Women at the frontline of Nigeria’s disease detection and response

Women are at the frontline of Nigeria’s disease detection and response. Their work drives faster reporting, higher vaccination coverage and stronger trust between communities and health services.

“When my son developed a rash, I was scared,” says Hauwa Mohammed, a mother from Angwan Gangaran Tudu in Keffi, Nasarawa State. “But the women health workers came to our home, explained what to do and helped us get care quickly.”
Her experience reflects what is happening across many parts of Nigeria. When health threats emerge, women are often the first to respond. They support families, counter misinformation and connect communities to care.

Women protecting children during a measles outbreak

When measles cases began to surface in Angwan Gangaran Tudu, concern spread quickly among caregivers. Measles remains one of the leading causes of vaccine‑preventable child mortality in Nigeria, particularly among children who miss routine

Women health workers mobilised immediately. They went door to door to share accurate information, encourage early reporting of symptoms and explain when and where to seek care. Their actions helped families act early and supported wider outbreak containment efforts.

Across Nigeria, women form many frontline health workers involved in maternal, newborn and child health services . They provide essential care in clinics, laboratories, emergency operations centres and rural communities, supporting national priorities under the National Strategic Health Development Plan II and National Primary Health Care Development Agency programmes.

Serving a population of around 220 million people , Nigeria’s health system relies heavily on trusted community health workers, many of whom are women, especially in rural and hard‑to‑reach settings.

From community action to measurable results

The response also showed how investing in women strengthens routine systems, not only emergency response.
“When women are trained and trusted at the community level, the results are clear,” said Dr Zeenat Kabir Asma’i, World Health Organization (WHO) North Central Zonal Coordinator. “We see earlier case detection, higher vaccination uptake and better follow‑up with families. These are not short‑term gains. They improve how the health system works every day.”

During the recent measles response in Nasarawa State, women mobilisers supported surveillance teams to reach households early.

Outputs included:

. 76 500 doses of measles vaccines delivered
. 11 cold chain units deployed
. Five health facilities supported to strengthen routine immunisation and reporting
. A vaccination workforce made up of 78 percent women

These outputs led to outcomes:

. Vaccination coverage increased from 60 percent to 97 percent in targeted communities
. Faster reporting of suspected cases
. Fewer non‑compliant households
. Stronger trust between caregivers and health workers

At Angwan Waje Primary Health Care facility, community health worker Jamila Musa Zakari identified suspected measles cases and referred them for documentation. Women volunteers used immunisation sessions, antenatal clinics, home visits and community announcements to address rumours that had previously delayed care‑seeking.

“When we visit homes, mothers listen to us because we understand their worries,” says Hauwa Nasir, a community volunteer vaccinator. “We explain how early reporting protects their children.”

Some settlements, including Karama, initially resisted vaccination, particularly among nomadic families who had migrated from Zamfara, Sokoto and Katsina States. Many households prioritised food and basic needs over health services. Women volunteers worked with village heads and fathers to address concerns, improving vaccine acceptance.


Women’s leadership strengthens health systems

Before the intervention, measles reporting in the affected local government area followed a three‑year trend: 22 cases in 2023, 24 in 2024 and 17 in 2025 . After the women‑led response, reported cases declined further.

WHO supported the response with technical guidance, training and supplies, while the Government of Nigeria led implementation through state and local health authorities, ensuring national ownership and alignment with public health priorities.

“Women contribute as community volunteers, health professionals and programme leaders,” said Dr Pavel Ursu, WHO Representative in Nigeria. “When women are supported to lead, health services become more responsive to the people they serve.”
Dr Grace Amos Tsakpa, State Epidemiologist, Ministry of Health, Nasarawa State, added:

“Strengthening women’s leadership is not only a matter of equity. It is essential for building a resilient health system that serves every community.”


A growing impact across Nigeria

From community volunteers in Borno to surveillance officers in Kano and midwives in Rivers State, women are strengthening disease surveillance, improving vaccination uptake and building confidence in health services, including in conflict‑affected and hard‑to‑reach settings.

Back in Angwan Gangaran Tudu, families say they feel better prepared.
“Now we know what to look for, and we report quickly,” Hauwa Mohammed says. “The women health workers helped us protect our children.”


What needs to happen next

Nigeria has made progress, but gaps remain in women’s access to leadership roles, training and career advancement.
A clear call to action:For policymakers: Invest in women’s leadership across the health workforce
For partners and donors: Support gender‑responsive health systems and community‑based surveillance
For communities: Continue early reporting and ensure children receive routine immunization

Women are not only delivering health services in Nigeria. They are shaping stronger, faster and more trusted responses that protect families and save lives.

