Crunch Times News

By Blessing Bature 

The Federal Government has confirmed a case of Ebola disease in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), triggering an emergency public health response, including contact tracing, surveillance and strengthened infection prevention measures.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, announced the development on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, following laboratory confirmation of the case.

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

Pate said the patient had been placed in isolation and was receiving medical care.

He disclosed that contact tracing had commenced, with 44 close contacts identified so far. Public health teams are working to identify and monitor individuals who may have been exposed to the infection, including healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and travel contacts.

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the FCT Health Services Secretariat and other relevant authorities are collaborating to contain the infection and prevent further transmission.

The minister said surveillance had been intensified, while the affected hospital was receiving immediate support to strengthen infection prevention and control measures.

He called on public and private healthcare facilities nationwide to remain on high alert, urging health workers to maintain a high index of suspicion, promptly identify and isolate suspected cases, observe strict infection prevention protocols and immediately report suspected infections to public health authorities.

Explaining the risk of transmission, Pate said Ebola spreads through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person who is sick or has died from the disease, as well as contact with contaminated materials.

He stressed that a person infected with Ebola cannot transmit the disease before symptoms begin.

The minister urged Nigerians to remain calm but vigilant, practise regular hand hygiene and avoid contact with the body fluids of anyone suspected of having the disease.

He listed symptoms to watch for as fever, severe weakness, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea, particularly among people who may have been exposed to the infection.

Pate advised anyone who suspects possible exposure to report immediately to public health authorities, even if they feel well. Those who develop symptoms should avoid close contact with others and contact health authorities for guidance before visiting a healthcare facility.

He also urged people contacted during the tracing exercise, including relevant airline passengers, to provide the necessary information and comply with public health instructions.

The minister cautioned against spreading rumours or stigmatising affected individuals, emphasising the need for Nigerians to rely on verified information from official health authorities.

Reassuring the public, Pate recalled that Nigeria successfully contained an Ebola outbreak in 2014, noting that the country had experience and public health systems to respond to the current case.

However, he stressed that preventing further spread would require collective action, early detection, prompt reporting and cooperation with health officials.

The Federal Government, FCT authorities and their partners, he said, were working together to protect healthcare workers, patients and the wider public, while investigations into the case continued.

The government, through the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease and the NCDC, pledged to provide further updates as more information becomes available.

Members of the public can contact the NCDC's toll-free call centre on 6232, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for information or to report a suspected case.

By Blessing Otobong-Gabriel 

The Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy has unveiled the D30 Platform as a single-window intelligence hub for Nigeria's creative and tourism economy, developed in partnership with Cavista Holdings.

Nneka Ikem Anibeze, SA Media & Publicity to the Minister, Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy in a statement said following the launch, investors, businesses and state governments will be able to locate creative clusters, tourism assets, infrastructure gaps and viable opportunities from a single source.

Speaking at the launch, the Minister, Barr. Hannatu Musa Musawa, thanked Cavista Holdings for its partnership in delivering the technology. She said the platform addresses a long-standing constraint in the sector, the absence of reliable, comprehensive data to measure the true scale of opportunities.

According to the Minister, an investor considering a film production facility should be able to see where creative clusters are located and what supporting infrastructure exists.

"D30 is not intended to be another government database that simply accumulates information. Its purpose is to support decisions that help businesses expand, guide investors and enable government to deploy resources more effectively," she said.

"A state seeking to develop a tourism destination should understand its connectivity and investment needs. A creative entrepreneur should have market intelligence to expand beyond familiar markets."

In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Abdulkarim Ozi Ibrahim, described the unveiling as an important milestone in the Ministry's efforts to unlock the immense economic potential of Nigeria's art, culture, tourism and creative industries.

"For government, it represents an opportunity to strengthen evidence-based planning and policymaking. For investors, it provides greater visibility into emerging opportunities, industry clusters and areas requiring investment. For businesses and entrepreneurs, it offers information that can support expansion, competitiveness and better commercial decisions," he said.

In his remarks, Executive Director and Vice President, Government and External Affairs at Cavista Holdings, Olumide Olayomi, reaffirmed the company's commitment to strengthening Nigeria's tourism and creative economy through credible data and evidence-based planning.

He said D30 will enable government and private sector players to spot viable investment opportunities, close infrastructure gaps and drive growth across the value chain.

"Nigeria's rich cultural heritage, diverse tourism destinations and vibrant creative community offer enormous potential for jobs and wealth creation, but the sector cannot scale without reliable intelligence to track opportunities, assess needs and measure progress," Olayomi said.

