Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has cautioned the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) against possible abuse of its proposed N100,000 weekly allowance for people placed under monitoring following exposure to Ebola.
Sani warned that the financial incentive could encourage some people to falsely claim they had contact with the virus to benefit from the support.
The NCDC Director-General, Dr Jide Idris, had announced that the agency was considering a weekly payment of N100,000 to each of the 53 contacts linked to Nigeria’s confirmed Ebola case in Abuja.
The proposed assistance is intended to cover feeding, accommodation and family support during the 21-day monitoring period, particularly for people whose livelihoods could be affected by isolation-related restrictions.
Reacting to the development on his verified X handle on Monday, Sani urged the agency to establish effective verification mechanisms to ensure that only genuine contacts benefit from the proposed intervention.
He wrote: “The NCDC reportedly said they will give 100k weekly to anyone they keep in isolation over the Ebola virus.
“They should be careful because some people can come forward and claim they have the virus because of the 100k.”
Sani’s warning comes amid intensified efforts by health authorities to trace and monitor people who may have been exposed to the virus, as part of measures to prevent further transmission.
The NCDC has confirmed one Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory, while the number of identified contacts has risen to 53, including healthcare workers and household members.
The agency said the contacts were being monitored for 21 days, with health officials conducting follow-up assessments to identify anyone who develops symptoms.
The proposed financial assistance is aimed at easing the burden of monitoring on affected individuals and their families. However, Sani’s intervention has drawn attention to the need for transparency, accountability and proper screening in the administration of emergency public health funds.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has allayed fears over the possible spread of Ebola Virus Disease in the country, confirming that a newly suspected case reported in Rivers State tested negative.
The agency said the development was reassuring as health authorities intensified surveillance and contact tracing following the confirmation of an imported case of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The NCDC, however, urged Nigerians to remain vigilant, observe recommended preventive measures and rely on verified information from authorised health agencies rather than misinformation that could trigger unnecessary panic.
At a briefing on the country’s response to the outbreak, the agency disclosed that the only confirmed case remained in isolation and was receiving treatment, adding that no deaths had been recorded. It also said the number of identified contacts of the confirmed patient had risen from 44 to 53, comprising healthcare workers, household members and other people who might have been exposed to the virus. The contacts are being monitored for 21 days, the maximum recognised incubation period for Ebola.
NCDC Director-General, Dr Jide Idris, said investigations were ongoing to establish the source of infection and reconstruct the patient’s movements before her diagnosis.
Of the 53 contacts, 44 were identified at a health facility, while nine additional contacts emerged from further investigations. The latter group comprises three household members, three healthcare workers at a university teaching hospital the patient visited before arriving at the facility where her infection was identified, and three members of the team that collected her samples.
Idris explained that the number of contacts could increase as investigations progressed and more people potentially exposed to the virus were identified.
He said public health officials were interviewing those already identified to establish their movements and interactions and determine whether further contact tracing was necessary. According to him, contacts who remain without symptoms may be monitored at home, with their temperatures checked twice daily, while anyone who develops symptoms would be promptly assessed and isolated where necessary.
The NCDC chief stressed that being identified as a contact did not mean that a person had contracted Ebola, urging those under surveillance to cooperate with health officials.
He acknowledged that monitoring arrangements could affect the livelihoods of those involved, particularly people whose businesses and family responsibilities might be disrupted by restrictions. Idris said the Federal Government was considering weekly financial assistance of N100,000 for each of the 53 contacts to cushion the effects of monitoring and possible isolation.
He added that the proposal would require coordination with the FCT administration, which might take over the process, while urging state governments to prepare similar support measures should restrictions become necessary.
On the condition of the confirmed patient, Idris said she was improving, while tests conducted 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.
The NCDC director-general explained that the patient arrived in Nigeria without symptoms, making it difficult to detect the infection through routine screening at the time of her arrival. He said the infection came to light after health officials reviewed her medical and travel history.
