Nigerian Red Cross Society Anambra Branch, Awka South Division has disclosed its plans of reinvigoration through well-thought-out strategic plans.
The division chairman, Comrade Emmanuel Ezeobi in a chat with newsmen on Friday said the plan is focused on strengthening governance, enhancing volunteer base and improving internal controls.
The Chairman further announced appointment of Mr Chukwuma Emuwa as a Volunteer Consultant in furtherance of the numerous strategic plans.
“He is a humanitarian, Red Cross awardee, researcher and author of the books: ‘Experiences of Africans’, ‘African Americans’, ‘Nigerians and Igbos: Self Observation: Experiences and Mental Wellness.’
“Emuwa is also one of the stakeholders of the Nigerian Red Cross. He will volunteer his time and resources towards the assignment, ensuring teams, resources and strategies are aligned with the goals, core mission and values of the Red Cross,” he noted.
Ezeobi, however, identified urgent movement to propose a new office at the Awka South Local Government Secretariat as one of the immediate challenges facing the body.
“When that is finally done, we now conduct the investiture of the current Mayor of Awka South, Prince Chinedu Okafor as the patron in accordance with the Red Cross rule,” he added.
The Nigerian Red Cross Society has mobilised about 5,000 volunteers across Lagos State to support the measles–rubella vaccination exercise across Lagos State.
The project, jointly funded by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Red Cross, will see the deployment of 4,857 trained community-based volunteers across all 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state.
Speaking at the ongoing training in Lagos, the Lagos State Branch Secretary of the Nigerian Red Cross, Mr. Olakunle Lasisi, said the organisation would work across all 20 local government areas, ensuring that every ward and community is reached.
He said, “Our volunteers are community-based. They live in the communities they serve, and that makes it easier to reach caregivers directly. What we are doing now is the training of trainers. These trainers, known as supervisors, will oversee the volunteers at the local government level.”
According to him, programme coordinators, divisional secretaries and data officers are also being trained to support daily reporting, data collection and monitoring of the exercise.
He said that any case of resistance or refusal to vaccinate would be flagged and referred to local government health educators and local immunisation officers for follow-up.
Lasisi stressed that the Lagos State Government remains the lead agency for the campaign, with the Red Cross serving as an auxiliary to public authorities.
After the training of trainers, Lasisi said, step-down training would be conducted at the local government level, ahead of field mobilisation scheduled to begin two days before the commencement of vaccination.
“From experience, our involvement has always yielded strong results. In 2018, we recorded about 99 per cent coverage. With nearly 5,000 carefully selected volunteers this time, we expect nothing less,” he added.
Also speaking, Senior Project Officer of the Nigerian Red Cross, Dr. Ahmad Majid, said the organisation was deploying more than 4,800 volunteers across every local government, ward and community in Lagos to support vaccination teams through mobilisation, referrals and community engagement.
He said, “Our volunteers will also address rumours, myths and misconceptions surrounding vaccines.”
He explained that, in addition to the measles–rubella vaccine, other routine immunisation vaccines, including the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for adolescent girls, would be available during the campaign.
Majid noted that the measles–rubella campaign is part of a national programme being implemented in phases, with earlier phases conducted in northern states, including Kano, where the Red Cross supported mobilisation and capacity building across 14 states.
He urged parents and caregivers to rely on credible sources of information, assuring them of the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines.
“The vaccines are safe, effective and fully paid for by the Nigerian government. People should avoid misinformation and consult health workers, community leaders and trusted platforms such as the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, WHO, UNICEF and Red Cross channels,” he said.
IFRC representative Mrs. Sandra Kanezi said the Lagos campaign would run for 12 days, supported by two days of pre-mobilisation and two days of follow-up activities.
She added that more than 400 supervisors would coordinate over 4,000 volunteers conducting house-to-house mobilisation across the state.
“This campaign is meant to complement routine immunisation and ensure that no child is missed,” she said, expressing optimism that Lagos would record high coverage and reduced measles and rubella burden.
The Lagos Island Local Government has partnered with the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), Lagos State Branch, to intensify fire safety awareness across the council area, as part of efforts to curb recurring fire disasters that have led to loss of lives and properties.
