Category: The Nation – Nigeria

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Senator George Akume declared yesterday that any northerner seeking to contest the 2027 presidential election is an enemy of the North.

He insisted that President Bola Tinubu must be allowed to complete a second term before power returns to the region in 2031.

Akume warned that the personal ambitions of politicians seeking to challenge Tinubu in 2027 must not be allowed to undermine the existing understanding on power rotation between the North and South or threaten the country’s political stability.

The SGF spoke in Kaduna during a pre-campaign meeting with a large gathering of Benue State citizens resident in the state.

He urged Northerners to unite behind the President’s re-election bid rather than support politicians whose ambitions could jeopardise the region’s long-term political interests.

‘Anybody who is from the North and running for the presidency is an enemy of the North. Don’t allow that pretender to deceive you. It is not yet our turn. The North’s turn is in 2031. Prepare to vote for Tinubu. Do not allow anyone to destroy the country because of a vaunting personal ambition’ Akume was quoted as saying by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity Yomi Odunuga.

Continuing the SGF said:’Let us remember that the President has been fair to all in terms of appointments and others. He doesn’t favour one religion over the other. Just look at the figures. So be careful about what people tell you.’

The former Benue State governor recalled that the understanding on power rotation between the North and South was reached in Kaduna stressing that the arrangement has contributed significantly to national unity and the preservation of Nigeria’s territorial integrity.

‘Remember that it was in this same Kaduna State that we agreed on power rotation between the North and the South. You cannot doubt the credentials of those that reached this agreement at that time and it was done to keep this country together. We agreed on power shift and that is what has kept this country going. That is what has retained our territorial integrity’ he explained.

Akume also took a swipe at an unnamed political opponent of the President accusing him of inconsistency over the removal of fuel subsidy and warning Nigerians against being misled by politicians whose positions on major national issues frequently changed.

‘Forget that other one making noise that he was going to remove fuel subsidy. He is always flip- flopping. He says something today and changes gear the next minute’ the SGF said.

He defended the Tinubu administration’s performance particularly its distribution of federal appointments and execution of development projects across the country arguing that the President had demonstrated fairness to different regions and religious groups.

Akume specifically cited ongoing federal projects in Benue State including interventions in healthcare road infrastructure and education as evidence of the administration’s commitment to the welfare of the people. He also claimed that over 65 per cent of access to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has been recorded in the North.

‘Let nobody deceive you Asiwaju loves Benue and he has displayed that in the number of significant projects the Federal Government is carrying out simultaneously in the state. These projects are diverse in healthcare roads education and others’ he said.

The SGF who described Kaduna as a historic centre of Northern political cooperation commended Governor Uba Sani for promoting unity and inclusive leadership urging Benue indigenes resident in the state to support his administration and re-election.

He said effective leadership required the ability to accommodate people of different ethnic and religious backgrounds recalling his experience as governor of Benue State and stressing that peaceful coexistence remained fundamental to national development.

Akume urged Northern political stakeholders to resist attempts to divide the region along ethnic religious and personal lines maintaining that unity cooperation and respect for existing political agreements were essential to sustaining the North’s influence in national affairs.

Among the dignitaries who accompanied the SGF were former Jigawa State Governor Alhaji Saminu Turaki; former Minister of Women Affairs Dame Pauline Tallen; Senator Abu Ibrahim; Minister of Water Resources Professor Joseph Utsev; and Minister of Steel Development Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu.

The Ondo State Government said it has intensified measures to prevent the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the state by deploying four ambulances for emergency transportation of any possible suspected cases and placing health personnel on alert.

The Special Adviser to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on Health Prof. Simidele Odimayo revealed this on Saturday in an interview in Akure the state capital.

Odimayo also said the state had begun to train health workers strengthening disease surveillance and intensifying public awareness campaigns to ensure prompt detection and reporting of suspected cases.

He explained that the measures were part of the state’s proactive response in line with national guidelines stressing that no Ebola case had been recorded in Ondo.

Odimayo said the government had constituted a committee to coordinate preparedness efforts and sent some team members to Abuja for specialised training to strengthen the state’s response capacity.

‘The state is doing a lot. We have already set up a committee that is working. We have sent some of our team to Abuja for some training programmes.

‘We have just procured so many ambulances in recent times about 15 of them. So all we need to do at this time is to dedicate some about four in line with the national guidelines for movement of cases in case we have cases’ he said.

