Category: PM News

Three men working at a mining site in the Jamus area of Kazok villages, Gashish District, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State have been killed.

This was disclosed in a statement by Berom Youth Moulders-Association (BYM) issued on Friday.

The association in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Rwang Tengwong identified the victims as John Mafulul, 53, and Ezekiel Yohanna, 50.

The association said the victims were attacked at about 5pm on Friday.

The association also announced the death of Bulus Chun Pam of Gwom Ajang, Foron District, Barkin Ladi, who was injured in an attack on October 7.

The victim who was taken to the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) for treatment died on Friday.

The association described the death of Pam as another painful loss to his family and community.

The association expressed concern over the continued attacks in communities across the state.

It also called on the Plateau and federal governments, as well as security agencies, to take urgent measures to protect residents.

The association added that BYM said mining sites, farmlands, rural settlements and community roads should not become places where residents risk losing their lives while trying to earn a living.

BYM also also extended its condolences to the Nigeria Police Force and the family of a police officer reportedly killed along Kwi Road on Thursday.

It asked security agencies to investigate the attacks, apprehend those responsible and ensure they are brought to justice.

The BYM also called on the authorities to strengthen security patrols in vulnerable communities, particularly around mining sites, rural settlements and access roads, while improving intelligence gathering and early-warning systems to prevent further attacks.

President Bola Tinubu will inaugurate the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council on October 14 ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The inauguration will take place at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja. It will bring together party leaders and other stakeholders to coordinate Tinubu’s re-election campaign.

Former Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari, who is the Director-General of the campaign council, disclosed this on Friday after meeting with Tinubu at the Presidential Villa.

Yari told State House correspondents that the president had approved the campaign timetable. He said the first campaign rally would take place in Kaduna on October 24.

According to him, the campaign would later move to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State.

Ahead of the inauguration, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu and Dr Betta Edu, the campaign council’s Director of Women Mobilisation, have started efforts to gather support from women across the country for Tinubu’s re-election.

Edu and her team have set a target of securing 40 million women’s votes for the Tinubu-Shettima ticket in the 2027 election.

The plan involves reaching out to women across 176,846 communities and polling unit structures in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The mobilisation campaign will focus on grassroots engagement, community networks and promoting the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda 2.0.

The October 14 inauguration is expected to officially begin the campaign council’s activities and establish a coordinated structure for the APC’s preparations for the 2027 presidential election.

The planned rally in Kaduna on October 24 is expected to mark the beginning of Tinubu’s nationwide re-election campaign.

The Federal Government has rejected claims that NNPC Retail Limited’s petrol price discount amounts to the return of fuel subsidy, saying no public funds are being used to finance the reduction.

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, said the lower pump price was a commercial decision by NNPC Retail to sacrifice part of its profit margin and pass the benefit to consumers.

The discount took effect on October 1, 2026, amid renewed debate over whether the Federal Government had quietly returned to subsidising petrol after ending the scheme in 2023.

Oyedele, however, dismissed that interpretation.

‘Some commentators have described the discount as a return of fuel subsidy. That is not correct,’ he said in a statement on Friday.

According to him, the key difference is who bears the cost.

He explained that a subsidy occurs when government uses public revenue to reduce the price paid by consumers, while a retail discount means the seller accepts a smaller profit margin.

Oyedele said NNPC Retail purchases petrol from the Dangote Refinery and other suppliers at prevailing market prices before adding its retail margin.

‘The discount comes out of that margin alone, so the discounted pump price remains market-reflective,’ he said.

He stressed that neither the Federal Government’s budget nor the Federation Account was being used to fund the reduction.

Oyedele added that selling crude oil belonging to the Federation below market value would amount to subsidy because the loss would ultimately be borne by public revenue.

Oyedele also dismissed concerns that cutting its retail margin could hurt NNPC Limited’s profitability or reduce dividends accruing to the Federation.

He argued that lower margins could attract more customers and increase overall sales volumes.

‘A smaller margin or temporary zero margin on each litre can be more than offset by selling more litres over time,’ he said.

