News

Plateau task force appeals for return of carted-away government vehicles

Published

3 years ago

July 17, 2023

vicky

The task force established to recover purported auctioned government property in Plateau State has made a passionate appeal to former government officials who absconded with government property especially vehicles to return them.

The task force reminded those concerned of the reality of the time which has made it impossible for the governor Caleb Mutfwang-led administration to engage in the purchase of vehicles when there are alternatives in the hands of former officials.

A statement issued in Jos by Pam Davou, the Secretary of the committee on behalf of the Chairman, Nde Isaac Wadak maintained its mandate is “to identity/locate and recover Government property purported to have been illegally auctioned, boarded or possessed.”

His words, “The Task Force has so far received inventories and reports of most landed property, equipment, moveable assets, including vehicles and machinery belonging to the government. The Task Force, in pursuit of this, has written letters to people who are allegedly in possession of government property to return them for use by new officers occupying their former offices. The Task Force has started retrieving government property including vehicles from some individuals who complied with the appeal to return same.

“The Task Force is hereby appealing to those who are yet to comply and return the vehicles in their possession, even after being officially communicated, to kindly return them as there is a dearth of vehicles at the moment for official use. Those concerned should again consider the humongous cost of these vehicles should the government want to acquire them under the present economic realities.”

He added, “The Task Force has discovered that some persons have allocated to themselves, government lands and landed property without due process. The Task Force is therefore calling on those in this category to immediately vacate such property

henceforth. Failure to comply with the instructions above, and haven been officially notified, the Task Force will embark on publishing the names of defaulters in National dailies, while equally embarking on the physical retrieval of these government properties…”

Related Topics:Plateau task force appeals for return of carted-away government vehicles

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News

Fire guts school hostel in Plateau

Published

2 hours ago

August 14, 2026

Preport

There was panic in Jos, Plateau State capital on Thursday when fire engulfed one of the hostels at St Louis College.

The fire incident which broke out at 6pm was said to have destroyed furniture, mattresses and other valuables.

Fortunately, the incident took place while the students were on holiday, averting possible casualties.

According to Vanguard, an eyewitness, Taiwo Olayinka, said several properties were destroyed in the affected hostel.

“An unfortunate fire gutted one of the hostels in the school. Thankfully, students are on holiday, but furniture, mattresses and other valuables are being consumed by the inferno,” the eyewitness said.

At the time of filing this report, the cause of the fire could not be immediately known and it is not clear if fire firefighters have arrested the situation.

Health

WHO recommends Phase III trial of Ebola vaccine against Bundibugyo virus

Published

5 hours ago

August 14, 2026

Preport

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended a Phase III trial of an Ebola vaccine to test whether it can protect against Bundibugyo virus disease.

WHO Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, disclosed this in a video posted on his official X account on Thursday.

Ghebreyesus said two vaccines specifically developed against the Bundibugyo virus had entered Phase I safety trials in humans. At the same time, new animal studies had shown promising evidence that Ervebo, an Ebola vaccine, could also provide cross-protection against the virus.

He said the findings prompted WHO to recommend Ervebo for inclusion in a Phase III trial, which the organisation hopes to begin as soon as possible.

However, it is not yet known whether Ervebo can protect humans against Bundibugyo virus disease.

Mr Ghebreyesus said the Phase III trial would help establish whether the vaccine is safe and effective and could provide evidence needed to make it available for the current outbreak and future outbreaks.

No licensed vaccines

The development comes as the Bundibugyo virus outbreak in the DRC has become the second-largest Ebola outbreak on record.

As of Thursday, the country had recorded 4,449 confirmed cases and 2,061 deaths across five provinces and 53 health zones, according to the WHO.

The health agency said the outbreak was spreading faster than any previous Ebola outbreak at the same stage and could surpass the 2014–2016 West African outbreak, which remains the largest on record, with more than 28,000 cases and 11,000 deaths reported in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Bundibugyo virus is one of the viruses in the Ebola family that can cause severe and often fatal disease in humans.

Unlike Ebola virus disease caused by the Ebola virus, there is currently no licensed vaccine specifically approved for the prevention of Bundibugyo virus disease.

WHO said in June that Ervebo, the only licensed and WHO-prequalified Ebola vaccine, is approved for Ebola virus disease but not for Bundibugyo virus disease.

The current outbreak was first detected in the DRC in May, following an unexplained cluster of deaths in Ituri Province that was investigated. Laboratory testing confirmed Bundibugyo virus disease, prompting the DRC government to declare its 17th Ebola outbreak.

Uganda also confirmed imported cases linked to the outbreak in the DRC. WHO subsequently determined that the outbreak in the two countries constituted a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

Previous Bundibugyo virus outbreaks have had case fatality rates between 30 and 50 per cent, according to the WHO.

PREMIUM TIMES reported on 9 August that WHO had already recommended Ervebo for evaluation in a randomised clinical trial after reviewing evidence suggesting that it could provide some protection against Bundibugyo virus.

Treatment advancement

Mr Ghebreyesus also disclosed progress in research into treatments for Bundibugyo virus disease.

He said a WHO-sponsored partners trial had reached 100 patients.

The trial is assessing potential treatments for the disease and is intended to generate evidence on which therapies can improve outcomes for infected patients.

READ ALSO: DRC Ebola outbreak becomes second-largest on record WHO

Mr Ghebreyesus said the milestone showed that research could be mobilised rapidly and responsibly even during a difficult outbreak.

He called on partners to support and accelerate the vaccine trial, while emphasising that the response requires collaboration among the DRC government, WHO, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other partners.