According to him the health facilities and health posts across the state had been alerted to remain vigilant recognise Ebola symptoms and report suspected cases promptly through established channels.

He said the government was also making arrangements for isolation personal protective equipment and other emergency logistics to protect health workers and limit the risk of transmission.

Odimayo disclosed that community mobilisers had been directed to sensitise residents while radio jingles educational materials and media engagements were being used to promote awareness and discourage panic.

‘We have our agents our community mobilisers. We have informed them to inform the people at the grassroots level. We have also produced jingles and written materials that people will be able to utilise’ he said.

He advised the residents to remain calm maintain good personal hygiene wash their hands regularly and avoid direct contact with the bodily fluids of anyone suspected of having Ebola.

Odimayo advised residents to avoid touching their eyes nose and mouth with unwashed hands and promptly report suspected cases to health authorities.

He also assured residents that the government was strengthening surveillance and emergency response systems to prevent the disease from gaining a foothold in the state. The governor’s aide further disclosed that health facilities and health posts across the state had been alerted to strengthen vigilance familiarise personnel with the symptoms of Ebola and adhere strictly to established reporting procedures.

He said the government was working to ensure that suspected cases were identified and referred through appropriate channels without unnecessary delays.

According to him the state’s surveillance and reporting mechanisms are being aligned with national protocols to facilitate a coordinated response involving health facilities and relevant emergency agencies.

He added that the government had made arrangements for the isolation of suspected cases to support appropriate medical assessment and reduce the risk of possible transmission.

The health adviser further said personal protective equipment (PPE) had been provided through the state’s designated emergency management agency while logistical arrangements were being reviewed to ensure that necessary materials could reach health facilities and health posts when required.

He however emphasised that protecting healthcare workers was an essential component of the preparedness strategy noting that personnel must have the appropriate equipment and knowledge to handle suspected cases safely.

The Convener of Arewa Think Tank Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu has declared that the North has spoken through the massive turnout of supporters at the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign flag-off in Kaduna describing the gathering as a strong political statement in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

Yakubu in a statement issued on Sunday commended the people of Northern Nigeria the region’s governors and key APC stakeholders for their contributions to the successful hosting of the rally particularly praising the Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Abdulaziz Yari and Kaduna State Governor Senator Uba Sani for their leadership and organisational efforts.

He said the impressive turnout and expressions of support at the gathering demonstrated the enthusiasm and determination of Tinubu’s supporters across Northern Nigeria to work towards his re-election in the 2027 general election.

‘The successful gathering in Kaduna sends a strong political message about the enthusiasm and commitment of supporters of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu across Northern Nigeria. The voices expressed at the event reflect a determination among these supporters to stand with President Tinubu and advocate for his re-election in 2027’ Yakubu said.

The Arewa Think Tank Convener described the rally as a significant political engagement that underscored the importance of unity grassroots mobilisation and active participation in Nigeria’s democratic process stressing that the North remained a critical stakeholder in the country’s political development.

Yakubu particularly commended Governor Uba Sani and the people of Kaduna State for successfully hosting the presidential campaign flag-off noting that their hospitality coordination and organisational efforts contributed significantly to the gathering’s success.

‘I particularly commend Governor Uba Sani and the government and people of Kaduna State for their hospitality organisational efforts and commitment to ensuring the successful hosting of the event’ he stated.

He also applauded the Northern governors political leaders youth groups women’s organisations and grassroots mobilisers who participated in the rally saying their collective involvement demonstrated the importance of collaboration among political stakeholders and citizens in strengthening democratic participation.

The Convener also praised the Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Abdulaziz Yari for his leadership and coordination and acknowledged the contributions of the campaign team and other stakeholders whose efforts ensured the successful conduct of the political gathering.

Yakubu urged political leaders and supporters to sustain the spirit of cooperation shown at the rally stressing that peaceful participation constructive engagement and mutual understanding remained essential to Nigeria’s democratic development and national stability.

‘The North remains an important stakeholder in Nigeria’s political and democratic development’ he said emphasising the need for sustained cooperation among political leaders community stakeholders and citizens as the country prepares for the 2027 general election.

He maintained that the Kaduna gathering should strengthen relationships among political stakeholders promote national unity and encourage issue-based discussions that address Nigerians’ welfare and aspirations beyond electioneering.

‘National development requires continuous dialogue and collaboration among all sections of the country’ Yakubu said adding that political participation must be accompanied by a genuine commitment to peace stability democratic values and the collective aspirations of Nigerians.

