Despite significant progress in eliminating river blindness, also known as onchocerciasis, over 40 million Nigerians remain at risk.
This is as the federal government, in collaboration with the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, NIMR, yesterday confirmed that transmission of the disease had been interrupted in at least 10 states, including Kaduna, Nasarawa, Anambra and Abia.
Speaking at NIMR’s monthly media chat in Lagos, the Director of Research at NIMR and a leading public health parasitologist, Dr. Babatunde Adewale, stated that children under 10 were now being targeted for blood sampling in endemic communities where treatment had been ongoing for more than a decade.
If these children test negative, it is an indication that transmission has stopped.
Onchocerciasis, transmitted by blackflies, is a major cause of preventable blindness in sub-Saharan Africa.
Nigeria began using Ivermectin through mass drug administration, MDA, in the 1990s to control the disease.
However, due to its effectiveness and growing scientific evidence from countries such as Nigeria, Mali, and Senegal, global focus had shifted from control to total elimination.
“We are no longer just controlling the disease, elimination is now within reach. By 2030, we hope Nigeria will be declared free of onchocerciasis,” Adewale said.
He noted that over 37 million Nigerians had received treatment, adding that using Ov-16 antigen tests on samples collected must show positivity rates below 0.1 per cent to confirm transmission interruption.
NIMR also contributes to public health education and ethics, focusing on neglected tropical diseases that impact rural communities, which are key to Nigeria’s food security.
“These communities are the backbone of our food system,” Adewale said, emphasising that their health must not be overlooked.
He recalled that Nigeria’s success did not happen overnight, stressing that it followed decades of mass campaigns, supported by the World Health Organization, WHO, the federal ministry of health, and other partners, using community-directed treatment with Ivermectin, CDTI. This approach empowers locals to lead the fight by administering the drug themselves.
Onchocerciasis is caused by the Onchocerca volvulus parasite and is the world’s second leading cause of infectious blindness. Nigeria has adopted a phased strategy toward elimination: Phase one is the interruption of transmission; phase two involves post-treatment surveillance for 3–5 years; and phase three, verification by WHO experts.
Challenges remain, particularly insecurity in parts of the country that limit access to some communities. Only Lagos and Rivers States remain officially non-endemic.
Whie expressing optimism about its elimination, Adewale said: “We are doing better than many other African countries. Only Niger has been validated for elimination, and Nigeria is much larger.”
NIMR’s Senior Research Fellow Dr. Kazeem Osuolale, called for stronger community engagement and economic empowerment to improve health outcomes.
“Health interventions must be people-centered,” he said, noting that financially empowered individuals were more likely to comply with treatment.
Also speaking, Mr. Adeniyi Adeneye, a Research Fellow at NIMR’s Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, stressed the importance of health literacy.
He said: “Without public understanding of disease causes and prevention, even the most expensive innovations may fail.’’
By Chioma Obinna, Vanguard
Tuesday, July 8, 2025
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Tributes paid after Nigeria keeper Rufai dies aged 61
Affectionately known as Dodo Mayana, he helped the Super Eagles win the Africa Cup of Nations in 1994 and also represented his nation at the Fifa World Cup in 1994 and 1998.
Born in Lagos, Rufai enjoyed a stellar international career, earning 65 caps between 1983 and 1998.
His safe hands, commanding presence and calm demeanour made him a stand-out performer for Nigeria's golden generation of the 1990s.
"We mourn the passing of legendary Super Eagles goalkeeper Peter Rufai - a giant of Nigerian football and a 1994 Afcon champion," the Nigeria Football Federation posted on X.
"Your legacy lives on between the sticks and beyond."
Rufai's death marks yet another loss from Nigeria's celebrated 1994 squad, the team that not only conquered Africa but also announced the country's arrival on the global stage by reaching the last 16 on their World Cup debut in the United States.
He becomes the sixth member of the that side to pass away, following the late Stephen Keshi, Rashidi Yekini, Wilfred Agbonavbare, Thompson Oliha and Uche Okafor.
After starting his playing career locally with Stationery Stores and Femo Scorpions in Nigeria, Rufai went on to play professionally in Benin, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain and Portugal.
Known not just for his reflexes and shot-stopping abilities, Rufai's dedication and professionalism inspired a generation of goalkeepers who followed in his footsteps.
"We lost an African legend Peter Rufai. May his soul rest well," former Nigeria team-mate Kanu posted on social media.
"May your spirit continue to inspire all of us and future generations."
Super Eagles forward Ahmed Musa said that the "nation mourns a hero" following Rufai's death.
"Your heroic reflexes and unwavering presence between the posts brought us moments of pride on the world stage," Musa said.
"Though you've left us, your legacy soars higher than any trophy. Fly high, Dodo Mayana."
