News
FG Says Nigeria @ ‘Moderate’ Risk following Fresh Ebola Virus Outbreak

Federal government has said it has heightened surveillance especially at the points of entry following the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Uganda.
The Nigeria Centre of Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has in a public advisory confirmed that there is currently no case of the virus , but warned that the country is at moderate risk.
This means that without mitigation, Ebola is likely to occur in Nigeria, with potential for significant public health consequences, hence the need to take the necessary precautions, the Centre explained.
Ebola virus disease, formerly known as Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever, is a severe, often deadly disease caused by the Ebola virus, with a fatality rate of 25-90%.
On 30th January 2025, the Ministry of Health in Uganda confirmed an outbreak of Ebola caused by the Sudan specie, in Wakiso, Mukono and Mbale city in Mbale district.
Only one case has so far been reported, and one death (confirmed by post-mortem).
Forty-four (44) contacts are being followed up.
The NCDC said it will continue to monitor the regional and global
situations, but also urged Nigerians to avoid all but essential countries with confirmed cases of Ebola.
The Centre directed persons already in Nigeria but with recent travel history to or transit through countries with Ebola cases in the last 21 days who experience symptoms such as fever, muscle pain, sore throat, diarrhoea, weakness, vomiting, stomach pain,
or unexplained bleeding or bruising should promptly call 6232 or State Ministry of Health hotlines, shelter-in-place to avoid further spread, and await dedicated responders.
“On our part, we will continue to strengthen surveillance across the country, including our borders and airports especially for travelers from affected areas; alerting our health workers to heighten
their level of suspicion for suspected cases; enhancing our laboratory capacities for quick testing of suspected cases; as well coordination with the WHO and the African Regional Health Authorities to monitor developments and share critical information”, the centre said.
“These include the update of our EVD emergency contingency plan, heightened surveillance especially at the points of entry, and optimizing diagnostic capacity for EVD testing in designated laboratories in cities with international airports of entry and the National Reference Laboratory. In addition, all Lassa Fever testing laboratories can be activated to scale up testing if the need arises”, it added.
While urging Nigerians to take preventive measures, the NCDC noted that the approved vaccine for the Zaire species is not currently available in the country but can be obtained from the WHO Afro and does not protect against the Sudan virus, which is responsible for the outbreak in Uganda.
News
SEC Urges State Governments to Explore Investment Opportunities in Capital Market

As part of strategies to harness the potentials inherent within the various states for wealth creation, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is to embark on investor education for state governments across the country.
Dr. Emomotimi Agama, the Director General of SEC, disclosed this during a meeting with a team from the World Bank Group and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in Abuja.
He stated that the Commission would approach the state governments to help them understand the many opportunities in the capital market, and strive to enhance their understanding of financial markets, investment strategies, and regulatory frameworks.
According to him, “Imagine setting up factories that will produce goods that can be exported and earning foreign exchange. A lot of Nigerians would be employed and that would lead to wealth creation and economic development.
“That is why the Commission will continue to emphasize education, because if they do not know, there is little they can do until they know. Sometimes it is not because they don’t want to do it, it is just because they don’t know and it is our responsibility to give this vital knowledge for wealth creation.There are some states in the country that are so rich but nothing is happening there. All of their wealth is in the ground.”
He added that the strategic approach will commence soon with the Executive Council of a state in northern Nigeria, to speak to them about the opportunities in the capital market.
“We will create guides, reports, and policy briefs that explain capital market opportunities for state governments, we will translate complex financial concepts into simple, actionable insights and we will use case studies from Nigerian states that have successfully raised capital through bonds or attracted investments in the capital market.
“We believe strongly that if we go out and speak to these people, get them into understanding exactly the benefits and how it is important, get them to manage their own assets meaningfully well, and harness them for greater economic growth for the states, things will begin to change, it is our responsibility to change the narratives and we will keep at it,” he said.
Speaking earlier, Mr. Tom Ceusters, Director, Treasury Market Operation IFC, said the delegation of the World Bank Group and IFC were on a two weeks mission to Nigeria to have deep conversations with regulators and organisations in the financial sector with a view to coming up with plans to help their endeavours.
News
Meta to Begin Layoffs Across All Operations from Today

Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is set to implement company-wide layoffs starting Monday, February 10, 2025.
Notifications will begin at 5 a.m. local time in most countries, including the United States.
However, due to local regulations, employees in Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands will be exempt from these cuts.
Staff in over a dozen countries across Europe, Asia, and Africa will receive their notifications between February 11 and February 18.
The layoffs are expected to affect approximately 5% of Meta’s workforce.
They will target the company’s lowest performers in what is termed “performance terminations.”
This move is part of Meta’s broader strategy to streamline operations and focus on key areas of growth.
Concurrently, Meta is expediting the hiring of machine learning engineers and other essential engineering roles.
The hiring process is scheduled to take place between February 11 and March 13, aligning with Meta’s strategic priorities for 2025.
Unlike previous company-wide layoffs, Meta plans to keep its offices open on Monday and will not issue any additional updates regarding the decisions.
The company has declined to comment further on the internal memos detailing these plans
News
NEMSA, NAICOM Sign Agreement to Boost Electrical Safety, Insurance

The Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Insurance Commission to enhance electrical safety compliance in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings, as well as ensure adherence to insurance policy requirements for these structures.
A statement issued by Ama Umoren, NEMSA’s Head of Communications and Protocol Unit, on Sunday in Abuja, stated that the MoU establishes a collaborative framework between NEMSA and NAICOM to ensure that as a pre-condition, all electrical installations in residential, commercial, industrial premises, hazardous locations, industries and factories are duly certified by NEMSA before the Insurance Policy is processed by all Insurance Companies.
It stated further that the partnership between NEMSA and NAICOM aligned with the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening the reliability and safety of Nigeria’s electricity sector.
The NEMSA’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Aliyu Tukur Tahir, while speaking during the signing ceremony, emphasised the importance of this collaboration in mitigating risks associated with electrical accidents and infrastructure failures.
“This partnership with NAICOM is a significant step towards ensuring that all electricity consumers, operators, and investors adhere to the highest safety and risk management standards.
”By integrating insurance compliance into electrical safety enforcement, we are safeguarding lives, investments, and the overall integrity of the power sector,” he stated.
Tukur, who is also the Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation, said going forward, ‘’It will also be a requirement by NEMSA that all Facility Applicants of its statutory inspection, testing and certification, should ensure that their Facilities are insured with Insurance Companies, for safety and mitigation of risk.”
On his part, the Commissioner for Insurance and Chief Executive Officer of NAICOM, Mr Olusegun Omosehin, reiterated NAICOM’s commitment to ensuring that all power sector players embrace insurance as a critical risk management tool.
“Insurance plays a crucial role in cushioning the effects of electrical hazards and infrastructure-related incidents. Through this MoU, we will work closely with NEMSA to enforce compliance with relevant insurance policies, ensuring that the power sector operates with adequate risk mitigation mechanisms in place,” he said.
The collaboration will involve joint awareness campaigns, regulatory enforcement, and information-sharing initiatives to promote electrical safety and insurance adoption across the power sector.
This strategic partnership marks a milestone in the drive to enhance safety, reliability, and sustainability within Nigeria’s electricity industry and the country at large.
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