The Arewa Think Tank Convener congratulated the government and people of Kaduna State the Northern governors the APC campaign leadership and all participants who contributed to the rally’s success urging them to sustain the momentum of peaceful political engagement ahead of the 2027 polls.

‘On behalf of Arewa Think Tank I express our sincere appreciation to everyone who contributed to the success of this gathering. We encourage continued peaceful engagement and constructive participation in the democratic process as Nigeria looks towards 2027’ Yakubu said reiterating that unity dialogue and cooperation remained indispensable to strengthening Nigeria’s democratic institutions and promoting national progress.

Vice President Kashim Shettima yesterday went down the memory lane recalling how President Bola Tinubu provided former Vice President Atiku Abubakar political refuge and a platform to contest the 2007 presidential election after he was forced out of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Shettima who spoke at the flag-off of the APC presidential campaign in Kaduna said Tinubu’s longstanding support for northern presidential candidates demonstrated his commitment to the region and justified the North’s continued support for his re-election in 2027.

The Vice President reminded northerners that Tinubu similarly supported two other prominent northern politicians in their presidential ambitions: current National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu in 2011 and the late President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 and 2019.

Tinubu’s political history he said has established him as a dependable ally of the North.

Shettima said: ‘President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is one person who has fiercely identified with the North over the years.

‘It is pertinent to mention that when our former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was harassed and chased out of the PDP with his tail between his legs he ran to the Lion of Bourdillon who gave him political succour and support and a platform to contest for the presidency of this country in 2007.

‘Again in 2011 President Tinubu supported another northern man Mallam Nuhu Ribadu to contest for the presidency of this country.

‘And you can be a witness that in 2015 and 2019 President Tinubu stood solidly behind the late President Muhammadu Buhari and secured him his first and second-term victories’ he said.

Shettima said the President’s political sacrifices and commitment to northern interests were sufficient reasons for the region to stand firmly behind his second-term ambition.

He maintained that supporting Tinubu’s re-election was a matter of honour political loyalty and appreciation for his contributions to the advancement of northern political leaders over the years.

The Vice President also defended the administration’s economic reforms insisting that the government had successfully held the country together despite predictions that its policies would trigger an economic collapse.

According to him the administration’s achievements were the result of collective sacrifice political cooperation and the determination of its leadership to confront challenges threatening Nigeria’s stability.

‘We have come to you with a heart full of gratitude. Gratitude for standing with us. Gratitude for believing in us. Gratitude for understanding that after the storm comes ease’ he told the gathering.

Shettima said the administration had demonstrated that it possessed the competence and sincerity required to navigate the country’s difficulties.

‘We couldn’t have been here today without the faith you have in us. So thank you.

‘We are qualified to come to you because you know beyond the mischief beyond the lies beyond the hypocrisies and beyond the agenda that Nigeria needs its finest servants to stand together.

‘What we have done is to fight for the survival of this nation’ he declared.

He attributed the administration’s ability to withstand economic pressures and preserve national stability to cooperation among political leaders and the confidence Nigerians had continued to repose in the government.

‘We were able to keep this country together and defy the predictions of those who had predicted the implosion of our economy because we worked together’ he said.

Reflecting on the 2023 presidential election Shettima argued that Nigerians did not elect Tinubu because of the wealth educational qualifications or rhetorical abilities of the APC leadership but because they recognised the dangers he claimed were associated with the available alternatives.

‘Almost four years ago you spoke eloquently sincerely boldly and decisively to elect a change-maker His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

‘We didn’t win that election because we were wise. Far from it. We didn’t win that election because we were rich and we didn’t win that election because we were educated.

‘We didn’t win that election because we were the best speakers. We won because you saw options before you and knew without a doubt that the alternative was a calamity’ he stated.

The Vice President urged Nigerians to renew their confidence in the ruling party maintaining that the APC had demonstrated its capacity to deliver on electoral promises and sustain development across the country.

Addressing the people of Kaduna State Shettima praised Governor Uba Sani for promoting unity and development in a state previously troubled by divisions.

He said the governor’s inclusive leadership had strengthened relationships among communities and created an atmosphere in which residents from different parts of the state could regard themselves as members of one political family.

According to him the administration had helped bridge longstanding divisions between communities in Southern and Northern Kaduna while extending development programmes across the state.

He said the achievements provided sufficient grounds for voters to renew Sani’s mandate alongside that of President Tinubu.