Thursday, July 3, 2025
Tinubu: We’re Changing Nigeria’s Infrastructure Story Through Tangible Projects
President Bola Tinubu has declared that his administration is changing the story of infrastructure development in Nigeria through the execution of tangible projects across the country.
Tinubu restated his administration’s resolve to build a Nigeria where every community was connected, every business thrived, and every citizen enjoyed a life of dignity and opportunity.
The president made the declaration on Wednesday at the inauguration of the dualised and upgraded Ushafa to War College/Army CheckPoint roads and other ancillary roads in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, underscored the recent inauguration of infrastructure projects across the country by his administration, saying it is an expression of commitment to inclusive growth and sustainable development.
He stated, “We have transformed a path of frustration into a corridor of opportunity. These dualised and upgraded roads will not only ease traffic congestion, they will breathe new life into economic activities, improve access to education and healthcare, and uplift the overall quality of life for the good people of Ushafa, Bwari, and the neighbouring communities.”
Enumerating the significance of the road projects, the president said, “There is something even more remarkable to celebrate today: this entire project was awarded to an indigenous contractor. That decision was deliberate. It was born out of our belief in the competence, resilience, and ingenuity of Nigerian professionals and businesses.
“We are not just building roads. We are building capacity. We are creating jobs. We are fostering a sense of ownership and pride within our communities. And above all, we are demonstrating unequivocally that, given the right support and enabling environment, Nigerian contractors can deliver infrastructure that rivals the best in the world.”
Earlier, Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, said the ongoing inauguration of projects in Abuja was unprecedented and a demonstration of the president’s love and care for inhabitants of the nation’s capital.
According to him, the provision of road infrastructure, as witnessed in the FCT satellite towns, is key to opening up the areas for economic development and improvement of the livelihoods of the people in all ramifications.
The minister expressed satisfaction with the conduct and capacity of the contractor that handled the project. He said the history of the project from start to finish depicted commitment and faith in local contractors and support for their growth and development.
Giving the vote of thanks, FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, thanked Tinubu and Shettima for their leadership that had seen the transformation of the satellite towns in the FCT into settlements with modern infrastructure.
Mahmoud said the projects will not only improve the livelihoods of the people but will also rewrite the history of the territory and reposition the area for genuine growth and development.
In his remarks, Coordinator, Satellite Town Development Department (STDD), Hon. Abdulkadir Zulkiflu, thanked Tinubu for the deliberate and coordinated execution of infrastructure projects in the territory.
Zulkiflu said people of the satellite towns in the FCT appreciated the gesture and remained solidly in support of the Tinubu administration.
Tinubu restated his administration’s resolve to build a Nigeria where every community was connected, every business thrived, and every citizen enjoyed a life of dignity and opportunity.
The president made the declaration on Wednesday at the inauguration of the dualised and upgraded Ushafa to War College/Army CheckPoint roads and other ancillary roads in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, underscored the recent inauguration of infrastructure projects across the country by his administration, saying it is an expression of commitment to inclusive growth and sustainable development.
He stated, “We have transformed a path of frustration into a corridor of opportunity. These dualised and upgraded roads will not only ease traffic congestion, they will breathe new life into economic activities, improve access to education and healthcare, and uplift the overall quality of life for the good people of Ushafa, Bwari, and the neighbouring communities.”
Enumerating the significance of the road projects, the president said, “There is something even more remarkable to celebrate today: this entire project was awarded to an indigenous contractor. That decision was deliberate. It was born out of our belief in the competence, resilience, and ingenuity of Nigerian professionals and businesses.
“We are not just building roads. We are building capacity. We are creating jobs. We are fostering a sense of ownership and pride within our communities. And above all, we are demonstrating unequivocally that, given the right support and enabling environment, Nigerian contractors can deliver infrastructure that rivals the best in the world.”
Earlier, Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, said the ongoing inauguration of projects in Abuja was unprecedented and a demonstration of the president’s love and care for inhabitants of the nation’s capital.
According to him, the provision of road infrastructure, as witnessed in the FCT satellite towns, is key to opening up the areas for economic development and improvement of the livelihoods of the people in all ramifications.
The minister expressed satisfaction with the conduct and capacity of the contractor that handled the project. He said the history of the project from start to finish depicted commitment and faith in local contractors and support for their growth and development.
Giving the vote of thanks, FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, thanked Tinubu and Shettima for their leadership that had seen the transformation of the satellite towns in the FCT into settlements with modern infrastructure.
Mahmoud said the projects will not only improve the livelihoods of the people but will also rewrite the history of the territory and reposition the area for genuine growth and development.
In his remarks, Coordinator, Satellite Town Development Department (STDD), Hon. Abdulkadir Zulkiflu, thanked Tinubu for the deliberate and coordinated execution of infrastructure projects in the territory.
Zulkiflu said people of the satellite towns in the FCT appreciated the gesture and remained solidly in support of the Tinubu administration.
By Deji Elumoye, Arise News
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