News
Anxiety mounts as Ebola virus kills 177
The Lagos State Government has intensified surveillance and emergency preparedness measures following a deadly outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease in Central and East Africa that has claimed at least 177 lives from nearly 700 suspected cases, raising fresh global health concerns.
The outbreak, currently affecting the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, has prompted the World Health Organisation (WHO) to declare a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) amid fears that difficult terrain and delayed containment efforts could worsen the spread of the virus.
Reacting to the alarming development, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, assured residents that no suspected or confirmed Ebola case has been detected in Lagos, even as the state government ramps up monitoring and border screening operations.
In a statement posted on his X handle on Saturday, Abayomi said the state was closely tracking the situation and had activated its emergency response architecture to prevent any possible importation of the deadly virus into Nigeria.
“We are closely monitoring the evolving Ebola outbreak situation in Central and East Africa… we have not seen any cases resembling Ebola in Lagos to date,” he said.
The commissioner explained that Lagos has deployed its outbreak-tested “Biosecurity Bio-shield,” a system developed to rapidly detect, isolate and contain highly infectious diseases. He noted that the framework, first strengthened during the 2014 Ebola outbreak and later reinforced during the COVID-19 pandemic, cholera, diphtheria and Lassa fever outbreaks, remains fully operational.
According to him, the Lagos State Incident Command System (ICS), under the leadership of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has been placed on standby to coordinate any emergency response if necessary.
Abayomi disclosed that the state’s Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) is functioning round-the-clock, with epidemiologists and disease surveillance officers monitoring community-level health signals across Lagos.
He further revealed that the Lagos State Infectious Disease Hospital has been placed on high alert, with isolation wards, intensive care units and treatment facilities fully prepared to handle any suspected Ebola cases.
The commissioner added that the state’s Biosafety Level-3 Laboratory located in Yaba has also been placed on enhanced alert to ensure rapid diagnosis of high-risk infectious diseases.
As part of efforts to prevent cross-border transmission, Abayomi said all flights arriving from East and Central Africa are undergoing intensified health screening in collaboration with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and the Nigeria Institute of Medical Research.
He added that surveillance activities have also been strengthened at seaports and land borders, with Port Health officers placed on heightened alert.
At the grassroots level, Community Health Workers, Community Development Associations and Civil Society Organisations have been integrated into an early-warning system aimed at ensuring the prompt reporting of suspected Ebola cases.
The commissioner said strategic stockpiles of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), disinfectants and emergency medical supplies have already been positioned across critical locations in the state, while ambulance services remain on standby for rapid deployment.
Despite the rising death toll in Africa’s latest Ebola outbreak, Abayomi urged Lagos residents not to panic, stressing that preparedness and rapid response remain central to the state’s public health strategy.
“Our focus remains prevention, early detection, rapid reporting and swift response. Preparedness is not a temporary reaction for us; it is our permanent culture,” he said.
He advised residents who recently travelled to Congo or Uganda, or had contact with travellers from affected areas and are experiencing symptoms associated with Ebola, to immediately contact emergency lines 767 or 112, or reach the State Epidemiologist on 08023169485.
Thousands of dignitaries from across the world gathered in the Republic of Benin on Sunday, March 24, 2026, to witness the inauguration of President Ramona Wadagni, with prominent Niger Delta monarch, Alhaji Mujahid Abubakar Dokubo-Asari, among the notable guests at the historic ceremony.
Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, has urged Nigerian entrepreneurs and startups to take advantage of emerging opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as discussions continue at the 2026 Biashara Africa summit.
Biashara Africa 2026, regarded as one of the continent’s leading trade and investment platforms, brought together policymakers, business leaders, financial institutions and trade facilitators to accelerate the implementation of the AfCFTA agreement and deepen intra-African trade.
Speaking in her capacity as the Incoming Chair of the AfCFTA Council of Ministers, Dr. Oduwole challenged African leaders and policymakers to move beyond policy commitments and address the practical barriers hindering trade and investment across the continent.
She also commended Togolese President, Faure Gnassingbé, and the Government of Togo for what she described as decisive actions advancing the vision of the AfCFTA and strengthening Africa’s ambition of building an integrated market of more than 1.4 billion people.
As part of efforts to drive implementation of the continental trade pact, the minister announced the launch of the AfCFTA Startup Acceleration Programme 2026, a flagship initiative under the AfCFTA–Korea Africa Foundation partnership.
According to her, the programme is designed to support 30 high-potential African startups seeking to expand beyond the continent and access international markets, particularly South Korea.
Dr. Oduwole explained that the initiative presents significant opportunities for Nigerian startups operating in sectors such as fintech, e-commerce, logistics, agritech, manufacturing and digital platforms to strengthen their operations, scale internationally and position themselves for cross-border growth.
“The future of the AfCFTA will not be built by policy alone. It will be driven by enterprises, innovators, manufacturers, digital platforms and entrepreneurs who are ready to trade,” she said.
The minister, who also serves as Co-Champion of Digital Trade under the AfCFTA, encouraged eligible Nigerian startups to apply for the programme through SME.Support@au-afcfta.org before the application deadline of May 24, 2026.
She further noted that Africa’s economic integration drive had recorded another major milestone with the announcement by the Government of Togo removing visa requirements for African passport holders and investors travelling to the country for short stays.
According to her, the policy signals that Africa is gradually transitioning from regional aspirations to concrete action aimed at promoting trade, investment and movement across borders.
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