Ndoungou Ba, World Health Organisation’s Representative in Rwanda made this statement and stated in her own words; “Rwanda has been a model of good practice in the region since the beginning of its vaccination programme in March 2021. I congratulate the Government of Rwanda and its partners for their sustained effort to protect the people of Rwanda against COVID-19.”

In May 2021, WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, set the global target of ten percent of the populations of all countries to be vaccinated by the end of September 2021; forty percent by the end of December 2021; and seventy percent by middle of the year 2022. According to the WHO; “The global targets have been set to reach critical milestones in countries’ COVID-19 vaccine responses. Ten percent of the population inoculated/vaccinated should offer protection to the most vulnerable; forty percent should keep priority populations such as health care workers, older people, and people with comorbidities safe. Whilst seventy percent will reopen societies and economies. Furthermore, it is only fourteen countries on the African Continent who have achieved the first target and three countries have achieved forty percent target.

Figures gathered reveal that Rwanda has received circa 3.4 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines. 1.1 million of these vaccines came from COVAX Facility, one hundred and eight thousand doses from the Africa Centres for Disease Control’s Africa Vaccine Acquisition Trust; and 2.1 million from bilateral agreements. And ff these, it has administered 3.3 million doses; thereby fully vaccinating ten percent of the country’s thirteen million people.

In a related development, the cabinet meeting which was held on 21^st September 2021, reviewed existing health measures to contain the covid19 and new measures which included prohibited movements in the city of Kigali between 11pm to 4am were approved.

News

Appeal Court Affirms Ruling Barring VIO from Impounding Vehicles, Fining Motorists

Published

16 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Eric

The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Thursday upheld the judgment that stopped the Directorate of Road Traffic Services and Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) from seizing vehicles or imposing fines on motorists.

In a unanimous decision by a three-member panel, the appellate court found no basis to set aside the Federal High Court’s ruling of October 16, 2024, which restrained the VIO from harassing motorists.

The appeal filed by the VIO was dismissed for lacking merit. Justice Oyejoju Oyewumi delivered in the lead judgment.

The high court had earlier ruled, in a judgment by Justice Nkeonye Maha, that no law authorizes the VIO to stop motorists, impound vehicles, or impose penalties for alleged traffic offences.

The case arose from a fundamental rights suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/1695/2023) filed by lawyer Abubakar Marshal.

Marshal informed the court that VIO officials stopped him at Jabi in Abuja on December 12, 2023, and seized his vehicle without lawful reason. He asked the court to determine whether their actions violated his rights.

Justice Maha agreed and ordered the VIO and its agents not to impound vehicles or impose fines on motorists, describing the actions as unlawful. She held that only a court can impose fines or sanctions.

She ruled that the VIO’s conduct breached the applicant’s constitutional right to property under Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution and Article 14 of the African Charter. She further held that the VIO has no legal authority to seize vehicles or penalize motorists, as doing so infringes on rights to fair hearing, movement and presumption of innocence.

Although Marshal, represented by Femi Falana, SAN, requested ₦500 million in damages and a public apology, the court awarded ₦2.5 million.

The Directorate of Road Traffic Services, its Director, its Abuja Area Commander at the time (identified as Mr. Leo), team leader Solomon Onoja, and the FCT Minister were listed as respondents.

They appealed the decision, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal.

News

Tinubu Nominates Ibas, Dambazau, Enang, Ohakim As Ambassadors

Published

20 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Eric

President Bola Tinubu has nominated Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, the immediate past sole administrator of Rivers State and a former Chief of Naval Staff, as a non-career ambassador.

Tinubu also nominated Ita Enang, a former senator; Chioma Ohakim, former First Lady of Imo State; and Abdulrahman Dambazau, former Minister of Interior and ex-Chief of Army Staff, as non-career ambassadors.

News

Senate Confirms Chris Musa As New Defence Minister

Published

2 days ago

December 3, 2025

Eric

The Nigerian Senate has confirmed General Christopher Musa, the former Chief of Defence Staff, as the country’s new Minister of Defence.

The announcement was contained in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu.

Musa, who retired from the military just 40 days ago, was nominated by President Tinubu on Tuesday to succeed former Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, who stepped down on health grounds.

According to Onanuga’s statement, the Senate approved Musa’s appointment on Wednesday through a voice vote, following a thorough screening session during which lawmakers posed numerous questions.

“Senate confirms Gen. Christopher Musa as Minister of Defence The Senate has confirmed the former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, as the Minister of Defence. The Senate confirmed Musa on Wednesday via a voice vote after a rigorous screening session in which lawmakers asked him many questions,” the statement read in part.