Director-General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Dr Jean Kaseya, had disclosed that the index patient was born in Uganda and arrived in Abuja with her husband on October 3. Her husband is a diplomat with the Swiss Embassy in Nigeria.
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 added that the country had stocks of personal protective equipment (PPE), with additional supplies expected for healthcare facilities and states managing suspected cases and contacts.
The NCDC is also strengthening diagnostic capacity, with about 12 laboratories identified as capable of testing for Ebola, including the National Reference Laboratory in Abuja and the Centre for Human and Zoonotic Virology in Lagos.
Idris said additional reagents, consumables and technical support were being provided to improve laboratory readiness, while genomic sequencing was ongoing to establish the relationship between the virus detected in the patient and previously identified strains. He cautioned that not all laboratories possessed the biosafety infrastructure and expertise required to handle Ebola samples. The Bundibugyo strain responsible for the outbreak currently has no approved vaccine, although vaccine candidates are undergoing clinical trials.
The NCDC urged healthcare facilities to strengthen infection prevention and control measures, maintain a high index of suspicion and promptly report suspected cases. Idris also advised healthcare workers to implement appropriate protective measures immediately when they encounter a suspected case rather than wait for laboratory confirmation.
He called on Nigerians to practise regular hand hygiene, avoid direct contact with the blood and other 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.
If you’re reading this, you’re probably someone who likes to understand what you’re getting into before you get into it — not just take a brand’s word for it. We respect that. This series is built for exactly that kind of reader.
Over the coming weeks, we’ll be walking you through the CAPIS Commonwealth Card (3C) Service — one piece at a time, in plain language. No financial jargon dumped on you all at once. No rushing. Just clear explanations, real-world context, and honest answers to the questions you’re probably already asking: What exactly is 3C? How does it work? Who is it for? And where, if anywhere, do you fit into it?
We’re starting that journey today, with Episode 1.
WHAT IF GETTING ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITIES ISN’T AS HARD AS IT SEEMS?
Every day, major commercial projects are happening around us.
New businesses are being built.
Agricultural systems are expanding.
Energy projects are being developed.
Shopping centres are being constructed.
Transportation systems are being created.
And behind every one of these projects is something many people don’t think about:
Opportunity.
But here’s the interesting part.
Millions of Nigerians can see these opportunities happening…
without ever becoming part of them.
Not because they lack ambition.
Not necessarily because they lack skills.
Sometimes, they lack access to a structured pathway that lets them participate.
Think about it.
You see a major commercial project being announced.
You know it will create economic activity.
You know there will be businesses involved.
You know people will make money from it.
But you find yourself thinking:
“How do I become part of something like this?”
And for many people, that’s where the conversation ends.
They watch the opportunity happen from the outside.
They remain observers.
But what if there was another way?
What if ordinary Nigerians could have a structured pathway to participate in qualifying commercial projects?
That’s part of the idea behind the CAPIS Commonwealth Card (3C).
With a one-time platform access fee, 3C gives clients access to a structured platform through which they can explore and bid to participate in qualifying commercial projects executed by CAPIS Limited.
The idea is simple:
You shouldn’t always have to be a spectator when economic opportunities are being created.
You should have a pathway to explore how you can participate.
And that’s where we’re going with this series.
We’ll take you through 3C one step at a time.
No complicated financial jargon.
No trying to explain everything in one sitting.
Just simple explanations, real examples, and practical stories that help you understand what 3C is, how its pathways work, and where you may fit into the ecosystem.
For now, there’s one question worth asking:
What if the opportunity isn’t actually out of reach?
Presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has demanded the immediate release of Rilwan Olawale, alleging that his supporters are being subjected to intimidation and harassment across the country.
Obi, in a statement, described the continued harassment of his supporters as disturbing and unacceptable, citing Olawale’s arrest as the latest example of what he characterised as politically motivated intimidation.
