Baobab Microfinance Bank has launched the first phase of its Menstrual Hygiene Awareness Project in Ilorin, Kwara State, reaffirming its commitment to improving community well-being and supporting underserved populations. The initiative, implemented in partnership with Sisters of Jannah, provided 500 reusable sanitary pads to schoolgirls in a carefully selected beneficiary school.

The bank said the project was designed to address period poverty, a challenge that continues to affect many adolescent girls in low-income communities by contributing to school absenteeism, reduced academic performance, and, in severe cases, school dropout. By distributing reusable sanitary pads, the initiative seeks to provide a sustainable and cost-effective solution that enables girls to manage menstrual health with dignity and continue their education without interruption.

Chief Business Development Officer of Baobab Microfinance Bank Nigeria, Joy Micheal-Oti, said every girl deserves the opportunity to learn without disruption, stressing that menstrual health is a basic right. She noted that the intervention in Ilorin marks the beginning of a broader commitment to tackling period poverty across Nigeria.

Social Performance Manager, Barisi Samuels, explained that the project goes beyond the distribution of sanitary products by promoting dignity, confidence, and reassurance for young girls. The reusable pads were supplied by Sana Pads, a female-owned enterprise based in Kano that focuses on sustainable menstrual health solutions.

Representatives of Sisters of Jannah said their grassroots knowledge helped identify the school with the greatest need and ensured that support reached vulnerable girls within the community. The organisation described the collaboration as an example of how partnerships can drive meaningful and lasting change.

Baobab Microfinance Bank disclosed that the Menstrual Hygiene Awareness Project will be expanded to other states through its network of 38 branches across 16 states, with additional beneficiary schools and implementation plans to be announced in due course.

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The Lagos Elite Lions Club has inaugurated a renovated school clinic and a reconstructed 14-unit toilet block at Arowosegbe Nursery and Primary School in Ketu, Lagos State, as part of efforts to improve healthcare services and sanitation facilities for pupils. The intervention is aimed at creating a healthier and safer learning environment within the school community.

The project involved a complete refurbishment of the school’s clinic and major upgrades to its sanitation infrastructure. The club donated hospital-standard bed frames, mattresses, pillows, a first aid box, rechargeable fans, and window blinds to equip the clinic and improve healthcare delivery for pupils.

To improve water access and sanitation, the intervention also included the construction of a soakaway pit, plumbing repairs, the installation of a pumping machine, and the donation of a 1,000-litre water tank. Club officials said the upgrades would significantly improve hygiene standards and support the well-being of pupils and staff.

District Governor of Lions International District 404B2 Nigeria, Kemi Eribake, said the initiative reflects the organisation’s commitment to humanitarian service and community development. She encouraged residents and stakeholders to support similar projects that positively impact local communities.

President of the Lagos Elite Lions Club, Lucy Unegbu, noted that access to functional healthcare and sanitation facilities contributes to better learning outcomes, stressing that healthy children are more likely to perform effectively in school. She urged the school management and community members to maintain the facilities for long-term benefits.

The Headmistress of Arowosegbe Nursery and Primary School, Aderemi Aromolaran, commended the intervention and disclosed that the toilet block had remained unusable for several years due to damaged facilities and inadequate water supply. She appealed for continued support from organisations and development partners to improve learning conditions further.

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The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has placed Lagos, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and several other states on high Ebola alert following the outbreak of the deadly Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola Virus Disease in parts of East and Central Africa.

In a national public health advisory issued to Commissioners for Health across Nigeria, the NCDC warned that the country faces a high risk of importing the virus due to increasing regional transmission, international travel, porous borders, and population movement.

States identified as high-risk include Lagos, the FCT, Rivers, Kano, Enugu, Borno, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Taraba, and Adamawa because of their international airports, seaports, border routes, and heavy human traffic.

The advisory, dated May 27, 2026, followed growing concerns over the spread of the Bundibugyo variant of Ebola, a rare strain for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment.

“The immediate objective of our national preparedness and readiness efforts is to ensure that every State and the FCT can reasonably detect, contain, and respond swiftly to any suspected case while protecting health workers and sustaining essential health services,” the NCDC stated.

Although no confirmed Ebola case has been recorded in Nigeria, the agency said a dynamic risk assessment conducted after the outbreak was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern showed that the danger of importation into Nigeria remains high.

According to the NCDC, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo have already recorded 1,077 suspected cases and 247 deaths, representing a fatality rate of 24.6 per cent.

The agency further disclosed that suspected cases had reportedly been identified in India, while Canada imposed temporary travel restrictions involving residents of Uganda, the DRC, and South Sudan. Uganda has also reportedly introduced border closure measures to contain the outbreak.