According to him, higher sales, stronger customer loyalty and increased market share could eventually translate into higher profits for NNPC Retail and better returns to the Federation.

The minister also played down fears that the discount could distort Nigeria’s downstream petroleum market or encourage petrol smuggling into neighbouring countries.

He said the retail margin represents less than five per cent of the pump price, while petrol prices in neighbouring countries remain about 20 to 40 per cent higher than in Nigeria.

Oyedele acknowledged that fuel costs were still putting pressure on households, businesses, commuters and transport operators.

He said the government was pursuing other measures to reduce the burden without restoring the old subsidy regime.

These include expanding compressed natural gas transportation, granting tax and duty waivers on petrol and eliminating illegal levies that increase transportation costs.

The minister maintained that the government’s position on subsidy had not changed.

Under the NNPC Retail arrangement, he said, the company bears the cost through a reduced retail margin, rather than taxpayers funding cheaper petrol through government revenue.

A councillor representing Ogugu Ward III in Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State, Rosemary Aduku, has died after spending several days in captivity.

Her death was announced on Friday by the Chairman of Olamaboro Local Government Area, Dr Ameh Williams, on behalf of the council.

Aduku, popularly known as Hon. Rosella, had reportedly been kidnapped before her death.

The circumstances surrounding her death and the exact events that occurred while she was in captivity were not immediately disclosed.

Williams, in a statement announcing her death and burial arrangements, described the late councillor as humble, dependable and committed to the welfare of people around her.

‘It is with deep sorrow we announce the sudden demise of our dear sister and colleague, Hon. Mrs Rosemary Aduku, the Honourable Councillor representing the good people of Ogugu Ward III in the 8th Olamaboro Legislative Council,’ the statement read.

The council chairman said Aduku was widely respected among her colleagues and members of the local government executive council.

‘Hon. Rosella, as she is fondly called among her colleagues in the council and members of the Olamaboro Executive Council, has been a wonderful soul and down-to-earth.

‘She has been a reliable fellow whose idea is to make everyone around her happy.

‘Though your life was short-lived, we will definitely take solace in your legacies and testimonies we have received since your demise,’ Williams added.

He extended condolences to Aduku’s family, members of the Olamaboro Legislative Council, the executive council and residents of Ogugu community.

Williams also prayed for strength for the bereaved family and described the councillor’s death as an irreparable loss.

The burial was scheduled to hold at 1 p.m. on Friday at her family compound in Ogugu Centre.

The council chairman also urged members of the All Progressives Congress and other residents to attend the burial and pay their last respects to the late councillor.

South African jurist Navanethem ‘Navi’ Pillay has won the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for her contributions to international law, human rights and efforts to ensure that perpetrators of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide are held accountable.

Pillay is recognised for her ‘efforts to promote peace and international law’, the Norwegian Nobel Committee says.

The Nobel Committee announced the award on Friday in Oslo, Norway, recognising Pillay’s longstanding commitment to justice and her work to strengthen international legal institutions at a time when the international rule of law faces growing pressure.

Pillay, a former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and a former judge of the International Criminal Court (ICC), has spent decades challenging impunity and advancing the principle that no individual or government should be above the law.

The committee said her commitment to universal legal principles and her firm moral compass had remained constants throughout her career.

Her selection underscores the importance of international law as an instrument for protecting human rights, preventing atrocities and promoting peace in a world increasingly troubled by armed conflicts and disregard for established legal norms.

One of the principal reasons for Pillay’s Nobel recognition is her work to expand the reach and impact of international law.

The Nobel Committee highlighted her contribution to ensuring that individuals responsible for grave violations of human rights face prosecution.

In announcing the award, committee chairman Jørgen Watne Frydnes emphasised the importance of holding perpetrators of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide accountable.

The recognition comes amid mounting concerns about the weakening of international institutions and the failure of powerful states and political leaders to respect international legal obligations.

