Category: PM News

The Federal Government has assured Nigerians of its capacity to contain the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), saying surveillance systems, contact tracing and isolation measures have been activated following the detection of an imported case.

The assurance was given on Wednesday by the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Preparedness, Virus Disease Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats, Femi Gbajabiamila, after an emergency meeting of the task force at the State House.

Gbajabiamila, who is also the Chief of Staff to the President, said the task force and relevant government agencies had been working to strengthen the country’s preparedness since the body was inaugurated in June 2026.

He attributed the early identification of the index case to existing surveillance mechanisms and established health protocols, noting that Nigeria had recorded approximately 44,000 flights into and out of the country since Ebola became a concern in June.

According to him, the infected passenger initially showed no symptoms, which emerged four days after the woman arrived in Abuja. He said the surveillance and identification procedures in place enabled authorities to detect the infection promptly.

‘The passenger with the disease showed no symptoms, which came four days after the woman got into Abuja, and it was the identification process and the protocols that were put in place that enabled the quick identification,’ Gbajabiamila said.

He pledged that the government would strengthen existing protocols and ensure stricter enforcement of preventive measures to minimise the risk of further transmission.

Gbajabiamila also called for public cooperation, urging Nigerians to comply with official health directives and avoid actions that could undermine containment efforts.

He stressed the importance of building public trust and preventing panic, describing the response as a joint responsibility between the government and citizens.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Mohammed Ali Pate, also assured the public that Nigeria’s health authorities and relevant agencies were mobilising resources to contain the outbreak.

Pate said the country’s response involved the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), private healthcare providers, immigration and aviation authorities, the Ministry of Interior and health institutions at the state level.

He disclosed that contact tracing was ongoing and that individuals identified as contacts of the imported case were being isolated in line with established public health procedures.

According to the minister, the Federal Government, working with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), had activated the incident management system to coordinate the response across different operational areas.

He added that hospitals were also being prepared to manage suspected and confirmed cases, while states were mobilising their existing response capabilities.

‘We will continue to do that, and we want to reassure Nigerians that the federal government, alongside its technical partners, the World Health Organisation, the Africa Centre for Disease Control, and our own Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, have activated the incident management system across the various pillars,’ Pate said.

The minister urged Nigerians to observe public health directives and refrain from spreading misinformation or unverified claims that could trigger unnecessary fear.

He expressed confidence in the country’s public health professionals, citing Nigeria’s experience in containing Ebola in 2014 and the contributions of its experts to responses in other countries.

Pate said the government would continue working with its domestic and international partners to strengthen surveillance, improve preparedness and contain the current threat.

The emergency meeting brought together representatives of key government institutions and international health organisations involved in Nigeria’s Ebola preparedness and response.

Participants included the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Kemi Nandap; Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Bunmi Kuku; WHO representative Pavel Ursu; and Dr Aliko Ahmed, Special Regional Representative to the Director-General of Africa CDC.

Other participants included FCT Mandate Secretary for Health and Environment, Dr Dolapo Fasawe; Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi; and representatives of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority and the State House Medical Centre.

The government said it would continue to coordinate the national response, strengthen existing safeguards and work with state authorities and international partners to prevent further spread of the disease.

It urged citizens to remain calm, follow verified public health guidance and cooperate with health officials as containment efforts continue.

A 35-year-old woman, Añulika Onyeanusi, on Tuesday appeared before an Anambra State High Court in Awka for alleged sexual abuse and exploitation of her two daughters.

Onyeanusi, who is facing a 14-count charge bordering on alleged rape, sexual abuse and exploitation of her two daughters, aged seven and nine, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The defendant is accused of sexually abusing her children with a sex toy and using them for the production of pornographic materials and performances

The alleged offences occurred between November 2025 and September 2026 at her residence on Ezego Ojoto Street, Akpaka GRA, Onitsha.

The charges, instituted by the Anambra State Government, include alleged rape, sexual abuse and exploitation, compelling the children to engage in sexual conduct, emotional and psychological abuse, and placing them in fear of physical injury.

The prosecution, led by the Anambra Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Tobechukwu Nweke, SAN, alleged that the defendant intentionally and knowingly penetrated the vagina, anus and mouth of the children with a sex toy.

