By Our Reporter

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) says it expects to complete monitoring of the 62 contacts traced to an imported Ebola case by November 13.

The agency stated this in its Ebola disease situation report published on Thursday.

“Contacts are expected to complete follow-up by November. Expected completion dates range from 31 Oct to 13 Nov 2026,” the report reads.

NCDC said contact tracing and monitoring would continue.

It added that additional contact tracers had been mapped and trained to strengthen surveillance.

The agency relayed that it would “engage and assess additional contacts for possible evacuation to the quarantine facility”.

“Continue follow-up of contacts in quarantine, continue contact tracing and monitoring,” NCDC said.

The agency shared that the scope and strategy for identifying contacts had been reviewed and expanded.

It said the case definitions for Ebola disease had also been reviewed to improve the identification and management of suspected infections.

The report further listed plans to review guidelines on contact tracing, self-quarantine, self-care kits and the Ebola call protocol.

The NCDC said it would also develop an Ebola disease dashboard on the surveillance outbreak response management and analysis system (SORMAS), to improve contact management.

The agency said the National Incident Management System (IMS) had been activated.

It said the implementation of prioritised response activities continues across thematic areas, while the Incident Action Plan had been finalised.

The agency added that a high-level stakeholder meeting had been held with partner agencies to strengthen coordination, resource mobilisation and accountability in the response.

In October, the federal government said it had recorded a confirmed case of Ebola disease in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Ali Pate, coordinating minister of health and social welfare, identified 44 close contacts for tracing to prevent further transmission.

According to the minister, the patient, a woman who recently arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda, was admitted to a private hospital in the FCT, where she received care for several days before the diagnosis was confirmed.

Nigeria’s index Ebola case was later evacuated to Switzerland for further treatment.

On October 31, the NCDC announced that two suspected cases of Ebola disease have been identified in the north-east.

The NCDC said the individuals have been isolated while contact identification and listing is ongoing.

It added that laboratory testing is also being conducted.

On Sunday, the NCDC said there are currently no laboratory-confirmed Ebola cases in Adamawa.

*** Says C-O-R an honour and a call to greater responsibility

By Omansha Ndoki

The movement for a new political direction in Oyi/Ayamelum Federal Constituency has recorded another milestone as the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate for the House of Representatives, Hon. Sir Charles Uchenna Okafor, (Wiper, Omeluora Omambala), has received his Certificate of Return as the party’s duly elected candidate for the 2027 general elections.

The presentation took place at the NDC National Headquarters in Abuja, where the party formally recognised Okafor as its flag bearer for the Oyi/Ayamelum Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives.

The development marks another significant step in his political journey and adds momentum to the political movement championing what it describes as a rescue mission for Oyi and Ayamelum Federal Constituency.

In his acceptance speech, Hon. Okafor expressed profound gratitude to the leadership of the Nigeria Democratic Congress for the confidence reposed in him, particularly acknowledging the party leadership for its support, fairness and commitment to ensuring a credible and transparent primary election.

He described the Certificate of Return as both an honour and a call to greater responsibility, assuring the party leadership and supporters of his commitment to the ideals and aspirations of the NDC.

Addressing Ndi Oyi and Ayamelum, Wiper reaffirmed his determination to make the constituency work for its people, promising purposeful representation, inclusive governance and tangible dividends of democracy.

He declared that his mission was to make Oyi/Ayamelum OK through effective legislative representation, people-oriented initiatives and sustained efforts towards addressing the developmental needs of the constituency.

Popularly identified with the slogan “Nigeria Must Be OK; Oyi-Ayamelum Must Be OK,” Wiper’s political message centres on the need for responsive leadership, accountability and renewed attention to the developmental aspirations of the people.

He also highlighted the NDC’s national political vision under the presidential ticket of His Excellency, Mr Peter Obi, and his running mate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, noting that their candidacies form part of the party’s broader agenda for a New Nigeria anchored on good governance, accountability, national unity and inclusive development.

By our reporter

The governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the 2027 general election in Enugu State, Mr Obodoeze Ocho, has blamed flawed recruitment processes into political offices for the prevailing maladministration and economic hardship in the state and across Nigeria.

Ocho stated this weekend during the Enugu North zonal stakeholders’ meeting held in Nsukka. He faulted the procedures candidates emerge for various positions, noting that “the best are often left out due to lack of a level playing field”. He said APC in the state “places emphasis on credible candidates to ensure that square pegs are placed in square holes”.

In his words, “ADC is firmly committed to fielding credible individuals of unquestionable character across all elective positions in the state and indeed Nigeria. Our candidates emerge through free and fair means to avoid post-election crises. We are one family, and won’t deceive Ndi Enugu. That has been our mantra nationwide.”

It was gathered that ADC used the stakeholders’ meeting to unveil it’s senatorial candidate for the zone in the person of Dr Ugochukwu Ugwuanyi.

The Chairman of ADC in Enugu State, Mr Chris Eze, a retired General in the Nigerian Army, explained that the deliberate delay in unveiling the candidate was to ensure “a thorough vetting process”.

Gen Eze said the party prioritised selecting candidates “who stand head and shoulders above opponents in the zone”.

“We don’t compromise because we are pro-people. We provide an undiluted platform for the emergence of our candidates in a free and fair platform,” he said.

General Eze urged the people of Enugu North to reject inducement-driven politics and instead “vote for ADC candidates dedicated to protecting their true interests”.

The ADC senatorial candidate for the zone, Dr Ugochukwu Ugwuanyi, a UK-trained neurosurgeon, said he will ensure proper legislation for the benefit of the people of the zone. He pledged to ensure that the dream of Adada State creation is accomplished.

Our correspondent reports that Ugwuanyi is a member of the Royal College of Surgeons.