He also criticised President Bola Tinubu, accusing him of undermining democratic values by allegedly encouraging or facilitating political violence. “President Bola Tinubu has remained a huge beneficiary of our democracy and should not brazenly be destroying it by encouraging and facilitating violence,” Obi said.
The former Anambra State governor said his political campaign remained peaceful and focused on issues, with an emphasis on providing Nigerians with a credible alternative anchored on competence, accountability, justice and compassion.
According to him, his movement has chosen persuasion over intimidation and peace over violence, insisting that its commitment to civility should not be interpreted as a lack of resolve. “We have chosen the path of peace, not violence; persuasion, not intimidation. However, nobody should mistake our civility for weakness, our restraint for fear, or our commitment to peace for an absence of resolve,” he said.
Obi maintained that neither he nor his supporters would be intimidated into silence or abandon their commitment to building what he described as a New Nigeria.
He demanded transparency over the circumstances surrounding Olawale’s arrest, his immediate release, respect for his fundamental rights and an end to what he called politically motivated harassment.
The NDC presidential candidate further argued that Nigerians should be free to support candidates of their choice without fear of intimidation or persecution. “No government or political party has the right to deny Nigerians the freedom to support a candidate of their choice,” he said.
While reaffirming his commitment to peaceful political engagement, Obi vowed that he and his supporters would resist any attempt to undermine their democratic rights through lawful means. “We will remain peaceful but resolute. We will not resort to violence, but we will stand firmly and lawfully against every attempt to undermine our democratic rights,” he said.
He concluded with his political movement’s familiar declaration that “a New Nigeria is possible and will be OK.”
RIVCHPP’ s management team and the health stakeholders at the end of the visit.
The United States Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is exploring a partnership with the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP) to expand health insurance coverage for people living with HIV and other vulnerable residents of the state.
The proposed collaboration is aimed at strengthening sustainable health financing, increasing enrolment in the state’s health insurance scheme and ensuring that vulnerable populations have access to affordable healthcare.
The commitment was made during an advocacy visit by a delegation comprising the US CDC, the Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria (IHVN), the Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN) and the Rivers State Ministry of Health to the RIVCHPP office on Wednesday, September 20, 2026.
Speaking during the visit, the team lead and Country Director of the US CDC, Meegha Desai, said the stakeholders were seeking sustainable health financing mechanisms for people living with HIV and other vulnerable members of society.
Desai said the engagement was also intended to identify strategies for expanding enrolment and improving retention under the state health insurance scheme.
Representative of RIVCHPP’s Executive Secretary, Dr. Juliet Aleme, in a chat with the team lead of the stakeholders , Meegha Desai, at the end of the visit.
The stakeholders urged RIVCHPP to strengthen efforts to identify the poorest and most vulnerable residents, while adopting innovative approaches to public awareness and health insurance education.
They also called for the exploration of mandatory health coverage and alternative funding sources, warning that over-reliance on government funding could undermine the long-term sustainability of health insurance programmes.
In her remarks, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of RIVCHPP, Dr Vetty Agala, represented by the Head of the Department of Planning, Research and Statistics, Dr Juliet Aleme, said the agency remained open to partnerships that would expand health insurance coverage across Rivers State.
Agala expressed appreciation to the US CDC for its support in developing RIVCHPP’s operational guidelines, actuarial studies and benefit package.
She urged stakeholders, corporate organisations, multinational companies and local governments to sponsor health insurance policies for people within their areas of operation, particularly vulnerable residents and people living with chronic illnesses.
She said broader participation from public and private sector organisations would help improve access to healthcare and reduce the financial burden of illness on disadvantaged populations.
The proposed partnership is expected to strengthen efforts to achieve wider health insurance coverage in Rivers State, particularly among people who face financial and other barriers to accessing essential healthcare.