Vice Chairman of Lagos Island Local Government, Mr. Arulai Folami, disclosed that the fire safety sensitisation exercise is one of the council’s cardinal programmes aimed at proactive disaster management.
According to Folami, the local government resolved not to wait for disasters to occur before responding, hence the decision to organise a Fire Safety Walk to educate residents, traders, and market women on preventive measures.
“We don’t want to wait until disaster happens before we come in. That is why we are taking a bold initiative to sensitise residents and market women on the do’s and don’ts of fire safety to avoid fire outbreaks on Lagos Island,” he said.
He recalled past fire incidents on Lagos Island that resulted in loss of lives and destruction of properties, stressing that the council has adopted community sensitisation as a key emergency management strategy.
“One of our strategies is to go out there and educate the people on the importance of having fire extinguishers in their homes, shops, and even fire boards. These can serve as the first line of response before the fire service arrives,” Folami added.
The vice chairman expressed optimism that the campaign would significantly reduce losses, noting that many market women have already begun purchasing fire extinguishers for their shops.
“Our chairman is very proactive, and we already have the cooperation of market women. We want other markets on Lagos Island to take a cue from this so that the huge losses to fire disasters can be avoided,” he said.
The Chairman of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Lagos State Branch, Mrs. Adebola Kolawole, said fire outbreaks have become frequent on Lagos Island, often caused by carelessness, heat, and other human factors.
She described the local government as a critical stakeholder in disaster management, noting that Red Cross officials often encounter council representatives at disaster sites.
“This partnership has been ongoing for eight years, and successive chairmen and executives have supported us. This year, the local government has shown even stronger commitment by supporting us financially and physically,” Kolawole said.
She urged other local governments in Lagos State to emulate Lagos Island’s example by identifying disaster-prone areas within their jurisdictions and working with the Red Cross to prevent emergencies.
“Beyond fire outbreaks, we have building collapses, explosions, and pipeline vandalism in other areas. If all local governments take responsibility, it will help Lagos State as a whole,” she added.
The Branch Communication Officer of the NRCS, Lagos State Branch, Mr. Olushola Tejuosho, noted that fire disasters remain a global threat, citing major incidents in Nigeria and abroad.
“In December 2017, over 1,000 shops were destroyed by fire in Kaduna State, displacing more than 1,000 families. Globally, fires have claimed lives in India, the United States, the United Kingdom, and more recently, Hong Kong,” he said.
Tejuosho added that in Lagos State alone, a fire outbreak last year destroyed 14 buildings at the popular Tom Jones Market on Lagos Island, underscoring the urgent need for prevention through education.
He further called on traders, community members, youth groups, and civil society organisations to support the campaign.
“Fire disasters are preventable. Through education, preparedness, and collective action, we can save lives and protect livelihoods,” he said.
The Nigerian Red Cross Society, Oshodi/Isolo Division, Lagos State, has intensified its grassroots advocacy for environmental safety and public health, taking its awareness campaign to the streets of Lagos to educate residents on the importance of clean living and disaster prevention. The exercise, which coincided with the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR), saw volunteers and officers of the humanitarian organisation marching through major streets of Oshodi and Isolo to sensitise residents on adopting safer environmental and personal practices. The campaign emphasised the need to end open defecation, avoid dumping refuse in drainages, desist from bush burning, and maintain general cleanliness in communities.
Residents were also cautioned against erecting structures on waterways, drinking while driving, and using substandard building materials — practices the Red Cross said had contributed to the rising cases of flooding, road accidents, and building collapses across the state.
Speaking during the campaign, Divisional Coordinator of the Oshodi/Isolo Division, Sunday Omeije, said the initiative aimed to reinforce the culture of prevention rather than response in dealing with disasters. According to him, the growing loss of lives and property to preventable incidents underscores the urgent need for collective responsibility.
“As a humanitarian organisation, we are deeply worried about the increasing number of lives lost due to negligence and non-compliance with safety practices. This campaign is to remind everyone that disaster prevention starts with individual responsibility. We all have a role to play in keeping our environment safe and resilient”, Omeije said.
