WHO Declares Ebola Emergency as Nigeria Activates Nationwide Monitoring

The Federal Government, through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), has intensified nationwide surveillance and emergency preparedness measures following the deadly Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and neighbouring Uganda.

The development comes after the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared the outbreak a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern” (PHEIC), raising fears of wider regional spread across Africa.

According to the WHO, the outbreak has already resulted in dozens of deaths and hundreds of suspected infections, particularly in eastern DRC’s Ituri Province, where health authorities are battling the rare and dangerous Bundibugyo strain of the virus.

The strain is considered especially concerning because there is currently no approved vaccine or targeted treatment for it.

Although Nigeria has not recorded any confirmed Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) case, the NCDC said it is proactively strengthening monitoring systems at airports, land borders, seaports, and health facilities across the country.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Director-General of the NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris, said the agency was working closely with the Port Health Services and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to prevent any possible importation of the virus into Nigeria.

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“NCDC is closely monitoring the situation and working with relevant stakeholders, including the Port Health Services, to ensure continued vigilance and preparedness within the public health system,” Idris stated.

The agency disclosed that it has increased laboratory readiness, intensified disease surveillance, improved infection prevention measures, and expanded public awareness campaigns nationwide.

Health workers across Nigeria have also been placed on alert and advised to maintain a high level of suspicion for patients showing symptoms linked to Ebola virus infection, especially those with recent travel history to affected countries.

The WHO confirmed that the outbreak, which started in the DRC, has now spread beyond the country’s borders, with Uganda recording imported laboratory-confirmed cases.

Ugandan authorities revealed that a 59-year-old man who recently travelled from Congo tested positive for the virus before later dying from complications linked to the disease.

The UN health agency said the outbreak currently affects several areas, including Bunia, Mongbwalu, and Rwampara in the DRC, while one confirmed case has also been detected in Kinshasa, the Congolese capital.

Health officials fear the disease could spread further because the affected regions are major commercial and migration corridors connecting neighbouring countries.

The WHO warned that insecurity, population displacement, illegal mining activities, and weak healthcare systems in eastern Congo may complicate containment efforts.

Medical experts say the Bundibugyo strain differs from the more common Zaire strain responsible for previous major Ebola outbreaks in West Africa.

Unlike the Zaire strain, which now has approved vaccines and treatment options, scientists are still researching effective vaccines and therapies for the Bundibugyo variant.

The WHO said early symptoms of Ebola Virus Disease include fever, severe weakness, muscle pain, headache, and sore throat.

As the illness progresses, patients may experience vomiting, diarrhoea, skin rash, internal bleeding, and organ failure.

The virus spreads through direct contact with infected blood, bodily fluids, contaminated materials, or infected animals.

Nigeria’s renewed preparedness is partly influenced by its experience during the 2014 Ebola outbreak, when the country successfully prevented a major public health disaster after an infected Liberian-American traveller, Patrick Sawyer, arrived in Lagos.

Through aggressive contact tracing, rapid isolation, emergency response coordination, and public sensitisation, Nigeria was able to contain the virus within months.

The successful response earned global praise from the WHO and public health experts worldwide.

The NCDC urged Nigerians not to panic but to remain vigilant and practice proper hygiene measures.

Citizens were advised to wash their hands regularly, avoid contact with sick individuals or bodily fluids, and promptly report unusual illnesses to the nearest health facility.

The agency also warned against spreading false information capable of causing public panic.

“NCDC will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates as necessary,” the agency said.

Meanwhile, the WHO clarified that although the outbreak represents a serious international health concern, it has not yet met the threshold required for classification as a global pandemic.

The organisation also advised countries against imposing travel bans or border closures, insisting that coordinated surveillance, rapid testing, and effective public health response remain the best containment strategies.

WHO Declares Ebola Emergency as Nigeria Activates Nationwide Monitoring

NMA Demands ₦1bn Damages After Alleged EFCC Attack on Doctor

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Akwa Ibom State has threatened a ₦1 billion lawsuit against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and ordered the withdrawal of medical services following an alleged violent confrontation involving EFCC operatives at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH).

The dispute stems from an incident reportedly involving a senior cardiothoracic surgeon, Professor Eyo Ekpe, during an EFCC operation at the hospital premises in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Addressing journalists on Wednesday, the Akwa Ibom NMA Chairman, Professor Aniekan Peter, accused EFCC operatives of storming the hospital on Tuesday while investigating a fraud-related case involving a suspect receiving medical care at the facility. He alleged that masked operatives forcefully apprehended Professor Ekpe inside the hospital environment and assaulted him “to the point of bleeding,” before handcuffing him alongside other medical staff who attempted to intervene. He further claimed that the incident disrupted hospital activities and violated the sanctity of healthcare facilities, which are expected to remain safe spaces for both patients and medical professionals.

Professor Peter also alleged that he was shoved and exposed to teargas while attempting to engage the operatives for clarification during the incident, describing the operation as “barbaric, degrading and inhuman” and insisting it amounted to physical, emotional, and institutional abuse of medical personnel.

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, however, denied allegations of brutality, stating that its operatives only visited the hospital to verify a medical report submitted by a suspect under investigation. The Commission said its officers engaged hospital authorities, including the Chief Medical Director, and later withdrew peacefully after encountering resistance during initial inquiries. It maintained that the visit did not disrupt hospital operations and was carried out in line with standard investigative procedures.

In a communiqué issued after an emergency meeting, the NMA declared its intention to seek ₦1 billion in damages from the EFCC over the alleged assault. The communiqué, signed by Professor Aniekan Peter, Secretary Dr. Ighorodje Edesiri, and read by Assistant Secretary Dr. Unyime Ndoh, also demanded a public apology and the prosecution of officers allegedly involved in the incident.

The association further announced an indefinite withdrawal of services in the state until its demands are met. It also stated that its members would suspend medical services to EFCC personnel and their relatives until the matter is resolved.

The NMA stressed that hospitals must remain protected environments where doctors can carry out their duties without intimidation or interference from security agencies. It warned that failure to address the incident could set a dangerous precedent for future interactions between law enforcement agencies and healthcare institutions.

The development has sparked renewed debate over how security operatives conduct enforcement operations in sensitive medical environments, where patient care is ongoing. As of press time, the EFCC has not issued any further statement beyond its initial clarification.

NMA Demands ₦1bn Damages After Alleged EFCC Attack on Doctor

Lady Pharmacists Warn of Japa Syndrome, Fake Drugs, Weak Healthcare System

The Association of Lady Pharmacists of Nigeria (ALPs) has raised serious concerns over the worsening Japa syndrome (health worker migration), rising circulation of fake and substandard drugs, poor healthcare infrastructure, and increasing substance abuse among young Nigerians, warning that these challenges are undermining the country’s healthcare system.

The warning came ahead of the association’s 17th Biennial Conference scheduled to hold in Enugu from May 11 to 16, 2026. The conference is expected to bring together healthcare professionals, policymakers and stakeholders to discuss solutions to Nigeria’s growing health sector challenges.

The conference, themed “Women and Resilience: Sustaining Health and Wellness in Challenging Times,” will focus on key issues affecting healthcare delivery in Nigeria. These include artificial intelligence in healthcare, medicine security, mental health, drug abuse prevention, and strategies for strengthening women’s roles in the health sector.

National Chairman of ALPs, Pharm. Mnena Scholastica Lan, said the ongoing migration of healthcare workers abroad is placing severe pressure on Nigeria’s already fragile health system. She noted that many young pharmacists and other health professionals are leaving the country due to poor working conditions, low remuneration and limited career opportunities.

According to her, the Japa syndrome has become a major threat to healthcare sustainability, as newly trained pharmacists struggle to secure internships, NYSC placements and employment opportunities within the country. She added that these frustrations are driving many to seek better prospects abroad, while several experienced pharmacists have also relocated.

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Lan further lamented the poor state of healthcare infrastructure in Nigeria, saying many public hospitals lack basic equipment needed for effective medical care. She recounted her experience at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), where critical care units were poorly equipped, including situations where drip stands were unavailable and makeshift arrangements were used for patient care. She noted that conditions improved only after infrastructural intervention by partners.

She stressed that even highly skilled healthcare professionals cannot deliver quality services without adequate infrastructure, adding that improved investment in equipment and training would significantly strengthen healthcare delivery across the country.

The association also raised alarm over the growing prevalence of fake and substandard drugs in Nigeria, describing it as a serious public health threat. Lan said the problem is driven largely by greed and weak ethical standards, with some individuals deliberately producing counterfeit medicines for profit.

She warned that fake drugs, particularly those used in critical treatments such as cancer care, are leading to treatment failure, complications and avoidable deaths. She also cautioned Nigerians against purchasing medicines from roadside vendors, describing such products as unsafe and potentially dangerous.

Lan referenced the efforts of the late Prof. Dora Akunyili in the fight against counterfeit drugs, calling for renewed national commitment to safeguarding the pharmaceutical sector.

The ALPs chairman also expressed concern over rising drug abuse among Nigerian youths, describing it as a growing public health emergency. She said unemployment, frustration and lack of awareness are contributing to increased substance abuse across communities, especially among young people.

She added that the association has continued to carry out drug abuse awareness campaigns in schools and communities to educate young Nigerians on the dangers of substance misuse.

On maternal health, Lan identified delays in seeking medical care as a major cause of maternal deaths in Nigeria. She said many deaths could be prevented if families and communities respond faster during emergencies.

According to her, a significant proportion of maternal mortality cases are linked to behavioural delays, including late hospital visits and poor emergency response.

Chairman of the Conference Planning Committee, Dr. Titilayo Onedo, said the upcoming conference will focus on practical solutions to improve the welfare of women in healthcare and strengthen resilience in a challenging working environment.

She noted that female healthcare professionals continue to face the dual burden of professional responsibilities and family obligations, especially within a struggling health system.

Lady Pharmacists Warn of Japa Syndrome, Fake Drugs, Weak Healthcare System