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has vowed that those found culpable in the killing of 10 persons in Kula Kingdom, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, will be brought to justice. The governor gave the assurance on Thursday when residents of the coastal community staged a peaceful march to Government House, Port Harcourt, to demand government intervention over the incident.
The attack reportedly occurred amid a dispute between the community and Ebeto Company over the removal of a vessel allegedly linked to unresolved complaints of oil spills, compensation and employment opportunities for indigenes.
Represented by his Chief of Staff, Sunny Ewule, Fubara expressed sympathy with the bereaved families and urged the community to remain calm and refrain from taking the law into its own hands.
He assured the protesters that the state government would ensure a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident and that anyone found responsible would face the full weight of the law. “We want to sympathise with the Kula Community and the bereaved families. Anybody who is involved in this incident or found culpable for whatever happened will definitely pay for it according to the law.
“We are not going to sit by and allow Rivers indigenes to go through this type of unnecessary death,” the governor said. Earlier, the leader of the Kula delegation, High Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, said the community visited Government House to formally report the incident and seek the governor’s intervention.
He said the community had the capacity to retaliate but had chosen to pursue a peaceful resolution by bringing its grievances before the state government. “It is proper we inform him (Fubara) because we don’t want to take the laws into our hands. We have the capacity to react, but we don’t want to react,” he said. Sara-Igbe, a traditional ruler in Kula Kingdom and pioneer spokesperson of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), had earlier alleged that six gunboats were deployed to retrieve a disputed vessel from the community despite ongoing negotiations to resolve the disagreement.
The dispute reportedly centres on MV Anabra, a vessel said to have been hired from Chief Cletus Ibeto by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) and Belema Oil joint venture about two years ago for crude oil storage at Oil Mining Lease 65.
According to Sara-Igbe, the community had accused the company of failing to address alleged oil spills associated with the vessel’s operations and demanded compensation, employment and empowerment opportunities for its people.
He said the community refused to release the vessel after its contract expired because the outstanding issues had not been resolved.
The traditional ruler claimed that negotiations had been progressing towards an amicable settlement when he received information that six gunboats had been sent to remove the vessel forcibly.
He alleged that one of the boats conveying community members was struck during the confrontation and sank, leaving its occupants missing and feared drowned. Two members of Amama Soldiers, a private security outfit reportedly engaged by the community to prevent the vessel’s removal, were also among those feared missing.
Sara-Igbe further alleged that the gunboats left the scene without attempting to rescue those who had fallen into the water. These claims have yet to be independently verified.
He said he had contacted the commanding officer at Bori Camp, who reportedly denied knowledge of the operation. Subsequent inquiries, he added, suggested that the gunboats might have originated from Section Two or Section Three in Okrika, although this allegation was also unverified.
The traditional ruler said the police and the spokesperson of the Nigerian Army’s 6 Division had been notified, while efforts were ongoing to locate the missing persons.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the incident and commenced investigations to establish the circumstances surrounding the confrontation and determine the actual number of casualties.
The command’s spokesperson, ASP Blessing Agabe, said the incident reportedly resulted in loss of lives, adding that investigators were working to ascertain the number of victims.
“The Rivers State Police Command is aware of the incident in Kula Kingdom, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, which reportedly resulted in the loss of lives. “Investigation is ongoing to ascertain the exact number of casualties and the circumstances surrounding the incident,” Agabe said.
The state government’s pledge to investigate the incident comes amid calls for accountability over the deaths and the need to resolve the underlying dispute peacefully.
The Rivers State Ministry of Education has condemned reports of alleged forced virginity testing of female students at Government Comprehensive High School, Taabaa, in Khana Local Government Area, describing the incident as a serious violation of the dignity, privacy and fundamental rights of schoolchildren.
The ministry said the alleged exercise involved persons claiming to represent a traditional institution in the community, who reportedly visited the school under the guise of offering scholarships and exercise books.
According to a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Mina Tele Ikuru, on behalf of the Commissioner for Education, 16 female students were allegedly selected for the exercise on Thursday, September 17, 2026, prompting objections and a peaceful protest by students.