Omeije explained that although the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction is globally observed on October 13, the Division decided to extend its activities to the community level, bringing the message closer to the people. This year’s theme, “Fund Resilience, Not Disaster,” he noted, aligns with the Red Cross’ mission of building stronger and more informed communities capable of mitigating risks.
“Disaster is something we live with every day — at home, at work, and in our communities. When people are aware of what to do, the effects of disasters can be greatly minimized. Many of the tragedies we experience are avoidable, and that is what this campaign seeks to address”, he said.
The awareness walk covered several routes, including Aswani, Isolo Way, Mushin Road, the Isolo General Hospital axis, Pako, Oke-Afa Bridge, Cano Market, and Chivita Lane, before returning to Aswani where the exercise concluded. Along the route, volunteers distributed flyers, engaged passersby, and demonstrated simple safety tips to residents. The event also featured a voluntary blood donation drive conducted in collaboration with the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service (LSBTS). Many Red Cross members donated blood to support emergency needs in hospitals across the state. Omeije clarified that blood is not sold in public hospitals, as widely believed, explaining that the fees charged are only for screening and cross-matching processes to ensure safety.
“Blood is priceless. When you donate blood, you save lives you may never meet. We appreciate those who volunteered today and encourage others to do the same. The fee paid in hospitals is not for the blood but for the necessary medical processes to make it safe for use”, he said.
Omeije lauded senior Red Cross officials and instructors for their dedication, technical support, and presence throughout the campaign, noting that their participation gave a significant boost to the exercise.
He also commended the enthusiasm and discipline of members across the Oshodi/Isolo detachment, describing them as “the engine room of the Red Cross in Lagos State.”
“In Oshodi/Isolo, we are a group of selfless men and women committed to humanitarian service. I make bold to say that if there is no Oshodi/Isolo, there is no Red Cross in Lagos State”, Omeije stated.
He highlighted the diversity of the local detachments, noting that while some are closed (church-based) units, others are open to the general public. “Whether closed or open, our mission is the same — to serve humanity without fear or favour,” he added.
Through its ongoing community-based campaigns, the Nigerian Red Cross Society continues to strengthen awareness, promote safety consciousness, and encourage proactive measures among Lagosians — a vital step toward reducing the human and economic costs of disasters in Nigeria.
Omeije reaffirmed the Division’s commitment to sustaining similar initiatives across Lagos emphasising that “the work of disaster prevention is continuous.”
Nigerian Red Cross Society has called on citizens to support government in tackling flooding, stressing disaster management is a collective duty.
Speaking at the inauguration of a Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Club at Ebenezer and Ikota Primary School, Lagos, officials said the initiative seeks to instil disaster awareness and preventive habits in young Nigerians.
Administrative Officer in Lagos branch, Adeshile Nicholas, said the clubs would focus on educating pupils on disaster prevention, personal safety, and hygiene practice as hand-washing and first aid.
“What Red Cross is doing is to first set up DRR Clubs in primary schools. It covers personal safety, first aid, and hygiene practice like hand-washing. These are essential life skills for everyone,” he said.
He noted that the initiative is implemented in Lagos, Ogun, Enugu, Edo, and Cross River and others.
Red Cross is working with Lagos State Emergency Management Agency to provide relief in Alimosho and Eti-Osa, where residents have suffered losses due to flooding.
“We are providing materials and shelter for those who lost homes. We share educational materials to inform residents on what to do before, during, and after flood,” he said.
Nicholas saw behavioural change as a challenge in flood prevention, citing improper waste disposal and drainage blockage as problems.
Nigerian model, humanitarian, and reality TV star Faith Morey has been officially named an Ambassador for the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), joining the ranks of global voices championing compassion and resilience.
The honor, conferred in Abuja, recognises Morey’s longstanding commitment to humanitarian service. Through her Okachi Charity Foundation, she has provided educational opportunities to disadvantaged children, supported low-income families, and worked to return out-of-school children to classrooms.