The charges were brought under various provisions of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law of Anambra State, 2017, and the Child’s Rights Law of Anambra State, 2006.

Her counsel, Mrs Chikodili Nwaka-Ohuoha, subsequently applied for bail.

Justice Peace Otti of the Children, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Court adjourned the matter until Nov. 27 for ruling on the bail application.

Nigeria has regained its position as Africa’s leading destination for startup funding after raising $635 million in the first nine months of 2026, more than double the amount recorded during the same period last year.

Data from Africa: The Big Deal, a tracker of African startup investments, showed that Nigerian startups raised 2.6 times the $247 million they secured between January and September 2025. This is the country’s strongest performance for the period since 2022.

Nigeria’s strong performance came as startup funding declined sharply in Kenya and South Africa. Investment also shifted towards logistics and transport businesses across the continent.

The report showed that 77 Nigerian startups raised at least $100,000 during the period, up from 70 in the same period last year. Excluding pan-African businesses, Nigeria accounted for 37 per cent of startup funding raised by companies operating in individual African countries. This was its highest share since 2021.

Moove, Flutterwave lead major funding deals

A few major investments contributed significantly to Nigeria’s return to the top of Africa’s startup funding rankings.

Moove, a mobility financing company that announced plans to exit Nigeria earlier this month, raised $250 million. Fintech company Flutterwave secured $100 million, while e-commerce platform Jumia raised $50 million.

Yellow Card, a cryptocurrency infrastructure company, attracted another $40 million.

Together, the four companies raised $440 million, accounting for about 69 per cent of Nigeria’s total startup funding during the period.

Despite the large deals, Nigeria also recorded the highest number of startups raising at least $100,000 among African countries.

Logistics overtakes fintech in African startup funding

Across Africa, logistics and transport businesses attracted more startup funding than fintech companies for the first time in several years.

The report showed that logistics and transport startups raised $780 million between January and September 2026, representing 36 per cent of total funding. Fintech companies raised $760 million, accounting for 35 per cent.

The share of funding going to logistics and transport businesses reached a record high, rising from seven per cent in the same period of 2025. The previous record for the first nine months of a year was 17 per cent in 2019.

The increase was largely driven by Spiro, which raised $345 million, and Moove, which secured $250 million. Their combined $595 million represented about 76 per cent of the funding raised by the sector.

However, fintech remained ahead in the number of funded businesses, with 80 startups raising at least $100,000 during the period.

Egypt remains stable as Kenya and South Africa record declines

Nigeria’s recovery contrasted with weaker performances in other major African startup markets.

Egypt attracted $445 million in startup funding, representing a 10 per cent increase from the same period in 2025.

Kenya raised $201 million, down 73 per cent, while South Africa attracted $182 million, a decline of 58 per cent.

The report noted that Kenya’s figures were partly affected by the classification of Spiro as a pan-African business, although the company operates extensively in the country. Despite this adjustment, Kenya’s startup funding remained significantly below its 2025 level.

The number of startups raising at least $100,000 also declined in these markets. Kenya recorded 45 such businesses, down 32 per cent, while Egypt had 40, a 29 per cent decline. South Africa recorded 34, representing a 36 per cent drop.

The figures for Kenya and South Africa were their lowest for the first nine months of a year since Africa: The Big Deal began tracking deals of at least $100,000 in 2021.

Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya and South Africa together accounted for 85 per cent of funding raised by startups operating in individual African countries, excluding pan-African businesses. This was up from 83 per cent in the same period last year.

Nigeria lost its position as Africa’s leading startup funding destination to Kenya in 2023 and continued to trail other major markets in subsequent years.

In 2023, Nigerian startups raised $410 million for the year, less than half the amounts recorded in 2021 and 2022. Kenya led with $800 million.

Nigeria remained behind Kenya in 2024, raising about $400 million despite major funding deals secured by Moove and Moniepoint.

In 2025, Nigerian startups raised $442.8 million for the full year.

With $635 million already secured in the first nine months of 2026, Nigeria has surpassed its total for the whole of 2025 and is on course to finish the year as Africa’s leading destination for startup funding.

