NCDC - News Agency Of Nigeria

Ismail Abdulaziz
Jun, Thu, 2025

Senate confirms Lagos APWEN Chairperson as NCDC member

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By Grace Alegba

The Lagos Branch Chairperson, Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN), Dr Atinuke Owolabi, has been confirmed as a member, Board of the North Central Development Commission (NCDC).

She is an engineer, philanthropist, educationist and politician and was on Thursday confirmed by the Senate as the NCDC member representing the South West Zone.

Owolabi, a multiple award winning engineer is a fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers(NSE), fellow, Nigerian Institution of Electrical and Electronic Engineers and member of several other national and international associations.

She has won several awards for various international and community development initiatives in Ifako Ijaye Local Government of Lagos.

She is the Country Representative for the Federation of African Engineering Organisation (FAEO)-Women In Engineering (FAEO-WIE, Nigeria/NSE).

She is the Industry Board Member of the College of Engineering, Covenant University and Inspector for COREN on UBEC Match Grant Intervention Projects in 36 States and the FCT.

She emerged among 100 Influential Women Professionals in Construction and Engineering Industry Awardees in 2021 by Construction and Engineering Digest (CED) Magazine, among several other awards.

She founded and currently runs three NGOs namely: Touch of Love and Lifting Hands Foundation, Wurvicat Solar Foundation and Wuraola Atinuke Owolabi Capacity Building Initiative (WAO CBI).

She was a former All Progressives Congress (APC) female aspirant for Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Area chairmanship seat in Lagos in 2021.

She was the Convener of Coalition of Professional Women in Politics (COPWIP) and President of APC Professional Women Network.

Owolabi was appointed as the Director of Professional Women Directorate, Tinubu/Shettima, Sanwo-olu/Hamzat Independent Campaign Council, among several other political appointments in Lagos State.

She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from University of Ilorin, Kwara State and a Masters in Engineering and Management at Coventry University, United Kingdom.

She also holds an Award of Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) in Electrical Engineering and Technological Development, Honaris Causa, by European-American University, Commonwealth of Dominica Africa Operations.

Atinuke has also won several awards for excellence in various fields and humanitarian accomplishments of

her foundations.

The North Central Development Commission (NCDC) has the responsibility of addressing developmental challenges unique to the North Central states of Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, and the Federal Capital Territory. (NAN)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

Lydia Beshel
Mar, Mon, 2025

Health

NCDC confirms new Lassa fever case, calls for enhanced surveillance

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Lassa Fever

By Abujah Racheal

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed a new case of Lassa fever in a 31-year-old physician who had recently travelled to the United Kingdom.

NCDC Director-General, Dr Jide Idris, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.

Idris stated that the patient, who was diagnosed in Ondo State, unfortunately succumbed to the disease before the test results confirming the infection were available.

Idris raised an alert on the situation, stressing the need for heightened surveillance and precautionary measures.

He emphasised that the latest case highlighted the persistent threat of Lassa fever in Nigeria and the potential for international transmission.

According to the NCDC’s latest epidemiological report, Nigeria has recorded 2,728 suspected cases and 535 confirmed cases of Lassa fever in 2025, with 98 deaths across 14 states.

“The current case fatality rate stands at 18.3 per cent, indicating the severity of the disease.

“Five states, Ondo 31 per cent, Bauchi 24 per cent, Edo 17 per cent, Taraba 16 per cent, and Ebonyi 3 per cent account for 91 per cent of all confirmed cases.

“The most affected local government areas include Owo, Akure South, Etsako West, Kirfi, Akoko South-West, Bali, Esan North-East, Bauchi, Toro, and Jalingo.”

He said that the confirmed case involved the Nigerian physician, who travelled to the UK on Feb. 19, 2025, and returned on Feb. 27, 2025.

“He was admitted to a private health facility in Ondo State with symptoms suggestive of Lassa fever.

“Samples were taken on Feb. 28, 2025, but the patient passed away on March 1, 2025, before test results were confirmed.

“The NCDC confirmed the diagnosis of Lassa fever on March 4, 2025.

“Investigation revealed that the deceased had visited his fiancée in Edo State before his UK trip and had also met with family and friends.

“Contact tracing efforts have since been launched in both Nigeria and the UK to curb further spread of the disease.”

In response to the case, the NCDC, in collaboration with the Ondo State Ministry of Health, had intensified contact tracing, surveillance, and infection control measures.

“The agency is identifying and monitoring all potential contacts of the deceased, including family members, healthcare workers, and co-passengers on flights.

“Port Health Services are also enhancing surveillance at entry points, particularly airports, while collaboration with UK health authorities ensures cross-border tracking of potential exposures.”

Idris reiterated public health guidelines to prevent further outbreaks, urging Nigerians to maintain proper hygiene, control rodent populations, and seek early medical intervention for suspected cases.

He emphasised that Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic disease primarily spread through contact with food or household items contaminated by the urine, feces, or saliva of infected rodents.

“Human-to-human transmission can also occur, particularly in healthcare settings with inadequate infection prevention and control measures.

“The NCDC continues to monitor disease patterns and deploy rapid response teams to affected areas, with specialised treatment centres providing care for severe cases.

“Public awareness campaigns are ongoing, educating communities on rodent control, food safety, and early symptom reporting.