For the Nobel Committee, Pillay’s career demonstrates how legal institutions can serve as a line of defence against abuses of power, particularly when political interests threaten to overshadow the rights of vulnerable populations.

The award also reinforces the principle that lasting peace cannot be achieved merely through the absence of fighting. It requires justice, accountability and respect for the rights and dignity of human beings.

Pillay’s contribution to international justice is closely associated with her work at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, where she served as a judge from 1995 to 2003 and presided over the tribunal during the final four years of her tenure.

Established by the United Nations after the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, the tribunal was tasked with prosecuting those responsible for the atrocities that killed hundreds of thousands of people.

During her tenure, Pillay contributed to the development of international criminal law, particularly in relation to sexual violence committed during armed conflict.

One of the landmark cases associated with the tribunal was the prosecution of Jean-Paul Akayesu, a former mayor of the Rwandan town of Taba.

The tribunal’s judgment in the case established an important precedent by recognising that rape and sexual violence could constitute acts of genocide when committed with the requisite intent to destroy a protected group.

The judgment was a significant development in the recognition of sexual violence as a weapon of war and an instrument of genocide.

It also helped strengthen the international legal framework for prosecuting perpetrators of sexual violence during armed conflicts.

Pillay’s work at the tribunal demonstrated that justice must extend beyond the immediate perpetrators of violence to include those who organise, encourage or facilitate atrocities.

Pillay’s commitment to human rights began long before she became a prominent figure in international judicial institutions.

Born in Durban, South Africa, on September 23, 1941, to a family of Indian Tamil descent, she grew up under the country’s apartheid system, which enforced racial segregation and discrimination.

She became a lawyer at a time when South Africa’s racial policies denied millions of Black citizens fundamental rights and restricted their access to justice.

In 1967, she became the first woman to establish a law practice in Natal, now KwaZulu-Natal, and subsequently defended opponents of apartheid.

Her legal work included exposing torture and challenging abuses against political prisoners, helping bring attention to the injustices of the apartheid system.

Following the end of apartheid, Pillay was appointed an acting judge of South Africa’s High Court in 1995, becoming the first Black woman to serve on the court.

Her experience under apartheid helped shape her understanding of the relationship between justice, equality and human dignity.

That background also informed her later work in international institutions, where she consistently advocated the protection of individuals against abuses committed by states and powerful actors.

Her journey from defending victims of apartheid to helping shape international criminal jurisprudence provides an important context for understanding the Nobel Committee’s decision.

Another major chapter in Pillay’s career was her appointment as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, a position she held from 2008 to 2014.

As the UN’s senior human rights official, she worked to promote the protection of fundamental freedoms, strengthen accountability for violations and draw international attention to abuses in different parts of the world.

Her tenure coincided with conflicts, political upheavals and humanitarian crises that tested the international community’s commitment to human rights.

The position placed her at the centre of international efforts to confront violations and remind governments of their obligations under international law.

Pillay also advocated greater recognition of the rights of women and other vulnerable groups, building on her longstanding engagement with gender equality and access to justice.

Her work reflected the conviction that human rights should not depend on a person’s nationality, race, gender or political circumstances.

The Nobel Committee’s recognition of her career therefore extends beyond her judicial decisions to encompass her wider efforts to make international human rights protections more effective.

Pillay’s more recent work has brought her into the centre of one of the most contentious international legal debates: the war in Gaza.

She chaired the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, which concluded in a 2025 report that Israel had committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

The findings intensified international debate over the conduct of the war and the responsibility of governments and military leaders under international law.

Israel has rejected the genocide allegation, while the commission’s conclusions have drawn considerable international attention.

Pillay’s work on the commission has reinforced her longstanding position that allegations of grave international crimes must be investigated and assessed against the relevant legal standards, regardless of the political influence of those implicated.

Her role has also attracted criticism, reflecting the deeply polarised international debate surrounding the Gaza conflict.

Nevertheless, the Nobel Committee’s decision places her broader record of advancing international justice at the centre of the award, rather than reducing her career to a single investigation or political controversy.

