Gender barriers are threatening maternity services across Northern Nigeria, where socio-cultural and religious factors prevent women from receiving medical care from male healthcare providers. This has led to inadequate female skilled birth attendants and a gender imbalance in the health sector. Incidents such as a man divorcing his wife for being attended by a male doctor during childbirth highlight the severity of the issue. The reluctance of men to allow male workers to treat their wives, even for simple tasks like checking blood pressure, has resulted in a concentration of female health workers in urban areas, leaving rural areas underserved. Efforts to address the imbalance include enrolling only female students in midwifery schools and introducing community midwifery programs. Despite these initiatives, the Maternal Mortality Ratio remains alarmingly high in the region, and the shortage of midwives is acute, with the UNFPA reporting that Nigeria needs 70,000 more midwives to tackle the deficit. The article also discusses the role of traditional birth attendants and the state governments' struggle to train female healthcare providers while balancing cultural and religious barriers.

The Katsina Police Command successfully repelled a terrorist attack at Gago Village in Dutsinma Local Government Area. Approximately 40 terrorists attacked the village, rustling 50 cows. The police engaged in a gun battle, killing one terrorist while others fled with gunshot wounds. The police recovered the stolen cows and displayed the corpse of the terrorist.

Residents of Kano State can resume normal activities as the 24-hour curfew imposed on Wednesday has been lifted. The curfew followed the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal's ruling that declared All Progressives Congress candidate Nasir Yusuf Gawuna as the winner of the 18 March election, overturning Governor Abba Yusuf's victory. Governor Yusuf plans to appeal the ruling within the stipulated 14 days.

About 559 Hajj pilgrims from Jigawa State narrowly avoided a disaster when their Max Air plane, en route to Saudi Arabia, made an emergency landing at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport after being struck by lightning. The Boeing 747, carrying 559 passengers and 21 crew members, is currently grounded at the Kano airport. Max Air's Kano Manager, Bello Ramadan, confirmed the incident and stated that passengers would be transferred to another aircraft. This follows a previous incident in May when another Max Air plane lost tires while landing in Abuja.

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) warns of an impending fuel scarcity due to unpaid bridging claims totaling N500 billion. IPMAN's chairman, Alhaji Bashir Danmalam, urges the federal government to ensure the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) pays these claims to avert the crisis.

Poor primary health care in Kano State, Nigeria, has led to increased maternal mortality, with many health centers closing early and lacking weekend services. Residents often travel long distances or disguise themselves to access medical care in neighboring Jigawa State. The state has about 1,200 primary health care centers, but only a fraction operates 24-hour services. The Kano State government plans to recruit more medical workers and improve primary health care services to decongest general hospitals.

A growing racket in Nigeria involves health workers issuing fraudulent COVID-19 vaccination cards to travelers without administering the vaccine. The scheme, prevalent at various health centers and airports, is driven by financial incentives and facilitated by backdating records and discarding unused vaccines. Key figures include Alemeke Bright, a ringleader at Lagos Airport, and Esther Monday, a health official in Rivers State. Despite government awareness and task forces, enforcement is weak due to logistical challenges. The fraudulent activities undermine public health efforts and could devalue Nigeria's COVID-19 vaccination data internationally.

The Basic Healthcare Provision Funds (BHCPF) scheme in Kano State is marred by corruption, mismanagement, and inefficiencies, leading to inadequate healthcare services in rural areas. The article highlights the deplorable conditions of healthcare facilities, the diversion of funds, and the unresolved disputes among stakeholders. Despite significant federal funding, the scheme has failed to deliver the intended benefits, resulting in preventable deaths and suffering among the local population. The article calls for improved transparency, accountability, and better healthcare infrastructure to address these issues.

Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano state emphasized that Igbos in Northern Nigeria will remain, rejecting ethnic prejudice and secession. He highlighted the importance of unity and the negative consequences of ethnic agitation, referencing the civil war and Sudan's breakup. The governor praised the reconciliatory meeting between the Igbo Delegates Assembly and the Coalition of Northern Youth Groups, who had issued a quit notice to Igbos but later agreed to pursue peace. The Sultan of Sokoto and other leaders also played a role in promoting unity.

Nigeria, having been removed from the list of polio-endemic countries, faces challenges in maintaining its polio-free status, particularly in Kano State, where the last case was recorded. Stakeholders are concerned about vaccine rejection in remote areas due to community demands for resolution of local issues such as land disputes and leadership conflicts. In Rogo LGA, residents have refused vaccination until their village head is dethroned. In Bunkure LGA, a land dispute has hindered immunization efforts. Some schools also rejected vaccines due to lack of notification. The State government and Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje have intervened, setting up committees and enforcing immunization with police assistance, but resistance persists. The government is urged to address the underlying community issues and improve communication strategies to ensure successful vaccination campaigns.