Health

Doctors to begin nationwide strike on Thursday

Published

1 year ago

July 21, 2025

Doctors to begin nationwide strike on Thursday

As the Nigerian Medical Association’s (NMA) 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government expires on July 23, it has warned that if the government does not accept its demands, medical services will be suspended nationwide.

Its president, Prof Bala Audu, confirmed this in an exclusive chat with our correspondent on Sunday and stated that the group was prepared to take decisive action if the government failed to effectively respond to its demands.

Prof. Audu emphasised that the association’s demands were vital to the sustainability of Nigeria’s healthcare system and the well-being of medical professionals throughout the country.

The National Medical Association issued an ultimatum on July 2 in protest of the National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission’s circular on amended allowances for medical and dental officers in the federal public service, which the doctors objected to for violating past agreements.

The group issued a 21-day ultimatum to the federal government to remove the circular and meet its other objectives in order to avoid industrial action in the health sector.

“We have made our position clear. The ultimatum ends on July 23, and if the federal government does not address our demands, we may have no choice but to proceed with a strike,” he said.

According to him, the circular includes clauses that were not mutually agreed upon and harm medical professionals’ income and welfare.

READ ALSO:

“We have rejected that circular outright. We expect that any new directive affecting our members should be the outcome of mutual consultation, not something imposed,” he stated.

Prof. Audu revealed that the NMA had been engaging with the Federal Government to avert a crisis.

“The last meeting happened two weeks ago, and the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate; the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako; the Permanent Secretary; the Director of Hospital Services; and the representative of the minister of labour were at the meeting, and some affiliates of the NMA were present, and I was part of that meeting as well.

“The minister appreciated us, then he spoke about the issues as contained in the list of demands from the NMA.

“However, he felt that we should go for a further meeting, and another meeting was slated for last week, unfortunately, in the week we lost the former President Muhammadu Buhari, so the meeting couldn’t be held.

“However, the next meeting is supposed to happen between us and the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, which issued a circular that we feel is obnoxious, and we have rejected it. We would also meet with the Ministry of Finance and representatives from the Ministry of Health,” he added.

READ ALSO:

The NMA president voiced concern that time was running out, stating that if the meeting was not conducted within the next few days, the association may be forced to take strike action.

“We expect that after the funeral ceremonies, government stakeholders will reconvene with us, hopefully by Monday. Otherwise, the 21-day ultimatum still stands.

“If the government fails to prioritise this matter, a strike may be inevitable,” he added.

The Katsina State NMA chapter, in a communique issued after its State Executive Council meeting, expressed “grave disappointment” and “unequivocal condemnation” over the circular.

The meeting, held in Katsina on Saturday, noted that “NMA Katsina State branch hereby rejects National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission’s (NSIWC) circular (SWC/S/04/S.218/III/646) dated 27th June, 2025, on review of allowances for medical/dental officers in the federal public service and demands urgent government withdrawal action and fulfilment of all the demands.”

The statement, which was made available to journalists on Sunday, was signed by Dr Muhammadu Sani, Chairman of the NMA Katsina, and Dr Yahya Salisu, Secretary.

The association warned that if its requests were not met, it would be unable to ensure the continuity of health-care services.

Doctors to begin nationwide strike on Thursday

Health

WHO Declares Nigeria Ebola-Free, 52 Contacts Remain Under Surveillance

Published

3 weeks ago

October 26, 2026

Trends Admin

WHO Declares Nigeria Ebola-Free, 52 Contacts Remain Under Surveillance

The World Health Organisation has declared Nigeria free of active Ebola cases after the evacuation of country’s lone confirmed patient to Switzerland.

Health authorities however continue to monitor 52 contacts to prevent a possible spread of the deadly disease.

The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Janabi, announced this in a statement posted on his verified X handle on Monday, confirming that Nigeria would retain responsibility for monitoring 52 contacts, while Switzerland would take over the patient’s continued medical care and follow up with her husband.

Janabi said the patient was clinically stable after Nigerian medical teams successfully managed her through the acute phase of the illness and stabilised her condition before her evacuation.

“Nigeria is now Ebola-free following the evacuation of the index patient to Switzerland,” he said.

He added that Nigeria would maintain close follow-up of the 52 contacts, while Switzerland would assume responsibility for the continued management of the patient and the monitoring of contact number 53, her husband.

The development follows an earlier confirmation by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention that the country had recorded an imported Ebola case involving a patient from Uganda.

Following the confirmation, the NCDC placed 53 contacts under surveillance in Abuja as part of measures to track possible exposure and prevent further transmission.

Although the evacuation of the patient has removed the confirmed case from Nigeria, health authorities are expected to sustain surveillance of the identified contacts in line with established public health protocols.

The monitoring exercise remains critical to ensuring that any potential emergence of symptoms among those exposed is detected promptly and managed appropriately.

Ebola is a severe and often fatal disease that can spread through direct contact with the blood and other bodily fluids of an infected person or someone who has died from the disease.

Public health authorities typically rely on early detection, contact tracing, isolation and appropriate medical care to contain outbreaks and prevent further transmission.

With the index patient now receiving continued care in Switzerland, Nigeria’s immediate focus remains on monitoring the 52 contacts and ensuring that the outbreak does not lead to further infections.

Health

NAFDAC Busts Illegal Herbal Factory in Lagos, Arrests Manager Over Fake Registration Number

Published

3 weeks ago

October 21, 2026

Trends Admin

NAFDAC Busts Illegal Herbal Factory in Lagos, Arrests Manager Over Fake Registration Number

LAGOS — The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has uncovered a suspected illegal herbal product manufacturing facility in Agege, Lagos State, and arrested its manager over the alleged use of a falsified registration number on herbal products.

The agency disclosed the development on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, following an investigation triggered by a report published by The Guardian on October 10 concerning herbal products allegedly carrying fake NAFDAC registration numbers.

According to NAFDAC, its investigative team conducted surveillance before discovering three variants of Asheitu Adams Bitters bearing registration number A7-1827L.

However, checks through the agency’s NAFDAC Automated Product Administration and Monitoring System (NAPAMS) revealed that the registration number belonged to Greentol Cough Syrup, rather than the herbal bitters.

The agency said the discovery confirmed the fraudulent use of the registration number on the products.

During the operation, the company’s managing director and chief executive officer was reportedly absent, while the manager was arrested for further interrogation as investigations continued.

The Sun identified the arrested manager as 39-year-old Abdullazeez Saidu from Kano State. NAFDAC had not announced any court charges against him as of Wednesday.

READ ALSO:

The agency urged members of the public to provide credible information about suspected illegal manufacturing activities to help strengthen enforcement efforts and protect consumers from potentially unsafe products.

NAFDAC provided the following channels for reporting suspected violations: its call centre numbers, 0800-1-623322 and 0700-1-623322, and the email address reforms@nafdac.gov.ng.

The discovery comes amid a series of enforcement operations by the agency against suspected counterfeit and adulterated products in Lagos and other parts of the country.

On October 14, NAFDAC reported uncovering a suspected facility at the International Trade Fair Complex in Lagos where expired alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages were allegedly being repackaged for sale. The agency also reported seizures of suspected counterfeit alcoholic drinks in other operations.

The latest operation highlights concerns about the misuse of regulatory registration numbers, which consumers often rely on when assessing whether products have been registered for sale in Nigeria.

NAFDAC has repeatedly urged consumers to verify product registration details and report suspicious products or manufacturing activities.

The agency’s investigation into the Agege facility is ongoing, and further details about the products recovered, their distribution and any potential health effects have not been publicly disclosed.

NAFDAC Busts Illegal Herbal Factory in Lagos, Arrests Manager Over Fake Registration Number

Health

FG Confirms Ebola Case in Abuja, Identifies 44 Contacts

Published

4 weeks ago

October 20, 2026

Trends Admin

FG Confirms Ebola Case in Abuja, Identifies 44 Contacts

The Federal Government has confirmed a case of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, after laboratory tests returned positive for a woman who recently arrived in Nigeria from Uganda.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, announced the development on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, saying health authorities had identified 44 close contacts and commenced contact tracing to prevent further transmission.

According to the minister, the patient was admitted to a private hospital in Abuja, where she received medical attention for several days before the infection was confirmed. She is currently in isolation and receiving medical care.

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare is coordinating the response with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the FCT Health Services Secretariat and other relevant authorities.

Public health teams are tracing and monitoring people who may have been exposed to the patient, including healthcare workers, other patients, caregivers and people who travelled with her.

The government said surveillance had been intensified, while the hospital where the woman received treatment was receiving support to strengthen infection prevention and control measures.

The minister urged public and private healthcare facilities across Nigeria to remain on high alert and promptly identify, isolate and report suspected cases to the appropriate public health authorities.

READ ALSO:

Healthcare workers were also directed to maintain strict infection prevention and control practices to reduce the risk of exposure and protect patients and medical personnel.

Pate appealed to Nigerians to remain calm, vigilant and cooperative with health officials, stressing that early detection and prompt reporting were essential to containing the infection.

He noted that Nigeria had successfully contained an Ebola outbreak in 2014 and had experience and public health systems to respond to the current situation.

The government also urged anyone contacted during the tracing exercise, including passengers who may have travelled with the patient, to provide the necessary information and comply with official public health guidance.

Ebola virus disease is a serious illness that can spread through direct contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person who has developed symptoms, or through contaminated objects and materials.

Symptoms may include fever, severe weakness, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea. The incubation period ranges from two to 21 days.

Anyone who believes they may have been exposed and subsequently develops symptoms should contact public health authorities for guidance and avoid close contact with others while awaiting advice.

The NCDC operates a toll-free call centre on 6232, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for information and reports of suspected cases.

Nigeria’s latest case comes amid a wider Ebola outbreak affecting parts of Africa, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo and countries in East Africa. The NCDC had previously warned of the risk of imported infections and strengthened national preparedness measures.

The Federal Government said investigations and contact tracing were continuing, with further updates expected through the NCDC and the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease.

Authorities have urged the public to rely on verified information, follow official health advice and avoid spreading unconfirmed reports as efforts continue to contain the infection.