Pillay has also served as an ad hoc judge at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the case brought by The Gambia against Myanmar under the Genocide Convention.

The case concerns allegations that Myanmar violated its obligations under the convention in relation to the treatment of the Rohingya, a predominantly Muslim minority that has faced persecution and mass displacement.

The proceedings have become an important test of the international community’s willingness to use legal mechanisms to address allegations of genocide.

The ICJ, the United Nations’ principal judicial organ, settles legal disputes between states and issues advisory opinions on questions of international law.

Pillay’s involvement in the proceedings reflects her continuing engagement with the legal principles that have defined her career: the prevention of genocide, the protection of vulnerable communities and the responsibility of states to comply with international law.

The case also illustrates why international justice remains central to debates about peace and security. Where allegations of mass atrocities arise, legal proceedings can establish authoritative findings, clarify states’ obligations and reinforce the principle that serious violations cannot simply be ignored.

The Nobel Peace Prize comes at a time when international legal institutions face significant political pressure and questions about their ability to enforce their decisions.

Wars and humanitarian crises continue to expose the gap between the international community’s commitments to human rights and the realities confronting civilians in conflict zones.

The Nobel Committee has warned that international law and its institutions are under tremendous pressure.

By honouring Pillay, the committee has drawn attention to the importance of preserving the legal frameworks established to prevent atrocities, prosecute serious crimes and protect human dignity.

The award also highlights the challenges facing international justice when powerful governments dispute investigations, reject findings or resist accountability.

Pillay’s career offers an example of how judges, lawyers and human rights advocates can help establish legal standards that outlast individual conflicts and political administrations.

Her work does not mean that international law can prevent every atrocity or guarantee that every perpetrator will be prosecuted. Rather, it demonstrates why the pursuit of accountability remains necessary, even when enforcement is difficult.

For the Nobel Committee, her career represents an enduring commitment to the principle that justice is indispensable to peace.

Born in Durban in 1941, Pillay studied law at the University of Natal before building a career that took her from South African courtrooms to some of the world’s most important judicial and human rights institutions.

She served as a judge of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda from 1995 to 2003, including four years as its president. She subsequently became a judge of the International Criminal Court before serving as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights from 2008 to 2014.

Throughout her career, she has worked on issues ranging from apartheid-era abuses and sexual violence in conflict to genocide prevention and international accountability.

Her 2026 Nobel Peace Prize recognises this record of service and her contribution to the development and application of international law.

The award will be presented at a formal ceremony in Oslo on December 10, the anniversary of the death of Alfred Nobel, who established the prizes.

Pillay’s selection sends a message that peace is not simply the absence of war. It also depends on the courage to confront injustice, the willingness to hold perpetrators accountable and the determination to defend legal principles when they come under

The World Bank says Nigeria’s 36 states recorded a 93 per cent increase in revenue between 2023 and 2025, but education received a declining share of their total expenditure.

The bank disclosed this in its latest Nigeria Development Update, which examined how increased public revenue influenced spending priorities across the federation.

The report was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) by the World Bank in Washington, D.C.

According to the report, the states’ aggregate revenue rose by approximately 93 per cent in real terms, while expenditure increased by 92 per cent during the period.

The report attributed the growth partly to exchange-rate reforms, the removal of the petrol subsidy, improved revenue administration and increased allocations from the Federation Account.

It said the states also benefited from refunds, the settlement of longstanding federal obligations, intervention funds and stronger Value Added Tax collections.

However, education’s share of total state expenditure declined from 14.9 per cent in 2021 to 12.1 per cent in 2025, according to the report.

Health expenditure remained broadly stable at approximately seven per cent, while social protection’s share increased from 1.4 per cent to 4.4 per cent.

The bank said capital expenditure increased significantly, accounting for 61 per cent of state spending, compared with 46 per cent previously.

Transport infrastructure recorded the largest increase, alongside substantial spending on housing, agriculture and other economic investments.

The report quoted Matthew Verghis, the World Bank’s Country Director for Nigeria, as saying that increased revenue provided an opportunity to improve infrastructure, education, healthcare and water services.

He said greater spending efficiency, accountability and improved service delivery were essential to ensuring that additional public resources benefited Nigerians.

The bank acknowledged improvements in states’ fiscal reporting, transparncy and internally generated revenue.

It, however, stressed that stronger investment in human capital was necessary to translate economic reforms into sustainable employment and improved living standards.

The report also projected average economic growth of 4.4 per cent between 2026 and 2028, subject to sustained reforms and improved service delivery.

It urged federal and state authorities to ensure that increased public revenue translated into tangible improvements in Nigerians’ welfare.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has intensified its mobilisation in Edo State ahead of the 2027 general elections, with its Vice-Presidential Candidate, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, and former Edo State Governor, Chief John Oyegun, calling for political change and economic reforms in Nigeria.

They spoke at an ADC town hall meeting in Edo State attended by party leaders, candidates, supporters and other dignitaries, where the party presented its vision for Edo State and Nigeria ahead of the 2027 elections.

Amaechi, a former Rivers State governor, criticised the economic policies of the President Bola Tinubu administration, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy, which he said had worsened inflation and increased the burden on ordinary Nigerians.

He said energy remained fundamental to economic production, stressing that ‘without it, you cannot produce.’

According to Amaechi, the subsidy removal was undertaken without sufficient consideration of its effect on inflation and the cost of living.

He argued that lower fuel prices would reduce the cost of goods and services and could also contribute to a reduction in crime.

Amaechi said an ADC-led government would introduce production subsidies and implement policies designed to make production easier, while also promising tax cuts and improved salaries.

He further pledged that an ADC government would ensure the construction of all seaports in the country.

On the electoral process, Amaechi urged Nigerians to protect their votes, insisting that elections should be won at the polling units rather than through court battles.

‘You will defend your votes. If you don’t fight for your right, they will take it,’ he said, referring to developments in Osun State.

The ADC vice-presidential candidate also promised greater participation of women in government, saying the country could not be effectively governed without women.

He pledged that an ADC government would increase women’s participation in governance and provide schools in primary communities across villages.

Amaechi also promised to reduce the cost of school fees and make education more accessible to Nigerians.

Speaking on his experience as Rivers State governor, he recalled walking the streets and interacting directly with residents, saying such engagement enabled leaders to understand the realities facing the people.

Earlier, Edo State ADC Chairman, Chief Anthony Alile, said the town hall meeting demonstrated that the party was fully preparing for the 2027 elections.

Alile said Nigeria was at a critical crossroads, adding that the ADC was seeking power to restore effective governance.

He said the people of Edo wanted jobs, security and leadership they could trust, stressing that the party’s message of change was resonating across the state.

ADC leader in Edo Central, Barr. Kenneth Imansuagbon, urged voters to use their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to effect political change.

He said, ‘APC have AK-47 and we have PVC,’ while accusing the ruling party of leaving the state with bad roads and insecurity.

Imansuagbon said the people of Edo were not cowards and would support the ADC at the polls.

In Edo South, ADC leader Senator Ehigie Usamere condemned the display of weapons in political activities, describing it as a sign of weakness.

He urged Benin people to take a leading role in politics and said the ADC would receive strong support from the area.

The ADC National Woman Leader, Naomi Lasara, also urged voters to go beyond casting their ballots by ensuring that their votes were protected.

The event featured the official commissioning of ADC campaign songs under the theme, ‘Entertainer for Good Governance.’

In his remarks, Chief John Oyegun, a former executive governor of Edo State, said Nigerians made ‘terrible mistakes’ three years ago and were now paying for them.

Oyegun expressed concern over political intimidation in Edo State, particularly alleged threats involving AK-47s, and questioned whether such a political environment was what the people wanted.

He said he had closely observed Amaechi during his tenure as Rivers State governor and argued that Nigeria needed courageous leadership and experience to address its current challenges.

Oyegun said the 2027 election should provide an opportunity to correct what he described as the mistakes of 2023 and ‘rescue the nation.’

