The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) reports progress in the Ebola response but notes that challenges are outpacing efforts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Dr. Wessam Mankoula, Head of the Continental Initiative for Maximising Student Development (IMSD) for Ebola response, made this statement on Thursday during a webinar on the outbreak. He said the continental Incident Management Support Team is now operational from Uganda, coordinating response efforts with support from partners across Africa. Mankoula also highlighted progress in implementing a memorandum of understanding between DRC and Uganda to strengthen cross-border Ebola surveillance and…
Author: Newsdesk
The Center for the Advancement and Protection of the Rights of Vulnerable People (CAPRIGHTS-VP) has strengthened partnerships with faith-based organizations to reduce exploitative child domestic work in Lagos State. In a statement on Thursday, the organization announced that the program ran from May to June 2026. The initiative is supported by the Freedom Fund, with funding from the United States Department of State, focusing on faith-based organizations in Alimosho Local Government. The outreach was led by Mrs. Agatha Chinedu, Security and Protection Officer; Mrs. Vivian Emesowum, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning Officer; Mrs. Mercy Oni, Project Coordinator; and other CAPRIGHTS-VP…
Nigeria must urgently strengthen climate governance at the state and local government levels, raise climate awareness among citizens, and empower communities to lead adaptation efforts to achieve its 2060 net-zero emissions target. Prof. Babajide Alo, Professor of Chemistry and former Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics & Research) at the University of Lagos, stated this during a Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) Media Roundtable on Thursday. He spoke on the topic, “Climate Change, Health, and the Nigerian Reality: Securing Our Climate Future for a Resilient Nigeria.” Alo noted that while the Federal Government has established a National Climate Change Policy, submitted its…
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has identified 43 tertiary institutions across Nigeria for their alleged failure to refund students whose tuition fees were paid twice under the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) scheme. The students’ body said the affected institutions had received tuition payments from NELFUND on behalf of eligible beneficiaries after the students had already paid their fees personally, but had yet to reimburse the affected students. In a statement issued by NANS President, Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, the association said publishing the names of the institutions was intended to promote transparency, accountability and ensure that students receive…
The Enugu State Government has sealed four private hospitals in Enugu North Local Government Area for failing to meet regulatory requirements. This was stated on Thursday in Enugu by the Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Health, Mrs. Chidiogo Ugodu. Ugodu explained that the hospitals were sealed on July 8 as part of the ministry’s intensified monitoring and supervision of private health facilities across the state to ensure quality healthcare delivery and compliance with standards. She added that the enforcement was initiated by the Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu. According to the statement, Dr. Chinyere Ezeudu, Director of…
Christian Aid and other stakeholders on Thursday sensitized residents of four flood-prone communities in Kaduna State to disaster preparedness ahead of the peak of the 2026 rainy season. The sensitization, conducted under the Enhancing Preparedness and Response (E-Prep) Project, targeted Kigo Road and Rafin Guza in Kaduna North Local Government Area, as well as Karatudu and Nasarawa in Chikun Local Government Area. Mr. Michael Agbo, Head of Communications at Christian Aid, said the exercise aimed to equip residents with knowledge to reduce flood risks and respond appropriately during emergencies. He explained that the selected communities are vulnerable to flooding due…
The Academy of Medical Sciences has condemned the high rate of maternal mortality and ongoing epidemic risks, calling for urgent measures to address them. President of the academy, Prof. Frank Giwa-Osagie, made the remarks in a statement issued by Prof. Mayowa Owolabi, Secretary of the academy, on Thursday in Abuja. Giwa-Osagie said deaths associated with pregnancy and childbirth, as well as preventable newborn deaths, remained unacceptable. “There is no need and no justification for the continued loss of lives related to pregnancy and childbirth,” he said. He added that epidemic risks should be addressed with better preparedness, drawing lessons from…
A windstorm accompanied by heavy rain has claimed the lives of two minors and destroyed several properties in Gashua Local Government Area of Yobe State. The Council Chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Babagana, disclosed this in an interview with reporters in Gashua on Thursday. According to him, the children died when a tree fell on a building sheltering them during the storm. He said the windstorm, which started at about 5 p.m. on Wednesday, destroyed many buildings, electricity poles, and communication towers. READ ALSO: GKF, UniAbuja launch waste to wealth facility “The windstorm lasted for about 15 minutes, but the destruction was…
Some rice traders in Lagos have attributed the sustained stability in rice prices since January to the Federal Government’s import waiver, saying it has improved supply and affordability. The traders made the remarks in separate interviews with reporters on Thursday in Lagos. They said the waiver on rice importation had increased the availability of the commodity, helping to stabilise prices despite the prevailing economic challenges. Mr. AbdulHakeem Temitayo, a rice dealer in Iddo, said rice prices had remained relatively stable since the beginning of the year. According to him, a 50kg bag of rice currently sells between N49,000 and N58,000,…
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, says the Federal Government is taking deliberate steps to address electricity challenges affecting healthcare delivery in health facilities across Nigeria. Salako made this known on Thursday in Abuja at the 11th Scientific Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Intensive and Critical Care Society of Nigeria (I-CCSN), focused on strengthening intensive care services. The conference, supported by the World Federation of Intensive and Critical Care, is themed “Sustainable Financing for Intensive Care Units in Public Health Facilities.” Other sub-themes include data management in critical care, sepsis in…