Speaking at her investiture ceremony, Morey expressed gratitude and humility at her appointment:
“The Red Cross exists on one simple truth: every human life matters. It does not ask who you are or where you come from; it simply responds with dignity, love, and presence.”
As an ambassador, Morey pledged to amplify the mission of the NRCS, particularly by advocating for vulnerable communities whose struggles are often unseen.
“I accept this role with humility but also with determination,” she said. “I pledge to serve with integrity, to inspire the next generation to lead with compassion, and to carry the banner of the Red Cross with the same dignity it has carried for generations.”
Drawing on her experiences as a philanthropist and mother, Morey emphasized the transformative power of compassion:
“Every child, no matter where they are born, carries within them the promise of tomorrow if only we create the right conditions for them to thrive.”
She further highlighted the core principles of the Red Cross—neutrality, independence, impartiality, and humanity—urging others to reflect them in daily life.
Closing her speech with a personal dedication, Morey paid tribute to her grandmother’s values of integrity and service:
“Integrity is better than money, and a good name will take you to rooms that money cannot. Today, I dedicate this name, this voice, and this platform to a cause greater than myself.”
With her influence and humanitarian track record, Faith Morey is set to be a powerful advocate for the Red Cross mission, bringing visibility to those most in need and amplifying the call for compassion in times of crisis.
The Nigeria Red Cross Society (NRCS) has disbursed over N304 million to 5,000 vulnerable affected by 2024 flood disaster victims in Jigawa State.
Speaking while flagging up the distribution at Auyo town, the headquarter of Auyo local government area, the President of the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) Prince Oluyemisi Adeaga, said: “The gesture was aimed at supporting the most vulnerable, including widows, people living with disabilities, child-headed households, pregnant mothers and displaced families”.
Adeaga explained that the beneficiaries were from three local government areas of Auyo, Kirikasamma and Malam-Madori local government areas.
According to him: “In the midst of diversity, we’ve validated our support for 11,500 beneficiaries across 13 states in Nigeria. Thirteen states! That’s not just a number-that’s 11,500 stories of hope, 11,500 opportunities to rebuild, 11,500 reasons to believe in the power of human compassion”.
The president added: “Here in Jigawa, we registered 5,000 families and the breakdown is as follows. We will give 3,000 families agricultural assistance with N150m that will help them produce better yields on their farms, while 2,000 others will get cash assistance of N154m. Totaling 5,000 families and N304m”.
He maintained: “The NRCS initiated an anticipatory flood response project to provide support to vulnerable communities in Jigawa state, aimed at lessening the impact of anticipated floods by assessing and registering communities in Auyo, Kirikasamma, and Malam Madori LGAs as part of the intervention for the 2024 flood response”.
He emphasis that the objective of nationwide exercise, which will take place throughout Nigeria in 2025, is to distribute Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) to the 11,500 validated beneficiaries across Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Edo, Enugu, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kwara, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara states, ensuring efficient and transparent delivery of aid.
Umar, represented by Dr Nuraddeen Abdullahi, NEMA’s Coordinator, Kano Territorial Office, said as its key stakeholder, the NRCS plays a crucial role in complementing public authorities in humanitarian intervention.
She noted that the agency, recently distributed essential relief materials, including food and non-food items to affected families in 18 LGAs of the state.
Governor Umar Namadi of the appreciated the organisation for its humanitarian assistance to victims.
Namadi, represented by Dr Muhammad Bello, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Special Duties, said the gesture will not only bring relief to the victims, it would also help in gradual recovery and restoration of their means of livelihood.
The NRCS branch Chairman, Mr Bala Chamo, said 1,200 victims from Auyo, 2,000 from Malam Madori and 1,800 from Kirikasamma will benefit from the gesture.
Bala added 3,000 of the victims will receive N50,000 each under agricultural assistance, while 2,000 of the victims will receive N77, 000, under cash assistance.
Chairman of Auyo LGC, Bilya Ahmed, commended the Red Cross for the good gestures, saying that it will go a long in mitigating the plights of the victims.
Some of the beneficiaries, Hajiya Duniya Manu and Jafaru, thanked the organisation for the kind gesture and pledged to make judicious use of the money.