Infrax Tech (www.infranalyze.tech), a Nigerian-based IT company, has released the first version of Infranalyze AI (app.infranalyze.tech), an artificial intelligence-powered civil engineering platform designed to support infrastructure planning, engineering analysis, design recommendations, and project decision-making.

The initial release marks a step in Infrax Tech’s effort to integrate artificial intelligence into practical civil engineering workflows, providing infrastructure professionals with digital tools for assessing project sites, evaluating terrain conditions, analysing proposed road corridors, and developing preliminary engineering recommendations.

Infranalyze AI combines geospatial information, satellite mapping, terrain visualisation, and engineering-focused AI capabilities to help civil engineers and infrastructure developers assess project locations, identify infrastructure requirements, and support planning and design decisions.

The platform’s core capabilities include project site assessment, road alignment and analysis, terrain assessment, soil profile and composition analysis, cut-and-fill calculations, drainage planning, culvert design and positioning, quantity summaries, and bridge analysis and design support. It also provides chainage-related information to support road planning and preliminary engineering assessments.

Through its in-chat ‘Discuss with AI’ feature, users can explore potential borrow-pit locations and material sources, estimate construction quantities, and obtain indicative construction costs based on Nigerian market conditions and state-specific pricing considerations. These capabilities are intended to support early-stage project planning, resource assessment, and cost evaluation.

Infranalyze AI also includes reporting and spreadsheet export features to facilitate technical documentation, review, and further evaluation by engineering professionals.

Developed with the Nigerian infrastructure sector in mind, Infranalyze AI is designed to make AI-assisted engineering analysis and infrastructure planning tools more accessible to professionals working on road construction and related infrastructure projects.

The initial version establishes the foundation for Infrax Tech’s broader ambition to apply artificial intelligence to infrastructure development challenges in Nigeria and across Africa.

About Infrax Tech

Infrax Tech is a Nigerian-based IT company focused on developing intelligent solutions for infrastructure and engineering. Its work centres on helping professionals plan more effectively, make better-informed decisions, and pursue more efficient and sustainable project delivery.

The company was founded by Engr. Mazen Kalassina (mazenkalassina.com), a civil engineer and technology entrepreneur with more than 15 years of experience in infrastructure development. Under its vision, Infrax Tech is advancing the integration of artificial intelligence into engineering practice to support smarter, faster, and more sustainable infrastructure solutions.

The company is also associated with Engr. Kam-Selem Alhaji Bukar, FNSE, FNICE, immediate past President of the Association of Consulting Engineering in Nigeria (ACEN), whose professional experience and credentials reflect a strong connection to Nigeria’s consulting engineering sector.

Through its flagship platform, Infranalyze AI, Infrax Tech seeks to contribute to the advancement of AI-assisted civil engineering, infrastructure planning, and design decision support in Nigeria and across Africa.

The newly appointed Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mr ‘Tunbosun Ogunbanwo, has assumed duty, calling on staff to uphold professionalism, teamwork and unity of purpose in advancing the ministry’s objectives.

Ogunbanwo formally resumed on Tuesday and embarked on a familiarisation tour of the ministry’s departments and units, accompanied by directors.

The tour covered the Public Affairs Department, Information Production, Social Media, Public Enlightenment, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Internal Audit Unit, Features Unit, Editing Suite, Camera Unit and Graphics Unit.

During the exercise, Ogunbanwo interacted with management and staff, stressing the need for cooperation, discipline and dedication to ensure effective communication of government policies, programmes and achievements.

He urged employees to support his administration and work collectively to strengthen the ministry’s capacity to deliver on its mandate.

‘I urge everyone to work together with professionalism, unity of purpose and a shared commitment to excellence. I count on your support and cooperation as we collectively work to move the information sector forward and strengthen the Ministry’s capacity to effectively communicate government policies, programmes and achievements,’ he said.

The permanent secretary also encouraged staff to embrace innovation, maintain high professional standards and remain responsive in carrying out their responsibilities.

He said collective commitment and effective collaboration were essential to improving public communication and service delivery, in line with the Lagos State Government’s objectives.

Dr Taiwo Fasoranti, the eldest child of late Afenifere leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti has revealed that his father repeatedly told family members that he had a covenant with God to depart from the world upon attaining the age of 100.

