Nigeria faces renewed concerns over Ebola containment as the Federal Government moves to tighten screening at entry points following reported protocol breaches, while Uganda says the infected traveller showed no symptoms before leaving the country.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the World Health Organisation has launched a clinical trial of vaccine candidates against the Bundibugyo strain.
Meanwhile, rising global crude oil prices, fuelled by tensions in the Middle East, threaten another petrol price hike, as the Lagos State Government blames alleged negligence by a developer for a building collapse in Fadeyi that killed one person and injured three others.
Here is the morning news recap, bringing you the latest and most important stories across politics, metro, entertainment, business and sports.
1. Ebola: NSA sounds fresh alarm on screening
The Federal Government has raised concerns over reported breaches of Ebola screening protocols at the nation’s entry points, ordering security agencies, health institutions and other relevant authorities to tighten surveillance and ensure strict compliance with measures designed to prevent the spread of the deadly virus.
The fresh directive followed concerns raised by the Office of the National Security Adviser over reported non-compliance with approved Ebola entry protocols, amid growing anxiety over the confirmation of an imported case in Abuja.
Saturday PUNCH gathered that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare had directed relevant agencies to document and report actual or attempted breaches of the protocols.
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2. Again, petrol price hike looms after crude hits $115
The sharp rise in international crude oil prices could trigger another increase in petrol prices in Nigeria, with Brent crude climbing to $115.18 per barrel on Friday amid growing fears of renewed military strikes on Iran and further disruptions to global oil supplies.
The latest rally in crude prices comes as Dangote Petroleum Refinery and other depot owners sell petrol at N1350 at their gantries.
A further increase in the cost of crude could put additional pressure on domestic petrol prices, with marketers facing higher replacement costs and the possibility of passing the increases on to consumers.
According to Oilprice.com, Brent crude climbed to a five-month high on Friday as escalating tensions in the Middle East heightened concerns over global oil supplies, raising the prospect of another increase in petrol prices in Nigeria.
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3. Ebola: Traveller had no symptoms before leaving Uganda — Govt
The Ugandan Ministry of Health has said that the traveller who tested positive for Bundibugyo virus disease in Nigeria did not exhibit symptoms when she departed the country.
The ministry disclosed this in a statement dated October 23, 2026, signed by the Director General, Health Services, Prof. Charles Olaro.
The statement said that investigations were ongoing to establish when the woman developed symptoms and the circumstances surrounding her infection.
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4. Lagos blames developer as building collapse kills one
The Lagos State Government has blamed alleged corner-cutting by a developer for the collapse of a three-storey building under construction in the Fadeyi area of the state, which killed one person and injured three others.
The building collapsed on Akinola Street, off Ikorodu Road.
Speaking in an interview with journalists at the scene of the incident on Friday, the Director of Operations of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olatunde Akinsanya, said the structure had been served several notices before the incident.
Akinsanya said a distress call was received at 12.45 pm on Thursday, prompting a search-and-rescue operation involving emergency responders, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Lagos State Building Control Agency and the police.
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5. WHO begins Ebola vaccine trial in DR Congo
The World Health Organisation has commenced the first clinical trial of an Ebola vaccine during the ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
WHO Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, announced the development in a post on his official X handle on Friday, following the vaccination of the first participants in Bunia, in the country’s northeastern Ituri province.
The trial, named Tumaini, meaning “hope” in Swahili, will assess whether vaccine candidates can protect against the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which no vaccine has been approved.
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