The town hall also featured the presentation of ADC candidates and members of the party’s state working committee, including Edo North senatorial candidate Haruna Abubakar, Edo Central senatorial candidate, Edo South senatorial candidate Senator Matthew Erohide, and the party’s nine House of Representatives candidates.

Other dignitaries at the event included ADC campaign adviser Senator Osamere, Barr. Kenneth Imasogbon, Senator Nurudeen Usman, Pastor Oseni, National Woman Leader Naomi Lasara, the South-South Woman Leader, Senator Ayo Akinyolore from Ondo State, Jubril Sabi Kiyana from Nasarawa State, former Attorney-General Barr. Mohamed Hassan Abdullahi, Nasarawa State gubernatorial candidate Hon. Asita Hon, and Niger Delta politician Nancy Stephens from Rivers State.

The town hall meeting is part of the ADC’s grassroots mobilisation and engagement ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to enforce the Supreme Court judgment on the submission and use of political parties’ membership registers for primaries, congresses and conventions.

Supreme Court had in the judgment delivered on Sept. 24 in INEC v Zenith Labour Party affirmed section 77 of the 2026 Electoral Act.

The apex court also set aside the Court of Appeal judgment which declared sections 77(5) to (7) and 84(2) of the Act, and Activity Serial Number Two of INEC’s Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 general elections unconstitutional.

APC, in a letter dated Oct. 9 and signed by its National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, and National Secretary, Sen. Surajudeen Basiru, called for application of the legal consequences for non-compliance.

This, it said, included barring any defaulting party from fielding candidates in the general elections.

The ruling party asked INEC to enforce the judgment in accordance with its terms and legal effect, and to verify if each party submitted its digital membership register within the statutory period.

It also asked INEC to apply the consequences under section 77(7) and ensure that only members on the register submitted to the commission vote and are voted for in internal party elections.

The party pointed to section 77(4) which provides that ‘each political party shall make such register available to INEC not later than 21 days before the slated date for the party primaries, congresses or conventions.

It added that section 77(5) specifically provided that only members whose names were contained in the register shall be eligible to vote and be voted for in party primaries, congresses and conventions.

‘Section 77(6) bars a party from using any register other than the one submitted to INEC,’ the party said.

It added that the Supreme Court, at page 24 of the judgment, explained that the practical legal effect of section 77(7) was that a party that failed to submit its digital membership register within the prescribed period might be precluded from fielding candidates in the general elections.

It argued that this interpretation demonstrated the mandatory character of the statutory requirements and the legal consequences of non-compliance by political parties.

‘The court said at pages 25 and 26 that the objective of section 77 is to ensure that parties adhere to internal democracy through the fair, transparent and verifiable conduct of primaries, congresses and conventions.

‘The court relied on section 228(a) of the Constitution, which empowers the National Assembly to make laws on internal party democracy, and on its earlier decision in Ardo v Nyako (2014) 10 NWLR (Pt. 1416) 591.

‘The court held that although the power to nominate candidates resides with the parties, the procedure for the nomination is not left to the whims and caprices of party officials,’ the letter read in parts.

The party noted that on page 34, the Supreme Court observed that parties had been given sufficient time by INEC to submit their registers.

‘Therefore, there is no justifiable reason for any political party to breach the deadline imposed by law,’ it stated, adding that INEC was the appellant in the suit and was therefore bound by the judgment.

APC cited section 287(1) of the constitution, which provided that ‘The decisions of the Supreme Court shall be enforced in any part of the Federation by all authorities and persons, and by courts with subordinate jurisdiction to that of the Supreme Court.

‘As a political party, we insist that compliance with section 77 of the Electoral Act 2026 is not a matter of discretion but a statutory obligation whose interpretation has been authoritatively addressed by the Supreme Court,’ the party said.

It warned that allowing political parties to disregard the prescribed statutory requirements without the application of the consequences stipulated by law might undermine the objectives of internal party democracy.

