Nigeria has maintained its highest level of Ebola preparedness despite confirming that all 62 people linked to an imported Bundibugyo Virus Disease case have completed 21 days of monitoring without secondary transmission.

The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, disclosed this on Friday during a news conference in Abuja.

Idris said the last person identified as a contact of the infected individual had completed the mandatory monitoring period, bringing the exercise to an end for all 62 contacts.

He explained that 13 of the individuals developed fever or other symptoms while under observation but were confirmed negative for the disease after laboratory tests.

The NCDC chief also revealed that seven additional suspected cases reported in Adamawa, Rivers, Borno, Lagos and Ekiti states within three weeks were investigated, with laboratory results ruling out the infection in all instances.

However, he cautioned that the successful completion of contact monitoring did not mean Nigeria could be officially declared free of the disease.

He said such a declaration would depend on established public health criteria and findings from continued surveillance, particularly amid ongoing Ebola transmission in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Idris said the country had consequently sustained heightened surveillance, with the National Emergency Operations Centre activated and the Incident Management System operating at Level Three, the highest response level for Ebola.

He explained that the response measures were aimed at ensuring effective clinical care, identifying and monitoring exposed individuals, preventing further transmission, protecting healthcare workers and strengthening disease surveillance across the country.

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More than 1,260 people have died from diphtheria in Nigeria since the disease outbreak started in late 2022, while suspected infections have surpassed 41,000, according to Médecins Sans Frontières.

The international medical humanitarian organisation, also known as Doctors Without Borders, said the country had also recorded more than 24,000 confirmed cases, warning that dwindling supplies of life-saving medication and inadequate vaccination were making the situation increasingly dangerous.

The warning was contained in a statement signed by MSF Field Communication Officer, Abdulkareem Yakubu.

The organisation disclosed that between January and August 9, 2026, Nigeria recorded 12,977 suspected infections, 10,476 confirmed cases and 406 deaths.

It said the outbreak remained a major concern in northern Nigeria, particularly in Bauchi, Borno, Kaduna, Katsina, Kano, Plateau, Sokoto and Zamfara states.

MSF Medical Coordinator in Nigeria, Dr David Kizito, warned that the international shortage of diphtheria antitoxin (DAT) was threatening the survival of infected patients, adding that the organisation’s remaining stocks were critically low.

He explained that the medication works by neutralising the toxin released by the bacteria responsible for diphtheria and offers the greatest benefit when administered within 48 hours of the first symptoms.

MSF said limited availability of the antitoxin had compelled its medical teams to carefully allocate existing supplies, a situation that could affect patients who urgently need treatment.

The organisation appealed to the Federal Government, state governments, donors and international partners to take immediate steps to obtain antitoxin, vaccines and other essential medicines.

It also stressed the need to speed up the clearance of medical supplies at Nigerian ports and ensure they reach health facilities and vulnerable communities without unnecessary delays.

Nationwide, MSF said it had provided treatment to more than 9,000 diphtheria patients through health facilities and community-based interventions since the start of its response this year.

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The Ogun State Police Command has presented cheques totalling ₦10,658,391.36 to the families and next-of-kin of police officers who died in active service.

The presentation was made on Friday at the Command Headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta, by the Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni, on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu.

The payment was made under the Nigeria Police Force Group Life Assurance and the IGP Family Welfare Schemes.

According to a statement by the command’s spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi on Saturday, the schemes are designed to cushion the financial impact on households whose breadwinners paid the ultimate price in service to the nation.

Accompanied by members of the Command Management Team, CP Ojajuni personally handed over the cheques to the beneficiaries.

Addressing the recipients, the Commissioner said the IGP remains unwavering in his dedication to personnel welfare.

He described the widows and families of the fallen officers as the “true superheroes” who continue to bear the weight of their loved ones’ service with resilience.

He said the financial intervention serves as a tangible token of the Force’s enduring gratitude and its institutional duty to stand by them.

Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs Ejembi Veronica thanked the Inspector-General of Police and the Ogun State Police Command for remembering their families and providing timely relief.

She pledged that the disbursed sums would be channelled responsibly toward the education, upkeep, and overall stability of the children and dependents left behind.

The Ogun State Police Command said it continues to hold the memories of its fallen heroes in high esteem, and reassured the families of its sustained solidarity and support.

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