News

Lassa Fever Fatality Rate Rises In Nigeria As Cases Fall

Published

3 months ago

April 15, 2026

Preport

Lassa fever

By Abujah Racheal

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) says Nigeria is recording a rising Lassa fever fatality rate.

This is in spite of a decline in weekly confirmed cases, raising fresh concerns over disease management nationwide.

The agency disclosed on Wednesday in its Epidemiological Week 14 report for 2026 that confirmed cases dropped from 26 in the previous week to 22, while the case fatality rate rose significantly.

It said the Case Fatality Rate increased to 24.8 per cent, compared to 18.8 per cent recorded during the same period in 2025, indicating worsening outcomes in spite of fewer infections.

It said cumulatively, Nigeria had recorded 170 deaths from Lassa fever in 2026, underscoring persistent challenges related to early detection, timely treatment, and health-seeking behaviour across affected communities nationwide.

The report showed that 22 states and 94 Local Government Areas had reported confirmed cases in 2026, with five states accounting for about 84 per cent of total infections recorded.

It said the states included Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Edo, and Benue, which continued to bear the highest burden of the disease, reflecting regional concentration of infections and transmission patterns.

The agency said Bauchi recorded the highest burden with 27 per cent of confirmed cases, followed by Ondo with 22 per cent, Taraba with 18 per cent, Edo with nine per cent, and Benue.

Other affected states included Plateau, Ebonyi, and Kogi, among others, highlighting the continued geographic spread of Lassa fever across multiple regions in spite of ongoing surveillance and response efforts nationwide.

The NCDC said that the predominant age group affected was between 21 and 30 years, with cases ranging from one to 90 years and a median age of 30 years.

It added that the male-to-female ratio among confirmed cases stood at 1:0.9, indicating relatively similar infection rates between genders, although slightly higher among males in the current reporting period.

The report also confirmed infections among healthcare workers during the reporting week, raising concerns about infection prevention and control compliance in treatment centres and frontline health facilities managing cases.

According to the agency, while suspected cases have declined, confirmed cases remain higher compared to the same period in 2025, suggesting sustained community transmission and gaps in containment measures.

The NCDC, in collaboration with partners including World Health Organization, UNICEF, Médecins Sans Frontières, and the US CDC, had activated a national response framework.

It said a multi-sectoral Incident Management System had been deployed to coordinate response efforts, improve surveillance, and strengthen interventions aimed at reducing transmission and fatalities across affected states.

The agency said interventions included infection prevention training for health workers, distribution of personal protective equipment, active case search, contact tracing, and community sensitisation campaigns in high-burden areas nationwide.

The agency added that rapid response teams had been deployed to seven high-burden states, while treatment centres continued receiving essential medical supplies including Ribavirin and protective equipment for case management.

In spite of these efforts, the NCDC highlighted ongoing challenges such as late presentation of cases, poor health-seeking behaviour due to high treatment costs, inadequate sanitation, and low public awareness in affected communities.

It urged state governments to strengthen community engagement, while advising healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion for Lassa fever and strictly adhere to infection prevention protocols.

The agency emphasised that sustained multi-sectoral collaboration remained critical to reducing transmission, improving treatment outcomes, and lowering the number of deaths associated with Lassa fever across the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness transmitted through contact with food or household items contaminated by infected rodents. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

News

Osun Guber: Adesuyi urges security agencies to prosecute violence perpetrators

Published

3 hours ago

July 9, 2026

Preport

The governorship candidate of the Zenith Labour Party, ZLP, in Osun State, Olufemi Adesuyi, has called on security agencies to intensify efforts aimed at preventing further political violence ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

Adesuyi made the appeal in a statement issued in Osogbo on Wednesday, where he expressed concern over the recent increase in violent incidents across the state and urged law enforcement authorities to act decisively against perpetrators.

He urged the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies operating in Osun to be proactive in maintaining law and order during the election period.

According to him, “those involved in violent acts should be arrested and prosecuted regardless of their political affiliations.”

The ZLP candidate said the growing trend of killings and politically linked violence posed a threat to public safety and democratic governance in the state.

He warned that allowing such incidents to continue unchecked could affect the credibility of the forthcoming governorship poll.