Taiwo, who is the Secretary to the Ondo State Government (SSG), disclosed this when Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa paid a condolence visit to the family of the late Afenifere leader at his residence in Akure on Tuesday night.

Pa Fasoranti died on Tuesday evening in his house in Ijapo, Akure.

He celebrated his centenarian anniversary earlier in the year.

‘Baba often told us that he had a covenant with God that whenever he got to 100, he would go. He repeatedly told us that when he died, we should not cry.

‘We are not mourning Baba. We are rejoicing.

‘Baba has left us a big pair of shoes to step into, but we can only thank God for the legacy of firmness, resilience, hard work and love that he left us with,’ he said.

The SSG described his father as a devoted parent who was actively involved in the upbringing and education of his children.

He said the family would greatly miss the wise counsel of the late nationalist, whom he described as a man of few words who communicated his thoughts ‘quietly but effectively.’

He appreciated Aiyedatiwa for identifying with the family during the period, while appealing for prayers to enable the children to sustain their father’s legacies.

Speaking, Aiyedatiwa described the late Pa Fasoranti leader as an epitome of humility, kindness and wisdom whose contributions to governance and national development would remain indelible.

‘Even at that age, Baba was still influencing decisions of government. That is to tell you that he was still mentally sound,’ he said.

Aiyedatiwa described the deceased as a great educator whose positive influence extended across generations, producing prominent personalities within and outside Nigeria.

‘We cannot but celebrate his life and times. We are not mourning. We are just celebrating and thanking God for a life that was well lived,’ he said.

The governor said the late nationalist lived a fulfilled life characterised by humility, kindness, wisdom and dedication to the service of humanity.

Aiyedatiwa urged the family and other Nigerians to emulate the virtues of the deceased and continue to make meaningful contributions to society.

The Presidency has rejected Peter Obi’s clarification of his controversial advice to Nigerians in the United Kingdom to refuse financial requests from people back home, insisting that his original remarks were neither misunderstood nor distorted.

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, dismissed Obi’s explanation in a post on X, describing his statement at a Manchester town hall meeting as callous.

‘Mr Peter Obi, you failed to clarify your Manchester callous statement. Nobody twisted your statement. Thank you for affirming it again,’ Onanuga declared.

The presidential spokesman’s response followed Obi’s attempt to clarify remarks he made on Sunday, October 18, while addressing supporters in Manchester, United Kingdom.

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) had urged Nigerians abroad to reject financial appeals from people at home and instead encourage them to support leaders with proven records of financial discipline.

‘You have people at home in Nigeria today who are begging you for money. Tell them no!’ Obi had told the gathering.

He argued that Nigeria’s persistent economic difficulties were largely caused by poor leadership and corruption, which had left many citizens dependent on financial assistance from relatives overseas.

The remarks sparked controversy, prompting Obi’s media office to issue a clarification denying that he had asked Nigerians abroad to abandon their families.

Obi subsequently issued a personal statement titled ‘My Message Has Been Twisted’, accusing political opponents of deliberately misrepresenting his position.

‘Even though my media office has issued a responsible clarification on the situation, I still find it necessary to add my voice to address the distortion of my message by political opponents,’ he stated.

The former Anambra State governor acknowledged the sacrifices made by Nigerians in the diaspora, noting that their remittances helped families pay school fees, hospital bills, rent and other essential expenses.

‘I never asked them to abandon their loved ones. My concern is that Nigeria should not remain a country where millions depend on relatives abroad for basic survival,’ Obi explained.

He maintained that his message was about building a country capable of providing jobs, affordable healthcare, quality education and economic opportunities.

‘Political opponents may twist my message, but the truth remains clear: I am not asking Nigerians abroad to abandon their families. I am advocating for a Nigeria that will no longer abandon its own people,’ he added.

Onanuga, however, rejected the explanation, maintaining that Obi had failed to clarify his original remarks.

The exchange adds to the controversy surrounding Obi’s comments as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State has put politics aside to congratulate his erstwhile political godfather, Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso on the occasion of his 70th birthday.

