Nigeria’s Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has called for a stronger ECOWAS health pact to enhance regional cooperation against Lassa fever and other emerging infectious diseases. Dr. Jide Idris, NCDC Director-General, made the appeal on Thursday at the 2nd Lassa Fever International Conference in Abidjan, organized by the West African Health Organisation (WAHO). The conference theme, “Beyond Borders: Strengthening Regional Cooperation to Combat Lassa Fever and Emerging Infectious Diseases,” aims to reinforce regional commitment, mobilize political will, and promote collective action against viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHFs). Idris stressed the importance of cross-border surveillance and coordinated responses because viruses…
Author: Editor
The West African Insurance Companies Association (WAICA) will focus on the vital role insurers play in protecting economies and communities from the growing risks of climate-related disasters at its 2025 Education Conference. The conference will take place from October 12 to 15 at Eko Hotels & Suites, Lagos. Hosted by the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) on behalf of Nigeria’s insurance industry, it will bring together delegates from Nigeria, Ghana, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and other West African nations. According to a statement by Mrs. Ebelechukwu Nwachukwu, Chairperson of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC), the conference will explore climate-resilient insurance models,…
The Lagos State Government has activated the Incident Management Structure (IMS) under its Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) to guard against any possible outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). This decision was taken after an emergency PHEOC meeting held on Tuesday, September 9, at Mainland Hospital, Yaba. The meeting followed reports of fresh Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where 28 suspected cases and 15 deaths, including four health workers, have been recorded. Speaking after the meeting, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye—represented by Dr. Ismail Abdus-Salam—said the move…
The World Health Organization (WHO) has revealed that more than 720,000 people die by suicide every year, while many more attempt it. WHO’s Director-General, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, has called for a “shift in the narrative” to challenge harmful myths, reduce stigma, and encourage open, compassionate conversations about suicide. Speaking on World Suicide Prevention Day, marked every September 10, Tedros said: “Each life lost leaves a deep impact on families, friends, colleagues, and entire communities.” Suicide affects all age groups. In 2021, it was the third leading cause of death among people aged 15–29, according to WHO’s most recent data. It…
The Lagos State Primary Health Care Board has joined hands with the Clinton Health Access Initiative to improve primary healthcare and save more children’s lives in the state. The Permanent Secretary of the Board, Dr. Ibrahim Mustafa, said this during a three-day workshop to create the Lagos State Five-Year Routine Immunization Roadmap (2026–2030). He explained that the new plan is meant to close gaps in vaccine coverage and make sure every child in the state, no matter where they live, has access to life-saving vaccines. Dr. Mustafa described immunization as more than just a health measure. He called it a…
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has stopped illegal building activities and demolished over 30 unauthorized foundations at River Park Estate, citing violations of planning rules and revoked lease agreements. According to the FCTA, some developers continued construction despite the withdrawal of their leases and a ministerial committee’s recommendation that all undeveloped plots in the estate should be reclaimed by the government. The Director of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, led the enforcement exercise on Wednesday after receiving reports that developers were working day and night to beat the directive. “About a week ago, at the Honorable Minister’s office, two committees…
Helping researchers who focus on health problems is seen as an important step to solving Nigeria’s many health issues. These health problems include common diseases like malaria, Lassa fever, yellow fever, cholera, and meningitis. There are also growing problems like high death rates for mothers and children, as well as serious illnesses like cancer and kidney disease. Even though there have been international efforts to help, these problems still exist. This shows Nigeria needs to find its own solutions. To help solve this, the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) started the NIMR Foundation in 2021. The goal of the…
Dangote Cement Plc says it has paid more than N3.3 trillion in dividends to shareholders in the last 15 years, in addition to strong capital gains from its stock. The company’s new Chairman, Mr. Emmanuel Ikazoboh, disclosed this on Wednesday during a “Facts Behind the Figures” presentation at the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), where he assured investors of sustained good returns. Ikazoboh, who recently succeeded Aliko Dangote, pledged to uphold corporate governance standards and create long-term value for stakeholders. Chief Executive Officer, Arvind Pathak, said Dangote Cement plans to raise its installed capacity to 66.4Mta by 2030 through greenfield and brownfield…
Despite Nigeria’s vast landmass of over 900,000 square kilometres, land is becoming increasingly difficult to access and use effectively. The problem, according to Professor Bamidele Ogunleye, lies not in physical shortage but in poor governance, insecure tenure, weak institutions, and inequitable distribution. Ogunleye, a Professor of Urban Land Use, Housing and Spatial Analysis at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), raised the concerns during the university’s 185th inaugural lecture held on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at the Obafemi Awolowo Auditorium. His lecture, themed “Land: Abundant Yet Scarce,” highlighted Nigeria’s paradox of abundance amid scarcity. The don described land as…
The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos-Nigeria, through its Safety and Protection of Journalists (SPJ) Hub, has condemned the unlawful detention of Sodeeq Atanda, a senior reporter with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), by the Ekiti State Police Command. Atanda was arrested on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, in Ado-Ekiti, following a petition by Abayomi Fasina, Vice Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), who accused the journalist of cyberbullying, blackmail and criminal defamation. According to information available to the IPC-SPJ Hub, Atanda was detained for more than eight hours at the headquarters of the Ekiti State Police Command on the…