‘This is the legacy of the APC in Kaduna State. This is the mandate we have come to ask you to renew a second term for the APC from top to bottom’Shettima declared.

The Vice President also listed educational projects and skills development initiatives among the achievements of the federal and Kaduna State governments.

He cited the establishment of the Federal University of Applied Sciences Kachia the transition of the Federal College of Education Zaria to university status and the establishment of vocational training institutions as evidence of the party’s commitment to restoring Kaduna’s reputation as a centre of learning.

He particularly highlighted the vocational training centres in Rigachikun Soba and Samaru Kataf saying they had produced more than 4000 graduates.

Shettima also identified the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as an intervention that had provided educational financing to hundreds of thousands of students in tertiary institutions.

He insisted that the developments demonstrated the administration’s determination to expand access to education promote skills acquisition and create opportunities for young Nigerians.

Turning to federal infrastructure projects across Northern Nigeria the Vice President dismissed suggestions that Tinubu’s administration had neglected the region.

He said the government had maintained a policy of continuing important projects inherited from previous administrations rather than abandoning them for political reasons.

According to him this approach had resulted in substantial progress on several strategic infrastructure projects expected to improve transportation energy supply agricultural production and economic integration across the northern states.

‘We have built a record of continuing projects initiated by our predecessors’ he said.

He listed the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline Kano-Maradi Railway Lagos-Kano Rail Corridor and Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Road among projects receiving attention under the administration.

Shettima also highlighted ongoing work on the Sokoto-Badagry Highway describing the road project as a major infrastructure intervention that would create opportunities for agricultural production and economic activities.

Police in Anambra State have arrested a 26-year-old man in Ebenebe community of Awka North Local Government Area of the state over alleged involvement in armed robbery kidnapping cult-related activities and secessionist-related offences.

Command Spokesperson Tochukwu Ikenga disclosed this on Sunday saying the suspect identified as Udochukwu Okafor popularly known as ‘Small-Moto’ was apprehended on October 24 2026 during a targeted operation in the area.

He said operatives of the Rapid Response Squad Awkuzu conducted the operation following intelligence-led efforts to arrest the suspect reportedly on the Command’s wanted list.

According to Ikenga the suspect during preliminary interrogation allegedly admitted to snatching a pump-action firearm from a vigilante operative in Ebenebe.

‘He also reportedly disclosed possession of a locally made short gun which he and other members of his alleged gang were said to have used in their criminal operations.

‘The suspect further allegedly admitted to membership of the Supreme Vikings Confraternity also known as ‘Aro-Baggers’ a group suspected of involvement in cult-related violence in Awka and its environs.

‘The Command has intensified investigations to recover the firearms reportedly mentioned by the suspect establish the full extent of his alleged involvement in criminal activities and apprehend other suspected members of the gang who remain at large.

‘The suspect remains in police custody as investigations continue. The Command assures residents that it is working to identify and apprehend individuals involved in criminal activities to protect public safety and security.

‘The Command will provide further updates as the investigation progresses.’

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has recorded more than 6100 flying hours and 2900 sorties in support of national security operations between November 2025 and September 2026 as the Chief of Air Staff (CAS) Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke approaches his first anniversary in office.

The Service also took delivery of five helicopters approved 284 infrastructure projects and expanded personnel training to strengthen operational effectiveness and modernise its fleet.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Aneke alongside other service chiefs on October 24 2025 and he assumed office as CAS on October 30 2025.

The NAF Director of Public Relations and Information Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame disclosed these achievements in a statement on Sunday outlining the Service’s performance under Aneke’s leadership.

According to the statement the NAF consumed nearly 10 million litres of Jet A-1 aviation fuel during the period to support precision air strikes armed reconnaissance surveillance close air support and other missions.

It said the operations were designed to degrade hostile elements restrict their freedom of action and improve the effectiveness of surface forces.

The statement added that the Service had prioritised intelligence-led mission planning to ensure that every sortie served a defined operational purpose and contributed to national security.

‘Guided by his command philosophy of sustaining a highly motivated professional and mission-ready force capable of delivering decisive airpower effects in synergy with surface forces the Service has pursued a focused transformation agenda anchored on operational effectiveness personnel welfare technological advancement and institutional accountability’ it said.

On fleet modernisation the NAF said it received five helicopters in September comprising three AW-109 Trekker Type B helicopters and two H125 helicopters to expand its operational flexibility and support capacity.

The Service is also pursuing the acquisition of 12 AH-1Z attack helicopters along with other aircraft and unmanned aerial systems to strengthen its combat airlift training intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.

Maintenance and fleet regeneration efforts have also progressed including the reactivation and upgrade of six L-39ZA aircraft in Slovakia and Nigeria as well as ongoing periodic depot maintenance of a C-130 aircraft in Portugal.

Regarding personnel development the NAF reported promoting 57 senior officers to Air Vice Marshal and Air Commodore.

It added that it also promoted 1534 senior non-commissioned officers and 1936 non-commissioned officers bringing the total number of personnel promoted across the three categories to 3527.

More than 550 personnel participated in international training and professional engagements while over 6000 received local training to improve their specialised competencies technical proficiency and leadership capacity.

The NAF also highlighted personnel welfare as a major component of Aneke’s leadership philosophy encapsulated in the principle of ‘Welfare for Enhanced Warfare.’

The statement said the Service had improved personnel allowances medical support and accommodation alongside infrastructure development to improve living and working conditions across its formations.

It added that the Service had reactivated welfare airlift services for personnel deployed in frontline operational theatres to boost morale and support operational readiness.

On infrastructure the NAF said it had approved 284 projects with 145 completed and 139 ongoing.

The projects cover residential accommodation academic and medical facilities administrative and operational infrastructure roads electricity water supply and recreational facilities.

The Service also disclosed efforts to strengthen aviation safety and accountability by establishing an Operational and Safety Audit Committee and improving its Safety Management System.

It said the measures were designed to support independent assessments of operational engineering and armament units promote proactive risk management and strengthen safety oversight.

The NAF is also advancing Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response initiatives through dedicated structures standardised training and improved assessment and investigation capabilities.

In addition plans are underway to establish an Open-Source Intelligence Centre to improve situational awareness and operational planning by better exploiting available information and emerging technologies.

On indigenous capability the Service said it had pursued local production initiatives involving Aircraft Release Device 863 impulse release cartridges and a 250-kilogram bomb-loading trolley alongside the development and ground testing of locally produced 57-millimetre rockets.

It added that community-focused healthcare educational and other special projects had continued to support civil-military relations and public confidence.

As Aneke approaches his first anniversary on October 30 the NAF said it remained focused on translating investments in personnel aircraft technology and infrastructure into improved operational results.

‘The objective is not simply to expand capability but to sustain a professional accountable and responsive force prepared for evolving threats’ the statement said.

It added that the Service’s commitment remained focused on ‘stronger airpower safer skies and a more secure Nigeria.’

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike has urged residents of Bonny Kingdom in Rivers State to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 citing the completion of the long-awaited Bonny-Bodo Road as evidence of his administration’s commitment to development.

Wike said the road had ended decades of dependence on boats and helicopters for access to the island community describing its completion as a landmark achievement that demonstrated the importance of continuity in governance.

The minister spoke yesterday during a courtesy visit to the Amanyanabo of Bonny Kingdom King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III in Port Harcourt ahead of an interactive meeting with residents of Bonny Local Government Area.

He said successive administrations had treated the road as a political promise without delivering it until the current federal government.

‘The advantage is that we can now go by road to Bonny. Administrations have come and this road has become a political road. It is not today. So many governments have said ‘We will try’ but thank God under the administration of the present president this road has been completed’ Wike said.

The former Rivers State governor argued that the project would improve connectivity facilitate commercial activities and ease the transportation difficulties that had constrained residents and businesses in the oil-rich kingdom for decades.

Wike who coordinates Tinubu’s re-election campaign in Rivers State and the FCT said Nigerians should judge political leaders by their records in office particularly their ability to take difficult decisions and deliver projects that directly improve the lives of citizens.

He urged the people of Bonny to consider the federal government’s infrastructure achievements and economic reforms in deciding whether Tinubu deserved a second term.

The minister also defended the president’s removal of the petrol subsidy describing it as a difficult but necessary decision that previous administrations had avoided despite acknowledging the problems associated with the policy.

‘Each time a president comes fuel subsidy is a scam. What have you done with it? Nobody has been able to make a courageous decision’ he said.

While acknowledging the hardship caused by rising petrol prices and the cost of living Wike argued that subsidy removal had increased the revenue available to federal state and local governments.

He claimed that states now received at least N15 billion monthly from federal allocations excluding other revenue inflows and challenged subnational governments to translate the additional resources into visible development.