Yusuf in a statement by his media aide, Sunusi Bature, on Tuesday described the 70th birthday milestone as an important occasion to celebrate Kwankwaso’s life, leadership and contributions to the development of the state and the country at large.

Yusuf also acknowledged Kwankwaso’s role in the state’s political development.

The governor said that the birthday provided an opportunity to reflect on Kwankwaso’s years of public service and his contributions to governance, infrastructure development and the growth of democratic participation in Kano State.

Yusuf prayed to Almighty Allah to grant Kwankwaso good health, long life and renewed strength to continue contributing to the development of the state and the nation.

He also wished him more years of peace and happiness as he celebrates this important milestone.

Kwankwaso was a former governor of Kano State, an ex-Minister of Defence, and the Vice-Presidential Candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2027 general elections.

He supported Governor Yusuf’s emergence and election as Kano governor on the platform of New Nigeria’s People Party, NNPP in the 2023 elections.

However, both men have fallen out of ahead of the 2027 elections with Yusuf defecting to the All Progressives Congress to contest for re-election.

Kwankwaso defected to NDC and has emerged the running mate to the presidential candidate of the party while he is supporting another candidate for the Kano 2027 governorship election.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has said the condition of the Ebola patient in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, has worsened.

The Director of Public Health Laboratory Service at the NCDC, Olajumoke Babatunde, disclosed this during an emergency meeting in Abuja on Wednesday.

She said the patient, a diplomat, had developed multiple organ failure.

According to Babatunde, tests confirmed that the patient was infected with the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola. She added that three rounds of molecular tests were conducted to identify the strain.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) also confirmed the strain, which currently has no approved vaccine or specific treatment.

The patient is a woman who travelled from Uganda to Abuja on October 3, 2026. She was admitted to a private hospital in the FCT after developing symptoms similar to malaria.

The Incident Manager of the National Ebola Response, Dr Odianosen Ehiakhamen, said the woman developed symptoms on October 7 and visited the hospital on October 11.

The NCDC said 44 people who had close contact with the patient had been identified. They include health workers, other patients, caregivers and people who travelled with her or may have been exposed during her journey.

The agency said the patient is being kept in isolation and receiving medical care.

It added that surveillance had been increased to monitor people who may have been exposed to the virus and prevent further spread.

Chief Beluolisa Nwofor, Chancellor, Diocese of Awka, Anglican Communion, has demanded N5 billion in damages from the Bishop of Aguata Diocese, Rt. Rev. Samuel Ezeofor, for announcing his removal from office.

Nwofor, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in a letter dated Oct. 19, addressed to Ezeofor, also demanded the withdrawal of the letter for his removal within 24 hours and a public apology within 48 hours.

In the letter made available to newsmen on Tuesday, he warned that he would institute legal proceedings if the demands were not met.

The letter, titled ‘Demand for Immediate Retraction of the Offensive Letter and Public Apology,’ was a response to Ezeofor’s Oct. 17 letter entitled ‘Removal as the Chancellor of the Diocese of Awka (Anglican Communion).’

Nwofor described the publication as ‘libellous’ and alleged that it was intended to tarnish his reputation.

He argued that Ezeofor, as Bishop of Aguata Diocese, lacked the authority to appoint or remove the Chancellor of Awka Diocese.

According to him, the Constitution and Regulations of the Diocese of Awka, 2023, empower the Bishop of Awka Diocese to appoint the Chancellor and other legal officers.

Nwofor said he was appointed by Archbishop Alexander Ibezim, the suspended Archbishop of the Province of the Niger and Bishop of Awka Diocese, in accordance with the diocesan constitution.

He maintained that his tenure remained valid, arguing that none of the conditions stipulated in the constitution for terminating his appointment had occurred.

The chancellor also challenged Ezeofor to specify the alleged misconduct and lawful directives he was accused of flouting.

He further disclosed that the dispute over Ezeofor’s appointment was already before the Anambra State High Court in Suit No. A/371/2026, with a motion seeking to set aside the appointment pending in court.

Nwofor demanded that Ezeofor pay N5 billion in damages within seven days of receiving the letter.

He warned that failure to comply with the demands would leave him with no option but to seek redress in court.

Copies of the letter were sent to the Primate, Chancellor and Registrar of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion.