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“Welfare Of Our Personnel Paramount To US”- Says IGP

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The Source
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Usman Baba Alkali - IGP

“A number of Inspectors and Other Ranks spoken to by this magazine, while thanking the IGP pleaded with him to monitor the distribution and issuance of the Uniforms to them, insisting they are usually compelled to either  buy them,  or bribe somebody before they are given”

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has ordered the immediate distribution of Police Uniforms, Kits and accoutrements which the Force recently procured, to various Zones, Commands and Formations in the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) for onward issuance to personnel of the Force.

The resuscitation of the quarterly issuance of uniforms and other accoutrements to members of the Inspectorate, Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) and Constable cadres in the Police Force is in furtherance of the ongoing efforts by the IGP to engender reforms and evolve a new people-friendly Police Force.

This was disclosed in a Press Release issued by Ag. Force Spokesperson, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.

The issuance of the new uniforms and accoutrements, which is a continuous exercise, is free of charge to all Inspectors and members of the Rank-and-File of the Force as provisions have been made for the continuous procurement in the Police budget.

The IGP therefore charged Police personnel to imbibe the habit of proper and clean turn-out in order to uphold sanctity, aura and professionalism of the noble profession as efforts are in top gear to continually improve on the condition of service of all personnel of the NPF across board.

However, a number of Inspectors and other Ranks who spoke to this magazine while thanking the IGP pleaded with him to monitor the distribution and issuance of the Uniforms to them, insisting that they are compelled to either buy them, or bribe somebody before they are given to them.

In the same vein, the IGP has approved the creation of First Aid Unit to be domiciled under the Nigeria Police Medical Service (NPMS), Force Headquarters, Abuja, and the inclusion of advanced First Aid Training to substitute the basic training available in the Nigeria Police Force Training Curriculum.

The Police, in partnership with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), is currently holding a train-the-trainers workshop starting from today 23rd through Friday 25th February, 2022, for personnel of the newly created unit, who would be deployed to all Commands and Formations across the nation, and in turn train cadets and recruits at the various Police training institutions.

The IGP equally noted that the establishment of the First Aid Unit would enhance the capacity of the Police Emergency Response System, reiterated the unwavering commitment of the Force leadership to bequeathing to the nation a professional, dependable and responsive policing system.

Okorocha Denies Evading Court Papers, Accuses EFCC Of Subverting Justice

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The Source
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Rochas Okorocha

By Charles Igbo

Former Governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha has denied evading to be served Court papers by a  Court  Bailiff.

Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, February 20, 2022, told  the Hon. Justice Inyang Ekwo, of an Abuja Federal High Court, that Okorocha has not been served because he has kept evading being served, using his security details to thwart such efforts.

The Senator was to be arraigned on Monday alongside others before the Hon. Justice Ekwo, but the Court was forced to adjourn the arraignment to March 28 because of Okorocha’s absence. All the other defendants were in Court.

But addressing the Press in Owerri  after a ceremony at held at the Okorocha Foundation, the Senator  not only denied evading being served with Court papers, but accused the EFCC of an attempt to subvert justice.

He asked how he could evade being served when he is processing the retrieval of his international passport from the same EFCC. Saying he is in touch with the Commission, he emphasized he would be in Court if served.

His words: “What actually happened was that the EFCC has not served me and I am in communication with the EFCC with regards to the release of my passport, so it is not true that they couldn’t serve me.

“The major issue on ground  is the Port-Harcourt judgement and Court Order which restrains EFCC from making use of any investigations they claimed to have conducted regarding my administration from 2011 to 2019 because the Court considered it unlawful, the manner it was done.

“The EFCC went to the same Court asking for a change in the decision and that is the current matter so which one comes first? The cart or the horse?

“In other words, would the EFCC be seen to have disobeyed the Court’s judgement of Port-Harcourt while proceeding to Abuja to carry out a criminal arraignment when there is an Order resraining them from carrying out any investigations.

“I think that is the issue and the case is coming up on the 4th of April. I think that is the reason the EFCC does not want to proceed with these charges until they have sorted the Port-Harcourt matter out.

“So, it is not true that I am avoiding the EFCC because if they had called me to collect the papers, I would have done that. The EFCC knows what to do and they should do the needful regarding justice.”

The EFCC had, on January 31, 2022, filed a 17- count charge against Okorocha and Co at the Federal High Court, Abuja. They are accused of conspiracy in the, alleged embezzlement of funds belonging to the Imo State Government to the tune of N2.9 billion.

Okorocha insists he is a victim of persecution and reported the EFCC, according to him, to President Muhammadu Buhari.