The ministry described the allegations as disturbing, stressing that no individual, traditional institution, community body or private organisation had the authority to subject students to virginity testing or any other form of abuse.
It also warned that educational assistance, including scholarships and the distribution of learning materials, must be provided transparently and without conditions that compromise the safety, dignity or fundamental rights of beneficiaries.
The ministry disclosed that it had commenced an investigation to establish the facts surrounding the incident, adding that appropriate action, including referral to relevant authorities, would be taken against anyone found culpable.
Pending the outcome of the investigation, it cautioned traditional institutions, community organisations and other individuals against activities involving the selection, examination or testing of female students for virginity, whether directly or indirectly.
The ministry further directed all schools in Rivers State to maintain the highest standards of child protection and ensure that no student was subjected to degrading, coercive or invasive practices under the guise of cultural traditions, scholarship programmes, disciplinary measures or community development initiatives. Reassuring the affected students, their parents and guardians, as well as the wider school community, the ministry said their concerns were being taken seriously.
It reiterated that the safety, dignity and fundamental rights of every student must be protected at all times, regardless of cultural practices or the identity of those involved.
The ministry’s position comes amid concerns over the protection of schoolchildren from practices that could expose them to coercion, humiliation and violations of their bodily privacy.
The investigation is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the reported selection of the students and determine whether any individuals or groups breached their rights.
NDDC Head of New Media, Corporate Affairs Department, Dr Selina Dan-Albert and the Head of Department, Theatre Arts and Film Studies, University of Port Harcourt, Professor Edward Imo, surrounded by participants during a four-day technical training programme in film production for filmmakers in the Niger Delta region, at the Theatre Arts and Film Studies auditorium.
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), in collaboration with the University of Port Harcourt (UniPort), has intensified efforts to strengthen the region’s creative economy through a four-day technical training programme in film production.
The initiative is aimed at equipping filmmakers with practical skills to improve their professional capacity, expand employment opportunities and promote authentic storytelling about the Niger Delta.
Speaking during the training at the auditorium of the university’s Department of Theatre Arts and Film Studies, the NDDC Head of New Media in the Corporate Affairs Department, Dr Selina Dan-Albert, said the commission was exploring opportunities to empower young people with relevant skills to thrive in the creative industry.
In a statement signed by the NDDC Director of Corporate Affairs, Seledi Thompson-Wakama, Dan-Albert described the programme as an investment in the future of the region’s creative sector, noting that it would encourage greater interest in filmmaking as a viable career and source of livelihood.
She urged participants to maximise the opportunity to develop their technical expertise and establish themselves professionally, while using their creative abilities to tell authentic stories about the Niger Delta.
She assured them that the commission would sustain its support for initiatives aimed at improving the skills and professional competence of young people in the region.
The Head of the Department of Theatre Arts and Film Studies, Prof. Edward Imo, said the programme was designed to equip participants from the Niger Delta and other parts of Nigeria with the technical expertise required for film production and the use of cinema to communicate the region’s experiences and stories.
Imo described the partnership with the NDDC as an indication of growing opportunities for the department and commended the commission for recognising its contributions to practical film production.
He said the department had a pool of skilled personnel and industry professionals, including individuals with experience in Nigeria’s film industry, adding that the training would further strengthen the creative sector.
On the growing influence of artificial intelligence and digital technologies, Imo said filmmakers should embrace emerging tools without losing the human experiences, emotions, aspirations and social realities that give stories their meaning.
He urged participants to deploy technology responsibly in addressing societal concerns and promoting development, while calling on other government agencies to emulate the NDDC’s investment in human capital development.
According to him, sustained investment in skills acquisition and professional training would strengthen the Nigerian film industry and expand opportunities for young people.
The Consultant and Managing Director of GreenHedge Resource Consults Limited, Mr Francis Abayomi, said the Niger Delta had considerable potential for growth in the creative industries.