From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation
Hope brightened yesterday for 1,092,300 Nigerians facing hunger, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene crises. They will be lifted by the International Federation of Red Cross Society (IFRC) through the Nigerian Red Cross.
The IFRC announced CHF27 million (Swiss Francs) support for its local chapter in Nigeria.
The humanitarian organisation said that 24.8 million Nigerians face acute food insecurity, adding it has succeeded in raising CHF 2,138,031, which it said was less than eight per cent of the funds.
It said the interventions will cover 13 states in the Northwest, Northcentral, Southwest and the Southeast.
The states are: Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Katsina, Jigawa, Kano Kaduna, Niger, Nasarawa, Borno, Lagos and Imo.
The disclosures were made at a fact-sheet session at the Hunger Crisis Media Parley by the Head, Abuja Delegation of IFRC, Bhupinder Tomar.
Tomar said: “IFRC today seeks CHF 27million to support Nigerian Red Cross Society to respond to the hunger crisis.
“1,092,300 will receive aid in the form of cash assistance, food and nutrition and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).”
Giving the breakdown of the beneficiaries which was compiled in partnership with the Nigerian Red Cross, he said: “600,000 people will receive water, Sanitation and hygiene assistance. 396,000 will receive health and nutrition support, including child Supplementary feeding.
“330,000 people will receive cash voucher assistance through multi-purpose cash grants and 66,000 people will receive livelihoods support and training in income generating activities and livestock production.”
He said the interventions of the society were to complement what the Federal Government has been doing.
Tomar added: “I am happy that the government is responding to this national emergency and doing its best. I think, we (the public) have contributions to make. Famine or hunger is human created. There is nothing natural about famine or hunger. It is unnatural. We must all rise up to play our roles.
“We are asking for support from Nigerians in addition to international and other domestic support.”
He warned that if urgent action was not taken, “large external shocks may accentuate the challenges at hand.”
On her part, the Senior Communications Officer, Africa Hunger Crisis Appeal, Anne Wanjiru said 22 other sub-Saharan countries were also facing hunger.
She said about 146 milion in Southern Africa have been facing severe hunger with some households hardly getting a meal daily.
“The hunger crisis is largely climate induced but fuelled by conflict. It is time to put an end to the vicious cycle,” she said.
The President of the society, Oluyemisi Adeaga, urged Nigerians to come to the aid of the vulnerable who are uncertain of a meal or the next meal at any time.
He said the Red Cross was out to fill the gaps in catering for the vulnerable.
He said: “Our initial target was seven states in north-west and north-central Nigeria. That number has now been scaled up to 13 states as we are seeing an increase in the number of people who are going hungry due to a multiplicity of factors.”
”Indeed, the urgency of the situation is not lost on President Bola Tinubu who declared a state of emergency on food insecurity and ordered the immediate release of fertilisers and grains to farmers.”
“President Tinubu also approved that all matters pertaining to food and water availability as well as affordability, as essential livelihood items, be included within the purview of the National Security Council.
”We call on all well-meaning people and organizations to join the efforts of the Nigerian Red Cross Society to bring relief to some of the most vulnerable members of our society who now face the human indignity of not knowing where their next meal will come from.”
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has held a three-day media workshop and first aid training for journalists in Lagos.
At the session, journalists were, among other things, trained on International Humanitarian Law (IHL), humanitarian reporting and first aid training, which included how to manage themselves and others injured in the course of their duties or elsewhere.
The ICRC Public Relations Officer, Aliyu Dawobe, said the objectives of the training were to relate with journalists and to remind them much more on humanitarian reporting angles so that they would be able to report in a way that considers the human angle of any event.
“Also considering the fact that the media works in areas prone to violence, we have trained them on how to be more prepared to provide first aid for themselves and people around them when something happens that has to do with blast or building collapse.
“For journalists that report conflicts or violence, they are bound to have issues and may come across people who are injured, even as they may be injured themselves. We have trained them to be able to help themselves and those around them in terms of first aid.