Adesuyi stated, “The trend of these killings, if left unchecked, will threaten the peace and democratic values in this state. That will definitely affect the credibility of the forthcoming August 15 gubernatorial election.”

He added that politics should remain a contest of ideas and service rather than a struggle that endangers lives.

“We must not allow desperation to turn our democracy into a bloodbath. The rate at which political violence is spreading in Osun is worrisome. No position, no matter how highly placed, is worth wasting human blood for,” he said.

The governorship hopeful also appealed to politicians across party lines to conduct their campaigns peacefully and place the interest of Osun State above partisan considerations.

He said, “politicians must understand that power is transient. You cannot achieve your ambition by shedding the blood of innocent people.

“Let us campaign with decorum, respect our opponents, and allow the people to decide freely.”

Calling for restraint before, during and after the election, Adesuyi stressed that political differences should not lead to hostility among residents.

“Election is not war. Let us conduct ourselves peacefully, responsibly, and with respect for one another before, during, and after the election. Political differences should never make us enemies,” he said.

He encouraged eligible voters not to be discouraged by security concerns but to participate actively in the electoral process, while also seeking support for his governorship ambition.

The appeal comes amid heightened concern over violent crimes in Osun State, which recently prompted a visit by the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu.

Business

EFCC Arraigns Former MD Of Port Harcourt Refinery for Alleged N1.32bn Money Laundering

Published

7 hours ago

July 9, 2026

Preport

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday f2026 arraigned Mr. Ahmed Adamu Dikko, former Managing Director of Port Harcourt Refining Company Ltd (PHRC), before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on a 12-count charge bordering on money laundering.

The charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/360/2026 and dated and filed on June 22 by the Commission’s counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, listed Dikko and Masterpiece Projects & Investment Limited as first and second defendants respectively.

Dikko, who led the Port Harcourt Refining Company for about four years, pleaded not guilty to a 12-count charge filed against him by the Commission on Wednesday, July 8, 2026.

The EFCC accused Dikko of laundering N1,322,839,112.7 (One Billion, Three Hundred and Twenty-Two Million, Eight Hundred and Thirty-nine Thousand, One Hundred and Twelve Naira, Seven Kobo) in proceeds allegedly linked to contractors engaged by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) for the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refinery, through cash property purchases, undisclosed bank retentions, third-party fund concealment and unauthorised currency conversion, in violation of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Count one reads in part: “That you AHMED ADAMU DIKKO… did directly make cash payment of the dollar equivalent of the sum of N218,375,000.00 to one Hadeija Bashir for the purchase of Plot 558, Abubakar Umar Street, Katampe Extension, Abuja without passing through a financial Institution and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 2(1)(a), 19(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the same Act.”

Count eight reads: “That you AHMED ADAMU DIKKO, former Managing Director of the Port Harcourt Refining Company Ltd (PHRC) on or about the 26th of June, 2023 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court disguised the origin of the sum of N328,710,337.50 (Three Hundred and Twenty Eight Million, Seven Hundred and Ten Thousand, Three Hundred and Thirty Seven Naira, Fifty Kobo) paid into the GTBank Account Plc No. 0123201507 operated by Masterpiece Projects & Investment Limited by OMSA Integrated Services Limited from the transactions involving NNPC Limited allocation of Vacuum Gas Oil for export when you knew that the said sum of N328,710,337.50 constituted proceeds of unlawful activity and you thereby committed an offence contrary Section 18(2) (a) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”

Count eleven reads: “That you AHMED ADAMU DIKKO between October, 2022 and May, 2025 did convert the aggregate sum of $77,080 through Ibrahim Isa Yaro which amount did not form part of your known lawful earnings as a former public officer with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him.

Thereafter, counsel to the defendant, Okechukwu Ajunwa, SAN urged the court to grant the defendant bail pending the determination of the suit. Iheanacho, however, opposed the bail application.

In his ruling on the bail application, Justice Ekwo granted the defendant bail in the sum of N150,000,000 (One Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) with a surety who must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court and with a landed property valued at not less than the bail sum. He ordered that the defendant be remanded in the custody of the EFCC pending when he’s able to meet the bail conditions.

The matter was therefore adjourned to October 12, 13 and 14, 2026 for trial.

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