He explained that the training was designed to provide young people with practical filmmaking skills, noting that the University of Port Harcourt was selected because of its pool of talent and contribution to producing professionals for the creative sector.
The National President of the Directors Guild of Nigeria, Mr Uche Agbo, described filmmaking as an important driver of employment and economic growth, with the potential to help young people develop sustainable livelihoods and reduce poverty and crime.
Agbo said the film industry offered accessible entry points for aspiring professionals, making it a viable avenue for youth empowerment and economic inclusion.
He urged participants to develop distinctive storytelling styles and remain committed to integrity and authenticity, stressing that filmmakers must remain faithful to their stories and avoid distorting facts in their creative work.
Also speaking, veteran Nigerian actor, Mr Bimbo Manuel, described the programme as timely, given the growing contribution of the Nigerian film industry to the creative economy and national development.
The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has called on relevant authorities to reopen investigations into the assassination of renowned journalist and Newswatch co-founder, Dele Giwa, insisting that the passage of 40 years must not extinguish the quest for justice. Giwa was killed on October 19, 1986, by a parcel bomb delivered to his home. Four decades after the murder, no one has been brought to justice for the killing, which remains one of the most notorious attacks on press freedom in Nigeria.
The Guild made the call on Monday in a statement jointly signed by its President, Eze Anaba, and General Secretary, Onuoha Ukeh, to mark the 40th anniversary of Giwa’s death and the unveiling of a book, Dele Giwa’s Granite Journalism.
Describing the unresolved assassination as a painful test of Nigeria’s commitment to press freedom, accountability and the rule of law, the NGE urged the authorities to examine available evidence, preserve relevant records and pursue all lawful avenues to establish the truth. “Forty years is a long time to wait for justice. It is an unconscionably long time for a nation that claims to uphold the rule of law,” the Guild said.
It, however, cautioned against trial by media, stressing that its demand was for a credible and impartial investigation rather than the condemnation of individuals without evidence.
“We are not calling for trial by media. We are not asking anyone to be condemned without evidence. We are demanding that a grave crime against a Nigerian citizen, a distinguished journalist and the freedom of the press should not remain an enduring symbol of impunity,” it said.
The NGE said Giwa’s assassination was not merely the killing of an individual but an attack on the freedom to question authority, expose wrongdoing and hold those in power accountable.
It described the late journalist as a professional of uncommon courage, intellectual rigour and literary elegance, whose work demonstrated that Nigerian journalism could be fearless in scrutinising power while maintaining high standards of accuracy and professional excellence. According to the Guild, Giwa understood that journalism was neither a public relations arm of government nor an instrument for flattering the powerful, but a public trust.
It expressed concern that the failure to resolve his murder could send a dangerous message to journalists investigating corruption, probing abuses of power or exposing the activities of influential interests.
The Guild questioned whether the passage of time, the death of witnesses and changes in government could absolve the state of its responsibility to pursue justice. “Our answer must be an emphatic no,” it said, adding that successive administrations must recognise that the obligation to investigate serious crimes does not expire with political transitions.
The NGE also called for stronger protection for journalists, urging public authorities to tolerate scrutiny and security agencies to protect media practitioners from threats and attacks.
It said press freedom could not be guaranteed by constitutional provisions alone, but required responsible journalism, independent media institutions and effective enforcement of laws protecting journalists and citizens.
The Guild further urged editors to protect newsroom integrity, publishers to resist intimidation and journalists to maintain professional discipline amid growing disinformation, political propaganda, economic pressures and the weaponisation of social media.
It warned that courage without accuracy could degenerate into recklessness, just as independence without ethics could become irresponsibility. “The journalism worth defending is both fearless and scrupulous, both independent and accountable,” it said.
The NGE also cautioned against reducing Giwa’s memory to annual commemorations without concrete efforts to address the circumstances surrounding his death. “Remembrance without action risks becoming an elaborate way of accommodating injustice,” the Guild said.