APC added that such action might undermine electoral transparency and the rule of law.

Nigeria has recorded 263 deaths from Lassa fever in the first 38 epidemiological weeks of 2026, with the fatality rate rising to 23.6 per cent, compared with 18.5 per cent during the corresponding period in 2025, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).

The agency disclosed this in its Lassa Fever Situation Report for Epidemiological Week 38, covering September 14 to 20, 2026, which showed that the country had recorded 1,115 confirmed cases and six probable cases from 8,218 suspected cases as of the reporting week.

The report indicated that the 263 deaths recorded among confirmed cases represented a significant increase from the 168 deaths reported during the same period in 2025, when 906 confirmed cases were recorded.

According to the NCDC, 24 states and 119 local government areas had recorded at least one confirmed case of the disease in 2026 as of epidemiological week 38.

Five states accounted for 87 per cent of all confirmed cases, underscoring the concentration of the outbreak in a handful of locations.

Ondo State accounted for the highest proportion at 35 per cent, followed by Bauchi with 23 per cent, Taraba with 12 per cent, Edo with 11 per cent and Benue with six per cent.

The report showed that Ondo had recorded 393 confirmed cases and 91 deaths, while Bauchi reported 260 confirmed cases and 36 deaths.

Taraba recorded 133 confirmed cases and 43 deaths, while Edo had 122 confirmed cases and 27 deaths. Benue recorded 61 confirmed cases and 15 deaths.

Together, the five states accounted for the overwhelming majority of confirmed infections reported nationally.

Although new confirmed infections declined during the latest reporting week, deaths continued to be recorded.

The NCDC reported 11 new confirmed cases in epidemiological week 38, down from 17 in the preceding week. The new infections were recorded in Ondo, Edo and Taraba states.

However, four deaths were recorded among confirmed cases during the week, representing a case fatality rate of 36.4 per cent for the reporting period.

The weekly fatality rate was higher than the cumulative rate of 23.6 per cent recorded for the year, although the two figures cover different reporting periods and case totals.

The agency also reported 120 suspected cases during the week, with no new probable cases recorded.

No additional healthcare worker was affected during the reporting week, although the cumulative number of healthcare workers affected by Lassa fever in 2026 stood at 54.

The NCDC report identified people aged 21 to 30 years as the most affected age group, with confirmed cases recorded among individuals ranging from one to 93 years old. The median age of affected patients was 30 years.

The report also showed that the male-to-female ratio among confirmed cases was 1:0.9, indicating a broadly similar distribution between the sexes.

The agency identified late presentation at health facilities as one of the major challenges contributing to the high fatality rate.

It also highlighted poor health-seeking behaviour associated with the high cost of treatment and clinical management, inadequate environmental sanitation in high-burden communities, limited public awareness and infections among healthcare workers.

The NCDC recommended that state governments strengthen community engagement on Lassa fever prevention throughout the year.

It urged healthcare workers to maintain a high level of suspicion for the disease, ensure timely referral and treatment, and adhere strictly to standard infection prevention and control procedures.

The agency also called for stronger state capacity to prevent, detect and respond promptly to outbreaks.

Three Saudi nationals, including a Saudia airline captain, were killed in two attacks on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport on Thursday, aviation authorities said.

The ??General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) disclosed the casualties in a statement on Friday, adding that several people of different nationalities sustained injuries in the incidents.

According to the authority, the first attack targeted facilities at the airport, while the second struck an aircraft operated by Saudia, Saudi Arabia’s national carrier.

Among the deceased was Captain Hamoud Ali Alkalthami, who was identified as one of the victims of the attacks.

GACA said emergency response teams and relevant authorities acted promptly after the incidents, evacuating the injured to hospitals for treatment.

It noted that the victims suffered injuries ranging from minor to critical, while the attacks also resulted in property damage.

The authority said it was working with security agencies to assess the destruction and implement necessary measures to protect passengers, airport workers and the country’s civil aviation infrastructure.

GACA further confirmed that airport operations and air traffic had resumed following the attacks.