WHO

UN resolution revives focus on slavery legacy in Nigeria’s Badagry

Badagry, once Nigeria’s largest slave port, remains a powerful symbol of the transatlantic slave trade, where millions of Africans were forcibly taken between the 16th and 19th centuries. Today, its historic sites preserve the memory of that era, as renewed global debate, including at the United Nations, raises questions about reparations, with many in Africa remaining skeptical about meaningful outcomes.

CGTN Africa

Nigerian airline joins global ticketing network, eyes wider reach

United Nigeria Airlines has been admitted into a global airline network that allows passengers to connect across multiple carriers on a single ticket, a move that could significantly expand its reach beyond Nigeria.

The airline announced its admission into the Multilateral Interline Traffic Agreement (MITA) of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Chibuike Uloka, on Thursday.

MITA is a framework used by airlines worldwide to collaborate on ticketing and passenger connections, enabling travellers to move seamlessly across different airlines without needing separate bookings.

For a carrier that has largely focused on domestic routes, the development signals a shift towards deeper participation in international travel networks.

“This is more than just a regulatory approval; it is a gateway to the world for United Nigeria Airlines,” the airline said.

It added that the framework would allow it to enter partnerships with other IATA-member airlines, making it easier for passengers to access global destinations through connecting flights.

“Admission into the MITA network validates our operational standards and aligns us with global best practices in aviation,” the airline added, noting that passengers would benefit from “seamless, single-ticket itineraries, unified baggage check-ins, and smoother connections.”

An aviation analyst, Nura Ahmad, said the development reflects a strategic approach to growth, particularly in a challenging operating environment.

“For an airline like United Nigeria, this is a smart way to grow without overextending itself. You may not see them flying to London or Dubai immediately, but this kind of arrangement means their passengers can get there more easily through partnerships,” he said.

He added that beyond convenience, the move also strengthens the airline’s credibility within the global aviation space.

“Being part of that system shows they’ve met certain standards. It builds confidence, not just for passengers, but for potential partners as well,” he noted.

The airline highlighted that the arrangement would enable it to collaborate more easily with other carriers within the IATA network, potentially improving connectivity for its passengers.

By Mariya Shuaibu Suleiman, Premium Times

Nigeria imports 70% of its medicines – why local manufacturing doesn’t meet demand

Nigeria imports at least 70 per cent of its medicines. This is striking for a country of over 230 million people and at least 120 active pharmaceutical manufacturers.

Domestic manufacturing is largely concentrated in lower-end medicines that require relatively simple production processes. The more complex and higher-value pharmaceutical products continue to be imported.

This pattern has persisted for decades. It reflects two things. First is the limited impact of policies aimed at reducing import dependence. The other is the entrenched interests across pharmaceutical companies. An incentive structure that favours imports over local production.

I recently completed my doctorate studies focusing on the political economy of pharmaceutical manufacturing in Nigeria, with comparisons to Uganda, Bangladesh and India. My research looked at how the industry had evolved and analysed how the distribution of organisational power and manufacturing capabilities has made it difficult for reforms to work.

I found that policy interventions have largely failed because weak institutions cannot influence manufacturers to expand their production capabilties.


The biggest obstacles stem from how power and benefits are distributed across political, bureaucratic and pharmaceutical actors.

Any policy that does not fully take this into account will likely be resisted.

Factors militating against Nigerian manufacturers

Nigerian manufacturers face:

. a lack of protection and incentives to produce certain medicines
. high levels of imports of finished medicines
. pressure to import as well as manufacture
. low manufacturing capabilities.

Weak incentive structure:

The first policy to specifically support domestic manufacturers of medicines was introduced in 2005, when the Nigerian government restricted the importation of 17 lower-end medicines. The prohibited medicines included paracetamol, aspirin and metronidazole (antibiotic) tablets.

The protectionist policy has not been expanded since then. So manufacturers have no incentive to invest in technological upgrading to make more complex medicines.

Importation of finished medicines:

At least 100 manufacturers also import medicines – including some that are produced locally. In some cases, manufacturers both produce and import the same medicine, marketing them under different brand names.

Two medicines illustrate this. The antibiotic ciprofloxacin (tablet form) is currently imported by at least 93 registered pharmaceutical companies, even though 21 domestic producers make it too.

A similar pattern is evident for artemether-lumefantrine, a widely used antimalarial medicine. Fewer than 30 pharmaceutical companies produce it locally. More than 200 import it – including some established manufacturers.

Manufacturers as producers and importers:

Many companies combine local manufacturing with importing finished medicines as a way of managing risk.