It called for Giwa’s professional ideals to be taught in journalism schools, discussed in newsrooms and preserved in Nigeria’s historical records to inspire younger journalists and deepen public appreciation of press freedom.
The Guild commended NEWSWATCH Plus Limited and its head, Ray Ekpu, the only surviving member of the original Newswatch quartet, for preserving Giwa’s legacy through the publication of Dele Giwa’s Granite Journalism.
The book documents Giwa’s writings for the Daily Times, Sunday Concord and Newswatch magazine, alongside tributes from prominent journalists, including his friends and contemporaries.
The NGE said the publication would ensure that Giwa’s contributions to Nigerian journalism continued to inspire future generations. It stressed that the defence of press freedom was a public responsibility, arguing that attacks on journalists also threatened citizens’ right to reliable information. “A parcel bomb may have ended Dele Giwa’s life, but it could not extinguish the ideals he represented,” the Guild said.
“Dele Giwa is gone, but the questions his murder left behind remain alive. The man was silenced; the search for justice must not be.”
The Guild urged Nigerians to remember the anniversary not merely as an occasion to honour a fallen journalist, but as a renewed call for truth, justice, accountability and the protection of press freedom.
It said Giwa’s legacy should serve both as a monument to professional courage and a reminder that crimes against journalists must not become permanent symbols of impunity.
The Federal Government has confirmed a case of Ebola virus disease in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and commenced contact tracing after identifying 44 people who may have been exposed to the infection.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, following laboratory confirmation of the case.
According to the minister, the patient, a woman who recently arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda, was admitted to a private hospital in the FCT, where she received treatment for several days before the infection was confirmed.
The woman is currently in isolation and receiving medical care, while public health authorities intensify efforts to prevent further transmission.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), and the FCT Health Services Secretariat are coordinating the response with other relevant agencies.
Pate said contact tracing had commenced for the 44 identified contacts, while surveillance teams were working to identify and monitor additional people who might have been exposed, including healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and travel contacts. The hospital where the patient was treated is also receiving immediate support to strengthen infection prevention and control measures.
The minister directed public and private healthcare facilities nationwide to remain vigilant, urging health workers to promptly identify and isolate suspected cases, adhere strictly to infection prevention protocols and immediately report suspected infections to public health authorities.
He appealed to Nigerians to remain calm and observe preventive measures, including regular handwashing and avoiding contact with the blood and other body fluids of anyone suspected of having the disease. Symptoms of Ebola include fever, severe weakness, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea.
The minister advised anyone who develops such symptoms, particularly after possible exposure, to avoid close contact with others and contact public health authorities for guidance before visiting a healthcare facility.
The government also urged individuals contacted during the tracing exercise, including potentially exposed airline passengers, to cooperate with health officials and comply with public health instructions.
The confirmation comes amid concerns over the spread of Ebola in parts of Africa. The NCDC had, in an advisory issued on October 6, warned of the risk of importing the infection following a confirmed case in Kenya linked to an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
According to the World Health Organisation, Ebola spreads through direct contact with the blood or other body fluids of infected people, as well as contaminated objects and surfaces. Infected individuals do not transmit the virus before symptoms appear, while the incubation period ranges from two to 21 days.
Nigeria experienced an Ebola outbreak in 2014 after an infected traveller introduced the virus into the country. Authorities contained the outbreak through rapid case identification, isolation, contact tracing and coordinated public health interventions.
Reassuring Nigerians, Pate said the country had the experience and public health infrastructure required to respond to the current case. He, however, emphasised that public cooperation would be critical to preventing further transmission. The Federal Government said investigations were continuing and that the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease, in collaboration with the NCDC, would provide further updates. Members of the public can contact the NCDC’s toll-free call centre on 6232, available round the clock, for information or to report a suspected case.
