Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has raised alarm over ravage of Lassa fever cases across 18 states and 67 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the country.

Dr Jide Idris, director-general of NCDC, in statement yesterday, said that Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Edo and Benue accounted for more than 80 per cent of confirmed cases recorded during the 2026 peak transmission season.

Idris, described as particularly worrisome the growing infections among healthcare workers, with 28 confirmed cases and three deaths reported so far this season.

NCDC attributed the sustained transmission and rising fatalities to operational gaps at the state level, urging urgent action to strengthen outbreak response and control measures.

According to Idris, field investigations showed most transmissions were occurring in known endemic areas, but weak implementation of established response frameworks had contributed to the continued spread and higher case fatality rate.

He said that gaps identified include infections in general outpatient and maternity settings, poor adherence to Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) protocols, and inadequate pre-positioning of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

He added that delayed patient presentation due to financial barriers, inconsistent activation of State Incident Management Systems, weak contact tracing, persistent stigma and poor isolation centre standards were also driving transmission.

Idris emphasised that outbreak response implementation and health service delivery fell primarily under state governments within Nigeria’s federal structure, urging them to strengthen accountability and resource allocation.

He called on affected and high-risk states to urgently activate and closely monitor their Incident Management Systems, ensuring timely coordination and efficient outbreak response at all levels of healthcare delivery.

He also urged the immediate release of response funds, strict enforcement of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) compliance in public and private health facilities, and continuous availability of PPE and other critical supplies.

The NCDC boss also advocated accelerated financial protection mechanisms to reduce late presentation and high fatality rates, alongside institutionalised rodent control and environmental sanitation measures under a One Health approach.

He advised healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion and adhere strictly to IPC guidelines.

He also urged the public to keep environments clean, prevent rodent entry into homes, store food safely and seek early medical care when symptoms appeared.

Idris noted that Lassa fever was treatable, with improved outcomes when detected early, adding that Nigeria was also responding to other epidemic-prone diseases including Cerebrospinal Meningitis, Diphtheria, Mpox and Cholera.

He reiterated NCDC’s toll-free emergency line, 6232, for reporting suspected cases and obtaining further information

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has deployed a number of real-time digital solutions, including surveillance drones, GPS-enabled patrol vehicles, and automatic incident detection software.

The agency has also established a central command and control centre to reduce emergency response times and improve traffic safety throughout Lagos.

According to the agency, the digital transition will replace manual reporting and fragmented coordination with an integrated, data-driven platform capable of instantaneously detecting, verifying, and dispatching responders to crashes and breakdowns.

According to general manager Olalekan Bakare-Oki, LASTMA, body cameras, mobile data terminals, and toll-free hotlines now feed into a unified operations hub that gives real-time visibility of traffic situations across the state.

Incidents detected by digital surveillance are validated in real time and dispatched to the nearest patrol team using GPS tracking, while officers are instructed via modern communication devices.

According to the agency, the system has eliminated delays caused by poor event reporting and logistical constraints, enabling faster diversions, quicker clearance of accident scenes, and better coordination with medical and security agencies.

Field commanders and rescue teams now operate on synchronised data networks, allowing immediate decisions that reduce secondary crashes and prolonged congestion.

According to LASTMA’s 2025 operational summary, the agency rescued 1,075 people from crash scenes, and impounded 17,169 vehicles for various traffic violations across Lagos through its toll-free hotline.

These figures reflect how timely reporting and coordinated response have already reduced secondary accidents and eased congestion, according to the agency.

It went on to it achieved this with the toll-free reporting system, body cameras, and field coordination networks but with the newly deployed suite of smart technologies, the agency’s impact is poised to multiply.

Bakare-Oki said the upgrade aligns with the state’s smart-city agenda, positioning LASTMA as a technology-enabled public safety agency and laying the groundwork for faster, more reliable mobility management on Lagos roads.

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