War Alert: FG Disclaims Travel Advisory To Belarus, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Moldova

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The Source
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Airport

By Gideon Njoku

The Federal Government has denied a Travel Advisory in circulation which warned Nigerians not to travel to some countries till, at least, the end of May, 2022. It dismissed it as fake.

The forged Advisory, written in very poor English, and stripped of all diplomatic niceties, purported to have  been issued by the  Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a Press Release with Reference No: MFA/PR/2022/18, dated 18, February, 2022,  was, allegedly, signed by  a Mrs Esther Sunsuwa.

The warning, according to the release, became necessary because of the “war alert from the world power to its citizens to leave  those countries within 48 hours.”

As a precaution too, the Embassies and Consulates of those countries in Nigeria, it said, have stopped the issuance of Visas with immediate effect.

The FG, also, asked, according to the fake release, that Nigerians, “proceeding/intending to enter the above neighboring named countries between Russia and Ukraine should avoid such unbearable risk.”

The full text of the Press Release read:

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs hereby advised, (sic) that all intending Nigerian nationals wishing to travel to Belarus, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Moldova should be on hold until the month ending May 2022, as their Embassy and Consulate  have stopped issuance of Visa with immediate effect.

“Necessary to abide to the above, is the war alert from the world powers to its citizens to leave those countries within 48 hours.

“The fact is due to the unhealthy war alert that the world powers have given which may likely breakout unforseen war without further notice.

“Also, Nigerians proceeding/intending to enter the above neighboring named countries, between Russia and Ukraine should avoid such unbearable risk.”

However, the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, MFA,  has denied that any such Travel Advisory emanated from it.

In a Press Release entitled “Disclaimer Against Fake Press Release In Circulation” dated February 22, and signed by its Spokesperson, Mrs Francesca Omayuli, the Ministry said that the document with “a forged Reference Number and signature, did not emanate from the Ministry, and strongly condemned it.

The full text of the Release with Reference No; MFA/PN/22/ (1)reads:

“The attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs  has been drawn to a fake press release in circulation, dated 18th February, 2022, on a supposed travel advisory.

“The general public may wish to note that the document with forged Reference Number and signature did not emanate from the Ministry. The Ministry strongly condemns this mischievous act and urges the general public to disregard the content of the fake press release. Furthermore, the document in circulation, is not a true reflection of the authorized template of the Ministry.

“The Ministry’s authorized Press Statements are ALWAYS issued through official communication channels with the Media and on the following social media platforms via:

*Twitter: @Nigeria MFA

*Instagram:@ Nigeria MFA

*Facebook @foreignaffairsnigeria.

The fate of Nigerians, especially, students in Ukraine is not known, yet, as the Federal Government  seem not to have made efforts to secure, or evacuate them from the embattled country. A number of countries have evacuated their citizens from Ukraine’s capital, Kiev.

Zamfara: Senator Gusau Is New Deputy Governor

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The Source
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Hassan Mohammed Gusau

By Gideon Njoku

A couple of hours after the Zamfara House of Assembly impeached Barrister Mahdi Aliyu Gusau as the Deputy Governor of the State, Governor Bello Matawalle has appointed Senator Hassan Mohammed Gusau as his replacement.  He is the new Deputy Governor.

Senator Gusau is representing Zamfara Central at the Senate. He joined Matawalle to defect to the All Progressives Congress, APC, from the PDP, a refusal on principles, which cost  Aliyu Gusau his job.

Protocol-wise, a Senator is higher in ranking than a Governor, and not a few people wonder how Senator Gusau would accept to descend to the level of a Deputy Governor where he would be subservient to the Governor, and work at the whims and caprices of the Governor.

Aliyu Gusau was impeached  on Wednesday over, according to political watchers, trumped up charges.

Breaking: Super Falcons Book 2022 AWCON Ticket

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

An 87th minute strike from Esther Okoronkwo was all the Super Falcons of Nigeria needed to record a 3-0 aggregate score line win over the Female Elephants of Côte d’Ivoire in the African 2022 African Women Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Ifeoma Onumonu had scored a brace for the National Senior Female team at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja, the nations Capital four days earlier in the first leg of the Second Round of AWCON qualifiers to put the team in pole position ahead of the second leg in Abidjan.

With the victory, Nigeria has booked a place in the AWCON tournament, proper, scheduled for Morocco in July.

The AWCON tournament also serves as the qualification for the top Four Semi-finalists for the FIFA Female World Cup slated for Australia and New Zealand in 2023 that will represent the Continent at the world showpiece.

