The Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has intensified, becoming the largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded in the country, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said. In a statement issued on Saturday, WHO said the outbreak had spread to five provinces, affecting 49 health zones, with sustained transmission, rising infections and increasing deaths reported nationwide. As of 30 July 2026, the DRC had recorded 3,605 confirmed cases, including 1,587 deaths, representing a case fatality ratio of 44 per cent. The outbreak, initially confined to Mongbwalu Health Zone in Ituri Province, has expanded to North…
Author: Newsdesk
Vet Konect, a digital animal health platform, has graduated the first cohort of beneficiaries under its Women in Poultry Initiative (WIPI), empowering women to establish profitable and sustainable poultry enterprises. Speaking during the ceremony on Saturday in Makurdi, its founder and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Shadrach Akpem, said the initiative supports women’s access to livestock training and business support. Akpem said WIPI is helping women build sustainable poultry enterprises through training, veterinary support, mentorship and market access. He said participants received 50 broiler chicks, feed support, veterinary guidance, mentorship and market linkage instead of cash, promoting accountability and demonstrating poultry…
Catfish farming is gaining popularity in Dutse, Jigawa, as more residents embrace aquaculture as a source of income, food security and employment. A survey by reporters on Friday showed that growing demand for fresh catfish and increased awareness of its profitability were encouraging more residents to establish fish ponds. Mr Abdulkahar Lawal, a catfish farmer, said the business had become a viable source of sustainable income when properly managed and supported with the right resources. Lawal said he ventured into aquaculture after noticing the rising demand for catfish in Dutse, adding that the business had continued to grow despite operational…
The National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to improve agricultural data generation, validation, sharing and analysis. The partnership aims to support evidence-based financing, policymaking and investment in Nigeria’s agricultural sector. Speaking at the signing ceremony on Friday in Abuja, NADF Executive Secretary Mohammed Ibrahim said the agreement marked the beginning of a strategic partnership to strengthen the quality and use of agricultural statistics. He said reliable data remained the foundation of effective agricultural development, planning, programme implementation and impact assessment. According to him, the collaboration will enable…
Mr Aliyu Betara, representing the Biu/Bayo/Kwaya-Kusar/Shani Federal Constituency in Borno, has distributed 12,000 bags of NPK fertiliser to farmers in his constituency. The free fertiliser distribution was inaugurated in Kwaya-Kusar on Saturday and the commodity was distributed to farmers across the constituency. Speaking to journalists on Friday in Biu, Mr Yamta Gur, leader of the Betara Free Fertiliser Distribution Committee, who performed the exercise on behalf of Betara, said it was part of his annual support to farmers. Gur said the support reaffirmed the federal lawmaker’s unwavering commitment to improving agricultural productivity and enhancing the livelihoods of farmers throughout the…
The Anambra State Government says it remains committed to improving healthcare service delivery at the state-owned Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH), Awka. The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of COOUTH, Amaku, Awka, Dr Maureen Umeakuewulu, stated this during an inspection tour of the health facility on Saturday. The CMD undertook the tour alongside the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike. Umeakuewulu said the hospital management had continued to maintain a clean environment through regular sanitation and vegetation control to improve patients’ comfort and reduce mosquito breeding. She disclosed that the state government had approved medical equipment worth over…
The Lagos State Government has commenced the installation of new pumps at the Iju Headworks and Akute water intake stations. The project is aimed at increasing water production, improving operational efficiency and expanding access to potable water across the state. A statement issued by the Lagos Water Corporation (LWC) on Saturday said the project was approved and funded by the state government. It said the installation forms part of the rehabilitation of the Iju Headworks and Akute Intake Station under Lots 1, 2 and 3. According to the LWC, the rehabilitation is designed to modernise water production facilities, strengthen operations…
The Ekiti State Government has pledged support for the 2026 Malaria Larval Source Management (LSM) intervention aimed at reducing malaria transmission across the state. The Ekiti State Commissioner for Information, Taiwo Olatunbosun, gave the assurance in Ado-Ekiti while receiving a delegation of federal and state partners implementing the intervention under the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) through the IMPACT Project. Olatunbosun said the Ekiti State Ministry of Information would collaborate with relevant agencies to sensitise residents through radio, television, social media and other government communication platforms. He said the ministry would continue to support critical government programmes, noting that it…
The Federal Government has expanded the Presidential Forest Guards Initiative to 10 states, with more than 9,000 personnel now trained to help secure forests and other ungoverned spaces used by kidnappers, bandits and other criminal groups. The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) disclosed this in a statement on Friday. It said the latest phase of the programme covers Kaduna, Edo and Kogi states, where over 2,000 forest guards have completed training and are set to be deployed to identified security flashpoints. The initiative is coordinated by the ONSA and implemented under the operational leadership of the Department of…
The Federal Government has intensified efforts to strengthen healthcare services within the Nigerian Armed Forces. On Thursday in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, inaugurated a Technical Working Group (TWG) to fast-track the establishment of the Armed Forces College of Medicine and Health Sciences ahead of the 2026 academic session. Alausa said the proposed institution would create a sustainable pipeline of doctors, nurses and other specialised healthcare professionals trained specifically for the military’s operational needs. The move, he noted, would end the Armed Forces’ long-standing reliance on civilian universities for medical training and strengthen the country’s security architecture…