This creates commercially attractive, lower-risk revenue streams for manufacturers. They are likely to resist policy or reforms that would limit imports in favour of expanded local production.

Low manufacturing capacities:

Nigerian pharmaceutical companies have low manufacturing capacities. And the learning process involved in complex manufacturing is time consuming, costly and risky.

It is also difficult to compel a company to do something where governance is weak.

In the absence of adequate and sustained policy support, many manufacturers rely on political networks to protect their interests or challenge policies that threaten them.

An example is the modification of a regional tariff in 2016 because it threatened locally manufactured medicines. The regional trade policy had imposed zero duty on essential finished medicines and up to 20% on the raw materials used in medicine manufacturing. This was to increase the availability and affordability of essential medicines across the region. Nigerian manufacturers exerted pressure on government to reject it.

In the absence of credible policy support for upgrading into technologically sophisticated medicines, manufacturers continue to rely on imports. Similarly, they continue to influence policy decisions that could disrupt existing revenue streams.

Why the problem persists

When some pharmaceutical companies manufacture medicines locally while others import the same products, it weakens collective action. It’s harder to mobilise around shared policy demands.

The Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, an influential trade association, illustrates this challenge. One of its objectives is to lobby for increased market protection for locally produced medicines. But member firms have differing commercial interests in locally manufactured and imported medicines. This often works against policy objectives.

It impedes how member firms form alliances to support or oppose policies. It also affects influence over them.

Nigeria’s reliance on imported medicines has less to do with the commonly cited capability constraints. It is the outcome of a policy vacuum that has made it more attractive to import products.

This dynamic is also evident in some other African countries, such as Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda. Manufacturers similarly import more complex medicines and produce simple medicines locally. There is limited support for domestic manufacturing of more complex medicines.

Moving forward

High levels of imports limit the rewards for expanding manufacturing capabilities and any credible path to competitiveness. The significant revenues generated from imports also weaken incentives to invest in learning how to produce more complex medicines.

Recognising this matters for policymakers and international development organisations.

The challenge is not simply increasing financial support or political commitment. It is designing policies that reconfigure current benefits. They need to make it worthwhile to invest in more complex pharmaceutical manufacturing.

By Efefiom Kofon, ICIR

Nigeria begins mass trial of 500 terrorism suspects

Nigeria has begun the prosecution of more than 500 people accused of involvement in militant attacks in one of the country's largest ever terrorism trials.

The suspects face charges linked to aiding and abetting terrorism, particularly in the north-east where an insurgency by the Boko Haram Islamist group began 17 years ago.

Since then insecurity has spread to many other areas of the West African nation, leaving communities, often those in rural areas, at the mercy of mushrooming militant groups and gangs that kidnap for ransom.

The mass trial opened on Tuesday at a high court in the capital, Abuja, where 227 suspects were arraigned before 10 judges, according to the attorney general.

Hundreds of people have lost their lives in bombings and various attacks across Nigeria this year alone.

Very few people are ever prosecuted over terror attacks - and suspects are often detained and spend years in custody without facing trial.

According to the AFP news agency, gunmen killed at least 20 people on Wednesday in the western state of Niger. Residents say the attackers raided villages in Shiroro district, an area where kidnapping gangs and Islamist militants are known to operate.

Security was tight during the court session on Tuesday, with suspects transported in heavily guarded convoys under military, police and intelligence supervision.

International observers, including human rights groups and the Nigerian Bar Association, were also present in court.

The defendants are alleged to have taken part in attacks mainly in northern Nigeria, while others face charges of supporting militants through funding, supplying arms and logistics.

Five of the accused have already been given varying jail terms - from seven to 20 years - after pleading guilty to charges that included selling livestock, supplying food and information to militant groups.

Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi said the scale of the operation showed the government's resolve to deal with the matter.

"The federal government is committed to ensuring that due process is followed while bringing those involved in terrorism to justice," he said.

Security expert Bashir Galma, a retired army major, told the BBC that the trial, which is expected to continue in phases, was a "positive development" and a "significant milestone" in Nigeria's fight against terrorism.

"For years Nigerians have been complaining about why they keep these suspects [in custody] instead of making them face the law for what they are suspected of doing," he said.

"This will bring some level of peace for people whose loved ones were killed or injured."

The trial would also dispelled rumours that suspects were routinely released after arrest "so that they can go back to their terrorism business", the analyst added.

However, he predicted that some of the accused could be released soon, given that they were arrested many years ago - a factor he said the judges would likely take into consideration.

By Mansur Abubakar and Chris Ewokor, BBC