Since 1991 when the FIFA Female World Cup has berthed, the Super Falcons has never failed to be at the World showpiece.

At the last FIFA World Cup in 2019, the Super Falcons got to the Round of 16 before they booted out by Germany.

Nigeria’s qualification for the AWCON tournament will see the Super Falcons defend the title it won in 2018, and will be gunning to hoist the Nation’s flag at the world mundial.

The Super Falcons have won the AWCON tournament 11 times. It won it in 1991, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2016 and 2018.

Judge Faults Security Threat Claim By Ondo Assembly Speaker For Absence From Court

By
Ayodele Oni
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Bamidele Oloyelogun - Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly

By Ayodele Oni

Speaker of the Ondo state House of Assembly, Mr Bamidele Oloyelogun,  and two other Lawmakers who were due to be arraigned on Wednesday before a state High Court were absent.

Their Counsel, Mr Femi Emodamori, told the Court that the Lawmakers shunned the Court due to threat to their life during the last sitting.

The High Court sits within the premises of Olokuta Correctional Centre, Akure few kilometers away from  Akure city.

Presiding Judge, Justice Semiu Kuteyi, however, faulted the claim of the Speaker and the other two Lawmakers.

Oleyelogun, Felemu Bankole, and Olusegun Kayode were to be arraigned before Justice Semiu Kuteyi by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission(EFCC) for alleged fraud committed in the Assembly.

 Mr. Emodamori, said the Lawmakers had written a letter to the Chief Judge asking the case to be transferred from the Court located at the Correctional Centre to another because of threat to their lives.

The Lawmakers alleged that at the last adjourned date, some unmarked vehicles were trailing them from the Court premises until they were able to escape from the view of the suspected assailants.

“After the last sitting, the defendants called and informed counsel that there was serious security breach affecting them.

“It was observed that there were vehicles packed with unmarked number plates at the junction of the court here.

“They were not conscious of it until the vehicles started to pursue them. They felt it was an abnormal security threat.”

However, Justice Kuteyi who said he came to the Court without a driver or security escort told the Counsel that the security threat was not credible because they were in his court at the last adjourned date.

“One of the defendants is the Speaker of the Ondo state house of assembly, number three citizen, people know his office, people know that he would go to work every day, they are likely to know his house.

“So why are you attaching security issues to this because he came to a court within Ondo state? As if he came from another planet.

“So if he wants to leave this court because people are pursuing him, they could have pursued him somewhere else.

“He is the Speaker of the Ondo state House of Assembly and other principal members.

“They know his routes, they know his political pedigree, they know his house. So why is it attached to a day he came to my court? That it is in the public domain that he came to the court.

“He has not been arraigned, no information had been served on him, but now after he left the court, he was going home and a vehicle pursued him, and he wrote to the Chief Judge that it was because he came to my court.

“I am not hungry for any jurisdiction. It was mentioned to me and I had even expected that the file would have been taken from my table.

“But as of today, the file is still on my table. I have not received any direction that I should transfer the file.

“But be that as it may, now that it has been raised officially before the court, I will await the Chief Judge’s direction on the prosecution of the case.”

The Judge fixed March 24 for the tentative arraignment of the suspects.

Electoral Act: Anxiety Over Buhari’s Assent Unnecessary, Says Uzodimma

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The Source
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Hope Uzodinma

The Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has described as unnecessary, the worries expressed by some Nigerians that President Muhammadu Buhari was delaying his assent to the amended Electoral Act as passed by the National Assembly.

The amended Electoral Act is already  before the President waiting for his assent before it becomes operational and a legal framework.

Addressing the media in his office on Wednesday,  February 23, 2022, the Governor said the hullabaloo over the shift on the date from Wednesday (February 23, 2022) to Friday (February 25, 2022) for the signing of the amended Electoral Act was uncalled for and the anxiety unnecessary “as President Buhari has ample time within the constitutional provision to assent the amended document into law.”

Governor Uzodimma said:

 “To give Nigerians the best, the President has to study the Amended Act before signing it into law, and if in the process he discovers things in the Act that are not in the interest of the people of Nigeria he has the constitutional mandate to move it back to the National Assembly for corrections before his assent.

“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has expressly defined the processes a Bill or an Act must undergo before the President will consider it for assent and to the best of my knowledge as a Parliamentarian none of those processes has been violated by Mr. President.

“The President should be allowed to do his job without being put under unnecessary pressure, particularly the worries and anxiety expressed by some Nigerians, especially through the media.”

Governor Uzodimma also explained that the Friday, February 25, 2022 date should not also be seen to be sacrosanct, because the 30 days window from the time the amended Act was returned to the President still subsists. 

