Today’s Headlines:Account for N10bn Ebola Fund, Atiku Tells Tinubu;No Ebola Case in Oyo—Commissioner

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has challenged President Bola Tinubu to account for the ₦10 billion announced for Ebola preparedness, following the confirmation of a case in Abuja. He demanded a public audit detailing how the funds were disbursed, contracts awarded and supplies delivered, alleging inadequate protection for frontline health workers and weaknesses in disease surveillance.

Atiku questioned the government’s handling of the case, citing delays in public confirmation and alleged lapses in monitoring close contacts. He also called for medical experts to lead the response and warned against using the outbreak to restrict political campaigns or voter participation, insisting that public health measures must be based on medical evidence.

The Oyo State Government has confirmed that no case of Ebola Virus Disease has been recorded in the state, while activating surveillance and emergency response measures across its 33 local government areas. Commissioner for Health, Dr Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, said preparations began in June 2026 and included collaboration with relevant ministries and health institutions.

Ajetunmobi said surveillance teams had been activated, healthcare workers trained and the Infectious Disease Centre at Olodo prepared to manage suspected cases. She urged residents to maintain good hygiene, avoid contact with bodily fluids of suspected patients and seek immediate medical attention for symptoms such as fever, vomiting, diarrhoea or unexplained bleeding. She also warned against spreading unverified information about the outbreak.

The Amanyanabo of Elem Kalabari, Alhaji Mujahid Abubakr Dokubo-Asari, visited the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, to strengthen historic relations between the Niger Delta and Northern Nigeria. During the visit, Dokubo-Asari invited the Sultan to his final coronation ceremony scheduled for December 19, 2026, at King Amachree Memorial Hall in Buguma, Rivers State. He also informed the Sultan of Princess Nene Amirah Dokubo-Asari’s wedding Nikkah on December 18.

The Sultan welcomed the delegation, praised the monarch’s humanitarian contributions to Muslim and non-Muslim communities, and promised to try to attend the coronation. The engagement highlighted the role of traditional institutions in promoting national unity, cultural understanding and cooperation across regional and religious boundaries. The ceremony is expected to attract traditional rulers, government representatives and cultural leaders to mark Dokubo-Asari’s formal presentation to his people as Amanyanabo of The Source, Elem Kalabari.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is considering introducing life skills and critical thinking into the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) to assess candidates beyond their knowledge of academic subjects. Registrar Professor Segun Aina said a committee of education stakeholders and experts would recommend how these skills could be assessed, including whether they should be introduced as separate components or incorporated into existing subjects.

Aina also clarified that UTME scores primarily rank candidates against others in the same examination cycle rather than directly measure their overall knowledge. Meanwhile, JAMB has introduced procedures allowing candidates to update personal details, including changes involving registered phone numbers, email addresses, names and dates of birth through a National Identification Number alignment process with the National Identity Management Commission.

NewsJunkky [email protected]