Recalling the financial position of Rivers State when he became governor in 2015 Wike maintained that the resources available to governments had increased significantly creating opportunities for investment in infrastructure education and public services.

He also said that public universities had not embarked on strikes in the three years preceding his remarks attributing the development to improved funding conditions.

Wike argued that the impact of economic reforms should be assessed over time rather than judged exclusively by the immediate difficulties they impose on citizens.

He urged voters to scrutinise the records of politicians seeking public office warning against those he accused of making promises without delivering tangible results.

To buttress his argument the minister criticised aspects of the previous Rivers State administration and raised questions about the management of funds allocated to major projects.

He alleged that $39 million had been paid for the proposed 1000-bed Justice Karibi-Whyte Specialist Hospital without the project progressing to the foundation stage.

Wike also claimed that $308million received from the sale of a power plant in December 2014 had dwindled to $308000 by the time he assumed office in May 2015.

He argued that the money could have funded development projects across the state’s local government areas if properly managed.

The minister said political leaders should be judged by their records of accountability project delivery and prudent management of public resources rather than campaign promises.

He further urged community leaders to engage government authorities on their development priorities stressing that projects should reflect the needs of the people who would benefit from them.

According to him traditional rulers youths and other stakeholders should identify their most pressing challenges and communicate them to the relevant authorities to ensure that available resources are directed towards meaningful interventions.

Wike said effective governance required consultation realistic prioritisation and cooperation between communities and the different levels of government.

Earlier the Amanyanabo of Bonny Kingdom King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III welcomed the minister and commended his longstanding relationship with the kingdom.

The monarch recalled Wike’s support for the establishment of Bonny Polytechnic during his time as a minister as well as his interventions on security-related matters.

He also acknowledged Wike’s contribution to the Bonny-Bodo Road project describing his role as significant to the kingdom’s development.

‘The minister has been of immense support to us ranging from where we tried to establish the Bonny Polytechnic. He played a major role towards having this polytechnic started at the time he was minister’ the monarch said.

The traditional ruler described Bonny Kingdom as an important contributor to Nigeria’s economic and national life while commending Wike’s emphasis on infrastructure development and project delivery.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported two suspected Ebola cases in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Rivers State with the Rivers case testing negative while 53 primary contacts of the country’s only confirmed case are being monitored.

The two cases are the initial confirmed case in Abuja and a new one in Port Harcourt which tested negative.

The Commission is also considering N100000 financial assistance for the 53 contacts to ease the burden of isolation on their businesses and families following complaints that the restrictions strained their livelihoods and family responsibilities.

NCDC Director-General Dr Jide Idris disclosed this while briefing journalists on the Federal Government’s response to the outbreak saying investigations were ongoing to establish the source of infection and the patient’s travel history.

The 53 primary contacts comprise 44 people at a health facility and nine others identified during further investigations.

The additional contacts include three household members three healthcare workers at a university teaching hospital the patient reportedly visited before reaching the facility where her infection was identified and three members of the team that collected her samples.

Idris said the team was monitoring the contacts for symptoms adding that the number could change as investigations progressed and they identified further contacts.

According to him health workers are interviewing those listed to establish who they have interacted with and determine whether to monitor additional people.

He added that people without symptoms could be monitored at home with their temperatures checked twice daily while anyone who developed symptoms would be assessed promptly and isolated where necessary.

Idris said contacts would be followed up for 21 days corresponding to Ebola’s maximum incubation period while urging those identified to cooperate with public health officials stressing that being listed as a contact did not mean a person had contracted the disease.

On the confirmed patient the NCDC chief said her condition had improved while tests on her husband had returned negative.

‘The husband has been with the wife. The husband is negative. They travelled together to various places so the travel history is still unfolding to give us a clear picture’ he said.

Idris explained that the patient arrived in Nigeria without symptoms making it difficult to detect the infection through routine screening.

‘It was in reviewing the history that we started hearing about the case. Because she was symptomless there was no way it could be tested at that point’ he said.

On the isolated primary contacts Idris said the Commission is considering offering them monetary incentives as some have started complaining of financial strain from being away from their businesses.

He added however that even if it was decided to give financial assistance it would only be to ensure the FCT administration would take it from there.

He urged States to be prepared for such an occurrence if it gets to that point.

The NCDC is also collaborating with international health authorities including those in Uganda to exchange information.

Idris said Nigeria would meet with Ugandan authorities on Monday for further briefings and information sharing to clarify outstanding issues adding that investigators were reviewing the index case’s passport travel records and other information to establish her movements and possible source of exposure.

Idris said the national incident management system had been activated to coordinate the response involving the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare the NCDC FCT health authorities other government agencies and technical partners.

He said the agency had stocks of personal protective equipment (PPE) and was expecting additional supplies for healthcare facilities and states managing suspected cases and contacts.

‘We have PPE right now we have stocks. We are getting in more and we are prioritising for close contacts where they are very necessary’ he said.

He stressed that protective equipment must match the duties being performed as healthcare workers treating patients need different levels of protection than those carrying out other tasks.

On diagnostic capacity Idris said Nigeria had identified about 12 laboratories capable of testing for Ebola including the National Reference Laboratory in Abuja and the Centre for Human and Zoonotic Virology in Lagos.

He said the country was strengthening laboratory readiness through additional reagents consumables and technical support while genomic sequencing was underway to help establish the relationship between the virus detected in the patient and previously identified strains.

However he cautioned that not all laboratories had the biosafety infrastructure and expertise required to handle Ebola samples.

Idris said the Bundibugyo strain responsible for the outbreak has no approved vaccine although vaccine candidates are in clinical trials and that any potential treatment must follow established clinical and regulatory protocols.

He urged healthcare facilities to strengthen infection prevention and control measures maintain a high index of suspicion and promptly report suspected cases.

He said healthcare workers should implement protective measures immediately when they encounter a suspected case rather than wait for laboratory confirmation.

The NCDC chief also urged Nigerians to avoid misinformation and rely on verified updates from authorised health agencies.

He advised the public to practise regular hand hygiene avoid direct contact with the bodily fluids of suspected cases and promptly report possible exposure or symptoms.

‘Our immediate priority is to identify and follow up all contacts protect healthcare workers provide appropriate care and prevent transmission into the wider community’ he said.

A mother and her child have died after two 20-foot container-laden trucks overturned at Mile 2 near Freeman Market inward Apapa Lagos.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) said the victims were trapped beneath the trucks and their containers in the incident which occurred over the weekend.

In a statement LASTMA said its rescue and recovery team responded to the scene cordoned off the affected road and diverted traffic through an adjoining service lane to ease congestion and prevent further accidents.

The agency deployed a crane and a high-capacity tow vehicle to remove the overturned trucks and their cargoes while police officers provided security during the recovery operation.

The victims’ remains were later taken to the Police Mortuary in Yaba for necessary procedures.

LASTMA General Manager Olalekan Bakare-Oki expressed condolences to the bereaved family and called for a thorough investigation to establish the cause of the incident.

He said investigators should determine whether mechanical defects excessive loading improper cargo distribution driver negligence or other factors contributed to the trucks’ overturning.

Bakare-Oki urged truck operators to ensure their vehicles were roadworthy secure their cargoes properly and comply with road safety regulations.

He also called on motorists particularly heavy-duty vehicle operators to exercise caution and follow prescribed safety standards to prevent avoidable road crashes.

Katsina State Governor and coordinator of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presidential campaign in the state Malam Dikko Umaru Radda has commended ministers lawmakers All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders and other stakeholders for participating in the party’s presidential campaign flag-off in Kaduna.

Radda described the turnout as a demonstration of commitment to the party’s campaign urging stakeholders to sustain the unity cooperation and grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

‘I sincerely appreciate our people ministers lawmakers party leaders stakeholders and supporters from Katsina State for their participation and support at the Kaduna campaign flag-off. I urge everyone to sustain this commitment as we move forward’ he said.

The governor expressed confidence that the same enthusiasm would be replicated at the Tinubu-Dikko campaign flag-off scheduled for October 28 in Katsina State.

He said the exercise would be followed by mobilisation across the state’s 34 local government areas and 361 wards.

Radda added that the Katsina campaign would give his administration an opportunity to present its scorecard highlighting achievements across key sectors since assuming office.

He said the exercise would also allow residents to assess the administration’s performance as it seeks a renewed mandate.

‘We are not coming with mere promises; we are coming to take our record of achievements directly to the people present evidence of what we have accomplished and allow citizens to assess our performance as we seek a renewed mandate’ he said.

The governor urged elected officials political appointees APC executives local government leaders youth and women’s groups persons with disabilities and other stakeholders to maintain party unity strengthen grassroots engagement and work together toward a successful campaign.