He added that Cavista fully aligns with the Ministry's target of generating $100 billion and creating 3 million jobs by 2030, stressing that sustained public-private collaboration is critical to achieving it.

The Statistician-General of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, represented by his Technical Assistant, Moses Waniko, pledged the Bureau's collaboration with the Ministry to strengthen data collection, harmonise methodologies and ensure compliance with national and international statistical standards.

He stated that the success of the platform will depend on the quality, consistency, reliability and comparability of its data, reaffirming NBS's commitment to producing reliable official statistics to support government, private-sector operators, development partners and researchers.

Special Adviser to the President on Partnerships and Innovation, Imran Garba Duba, thanked all contributors to the successful launch of D30, particularly the Cavista team for their selfless service to the country.

He described the launch as just the beginning, saying:

“D30 will open doors for Nigeria in ways we cannot fathom. Nigeria has so much to show and so much data and we need to work together."

The D30 Platform is a national data and investment intelligence platform developed by the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy with technology partner Cavista Technologies.

The Ministry is targeting 3 million jobs and $100 billion GDP contribution from the creative and tourism economy by 2030 under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. D30 will provide the intelligence foundation to achieve that.

By Blessing Otobong-Gabriel 

The Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy mourns the passing of Nigeria's legendary actor and cultural icon, Sir Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs, MFR, who died on Wednesday, 16th September 2026, at the age of 84.

 Nneka Ikem Anibeze, Ph.D SA Media & Publicity to the Minister, Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy in a statement said reacting to the sad news, the Honourable Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, Esq., described his death as a monumental loss to the nation and the entire creative industry.

 “Olu Jacobs was not just an actor, he was a national institution. He was one of the most important pillars of Nigeria's entertainment industry and one of Africa's greatest actors. For over five decades, his voice, his presence and his craft gave life to our stories and gave dignity to our industry”.

“Through the Lufodo Academy which has trained hundreds of actors, directors and filmmakers who are now leading Nollywood, and the countless lives he touched, his legacy will continue to live on stage, on screen and in the hearts of millions of Nigerians. Nigeria has lost a Lion, but his light will never fade.”, Musawa stated.

On behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria and the entire creative community, the Ministry also extends heartfelt condolences to Dame Joke Silva, his children, and other family members.

The Federal Government has officially unveiled MyCityApp, a Nigerian city discovery and tourism platform that aggregates festivals, concerts, and lifestyle experiences into one digital calendar.

Nneka Ikem Anibeze, Ph.D, SA Media & Publicity to the Minister, Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy (FMACCE/PS) in a statement said MyCityApp, which flags off the 100-Day Tourism Calendar aimed at unlocking Nigeria's $100 billion tourism economy, was launched on Monday during the Ember2Remember National Stakeholders' Conference held in Victoria Island, Lagos.

The conference aims to rally public and private stakeholders to convert the September to December festive season into jobs and economic growth. It is expected to unlock Nigeria’s $100 billion tourism and creative economy opportunity.

At the unveiling ceremony, the Honourable Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, Esq., noted that millions of visitors troop into the country every year to celebrate, reconnect, and spend time across cities and communities. She said the festive period could be converted into jobs and investment to make tourism a stronger contributor to the national economy.

“This initiative is about moving beyond the traditional concept of a festive season. It is about deliberately organising, packaging, promoting, and monetising one of the most economically active periods in our national calendar.

“Every visitor creates a value chain — from aviation and transportation to hotels, restaurants, entertainment, retail, technology, artisans, and local communities. Within these value chains are opportunities for businesses, jobs, investment, and livelihoods,” Musawa said.

The Minister thanked the Chief Executive Officer of MyCityApp, Mrs. Ifeoma Chukwu, whose vision, doggedness, and commitment were instrumental in driving the initiative.

She also called on state governments, event organisers, tourism operators, hospitality businesses, and other stakeholders to populate the national Ember2Remember calendar with festivals, concerts, cultural events, and tourism experiences scheduled for September to December.

“If you are organising a festival, concert, exhibition, food experience, cultural celebration, fashion event, sporting event, tourism experience, conference, or any major activity during this period, we want it on the national calendar.

“We want to create a single, credible, and compelling platform through which Nigerians, the diaspora, and international visitors can discover what is happening across Nigeria. Imagine someone sitting in London, New York, Johannesburg, or Toronto being able to see, in one place, the extraordinary experiences available across Nigeria,” Musawa stated.

Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of MyCityApp, Mrs. Ifeoma Chukwu, described Nigeria’s rich culture as one of the most vibrant creative industries in the world, with an opportunity to turn every visitor’s experience into economic value.

“When we speak about building a $100 billion tourism economy, it may sound ambitious. But globally, the evidence tells us it is achievable. In 2024, tourism contributed over $270 billion to Spain’s economy, about $289 billion to France, and more than $2.5 trillion to the economy of the United States. So, the question is not whether a $100 billion tourism economy is possible. It is: why not Nigeria?” Mrs. Chukwu queried.

Also in attendance were the Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon. Toke Benson-Awoyinka, the Enugu State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Barr. Ugochi Madueke, representative of the Minister of Information and National Orientation, the Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Obi Asika, Director-General, National Gallery of Art, Ahmed Sodangi, the Director-General of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, and the CEO of MTN Nigeria, Dr. Karl Toriola, among other stakeholders.

MyLagosApp and MyCityApp will serve as the digital engine for the calendar, distributing events through a 360-degree media ecosystem to Nigerians at home and in the diaspora. Stakeholders were urged to upload events on http://www.MyCityApp.io.

By Otobong Gabriel, Abuja 

The Rotary Club of Abuja Bwari has commemorated the 2026 World Hepatitis Day with a medical outreach programme in Chika Community of AMAC, Abuja with focus on hepatitis awareness, early detection and improved access to healthcare services within the community.

Speaking during the outreach, the Assistant Governor of the club, Rtn Shola Ayanronke Adeleke said the initiative was part of the club’s commitment to promoting healthier communities through preventive healthcare, awareness creation and support for vulnerable families.

The outreach, themed “Hepatitis: Let’s Break It Down,” featured free hepatitis screening, health education, counselling and vaccination services, encouraging residents to take preventive measures and seek early medical attention.

The club also extended the intervention to maternal and child health by organising sensitisation sessions for mothers and families on antenatal, prenatal and postnatal care, while promoting early childhood vaccination.

The programme included health talks, deworming for children, distribution of essential maternal and child health items, and other interventions aimed at improving community wellbeing.

By Otobong Gabriel, Abuja 

The Rotary Club of Abuja Asokoro Diamond has provided free medical care, hepatitis screening and vaccination to residents of Chika Community in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Abuja, to commemorate the 2026 World Hepatitis Day.

The outreach, held under the theme "Hepatitis: Let's Break It Down," also featured maternal and child healthcare services, including health education for expectant and nursing mothers on antenatal and postnatal care, exclusive breastfeeding and routine childhood immunisation.

Speaking during the exercise, the President of the club, Rtn Olutola Ogunyemi said the initiative was part of Rotary's efforts to complement government programmes by expanding access to preventive healthcare and essential medical services at the grassroots. He added that beneficiaries also received mosquito nets, delivery kits, sanitary pads, diapers, liquid soap, bleach, deworming medication for children, buckets and bowls.

Ogunyemi urged Nigerians to embrace regular medical check-ups, vaccination and healthy lifestyle practices, stressing that early detection and public awareness remain critical in tackling hepatitis and other preventable diseases.

The Project Chair is Rotarian Adeleke Shola Ayanronke, reiterated Rotary's commitment to humanitarian service, noting that the organisation would continue to partner with communities and relevant stakeholders to deliver sustainable health interventions that improve lives and strengthen public health.

By Otobong Gabriel,  Abuja 

The Rotary Club of Abuja Imperial has marked the 2026 World Hepatitis Day with a medical outreach programme aimed at promoting hepatitis awareness, early detection and improved healthcare access within the community.

Speaking during the outreach in Chika Community of AMAC, Abuja, the club’s President Rtn Gbenga Oki, who was represented by the Assistant Governor of the club, Rtn. Adeleke Stephen Adedapo,

said the initiative demonstrates Rotary’s commitment to improving public health through preventive care, education and community-based interventions.

The outreach, themed “Hepatitis: Let’s Break It Down,” featured free hepatitis screening, health education, counselling and vaccination services, providing residents with vital information on prevention and management of the disease.

According to him, the club also carried out maternal and child health interventions, including sensitisation on antenatal, prenatal and postnatal care, early childhood vaccination, deworming for children and distribution of essential health items.

Adedapo added that the programme was part of its efforts to strengthen community wellbeing and support healthier families through sustainable healthcare initiatives.