News
NiMet forecasts three-day sunshine, cloudiness nationwide from Saturday
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted sunshine and cloudiness from Saturday to Monday across the country.
NiMet’s weather outlook released on Friday in Abuja predicted sunny skies with patches of clouds over the northern region on Saturday.
It forecast chances of thunderstorms accompanied by moderate rains over parts of Taraba, Adamawa and Kaduna states during the morning hours.
It stated, “By the afternoon and evening hours, thunderstorms with moderate rains are expected over parts of Borno, Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Katsina, Kano, Kaduna, Adamawa and Taraba states.
‘’For North Central region, thunderstorms accompanied by moderate rains are expected over parts of Plateau, Niger, Nasarawa and the Federal Capital Territory during the morning hours.
‘’By afternoon and evening hours, thunderstorms with moderate rains are expected over parts of Kogi, Benue, Plateau, Niger, Kogi, Nasarawa states and the Federal Capital Territory.”
According to the agency, moderate rains are expected over parts of Ondo, Ogun, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Lagos and Bayelsa states of the southern region during the morning hours.
It anticipated moderate rains over the entire region later in the day.
NiMet envisaged thunderstorms accompanied by moderate rains on Sunday over parts of Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Adamawa and Taraba states of the northern region during the morning hours.
It predicted thunderstorms with moderate rains over parts of Borno, Jigawa, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, Taraba and Adamawa states later in the day.
It added, “For North central region, thunderstorms accompanied by moderate rains are expected over parts of Niger, Kwara states and the Federal Capital Territory in the morning hours.
“Later during the afternoon or evening hours, thunderstorms with moderate rains are anticipated across the region. For southern region: There are prospects of light rains over parts of Cross River, Delta, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Lagos and Rivers states during the morning hours.
The agency forecast chances of thunderstorms with moderate rains over the entire region later in the day.
According to NiMet, partly cloudy skies are anticipated over the northern region with chances of thunderstorms accompanied with light rains over parts of Bauchi, Jigawa and Yobe states during the morning hours on Monday.
The agency predicted thunderstorms with moderate rains across the region during the afternoon and evening hours.
“For North Central region, sunny skies with patches of clouds are anticipated over the north central region during the morning hours. Later, during the afternoon or evening hours, thunderstorms with moderate rains are expected over the entire region.
‘’For southern region, cloudy atmosphere is expected over the region with prospects of light rains over parts of Edo, Cross River, Delta, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Rivers states during the morning hours,’’ it said.
It anticipated thunderstorms with moderate rains over the entire region later in the day.
NiMet urged the public to take adequate precaution and ensure that loose objects are fastened to avoid collision as strong winds might precede the rains in areas where thunderstorms likely to occur.
‘’The expected continuous rains over the coastal areas of the South have good prospects of flash flooding. Avoid driving or wadding through flood waters. Driving under heavy rain should be avoided.
‘’Disconnect electrical appliances from electrical sockets. Stay away from tall trees to avoid impact from falling branches and broken trees.
‘’Airline operators are advised to get airport-specific weather reports (flight documentation) from NiMet for effective planning in their operations. Residents are advised to stay informed through weather updates from NiMet. Visit our website www.nimet.gov.ng,’’ it noted.
(NAN)
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that the ongoing Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has become the largest ever recorded, with more than 1,400 confirmed cases and over 400 deaths.
The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Mohamed Janabi, disclosed this on Friday during an online media briefing on the Ebola situation in the DRC and Uganda.
Mr Janabi described the outbreak as one of Africa’s most serious public health emergencies this year and called for sustained international support to bring the virus under control.
Despite the rising number of infections, he said response efforts have recorded encouraging progress through stronger surveillance, improved contact tracing, earlier case detection and increasing patient recoveries.
According to him, transmission remains concentrated in a small number of hotspots, although weekly infections have reached their highest levels since the outbreak began, highlighting the need for intensified response measures.
Mr Janabi noted that the current outbreak has surpassed all previous Bundibugyo Ebola outbreaks combined, exceeding those recorded in Uganda in 2007 and the DRC in 2012.
“Contact tracing has improved significantly, rising from 25 to 83 per cent in the Democratic Republic of Congo, while Uganda has achieved 100 per cent follow-up of identified contacts,” he said.
“Better surveillance has increased case detection, explaining that higher reported infections partly reflect improved community trust and stronger health systems.
“Earlier detection enables patients to receive treatment sooner, improves monitoring of contacts, and helps health workers interrupt transmission before additional infections occur.”
Mr Janabi warned that a recent imported Ebola case in Uganda demonstrates the continued threat of cross-border transmission as long as infections persist in the eastern DRC.
He called for stronger collaboration between neighboring countries through timely information sharing, coordinated preparedness, and joint surveillance to prevent further international spread.
He also commended the governments of Uganda and DRC, frontline health workers, Africa CDC, and development partners for sustaining response efforts under difficult conditions.
Clinical trial
Mr Janabi announced the enrollment of the first patients into a WHO-supported clinical trial evaluating potential treatments specifically targeting the Bundibugyo Ebola virus.
He described the trial as a major scientific milestone that could improve patient care during the current outbreak while strengthening future Ebola responses.
He urged governments to expand treatment capacity, accelerate laboratory testing, rapidly investigate suspected cases, and ensure health workers receive adequate protection and support.
He also appealed for sustained financial support, noting that response efforts require resources, speed, and partnerships rather than commitment alone.
Also, the Director-General, Ministry of Health in Uganda, Charles Olaro, said that the country reported 20 confirmed Ebola cases as of 2 July, including 15 imported infections and five Ugandan nationals identified during institutional quarantine.
Mr Olaro said no community transmission has been recorded in Uganda, with surveillance systems remaining fully activated to detect and contain new infections.
“Uganda has monitored 836 identified contacts, while several have completed the mandatory 21-day follow-up period without developing Ebola symptoms,” he said.
READ ALSO: WHO launches clinical trial for new Ebola treatment in DR Congo
He said experience from previous outbreaks had enhanced Uganda’s preparedness by improving surveillance, community engagement, laboratory capacity and emergency response coordination.
“Uganda and the DRC continue sharing surveillance information through a formal cross-border response mechanism to strengthen regional outbreak containment.
“Laboratory testing capacity in DRC has expanded dramatically, increasing from fewer than 30 daily samples to more than 2,000.
“More than 200 patients have recovered and been discharged from treatment centres, reflecting improvements in clinical care and earlier diagnosis.”
He added that epidemiological trends remain concerning, projecting that confirmed cases could approach 1,500 if transmission continues in affected hotspots.
According to Mr Olaro, the outbreak can still be contained through sustained funding, regional solidarity, scientific innovation, and continued cooperation among governments, communities, and international partners.
(NAN)
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