The NCDC stressed that the Bundibugyo strain differs significantly from the Zaire Ebola strain, which currently has approved vaccines and targeted treatments.

“The current Bundibugyo virus outbreak has no licensed vaccines or approved targeted therapeutics,” the agency warned.

Health officials also cautioned that Ebola symptoms may initially resemble malaria, Lassa fever, or other common illnesses, making early detection difficult.

“Health workers must not wait for bleeding before suspecting Ebola in any patient with compatible symptoms and relevant travel or exposure history,” the advisory stated.

The NCDC clarified that Ebola is not airborne and spreads mainly through direct contact with infected blood, body fluids, contaminated materials, or infected animals.

As part of emergency preparedness efforts, the agency said its National Emergency Operations Centre had already been activated in alert mode to coordinate response activities nationwide.

State governments were directed to activate Ebola preparedness structures immediately, identify isolation centres, intensify surveillance at airports and border points, provide personal protective equipment for health workers, and launch public awareness campaigns to counter misinformation and panic.

The agency also instructed states to submit preparedness and readiness reports within 72 hours.

Nigeria’s latest Ebola alert has revived memories of the country’s successful containment of the virus during the 2014 outbreak, when infected Liberian-American traveller Patrick Sawyer arrived in Lagos and exposed dozens of people before authorities intervened.

At the time, health experts feared a major outbreak due to Lagos’ dense population and status as a major commercial hub. However, aggressive contact tracing, isolation measures, and public awareness campaigns helped Nigeria contain the virus within months.

The World Health Organisation later described Nigeria’s response as one of Africa’s most effective Ebola containment efforts.

Public health experts have warned that Nigeria’s busy airports, porous borders, crowded urban centres, and overstretched healthcare system increase the country’s vulnerability during regional disease outbreaks.

The warning also comes as Nigeria continues to battle outbreaks of Lassa fever, cholera, and meningitis in several states, placing additional pressure on the healthcare sector.

Health authorities have urged Nigerians to remain calm, avoid fake cures and rumours, maintain proper hygiene, and report suspected symptoms promptly as surveillance and preparedness efforts intensify nationwide.

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Residents of satellite communities around Abuja are raising alarm over worsening environmental conditions caused by uncontrolled refuse dumps, describing daily life as “hellish” due to persistent stench and health risks.

Across densely populated areas such as Karu, Nyanya, Kurudu, and neighbouring Mararaba, heaps of uncollected waste now dominate roadsides and residential spaces.

From early morning until late at night, the smell of decomposing refuse lingers in the air, seeping into homes and affecting residents’ daily lives.

Daily Life in a Polluted Environment

Many of the affected residents are low- to middle-income earners who cannot afford housing in the city centre, forcing them to settle in poorly serviced outskirts.

In these communities, makeshift dumpsites have become a permanent feature. Waste ranging from rotting food to plastics and medical debris spills onto roads, attracting flies, animals, and scavengers.

Residents say illegal dumping, often carried out at night by waste handlers, has worsened the situation due to weak enforcement.

Health Risks on the Rise

Health concerns are mounting as exposure to unmanaged waste increases.

Medical experts warn that toxic gases such as methane and carbon monoxide from decomposing refuse can lead to respiratory illnesses, including asthma and bronchitis.

In addition, stagnant water around dumpsites has created breeding grounds for mosquitoes, contributing to malaria outbreaks, while contamination risks have heightened cases of typhoid and diarrhoea.

Children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable, with many residents reporting recurring illnesses and rising healthcare costs.

Livelihoods Under Threat

Beyond health implications, the crisis is taking a toll on economic activities in affected areas.

Small business owners, including traders, mechanics, and food vendors, report declining patronage as customers avoid environments plagued by foul odours and flies.

For many, the waste crisis has become both a public health emergency and an economic burden.

Government Responsibility and Gaps

The Abuja Environmental Protection Board stated that its mandate is limited to the Federal Capital City, excluding satellite towns where the problem is most severe.

This clarification has exposed a broader coordination gap between agencies responsible for waste management in the capital region.

However, residents argue that institutional boundaries should not come at the expense of public health and safety.

Calls for Urgent Intervention

Affected communities are calling for immediate government action, including improved waste collection systems, stricter enforcement against illegal dumping, and the creation of designated disposal sites.

There are also demands for better collaboration among relevant authorities to address what many describe as a looming environmental disaster.

Meanwhile, Nyesom Wike has reportedly threatened sanctions against contractors responsible for poor refuse evacuation, signaling possible enforcement measures.

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