“We have also trained them on humanitarian reporting, having realised that most of the times when reporting is done, focus is much more on the casualties, but we forget to think about people behind the scene, the people that are affected by the conflict.
“The media usually concentrate on the dead and the injured but we want them to also focus on those alive that are passing through a lot of trauma and difficult times. We should be interested in knowing how they are coping with the loss of lives, and homes and how they are going to survive in terms of food.
“We are not teaching journalists their job but we urge them to explore other angles to help people that are affected. This will also help institutions, non-governmental organisations and other citizens to be of help to those who survive disasters,” he added.
Head of Communication and Advocacy, The Nigerian Red Cross Society, Nwakpa Nwakpa, said the training was necessary because the media define the way people see things happen; hence the need to train them beyond reporting what happened to reporting the humanitarian need arising from what has happened.
”We are doing this to partner with the media to bring out the humanitarian need of those affected by any form of disaster, be it floods, building collapse or accident. We also realised that journalists are sometimes in danger and they do not know what to do. With this training, if the journalists see casualties in the course of their duties, they can render first aid beyond the reporting,” he said.
He added that the humanitarian part of the news should be the most important part of news reporting, noting that when this is not done, lives that should have been saved would be wasted because no one will be able to help them.
“Journalists should focus on the needs after every disaster, including what has been lost, what is needed, what the living are going through. Focusing on these needs will make people to be sympathetic to the survivors thereby providing them with the needed aids immediately. By this, journalists will not only report but will also help solve the problem of these people.
“We expect that this training would enable journalists to bring succour to people through their reporting,” he said.
On his part, First Aid and Prehosp Care Field Officer, ICRC, Daniel Edobor said the participants were trained on several aspects of first aids, including recovery position, difficult breathing, unconsciousness and full body examination.
“They were also taught first aid on bleeding, burns, broken bones, fracture and causality transportation, among others,” he said.
Chairman, Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) Anambra state, Prof. Peter Katchy, has condemned recent attacks on the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC).
He described the invasion of the minister’s private residence and threat to his life as illegal and criminal.
Speaking in an audience participatory program of the state Broadcasting Service, Katchy argued that the approach was not only alien to labour laws, but affront on the nation at large.
According to him, the NLC’s threat to subject Ngige to international ridicule was a wrong step towards achieving their goals.
He said, “The NLC’s attacks on the minister, including the recent invasion of his private residence in Abuja, which was supposedly to pressure the minister to inaugurate Chief Frank Kokori as the chairman of the Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), was a lawless action.
Katchy called on relevant authorities to call the NLC led by its president, Ayuba Wabba, to order or face the wrath of patriotic citizens who would no longer tolerate the unending impasse.
He argued that Wabba had no power to query any appointment by Mr. President on the recommendation of the minister.
Katchy continued, “The NLC action is unknown to extant Nigerian and international labour laws guiding trade disputes and grievances.
“The illegal invasion in the guise of picketing the private residence of the minister, Dr. Chris Ngige, by 2:00 am, blocking his entrance gate with patrol laden tanker, is highly condemnable and should not be allowed in the country.
“The appointment of any qualified Nigerian into political office at the federal level is the prerogative of the president or by the recommendation of the supervisory minister; in this case, the minister of labour and employment.
“The provision of Section 4(1) (a) of the 1993 NSITF Act, vests the sole power to make recommendation for the appointment of the chairman of the board of NSITF on the president on the advice of the minister of labour and employment.
“The NLC invaders claimed that they were beaten by security operatives during the protest; but I will tell them that they deserved more than mere beating, because, their action was illegal and criminal.”
The NRCS boss further noted that the NLC helmsman and members of the union were not recognised by the NSITF Act to nominate or recommend any person for the position of the chairman of the board.
“Nigerians wonder where the NLC president got the powers to compel the minister to swear-in their preferred candidate as the chairman without presidential approval,” he said.
Citing the law establishing the NSITF, Katchy explained that Section 4(1)(b)(ii) of the NSITF Act gives the NLC the prerogative to nominate two representatives to the board of NSITF.
He said such nominees must go through the recommendation of the minister to the president.