The Governor further explained that “even at that, if the President has observed anything that is not in the interest of the people he has the constitutional right to still send it back to the National Assembly for corrections to be effected.”

Governor Uzodimma’s words: “The  President, having been elected by Nigerians,  is the only person in a better position to reason out what will benefit the people, most especially as it concerns Security of the entire Nation.”

He, therefore, advised Nigerians who are worried to understand that “there are very many other issues that call for attention of both the President and the National Assembly,  what is before the President is an Amended Electoral Act and at the appropriate time the President will Assent to it.”

Commenting on the rescheduled All Progressives Congress (APC) Convention, the Governor said there is nothing to worry about.  

He also gave reasons.

“The leadership of the Party is strong, the membership of the Party is also strong and hopefully by March 26,  2022 a new leadership that will be acceptable to all will emerge in APC by concensus.”  

He said the APC is being careful not to be harassed into doing things that will not be in the overall interest of the Party.

He noted, for instance, that the APC has the history of all her past National Chairmen emerging through consensus, insisting that “there will be nothing wrong for the Party at the end of the day to have its National Chairman emerge through consensus.”

On the issue of the APC zoning the President of Nigeria, the Governor categorically said his Party is being  careful because “our interest is first to have a cohesive and united Nigeria that will take care of every Nigerian irrespective of tribe, greed or religion.”

“Therefore, while considering zoning as very important, the party will be looking at it as a family business,” Governor Uzodimma maintained.

Ekiti 2022: PDP In Crisis; Senator Olujimi’s Supporters Dump Party, Pledges Support, For APC

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Senator Biodun Olujimi

By Akinwale Kasali

As the Ekiti State Governorship Election draws close, opposition Party in the State, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is in disarray following the mass defection from the Party to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

PDP Governorship aspirant in the Party’s Primary, Senator Biodun Olujimi, is still disenchanted with the outcome of the Party’s Primary that saw her not getting the ticket of hoisting the Party’s Flag at the polls.

To underscore that, scores of her supporters in Efon Alaaye, home town of the PDP flag bearer in the June 18 election, Bisi Kolawole, has dumped the party and declared support for the candidate of the APC, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji.

The PDP members, who belonged to the Repositioning Group, under the leadership of Senator Olujimi, cited the, alleged shenanigans of those at the affairs of the PDP, as reason for their decision to dump the party.

Ajayi Busuyi, popularly known as ‘Nanko’ from Ward 3, leader of the Group, speaking on behalf of other decampees during Oyebanji’s ‘thank you visit to Efon Local Government, said they had lost faith in the leadership of PDP and had no choice but to join the All Progressives Congress ( APC).

“Our decision to dump PDP is as a result of our conviction that APC is well positioned to provide quality leadership for Ekiti. We belonged to the repositioning group within the PDP and we had a strong belief that the group would revamp the party but all the plans were scuttled by some unprogressive elements within.

“As things stand, the future looks bleak for the PDP in  Ekiti, hence our decision to align with other progressive minds to vote in Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, as governor of Ekiti State, come June 18,”

Another member of the group, Alasi Gboyega, alias ‘Sweet Mouth’, from Ward 9 Efon promised, on behalf of others, that they would henceforth joined hands with APC members to woo more PDP members into APC, adding that they would not sit down and allow Efon Alaaye to be misled by selfish politicians.

Receiving the decampees, a former Chairman of the APC, Chief Jide Awe, said the development was heart-warming.

According to Awe, “Efon Alaaye is the sixth Local Government we would be visiting on this ‘thank you visit’ but it is now on record that this is the first time we are receiving decampees from another party. This is heart-warming and we sincerely welcome our brothers and sisters from the other side for crossing to the progressive camp.

“While welcoming them on behalf of the leadership of the party, we assure them of fair treatment and cooperation,”

The APC candidate, Biodun Oyebanji, who also spoke at the event described Efon Alaaye as his second home, adding he felt comfortable sitting with his people. He described the defection of PDP members to APC in Efon as a demonstration of love from his people.

“I feel at home being in Efon because of my early days’ upbringing in Efon and the fact that my father was once a Principal in the community. In particular, I congratulate the teachers here today because my parents were teachers and I’m going to be a teacher- governor. Another issue that impresses me here today is the defection of many people from PDP. To me, this is symbolic and a signal that Efon people are prepared for the task ahead. I assure those coming in of a level playing field in APC and I promise to always be there for our people,”

The leader of the team and  Chairman, Ekiti State Local Government Service Commission,  Chief Alaba Bejide, commended members of the party in Ijero, Ekiti West and Irepodun Ifelodun local Governments, for their support during the primary election and urged them to make sure they get their PVC before June 18 in order to be able to vote for Oyebanji.

