News

19 parties sign accord to ensure peaceful 2027 elections in Kogi

Published

3 weeks ago

September 8, 2026

Nineteen political parties in Kogi State have signed a peace accord ahead of the 2027 general elections in the state.

An engagement between the Inter-Consultative Committee on Election Security and political parties, held at the Kogi State Police Command Headquarters in Lokoja on Tuesday, saw representatives of 19 parties sign the peace accord to ensure a peaceful electoral environment in the state.

Under the agreement, the parties and their candidates are to base their campaigns on policies, programmes, manifestos and issues affecting the people of Kogi State for the overall development of the state.

Some of the parties that participated in the peace accord included the All Progressives Congress (APC), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Action Alliance (AA) and others.

The political parties also rejected the use of sponsorship or mobilisation of individuals and groups for electoral violence, intimidation, threats or disruption of political activities, and agreed to take reasonable steps to ensure that their supporters and campaign organisations conduct themselves peacefully throughout the electoral process.

The parties also committed themselves to respecting the independence and lawful functions of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other institutions responsible for administering and securing elections.

They therefore promised to cooperate with electoral and security authorities to ensure peaceful elections while exercising restraint in public statements, speeches, broadcasts and social media communications.

The accord also rejected the deliberate circulation of false information, inflammatory messages, threats or other content capable of provoking violence or undermining public confidence in the electoral process. The parties agreed to respect the rights of rival political parties and candidates to campaign and participate in the electoral process without obstruction, harassment, threats or unlawful interference.

The parties also committed to protecting the rights of eligible citizens to participate freely in elections without intimidation, coercion, harassment or discrimination, saying that no party, candidate or supporter shall unlawfully interfere with a voter’s freedom to choose a candidate of their preference.

The parties agreed to respect lawful procedures for the announcement and declaration of results after the election, pointing out that any candidate or party dissatisfied with an electoral decision should seek redress through available legal and constitutional mechanisms rather than resorting to violence or self-help.

The commitment, according to the parties, would continue beyond the declaration of results, with all political actors expected to discourage retaliation, reprisal attacks, destruction of property and other forms of post-election violence.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by officials of the Kogi State Police Command, INEC, representatives of other security agencies, civil society and election observer groups, as well as religious institutions.

The stakeholders urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to uphold the spirit of the accord in the interest of peace and credible elections in the state.

Health

FG targets 70% local production of essential medicines by 2030

Published

4 hours ago

September 29, 2026

PlateauReports

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, and other stakeholders at the 8th Nigeria Pharma Manufacturers Expo, organised by the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMG-MAN).

Keywords: pharmaceutical manufacturing, Iziaq Salako, medicine security, local production, healthcare value chain, pharmaceuticals, PVAC

The federal government is targeting at least 70 per cent local production of essential healthcare products by 2030 as part of efforts to strengthen medicine security and reduce the country’s dependence on imports.

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, disclosed this on Monday in Lagos while declaring open the 8th Nigeria Pharma Manufacturers Expo, organised by the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMG-MAN).

The expo, themed “Regional Manufacturing: Advancing Africa’s Pharma and Life-Science Sovereignty through Localisation,” brought together stakeholders in Nigeria’s pharmaceutical and life-sciences sector.

$2bn financing, tariff relief for drug makers

Mr Salako said the government’s Presidential Initiative to Unlock the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC) had secured about $2 billion in financing commitments at single-digit interest rates, with about 50 Nigerian health firms in advanced discussions for funding.

He said the government was also using fiscal measures to support local pharmaceutical manufacturing, noting that 87 local manufacturers were benefiting from a presidential executive order granting zero tariffs on pharmaceutical machinery, active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and excipients across almost 1,000 Harmonised System codes.

According to him, the measures are intended to strengthen domestic manufacturing and build greater resilience into Nigeria’s healthcare supply chain.

From imports to domestic capacity

Speaking further, Mr Salako said disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic had exposed the risks associated with dependence on global supply chains and underscored the need for Nigeria and other African countries to develop domestic capacity to produce medicines, vaccines, diagnostics and other essential health technologies.

“Our conversation can no longer be limited to whether we can access medicines when global supply chains are functioning,” he said.

Mr Salako described medicine security as an issue of national resilience and sovereignty, saying Nigeria needed to develop capacity across the pharmaceutical value chain rather than concentrate on final-product assembly.

He said ongoing government efforts include expanding local production of APIs, vaccines, biologics, diagnostics and other health commodities.

Mr Salako also cited the operationalisation of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) API Capacity Building and Concept Production Centre, development of commercial API manufacturing capacity and efforts to localise production of HIV, hepatitis and syphilis diagnostic products.

He said Nigeria must also increase investment in research and development and harness its phytomedicinal resources to deepen pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Predictable market for local manufacturers

Mr Salako said the establishment of Medipool, Nigeria’s national Group Purchasing Organisation for essential medicines and medical commodities, would help create predictable demand for locally manufactured products.

He said the organisation would aggregate procurement, negotiate bulk purchases and improve supply-chain efficiency.

READ ALSO: FG seeks action on harmful gender norms to improve adolescent health

In addition, he also urged pharmaceutical manufacturers, researchers, investors and development partners to explore regional markets under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

He said Nigeria’s pharmaceutical manufacturing ambitions would depend on sustained investment, innovation, regulatory alignment and access to larger regional markets.

Mr Salako said stronger collaboration among government, manufacturers, researchers, investors and development partners would be necessary to build a more resilient pharmaceutical manufacturing ecosystem in Nigeria and across Africa.

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News

U.S. vows to protect Christians in Nigeria against genocide

Published

6 hours ago

September 29, 2026

PlateauReports

Bureau of African Affairs [Credit: U.S. Department of State: Bureau of African Affairs Via Facebook]

The United States has commended Nigeria’s response to a series of attacks against Christians in the country, vowing to support efforts to protect them from genocide.

In a social media post on Monday, the Bureau of African Affairs said it would continue to work with President Bola Tinubu’s administration to protect Christians in the Middle Belt.

“The United States commends Nigeria’s strong response to the latest attacks from Fulani militant groups. We will continue to work with the Nigerian government to protect Christians in the Middle Belt,” it said.

It urged Nigeria to maintain the momentum and defend the Barkin Ladi communities in particular.

This came shortly after a series of terrorist attacks in Plateau and other North-Central states, which have suffered repeated attacks by jihadist groups.

Peoples Gazette had documented how gunmen killed residents and others in several communities across Plateau and neighbouring states in the Middle Belt.

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