Malaria: Akpabio Seeks UN Intervention in Vaccine Production

Ndubuisi Francis and Oghenevwede Ohwovoriole in Abuja

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has appealed to the United Nations (UN) to consider lending the necessary support for the production of malaria vaccine to save millions of people dying from malaria-related diseases every year in Africa.

The minister’s appeal was conveyed when Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Prof. Tijjani Bande, paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja yesterday.

Akpabio, who explained that Africa had long been tagged as the ‘white man’s graveyard’ due to the devastating effect of malaria disease has been neglected for the last fifty years of medical advancement while COVID-19 has attracted so much attention.

He said: “The healthcare delivery system is a major issue within the region and in Africa. Malaria kills millions of people every year more than COVID-19.”

He said his ministry would be very glad to partner the UN in the area of Climate change, Environmental issues, Social inclusion, empowerment programmes and education to reduce the effect of underdevelopment occasioned by continuous oil exploration and degradation in the region.

He stressed that the federal government was carrying out the Ogoni clean-up with the support of the international oil companies (IOCs) and the international community.

He therefore, appealed to the UN for intervention in other areas of the region affected by oil exploration and the attendant oil spillage.

Responding, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative Bande stated that Nigeria remains a great country, noting that what happens in the Niger Delta region was a reflection of what happens in Nigeria as a whole.

He stated that issues relating to the region were crucial and that the region should be provided with adequate health facilities, schools, empowerment programmes for youths and equally tackle environmental pollution as a result of oil exploration.

He explained that empowering the youths was planning for the future as it gives them hope and reduces insecurity.

In a related development Bande praised the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for its great impact on national development, applauding the scheme for the engagement of youths in the nation’s developmental strides as a well thought-out plan.

He made the remarks when he paid a courtesy visit on the NYSC Director-General, Brig- Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim, in his office, a statement issued by the NYSC

Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations, Emeka Mgbemena disclosed said.

According to the statement, Bande stressed that matters of youth development were central to the progress of any country, adding that Nigeria had through the NYSC demonstrated recognition of youths as critical assets.