The World Health Organization is recommending the widespread use of the world's first malaria vaccine, in what the UN health agency's chief described as a historic day for the decades-long battle against the deadly disease.
WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says the long-awaited malaria vaccine for children is a breakthrough for science, child health and malaria control.
WHO regional director for Africa Dr Matshidiso Moeti, says today's recommendation offers a glimmer of hope for the continent which shoulders the heaviest burden of the disease and they expect many more African children to be protected from malaria and grow into healthy adults.

The federal government accused some broadcast media organisations of lending their platforms to some disgruntled elements whose stock-in-trade is to promote hatred and disunity among Nigerians.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed says divisive and hate messages, as well as misinformation being peddled by certain broadcast media, constitute a great risk.
He called on broadcast organizations to continue to leverage their power and reach to foster national unity and development.

Anambra Governor, Willie Obiano says President Muhammadu Buhari has foreclosed a possible declaration of a state of emergency in Anambra State ahead of the November 6, 2021 governorship election in the state.
Obiana declared that the reported threat of a possible state of emergency in his state was not President Muhammadu Buhari’s idea.
The governor says he wondered why Malami had not mooted the idea of emergency rule in some Northern states, where he observed there had been a lot of killings.

President Muhammadu Buhari says that Nigerians have a right to be concerned about recent borrowings by the Federal Government.
He, however, stated that the debt level of the present administration was within sustainable limits.
The President says that the debt level of the Federal Government is still within sustainable limits. Borrowings are targeted at specific strategic projects and can be verified publicly.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar says where the president comes from has never been the solution to the series of problems facing the nation.
He stated that the next president can come from any region as the Peoples Democratic Party moves to reclaim power at the centre in 2023.
Atiku says the people of Nigeria also have the right to determine who governs them.
He added that where the president comes from has never been the problem of Nigeria neither will it be the solution.

President of Commonwealth Medical Association, Dr Osahon Enabulele, has emerged as the President-elect of the World Medical Association.
His emergence comes after almost one week of voting by participating medical associations from various countries across the world.
Dr Enabulele, a former President of the Nigerian Medical Association, takes over from Dr Heidi Stensmyren of Sweden as the President-elect of the association.
He vied for the position with Dr Muhammad Nizami, a Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and President of the Pakistan Medical Association.

The United Kingdom has reviewed its travel protocols for travellers from Nigeria who have taken their complete jabs of the COVID-19 vaccines approved by authorities in the country.
The revised policy applies to those who have been fully vaccinated with AstraZeneca (including Covidshield), Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson and Johnson vaccines.
The British High Commission in a statement says they must be able to prove that they have been fully vaccinated under a vaccination programme and have a valid proof of vaccination recognised by the British Government.
Acting British High Commissioner, Ben Llewellyn-Jones, described the changes to travel rules for fully-vaccinated Nigerians as a very welcome development.

President Muhammadu Buhari proposed a total budget of N16.39 trillion for the year 2022 to the National Assembly.
The President says the budget will focus on diversifying the economy, with robust MSME growth; investing in critical infrastructure; strengthening security and ensuring good governance; enabling a vibrant, educated and healthy populace; reducing poverty; and minimizing regional, economic and social disparities.
He also noted that the 2022 budget is the first time in Nigerian history where MDAs were clearly advised on gender-responsive budgeting.
The Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, says the National Assembly is committed to passing the budget before the end of the year.

Johnson & Johnson says it had submitted data to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for emergency use authorization of a booster shot of its COVID-19 vaccine in people aged 18 years and older.
J&J says its submission includes data from a late-stage study that found a booster of its vaccine given 56 days after the primary dose provided 94% protection against symptomatic COVID-19 in the United States and 100% protection against severe disease, at least 14 days after the booster shot.
The FDA has already authorized a booster dose of the vaccine developed by Pfizer Inc and partner BioNTech for 65-year olds and older, people at high risk of severe disease and others who are regularly exposed to the virus.

French President Emmanuel Macron says he hopes the diplomatic tension with Algeria will ease soon.
President Macron says he had cordial relations with his Algerian counterpart.
Algeria recalled its ambassador to Paris and closed its airspace to French military planes a day later after the French president made comments about the northern Africa country.
President Macron was quoted as saying the former French colony was ruled by a political-military system with an official history that was based not on truth, but on hatred of France.