Health

Nigeria Tightens Border Control Over Ebola Outbreak in DRC

Published

2 months ago

September 6, 2025

By Huldah Shado

The Federal Government has heightened border control measures to guard against the spread of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), into Nigeria, following a fresh outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

As of September 5, 2025, the DRC reported 28 suspected cases and 16 deaths, including four health workers, in Kasai Province.

In response, Nigeria has intensified screening at airports, seaports, and land borders.

Dr. Akpan Nse, Director of Port Health Services at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, said additional personnel have been deployed to strengthen surveillance.

He confirmed that all passengers arriving from the DRC are being screened, even if they transited through other countries.

“This proactive approach is to reduce the risk of importation, considering the volume of international travel between Nigeria and the DRC,” he explained.

The Kasai outbreak marks the 16th Ebola resurgence in the DRC since the virus was first detected in 1976.

The World Health Organization (WHO), and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), are collaborating with Congolese authorities to contain it.

WHO has dispatched experts to boost surveillance and treatment efforts, while 2,000 doses of the Ervebo Ebola vaccine are being deployed to protect frontline health workers.

In Nigeria, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), has intensified regional health surveillance.

Its Director-General urged citizens to maintain proper hygiene, avoid bush meat consumption, and seek immediate medical attention for unusual symptoms.

He also advised healthcare workers to sustain vigilance and strictly observe infection prevention protocols.

Health

NDA President Urges Better Dental Care, Warns Against Harmful Habits

Published

2 hours ago

November 15, 2025

By Onilede Titi Faith

The President of the Nigerian Dental Association (NDA), Dr. Emedom Elias, has advised Nigerians to stop harmful oral habits, warning that the mouth is too delicate for practices such as using the teeth to open bottles.

Speaking at the association’s 58th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference in Abuja, Elias said such habits can cause tooth fractures, gum injuries, and other serious complications.

He stressed that quality dental care depends on access to modern equipment, sustained public awareness, and regular patient visits, noting that inadequate funding remains a major challenge in the sector.

Elias also lamented the scarcity of dental facilities in rural areas, where most communities lack access to basic oral healthcare.

He urged the government to integrate dental services into primary healthcare centres to improve nationwide access.

Abuja Reports

Dumpsite Takes Over Gwarimpa Road

Published

4 days ago

November 11, 2025

Samson Adeyanju

By Olalekan Oyekunle

A dumpsite along 3rd Avenue, Gwarimpa, has engulfed almost the entire road, making passage difficult for motorists and causing distress for nearby traders.

Traders told Abuja City Journal that the stench emanating from the site is driving customers away and threatening their livelihoods.

Some said individuals from nearby estates often use the area as a dumping ground at night, worsening the situation.

The traders are appealing to law enforcement agencies to monitor the area closely and prevent further dumping, stressing that the current conditions are not only affecting business but also posing health and safety risks to residents.

Health

NIS, UNODC Partner to Tackle Migrant Smuggling, Crimes

Published

4 days ago

November 11, 2025

By Onyeanya Ebere Immaculata

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), has partnered with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), to strengthen the fight against migrant smuggling and human trafficking through improved cyberspace awareness and digital surveillance.

In a statement by the Service Public Relations Officer, ACI AS Akinlabi, on Tuesday, the collaboration was formalised during a meeting at the NIS headquarters in Abuja.

Leading the UNODC team, Ms. Baranage Diana Marcus, Project Coordinator on Cybercrime, reaffirmed the agency’s readiness to support the NIS in tackling migration-related cybercrimes.

Representing the Comptroller-General, K. N. Nandap, Deputy Comptroller-General N. Odikpo described the partnership as timely, stressing the need for enhanced digital monitoring and coordinated enforcement.

The NIS said the collaboration demonstrates its commitment to promoting migration governance and strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to combat cyber-enabled trafficking.