“The primary election was just a phase,  the coming campaign is another phase, but the biggest assignment before us is the June 18 election. It is through the election we would be able to use our votes to elect Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji as Governor of Ekiti State.

“This can only be done if we have PVC which is our license to vote. Our findings have revealed that many of us are yet to get our PVC, especially those who were not up to age 18 during the 2018 election.”

Enugu: Local Government Elections Turns Violent; Five Killed, Bus Torched

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The Source
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Unknown Gunmen

By Uche Mbah

Gunmen, Wednesday, February 23, 2022, swooped on some polling units, attacking voters who came out en mass for the Local Government Elections in Enugu state.

Many Governorship hopefuls are using the Local election as popularity contest towards next year’s General Election.

At Akpugo Ward 3, Nkanu West Local Government Area, eye witness accounts told this Magazine that the Special Assistant to the Governor, John Tochukwu Ogbodo, lost his car as some attackers, suspected to be from, and engineered by, opposing political party, set it ablaze.

Ogbodo, who belongs to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the ruling party in the State,  reportedly escaped unhurt.

But five other people were not so lucky as they lost their lives during sporadic shootings, which saw, at least, three other vehicles, including a coaster bus, torched.

In the resultant stampede, many people sustained  injuries.

Eye witness account said a tricycle driver had his jaw shattered by bullets and was later rushed to the hospital. Corpses were littered all over the place.

Even Journalists were attacked as reporters and crew from the Local TV Station, Enugu State Broadcasting Service, ESBS, Chiamaka Ezeaputa and Chigozie Alex-Nwafor and driver, Ebuka Ogbozor narrowly escaped  abduction.

They were attacked at Obeagu in Enugu South Local Government Area on their way to Agbani, Nkanu West Local Government Area. Some Journalists were reportedly abducted

US Govt Collaborates With Imo State On COVID-19 Vaccination

By
The Source
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Mary Beth Leonard

The United States has reiterated its commitment to support Nigeria and other countries around the world to address the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, shared the United States Global Action plan to help coordinate areas that the world has identified as the most significant barriers to ending the COVID-19 pandemic.

The U.S. Ambassador spoke at the Flag-Off of the COVID-19 Mass Vaccination Campaign in Imo State hosted by Governor Hope Uzodinma.  

The campaign will increase COVID-19 vaccine access and uptake amongst the people of Imo State.

Ambassador Leonard noted that the U.S. has recommitted increasing access to vaccines, boosting vaccine confidence by tackling misinformation, improving last-mile vaccine delivery, and supporting health workers to vaccinate people.  “Part of this commitment is reflected in the U.S. donation of over 21.8 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, accounting for over 35 percent of the total donations to Nigeria.” 

The United States Government’s commitment is reflected in the technical and logistics support to ensure vaccines get to all citizens who need them the most. U.S. assistance also focuses on getting vaccines into arms so that no vaccines expire unnecessarily when millions of people need them.  

“No one is safe from the pandemic until everyone is safe, and the only way to do that is through safe and effective vaccines,” she added.

Ambassador Leonard used the opportunity to recognize the efforts of the U.S. -CDC, USAID, and the U.S. Department of Defense Walter Reed Army Program for their support to Nigeria’s vaccine rollout.  In addition, she thanked U.S. CDC’s implementing partner, the Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria (CCFN), for their pivotal role in ramping up vaccine access and uptake in Imo and other states.

She commended Governor Uzodinma for his efforts to make the vaccines available.  She encouraged all those eligible to come out and get vaccinated to secure the health and wellbeing of the Imo people.  She called on community leaders and other gatekeepers to join hands with the government to safeguard the people’s health in the State. “We need your support to champion the vaccination of the people of Imo and protect them from COVID-19.  The U.S. Mission in Nigeria stands with you.”

Imo State is currently one of the states in Nigeria with the lowest vaccine uptake. Recent data ranks Imo as 35 out of 36 states (and the FCT) with only 2.3 percent coverage for COVID 19 vaccinations. The flag-off mass vaccination campaign event serves to accelerate and expand COVID-19 vaccination access and uptake. U.S. – CDC, through PEPFAR American Rescue Plan Act funding and its implementing partner, Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria, are at the forefront of providing that support to all the citizens of Imo State. Through PEPFAR, US CDC supports over 83% of the estimated people living with HIV in Imo state with comprehensive treatment services.

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