The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported 1,000 confirmed cases of Lassa fever and 237 deaths nationwide by epidemiological week 30 of 2026. According to the NCDC’s Lassa fever situation report released on Monday, the latest update covers epidemiological weeks 29 and 30, spanning July 13 to July 26, 2026, with cases recorded across several states. The agency said the figures represented a case fatality rate (CFR) of 23.7 per cent, higher than the 18.8 per cent recorded during the corresponding period in 2025. In week 30, new confirmed cases declined to 17 from the 20…
Author: Newsdesk
A medical doctor at Lugrem Hospital in Abuja, Dr Ummusalma Faruk, has advised Nigerians against squeezing or puncturing whitlow, warning that improper treatment could worsen the infection and lead to serious complications. Faruk gave the advice in an interview with reporters on Monday in Abuja while explaining the causes, symptoms, treatment and prevention of the painful finger infection. She said whitlow could occur when bacteria entered through cuts or injuries around the fingernail, adding that some cases were caused by the herpes simplex virus. According to her, bacterial whitlow commonly presents with redness, swelling, warmth, pain and, in some cases,…
Prof. Edamisan Temiye, a Consultant Paediatrician and Lecturer at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), has dismissed the belief that breast milk becomes sour when a baby stops breastfeeding for several days. Temiye made the assertion in an interview with reporters on Monday in Lagos, on the sidelines of a lecture organised by the Paediatric Department of Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) to mark World Breastfeeding Week. He described as false the belief that breast milk could become soured or contaminated inside the mother’s breast if not consumed by the baby. “Breast milk cannot be soured as may be the belief…
A health advocacy group, Project Sixth Sense, has sensitised Bauchi communities to enhance asthma prevention and case management. The virtual exercise, themed “Run for Breath,” attracted over 400 athletes and sports enthusiasts across Nigeria. It aimed at promoting support for persons living with asthma and respiratory conditions. Mr Enunmejekonashu Jude, an official of the group, said this during the virtual campaign on Monday in Bauchi. Jude said that official data showed that millions of Nigerians were living with asthma, adding that the campaign aimed to increase awareness of the condition. He lamented that asthmatic patients were facing health challenges due…
Dr Mustapha Salihu, Adamawa Central Senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has donated 200 free cycles of kidney dialysis consumables to Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital (MAUTH), Yola. Speaking during the donation, Salihu said the gesture was part of his humanitarian support, which went beyond politics, to enable patients to access services at a subsidised rate. The candidate said he understood that kidney problems were common among the people in the region due to harsh weather and other factors. “This gesture we do is beyond politics. It is for humanity. People have to survive across parties because the…
The U.S.-Africa Trade Commission has appointed Dr. Fakunle John Aremu as its Country Director for Nigeria, according to an appointment letter dated July 10, 2026. Aremu, ASHENEWS Columnist, is an international trade, investment and economic development executive with over 15 years of experience across Africa. In the letter signed by Titus Olowokere, the commission’s Executive Director/CEO, Aremu was also named a member of the Executive Committee, where he is expected to help drive the organisation’s trade, investment and economic cooperation agenda between the United States and Africa. Dr. Fakunle Aremu is an Agricultural Economist, international management consultant and investment strategist…
The naira remained relatively stable against the euro last week, with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) reference rate showing the currency trading at N1,576 per euro, compared with N1,573 in the previous week. The latest movement keeps the euro below the N1,580 threshold despite continued pressure in the global currency market. The naira has strengthened significantly against the euro since the beginning of the year. The euro was trading around N1,774 in January before falling to a multi-month low of N1,555. Since early July, the EUR/NGN exchange rate has remained within a narrow band of about N1,561 to N1,576.7,…
Productivity in Nigeria’s private sector is being challenged by rising operating costs, tighter profit margins and the pressure to take decisions faster, an entrepreneur, Mrs Tayo Babatunde, has said. In a statement in Lagos on Monday, Babatunde also said that productivity in the private sector was equally being challenged by the complexity of managing distributed teams. Babatunde is the Managing Director of Radiant diGiLog, a technology company which recently introduced an Artificial Intelligence-powered workforce management and employee productivity platform, also called Radiant diGiLog. The managing director said that organisations’ operational visibility had moved beyond being a back-office metric and become…
Nigeria has sought deeper cooperation with China in water-saving agriculture, soil management and scientific research to address agricultural challenges in the northern part of the country and the Lake Chad basin. Dr Mukhtar Muhammed, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, made this known on Saturday at the “Seasonal Life and Harmonious China” Cultural Exhibition at the China Cultural Centre in Abuja. Muhammed said Nigeria could draw lessons from China’s experience in using science and technology to improve agricultural productivity in areas affected by water scarcity and land degradation. He said his recent technical visit to China, particularly…
President Bola Tinubu will declare open an international conference on security and national unity on Tuesday. Garbadeen Mohammad, Chairman of the Media and Publicity Committee of the conference, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja. The conference, themed “International Conference on Security for Sustainable Socio-economic Development,” is organised by Jama’atu Izalatil Bidiah wa Iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS Nigeria) in collaboration with the Muslim World League, Saudi Arabia. Mohammad said the conference would examine global security within the context of Nigeria’s national security challenges. “This will be done with a view to examining the incidents of banditry, kidnapping and related…