“In spite of these efforts, Lassa fever remains a significant public health challenge, with high mortality rates and the potential for international spread, as demonstrated by this recent case.” (NAN)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

Lydia Beshel
Feb, Mon, 2025

Health

Nigeria on alert as Uganda confirms Ebola outbreak, says NCDC

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Ebola
By Abujah Racheal

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has placed the country on high alert following the confirmation of an Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in Uganda.
Dr Jide Idris, the Director‐General, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
NAN reports that EVD is a rare but severe illness caused by viruses of the genus Ebolavirus.
First identified in 1976 near the Ebola River in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the disease has led to multiple outbreaks across Africa.
Ebola spreads to humans through close contact with the blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids of infected animals such as fruit bats, chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys, forest antelope, and porcupines.
Human-to-human transmission occurs via direct contact with bodily fluids of infected individuals, contaminated surfaces, or materials like bedding and clothing.
Healthcare workers and family members are particularly at risk when caring for infected patients without proper protective measures.
Idris said that although the country has no reported cases of Ebola, the agency, in collaboration with key stakeholders, has activated heightened surveillance measures to prevent importation of the virus into the country.
He said that the outbreak, caused by the Sudan strain of the virus, was confirmed by Uganda’s Ministry of Health on January 30, 2025, with one reported case and one death in Wakiso, Mukono, and Mbale City in Mbale District.
The Director General of NCDC assured Nigerians that proactive steps were being taken to mitigate any risk of an outbreak.
He urged Nigerians to adhere to the following preventive measures:” Practice good hand hygiene – Wash hands regularly with soap and water or use hand sanitisers.
“Avoid contact with persons showing symptoms such as fever, weakness, vomiting, and unexplained bleeding.
“Refrain from consuming bushmeat, especially bats and primates.
“Seek immediate medical attention if experiencing symptoms after travelling to an affected country.”
Additionally, he advised health workers to maintain a high index of suspicion, use personal protective equipment (PPE), and report suspected cases immediately.
While the World Health Organization (WHO) has not recommended travel restrictions, he advised Nigerians to avoid non-essential travel to countries with confirmed Ebola cases.
Beyond Ebola, he said that the country is currently battling outbreaks of Lassa fever, meningitis, diphtheria, Mpox, measles, and anthrax.
“Nigerians are encouraged to stay informed and follow official updates from the NCDC through its hotline (6232), social media platforms (@NCDCgov), and official website,” he added.
NAN recalls that the incubation period ranges from 2 to 21 days. Initial symptoms include sudden onset of fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, and sore throat.
As the disease progresses, individuals may experience vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function, and in some cases, both internal and external bleeding.
A range of potential treatments, including blood products, immune therapies, and drug therapies, are currently being evaluated. (NAN)

Edited by Yakubu Uba

Philip Daniel Yatai
Oct, Wed, 2024

Health

Nasarawa public health legal assessment tool excites NCDC, RTSL

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By Angela Atabo/Aderogba George

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL), an NGO, have lauded the Nasarawa State Government for embracing the public health legal assessment system tool.

This commendation was made at a four-day workshop in Nasarawa, aimed at bolstering the state’s public health legal framework to effectively respond to public health emergencies.

Amira Abubakar, Assistant Legal Adviser at NCDC, noted that the workshop united key government stakeholders, legal experts, and public health professionals to assess the state’s existing public health laws.

The workshop is part of the Public Health Legal Reform Project, a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Health, Nasarawa State, Orixine Consulting, and RTSL.

Abubakar highlighted that NCDC, the developer of the assessment tool, was leading the evaluation to enhance Nasarawa’s public health laws.

“This move is crucial, as insufficient funding has weakened the state’s health system, with only 64 per cent of the population having access to health facilities.

“The state’s health sector is also vulnerable to environmental sanitation issues, posing threats to health and environmental conditions.

“The adoption of the public health legal assessment system tool demonstrates Nasarawa State’s commitment to prioritising health, which is part of its 13-point agenda.

“”This is by strengthening its public health legal framework, the state aims to better respond to emergencies and improve the overall well-being of its citizens.”

Mr Emem Udoh, Senior Legal Advisor at Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL), stated that the global health organisation was committed to enhancing health security through financial and technical support for the workshop.

Udoh expressed pride in RTSL’s partnership with Nasarawa State, anticipating the positive impact of the reform on the state’s health security.

“Nasarawa State is leading the way in utilising this innovative tool to identify gaps, weaknesses, and opportunities for strengthening its public health laws,” Udoh noted.

“The assessment will provide a critical analysis of how well the current legal framework meets the state’s health security needs.”

Arome Audu, Executive Director of Orixine Consulting, expressed pride in collaborating with partners to make Nasarawa State the pioneer in conducting the workshop, utilising the newly approved NCDC subnational legal assessment tools.

Prof. Abdulkarim Kana, Commissioner for Justice, Nasarawa State, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to establishing the state as a model of public health security through a strengthened legal framework.

Represented by Alhassan Sabo, Director, Public Defender, Ministry of Justice, Kana commended Gov. Abdullahi Sule for his maximum cooperation in achieving the project’s purpose.

Gaza Shekwonugaza, Commissioner of Health, Nasarawa State, represented by Dr Danjuma Oyinaka, Director, Department of Planning, Research and Statistics, Nasarawa State Ministry of Health, noted that adopting the public health tool marked the beginning of a journey towards a more resilient public health system.

“This initiative aligns with the Nasarawa State Government’s agenda, addressing current challenges and ensuring the state’s preparedness for future health threats.”(NAN)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru