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… 660 cases, 167 deaths nationwide; 38 health workers infected

By Chioma Obinna

The Lagos State Government on Saturday issued a public health alert on Lassa fever, announcing the commencement of a statewide awareness and prevention campaign amid rising infections across the country and the safety of frontline health workers.

The Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, disclosed that Nigeria is currently battling one of its most severe outbreaks in recent years, with over 660 confirmed cases and 167 deaths recorded between January and mid-March 2026.

He revealed that the disease has spread across 22 states and 93 local government areas, describing the trend as “a serious national health concern” requiring urgent, coordinated and proactive intervention.

An alarming dimension of the outbreak, he said, is the infection of healthcare workers, noting that at least 38 personnel have contracted the virus, with three doctors losing their lives.

“When a disease begins to kill frontline workers, that is a serious warning sign,” Abayomi said. “It underscores the need for heightened vigilance, strict infection prevention protocols and rapid response systems.”

He explained that Lassa fever is a highly contagious zoonotic disease transmitted primarily from rodents and contaminated food sources to humans and can spread from person to person, often manifesting as a haemorrhagic illness capable of causing fever and internal bleeding.

Although Lagos is not classified as an endemic state and typically records only a few imported cases annually, the commissioner warned that its status as a densely populated commercial hub heightens the risk of rapid transmission.

“Every day, thousands of people move in and out of Lagos by road and air. In a megacity like ours, infectious diseases can spread very quickly if not contained early, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic,” he noted.

Abayomi added that unlike in the past when outbreaks occurred in seasonal peaks, emerging evidence now points to year-round transmission, driven by increased human interaction with rodent reservoirs and environmental changes.

He further disclosed that about 70 per cent of infected persons may exhibit mild or no symptoms but remain infectious, posing a silent transmission threat, particularly in densely populated urban centres.

Highlighting the severity of the disease, he said one in five symptomatic patients develops serious complications that could result in death, especially where diagnosis and treatment are delayed.

The Commissioner classified Lassa fever alongside other high-risk viral diseases such as Ebola and Marburg virus disease, describing them as “pathogens of high consequence” capable of overwhelming health systems if not effectively managed.

He attributed the increasing incidence of such diseases to climate change, deforestation and ecological disruption, which are bringing rodents and other wildlife into closer contact with human populations.

To contain the threat, Abayomi said Lagos has strengthened its preparedness framework through a 24-hour emergency operations centre, improved surveillance systems, deployment of digital health tools and continuous training of healthcare workers in infection prevention and biosecurity.

“Preparedness is not panic response. It is leadership. Our focus is on early detection, rapid isolation and effective case management to prevent escalation.”

He reassured residents that the state government is working closely with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, the Federal Ministry of Health and partners, including Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, to strengthen response systems and expand public awareness.

According to him, the newly launched campaign will prioritise community education, capacity building for healthcare professionals and dissemination of preventive measures aimed at reducing transmission risks.

“We urge residents to remain calm but vigilant. With collective responsibility and adherence to public health guidelines, we can contain this outbreak and protect our communities,” Abayomi added.

The post Lassa Fever Surge: Lagos raises alarm, launches statewide campaign appeared first on Vanguard News.

Two US warships have reportedly passed through the Strait of Hormuz, the first such transit since the war with Iran began, as President Donald Trump said Saturday that the United States had started “clearing out” the strategic waterway.

The US Navy guided-missile destroyers passed through the strait with no issues reported, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing three US officials.

The operation was not coordinated with authorities in Tehran, US media outlet Axios said.

“We’re now starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform, calling it “a favor” to countries such as China, Japan and France that “don’t have the Courage or Will to do this work themselves.”

He insisted that Iran is “LOSING BIG!” in the conflict, while acknowledging that Iranian mines in the strategic strait — through which a fifth of the world’s crude passes — still pose a threat.

“The only thing they have going is the threat that a ship may ‘bunk’ into one of their sea mines,” Trump wrote.

US officials did not immediately respond to AFP requests for comments about the reports.

The key shipping lane off the coast of Iran has been virtually blocked by Tehran since the United States and Israel started bombing Iran on February 28, though reopening the strait was ostensibly a condition of the shaky ceasefire put in place earlier this week.

Senior Iranian and American officials began negotiations in Pakistan on Saturday, Iranian media reported, in a bid to bring to an end a conflict that has plunged the Middle East into violence and sent shockwaves through the world economy.

In an earlier post, Trump said that empty tankers were headed to the United States from around the world to purchase oil, without providing details.

AFP

The post US warships pass through Strait of Hormuz – Report appeared first on Vanguard News.

Bournemouth manager, Andoni Iraola, has explained why his team defeated Arsenal 2-1 in the Premier League on Saturday.

Iraola watched as goals from Alex Scott and Eli Junior Kroupi gave the Cherries all three points against the Gunners at Emirates Stadium.

Speaking after the final whistle, Iraola said his team defended Arsenal’s set-pieces well, adding that his players were brave against the Premier League leaders.

“We showed great personality to play in a big game and in a big stadium. We’ve been at the level of the game. I’m very happy for the players,” Iraola told BBC Sport.

“Defensively, apart from the penalty, we defended those [set-piece] situations. We were quite brave. A complete performance.

“It’s a matter of growing into the game. We had very good spells on the ball. We were finding good gaps in the middle.”

EPL: Why we beat Arsenal 2-1 – Bournemouth manager, Andoni Iraola

Mikel Arteta said Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth on Saturday was a “big punch in the face”, calling on his players to stand up as the club’s Premier League title charge threatens to unravel.

Junior Kroupi gave the visitors a well-earned lead after 17 minutes before Viktor Gyokeres clawed a laboured Arsenal back into the game from the penalty spot.

But Alex Scott restored Bournemouth’s advantage in the 74th minute and Arteta’s team failed to find a response, slumping to their second home defeat in the league this season.

The Gunners remain nine points clear of second-placed Manchester City with six matches to go but Pep Guardiola’s men, with two games in hand, are right back in the title race.

The two teams meet next Sunday at the Etihad in a game that could be a potential title decider.

“It’s a big punch in the face, that’s what I said to the boys, and now it’s about how we react to that,” said a disappointed Arteta.

“We were very far from the level that we’re shown,” he added. “That’s for certain, especially in certain areas that are critical and when you play against a team like Bournemouth, they were very clear.

“But again, I don’t want to criticise any player, especially here, publicly.”

Arsenal, on course for an unprecedented quadruple just weeks ago, have now suffered three straight defeats in domestic competitions.

They remain favourites for their first Premier League title since 2004 following three consecutive second-placed finishes.

– Mental challenge –

But Arteta admitted he faced a big challenge to lift his players mentally.

“We know what is at stake and the fact that as a club we haven’t done it for so long is a reason for that,” said the Spaniard.

“It talks about the difficulty but I just want to focus on the things that we can control, dominate and we have done.

“It’s not that we have to do a lot of new things that we haven’t done, no, let’s keep doing a lot of it, or almost all the things that we’ve done for nine months because that’s what has taken us all the way there.”

The Arsenal boss said he desperately needed all his first-choice players back.

Absentees on Saturday included Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori.

“We need everything, first of all we need everybody fit and available,” he said.

“So the ones that are not involved, the ones that are not with us, that are really big, important players, we need them immediately with us because then we’re going to be much stronger.

“And then the other ones, they need to stand up, me the first one, and embrace this challenge and go for it.

“So today we have to suffer. It’s painful, it’s a terrible feeling but tomorrow is a different day and if somebody would have said to me in August, we are in this position right now in April, I’m sure we would all take it.”

Arsenal face Sporting Lisbon in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday after a 1-0 win in the first leg.

Then four days later comes the summit meeting at City that could make or break their season.

AFP

The post Arteta urges Arsenal to stand up after ‘punch in the face’ appeared first on Vanguard News.

The ceasefire talks between the United States, US, and Iran are under way in Pakistan’s capital of Islamabad.

This is the first direct peace talks between the US and Tehran since the 1979 Islamic revolution.

US Vice President JD Vance led the America’s delegation to the meeting.

He met Pakistani Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif ahead of ceasefire negotiations.

Iranian officials, including Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, also met Sharif.

Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has expressed support for the Iranian negotiators in Pakistan.

Pezeshkian said the delegation will “negotiate bravely” in defence of the country’s interests.

“In any case, our service to the people will not stop for a moment, and whatever the outcome of the negotiations, the government will stand by the people,” Pezeshkian wrote on X.

BREAKING: US, Iran begin peace talks in Pakistan

British broadcaster, Piers Morgan, has slammed Arsenal following their shock Premier League 2-1 home defeat to Bournemouth on Saturday.

Morgan said the Gunners put up a dreadful display against Bournemouth, calling on manager Mikel Arteta to stop “this nonsense”.

He stated this in a series of tweets via his X account after the final whistle at Emirates Stadium.

DAILY POST reports that two goals from Alex Scott and Eli Junior Kroupi gave the visitors the win against the Premier League leaders.

“Absolutely ridiculous. Stop this nonsense @m8arteta,” Morgan tweeted.

“Dreadful performance. So defensive, so boring, so lacking in fire or passion.
At least look like you want to be Champions.

“How could Bournemouth, who have nothing to play for, look like they wanted it ten times as badly as Arsenal, who have a chance to win the League for the first time in 22yrs?? Just f*cking inexplicable.”

Meanwhile, should Manchester City defeat Chelsea on Sunday, they will be six points behind Arsenal with a game in hand.

EPL: Dreadful performance, Arteta stop this nonsense – Piers Morgan slams Arsenal

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has threatened to activate and sustain civil disobedience aimed at forcing the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Joash Amupitan to resign from office.

The party’s threat is coming on the heels of fresh revelations of Prof Amupitan’s old tweets on his X handle depicting his support for President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Although INEC had officially dissociated Amupitan from the said tweets, records obtained by experts from the micro blogging platform confirmed that the tweets actually originated from him.

The party’s position was shared in a statement shared on X and other platforms on Saturday by ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi.

“We will also renew and escalate our civil disobedience action until the INEC chairman leaves office,” the statement said in part.

“The recent revelation linking a pro-Bola Ahmed Tinubu tweet of 2023 to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Amupitan, is not merely disturbing, it is a grave affront to the integrity of our electoral system,” the party added.

The ADC further argued that in a democracy, the umpire must be above suspicion, stressing that he must not only be independent, but also must be seen, beyond any reasonable doubt, to be independent.

Continuing, the party said, “That is the minimum standard required of anyone entrusted with the sacred duty of conducting free and fair elections.

“However, more troubling is the desperate attempt to tamper with digital records, to erase evidence of his previous partisanship.

“This is not a trivial matter. It is a calculated assault on truth and accountability.

“A man who manipulates records to save himself cannot be trusted to safeguard the mandate of millions.”

The ADC noted that over the past few days, it has been repeatedly revealed that Professor Amupitan, by his conduct, his utterances, and now by incontrovertible digital evidence, has fallen far below the standard expected of an electoral umpire.

“The referee cannot be running around in the shirt of one of the teams he’s supposed to officiate in a match. This is why Professor Amupitan must resign now.

“Anything less is an insult to the Nigerian people and a dangerous precedent for our democracy.”.

The opposition party said it would be relying on this evidence to continue updating its petitions to all relevant institutions, including foreign governments and the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA).

ADC Threatens Civil Disobedience To Force INEC Chairman To Resign is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Popular Nollywood actor, Zubby Michael, has officially joined the African Democratic Congress, ADC.

The actor joined the party on Saturday in his hometown, Ozubulu, Anambra State.

Confirming the development via his Instagram handle, Zubby Michael shared a video capturing the moment he officially registered and received his membership in the ADC.

“I dey my village enough of the talking online I don involve,” he wrote.

The development has caused a stir online as some fans congratulated him for aligning with Peter Obi, a prominent member of the ADC.

Some fans used the opportunity to slam celebrities who are supporting President Bola Tinubu.

@don_isi wrote: “@cubana chiefpriest you see yourself fellow billionaire, you no get level bro.”

@chidozie1994 stated, “Action speaks louder than voice, Peter obi all the way”

@bukas_tony said, “Eze doings, he is always on the people’s side credibility tasted and trusted”

Watch video

Nollywood actor, Zubby Michael joins ADC

The Abia State Government has launched a Rural Emergency Services and Maternal Transport System aimed at reducing maternal and newborn mortality across the state.

Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Ogbonnaya , said the programme aligns with the vision of Governor Alex Otti, whose administration has prioritised the health and well-being of residents.

Ogbonnaya noted that limited access to timely medical care remains a major contributor to maternal and infant deaths, especially among women in labour and newborns in need of urgent attention.

“One of the major causes of maternal mortality is the delay in reaching health facilities with skilled personnel.

“To address this challenge, We have not only improved our health facilities but also ensured that qualified medical personnel are available to deliver quality care,” he added.

He stated that the new transport system is targeted at ensuring uninterrupted supply of essential medical commodities to remote health facilities.

He further identified Obimgwa, Bende, and Ukwa East Local Government Areas as among the most affected and also described them as part of the high-burden regions of maternal mortality in Nigeria.

“As a response, ambulances have been positioned within these areas to ensure that emergency cases are attended to within 25 to 30 minutes,” he stated.

The Commissioner disclosed that trained emergency response officers have also been integrated into the national emergency response system to ensure quick handling of distress calls and swift deployment of ambulances.

Also speaking, he noted that the government is introducing alternative solutions, including tricycle ambulances for rural communities. He also highlighted ongoing rural road improvements and plans to deploy drones and other innovative delivery systems to ensure a steady supply of essential medical commodities to remote facilities.

“We are also looking into rural roads improvements and considering possible solutions like drone delivery systems to ensure essential medical supplies reach communities without delay,” he noted.

The commissioner commended the governor’s leadership, describing the administration as one focused on practical results and the welfare of the people.

He urged residents to support and take ownership of the reforms, stressing that their sustainability depends on collective commitment.

The event was attended by stakeholders, including representatives of the Federal Road Safety Corps, the Nigeria Police Force, health administrators from the benefiting local government areas, and top officials of the Ministry of Health.

Abia Govt Unveils Ambulance Network For Rural Maternal Care is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has welcomed the Nigerian Bar Association’s position that courts lack jurisdiction over internal party matters.

The party described the Bar’s position as a clear validation of its stance in the ongoing leadership dispute.

The David Mark-led leadership of the ADC is currently being challenged in court by a former ADC Deputy National Chairman, Nafiu Bala Gombe.

Gombe is praying the court to void Mark’s chairmanship of the party and declare him the authentic national chairman.

When the matter got to the Court of Appeal, the appellate court ordered the two parties to the dispute to maintain the status quo ante bellum.

Consequently, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) delisted the Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC) from its official records.

The electoral body attributed its decision to the enforcement of the status quo ante bellum as directed by the Court of Appeal, a development that triggered calls for the resignation of the INEC chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan.

In a statement on Saturday by the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said the NBA’s warning against abuse of court process and forum shopping confirmed that the court cases against its leadership are legally defective.

The opposition party urged INEC to avoid actions that could undermine neutrality or give legitimacy to unlawful judicial interference.

Describing the NBA’s intervention as “timely and principled,” the ADC alleged
attempts at subverting the lawful leadership of the party “through judicial manipulation.”

“The NBA’s position is clear and unambiguous: courts have no jurisdiction over the internal affairs of political parties, and any attempt to secure interim or interlocutory orders in such matters is in direct violation of the Electoral Act.

“This is precisely what the ADC has consistently maintained. What we are witnessing is not a legitimate legal dispute. It is a coordinated effort to weaponise the judicial process for political ends — a strategy the NBA has rightly described as an abuse of court process, driven by forum shopping and malafide litigation.

“This pattern reflects a deeper political anxiety within the ruling party, which, faced with a comprehensive failure across critical fronts: worsening insecurity, a crushing cost-of-living crisis, economic instability, rising unemployment, and declining public trust — now appears determined to weaken or neutralise all viable opposition platforms ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“The implication of this is straightforward: any orders procured in violation of the law, and any actions taken on the strength of such orders, are fundamentally defective and cannot stand,” the party said.

The ADC said it noted with concern that despite the existence of clear legal provisions, certain “nefarious actors” have persisted in dragging the courts into matters explicitly barred by statute.

According to the opposition party, other political actors have sought to exploit such processes to create confusion around the leadership of the ADC.

“We commend the NBA for its courage in calling out these practices and for reaffirming the foundational principle that the rule of law must not be subordinated to political expediency.

“We also take note of the NBA’s warning to legal practitioners and judicial officers, and its call for disciplinary action against those who deliberately undermine the law. This reinforces the seriousness of the violations currently at play.

“Accordingly, the ADC calls on INEC to take immediate cognisance of the NBA’s position and to refrain from any action that may lend credibility to processes that are clearly inconsistent with the Electoral Act. INEC must remain a neutral arbiter, not a participant in political engineering.

“Nigeria’s democracy cannot survive a system where laws are ignored, institutions are pressured, and judicial processes are manipulated to achieve predetermined political outcomes.

“The issue before us is bigger than the ADC. It is about the integrity of the democratic process itself.
We will continue to pursue all lawful means to defend the mandate of our party and protect the sanctity of Nigeria’s democracy,” the party added.

ADC Backs NBA’s Cautionionary Note On Parties’ Leadership Disputes is first published on The Whistler Newspaper