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Ebola: NCDC Places Nigeria On High Alert

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The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has issued a public health advisory following the latest update on the ongoing Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

 

The Centre said Nigeria had been placed on “high alert” as it continued to strengthen surveillance, preparedness and response measures against any potential threat from the outbreak.

The advisory was contained in a statement signed by the Director-General of the NCDC, Jide Idris.

The Centre said all preparatory activities were ongoing and that the measures would continue to be reviewed in line with the evolving epidemiological situation and public health risk assessment.

“These measures will continue to be reviewed in line with the evolving epidemiological situation and public health risk assessment,” the NCDC said.

As part of the enhanced surveillance measures, the Centre advised travellers arriving from countries with active or relevant EVD transmission to complete the Health Declaration Form.

It said the measure was part of efforts to strengthen public health surveillance and facilitate appropriate follow-up of travellers where necessary.

“Passengers from all other countries are exempted from completing the form at this time,” the Centre said.

The NCDC also urged members of the public to remain vigilant, particularly for symptoms consistent with EVD.

It advised anyone who develops symptoms to promptly seek medical attention and provide relevant information about recent travel or possible exposure to the virus, where applicable.

The Centre said the advisory followed a Dynamic Risk Assessment conducted by the NCDC, alongside consultations with relevant public health experts and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

It stressed that it remained committed to protecting the health of Nigerians through evidence-based surveillance, preparedness and response to public health threats.

The advisory comes amid a continuing outbreak of Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus in the DRC. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reported that the DRC had recorded 7,672 confirmed cases and 3,699 related deaths as of September 20, based on data up to September 19.

The ECDC said 886 patients were hospitalised in isolation at the time, representing an increase of 58 confirmed cases and 23 deaths from the previous report on September 19.

The 58 new cases were reported in Ituri, which recorded 38 cases; North Kivu, 14 cases; Haut-Uélé, five cases; and Tshopo, one case.

Among people who tested positive for the Bundibugyo virus, 1,879 had recovered, while 79.9 per cent of identified contacts were under follow-up in the affected provinces, according to the ECDC.

The agency further reported that, since its previous report on September 18, the DRC had recorded 197 new confirmed cases and 94 deaths.

Ituri Province remained the most affected area, with 5,913 cases, including 2,703 deaths, reported from 28 of its 36 health zones, the ECDC said.

The ECDC has continued to monitor the outbreak and, on September 21, announced the deployment of two epidemiologists to the DRC to strengthen surveillance and support the overall outbreak response.

The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a species of ebolavirus. The ECDC has noted that there are currently no licensed vaccines or specific treatments for disease caused by Bundibugyo virus.

Nigeria had previously intensified its preparedness for the outbreak. In a May 2026 advisory, the NCDC said the risk of importation into Nigeria had been assessed as high because of ongoing regional transmission, international travel, population movement, major airports, seaports, land borders and trade routes.

The latest advisory therefore reinforces Nigeria’s surveillance and preparedness measures as the DRC continues to respond to the outbreak.

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Police Discover Indoor Cannabis Farm In Lagos

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The Lagos State Police Command has uncovered a suspected high-tech indoor cannabis farm at a residential property in Apapa, Lagos, arresting a 49-year-old Polish national and a 36-year-old Nigerian in connection with the discovery.

The suspects, identified as Thomas Razvickas, 49, and James Chisome, 36, were arrested on November 2, 2026, at about 8:15 am following intelligence received by police operatives.

The facility, according to the police, was equipped with sophisticated equipment for the cultivation, harvesting and processing of substances suspected to be cannabis.

The Command’s spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, adding that both suspects were residents of the property searched by the operatives.

She said the suspects were currently in police custody, where they had made confessional statements and were providing useful information to assist ongoing investigations.

The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Tijani Fatai, subsequently visited the scene to inspect the facility, assess the extent of the operation and receive briefings on the investigation.

Fatai commended the operatives for their vigilance and effective use of intelligence, reiterating the Command’s commitment to combating drug-related offences and dismantling criminal networks across the state.

He also urged residents to sustain their cooperation with the police by providing timely and credible information that could assist in identifying and apprehending criminal elements.

The police commissioner assured residents that the Command would remain proactive and resolute in its determination to rid Lagos of criminal activities.

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Trump Accepts Midterm Election Results, Congratulates Democrats

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U.S. President Donald Trump has said he is willing to accept the results of the midterm elections, bringing a temporary end to questions about whether he would challenge the outcome following a difficult night for Republicans.

In an interview with The New York Times, Trump said he was prepared to respect the election results, declaring, “I am absolutely willing to accept those results.”

The president also congratulated Democrats on their electoral victories and expressed readiness to work with them in the interest of the country, despite earlier warnings that he would use his presidential powers to block legislation backed by the opposition.

“My message is congratulations to the Democrats, and I look forward to working with you for the good of our country,” Trump told CBS News late Tuesday.

However, he suggested that cooperation would depend on Democrats being willing to work with his administration.

“I think they’re gonna want to work with me,” he said, adding that he could otherwise use his veto power to block their legislative proposals.

Republicans suffered significant setbacks in key races across the country as Democrats recorded victories in several contests, marking a challenging outcome for Trump’s party in the midterm elections.

Reacting to the results, Trump blamed his absence from the ballot as one of the reasons Republicans underperformed, arguing that his presence would have improved the party’s chances.

“I feel that I wasn’t on the ballot, and there was nothing that could be done about that. If I was, we would have won,” he said.

He also suggested that dissatisfaction with some Republican candidates contributed to the losses, claiming that certain candidates lacked his support and failed to attract the party’s political base.

“In some cases, they didn’t like the candidates, and in some cases those candidates were not my friend, and the base knows that better than anybody. And they stayed back,” Trump added.

Despite his conciliatory remarks to CBS News, the president maintained a firm position on his administration’s legislative approach.

Speaking later with Fox News Channel, Trump again emphasised his intention to use the presidential veto to prevent the passage of Democratic-backed legislation.

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Ondo Ponmo Sellers’ Association President Collapses In Court

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A business. woman, identified as the President of the Ponmo Sellers’ Association in Ondo State, reportedly collapsed in court during her arraignment in Akure on Tuesday following her arrest over the alleged discovery of human faeces at her ponmo processing centre.

 

The incident comes days after the Chairman of Akure South Local Government Area, Hon. Gbenga Fasua, ordered the immediate closure of a popular ponmo supply store on Igboliki Street in Akure following an environmental sanitation inspection that reportedly uncovered two buckets containing human faeces on the premises.

The discovery was made during the October edition of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise conducted on Saturday, when Fasua led a monitoring team through Oke Aro, Iro and Igboliki streets to assess residents’ and businesses’ compliance with environmental sanitation regulations.

According to information from the inspection, the ponmo business had reportedly operated in the area for more than 21 years.

The operator, who was present during the inspection, reportedly identified herself as the President of the Ponmo Sellers’ Association in Ondo State.

Following the discovery, Fasua ordered the immediate closure of the premises and directed the disposal of all ponmo products at the shop.

He also ordered that the operator be prosecuted in accordance with applicable local and state environmental laws.

The businesswoman was subsequently arrested and brought before a court in Akure on Tuesday for arraignment.

She reportedly collapsed during the court proceedings.

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