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Adding burdens to Onitsha traders at this time is simply unjust.—Peter Obi tells NAFDAC

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Former Anambra State Governor, Mr Peter Obi, has condemned the alleged demand of ₦700,000 from traders to reopen their shops at the Onitsha Head Bridge Market, describing the action as “insensitive” and calling on authorities to reconsider the charge

“It is, therefore, deeply unfortunate to learn that shop owners are now being asked to pay ₦700,000 to reopen their stores,”

Obi expressed concern over the impact of such charges on small and medium-scale enterprises, pointing out that more than seven million Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises have collapsed in Nigeria in the past two years.

“These shop owners have already endured prolonged closures, mounting unpaid bills, and economic strain. Adding further burdens to them and their families at this time is simply unjust,” Obi added.

He explained that his support was based on the understanding that investigations would be conducted quickly and the market reopened in a timely manner to reduce the hardship on small business owners, many of whom are already struggling under Nigeria’s current economic climate.

 

Health

Nigeria records 145 Lassa fever deaths in 2025

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The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed 145 deaths from Lassa fever in 2025 as the country continues to battle the viral hemorrhagic disease across 18 states.

According to the latest situation report released on Friday by the NCDC for epidemiological week 24 (June 9–15), Nigeria recorded 766 confirmed cases from 5,678 suspected infections.

The case fatality rate stood at 18.9 per cent, up from 17.6 per cent during the same period in 2024.

The agency said that the states most affected were Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, and Ebonyi, which accounted for 91 per cent of the confirmed cases.

It said that Ondo alone contributed 31 per cent making it the epicentre of the outbreak.

In spite a decline in new confirmed cases — down to eight from 11 the previous week — the Nigerian public health agency said that health authorities remained concerned about the high fatality rate.

The agency said that this was driven by late presentation of cases, poor health-seeking behaviour, and unsanitary living conditions in high-burden communities.

According to it, efforts to contain the outbreak have included the deployment of Rapid Response Teams to 10 states, risk communication, environmental sanitation campaigns, and training of health workers in high-risk areas.

The NCDC also de-escalated its Incident Management System to alert mode while integrating Lassa fever messages into wider disease awareness campaigns.

The agency has appealed to the public to avoid contact with rodents and to seek prompt medical care at designated treatment centres at the first sign of symptoms such as fever, headache, or bleeding.

The agency continues to urge Nigerians to maintain hygiene, report symptoms early, and avoid contact with rodents and their secretions.

“The public is also encouraged to follow NCDC advisories and utilise the toll-free line 6232 for inquiries,” it said.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic disease transmitted primarily through contact with the urine or faeces of infected rats.

It can also spread from person to person through bodily fluids, contaminated objects, or infected medical equipment.

Symptoms include fever, sore throat, headache, vomiting, muscle pain, and in severe cases, bleeding from the body openings.

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Health

Polio immunization: Sensitization campaign helped us to overcome resistance in Kano – Educator

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The Health Educator of Warawa Local Government Area (LGA) in Kano State, Bello Jafaru, says community sensitization and strong support from traditional leaders helped them overcome vaccine resistance in the just-concluded polio immunization campaign.

 

In an interview with Daily Post, Jafaru revealed that the campaign targeted 57,754 children in the local government, but they were able to immunize 59,391 children, surpassing the target.

“We did massive sensitization before the campaign. We held advocacy meetings, taskforce meetings, and town hall meetings with stakeholders. We explained the challenges we had in the previous campaign and what we needed from them to avoid repeating vaccine resistance.”

He recalled that in a previous round of polio vaccination, some parents in one of the wards, ( Jigawa ward) resisted the vaccine until traditional leaders stepped in.

“We had to do community dialogue in that settlement. The people told us their concerns, and we listened. That helped us solve the problem,” he added.

Jafaru said the recent campaign also faced challenges.

He gave instances where a woman refused to allow her children to be vaccinated.

“But thanks to our non-compliance committee and the support of traditional leaders, we were able to resolve it. The committee first spoke to her, and when that didn’t work, the Hakimi instructed that she and her children be brought for immunization.”

He explained that the non-compliance committee is made up of representative from each ward, including health workers and community influencers.

“They are doing their best. They were the ones who convinced the woman before involving the traditional ruler,” he said.

Jafaru advised parents to take polio immunization seriously.

“It is free, safe, and protects children from polio and other diseases. Parents should take their children to the health facility to be vaccinated,” he said.

This comes as the Kano State Government, in collaboration with UNICEF, continues its campaign to ensure that no child in the state suffers from polio by December 2025.

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Nigerian govt supplies two million polio vaccines to Kebbi

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The Nigerian government has delivered two million doses of polio vaccines to Kebbi State as part of a nationwide immunisation campaign targeting children under the age of five.

The vaccine supply, facilitated by the Federal Ministry of Health through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, is part of efforts to halt the circulation of polio variants and strengthen immunity among vulnerable children.

Yusuf Umar Sauwa, spokesperson for the Kebbi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, confirmed the development, describing the vaccines as potent booster doses capable of interrupting transmission.

“These vaccines will strengthen immunity among children and ensure the virus does not resurface,” he said.

Sauwa added that Kebbi currently has zero reported cases of polio, attributing this to the state’s strong surveillance and routine immunisation systems.

To address issues of non-compliance and vaccine rejection, particularly in areas such as Jega, Koko, and Birnin Kebbi, religious and traditional leaders have been actively engaged to help dispel misinformation and promote vaccine acceptance.

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