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Nigeria Governors’ Forum unveils health security scorecard to monitor states’ preparedness for outbreaks
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum, in collaboration with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Bank, and Resolve to Save Lives Nigeria, has introduced a Health Security Scorecard. This tool aims to enhance the monitoring of states' readiness for infectious disease outbreaks and other public health emergencies. Unveiled at a workshop in Abuja, the initiative is seen by health experts and development partners as crucial for identifying gaps in state-level health security systems and guiding evidence-based interventions. Dr. Ahmad Abdulwahab, Executive Director of Programme Partnership at the NGF Secretariat, stated that the scorecard provides a unified framework for evaluating health security governance across all 36 states. He emphasized that true health security is built from the ground up, with subnational execution and accountability being fundamental for epidemic preparedness, detection, and response. The scorecard integrates key health security indicators into a single assessment tool, helping governors monitor progress, identify gaps, and strengthen accountability. Dr. Nanlop Ogburuke, Executive Director of Resolve to Save Lives Nigeria, highlighted that the scorecard will strengthen disease preparedness, prevention, and response at the subnational level, enabling states to evaluate their current preparedness and guide future policy decisions. Dr. Oyeladun Okunromade of the NCDC added that the workshop aimed to identify gaps in state health security
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Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has advised Nigerians not to support former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the 2027 presidential election, accusing him of ethnic politics. Lawal made these comments during a telephone interview, reacting to a controversy surrounding the African Democratic Congress ADC governorship ticket in Adamawa State. He alleged that Atiku was attempting to replace the party’s governorship candidate, Suleiman Omar, with Tukur Modibbo, claiming Atiku's politics are ethnically motivated. In response, Atiku Abubakar, through his media aide Phrank Shaibu, denied the allegations, calling them false and baseless. The statement asserted that Atiku had no involvement in any plot to replace the ADC governorship candidate in Adamawa State, and that those behind the claims were uncomfortable with the party's growing unity. The statement urged party members and the public to disregard what it termed "malicious propaganda," emphasizing the ADC's commitment to due process and internal democracy.
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