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Survey to Estimate Percentage of Nigerians with Antibodies Against COVID Begins in Abuja and Kano

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The federal Government of Nigeria with support from the U S Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has launched the second phase of a survey aimed at using antibody tests to estimate the percentage of people in a population who have antibodies against SARS-Cov-2, popularly called COVID-19.

The project titled “COVID-19 Seroprevalence Survey”to be carried out in 38 enumeration areas across the FCT and Kano will alsorevealthe number of people who may have been previously infected with SARS-Cov-2

The survey is set to officially commence in the first week of June, the surveywill enable targeted participants to know their malaria and covid-19 status and receive important information about how to prevent COVID-19 in their household with an added opportunity to interact with trained health professional for any COVID-19 related issues. More so, those who are diagnosed with malariawill be treated instantly while positive COVID-19 cases will be referred and followed up for adequate free management and care.

The Government of Nigeria through the Nigerian Centre for Disease control is providing technical assistance and some structural synergy for smooth implementation of all planned activities for the survey.

In a brief chat with the Director Special Duties, Health and Human Services, FCTA, Dr. Matthew Ashikeni, who also doubles as the Chairman technical Committee for the COVID-19 Sero-survey, he mentioned that in preparation for the Survey, those who are to participate have been properly trained and equipped with skills for the data collection.

“First of all the participants are categorized into two groups. We have the laboratorians, who are people who are already trained in the field of medical laboratory with experience in the necessary requirements, skills to conduct laboratory tests because they have to take specimen from the nose, from the throat as well as blood samples for COVID-19 tests as well as for Malaria test” Dr. Ashikeni said.

“we are not unaware that some persons might be apprehensive so we are engaging with the public to inform them about this exercise, we have been engaging with traditional and religious leaders and through the various media channels. FCT and Kano residents are aware that the survey is to be conducted and are willing to cooperate with the enumerators once it commences. The staff have been trained to be courteous and respectful and to be able to explain the purpose of the survey in a manner that it will be easily acceptable”
Dr Ashikinifurther stated that enumeration areas have been selected scientifically, adding that “informed consent is going to be sought and no one will be penalized for not participating”

Funded by the United States Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the Survey is being executed by the University of Maryland Baltimore, Nigerian Office.

In a separate interview, the ProgramDirector for the COVID-19 Sero-survey, University of Maryland Baltimore, Nigerian office, Dr. EmemIwara, says the survey is going to give Nigerians a hint on number of persons that may have had COVID without knowing

“The Sero Prevalence Survey is going to give us an idea of the number of persons that would have had COVID-19 over the past six months. You know a lot of persons might have had COVID-19 without necessarily knowing that they have it because the symptoms are similar to what people have when they have Malaria or other illnesses. So, this survey will give a true picture of the persons that would have had COVID-19 because we are testing for the antibodies not for people that have COVID-19 currently. So the anti-bodies are developed once someone has COVID-19 and it could be there for a period of three to six months” Dr. Iwarastated.

She added that the survey has been conducted previously in three Nigerian states-Enugu, Nasarawa, Gombe, Lagos and Sokoto.

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FG Inaugurates Joint Task Team To Protect Health Investments

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6 days ago

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August 19, 2026

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–ICPC member

In its bid to enforce preventive controls and protect investments in Nigeria’s health sector, the Federal Government has inaugurated a Joint Task Team comprising staff of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

According to Ado Bako
Assistant Director, Information and Public Relations, of the Health ministry in a press release on Monday, 17th August, 2026, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate said the initiative is a deliberate shift from the old practice of responding to wrongdoing after it had occurred to one of identifying vulnerabilities early, closing loopholes and strengthening systems before public resources are lost. The statement said:

“Every naira invested in our health system carries an obligation: to reach the facility, the health worker, and the Nigerian whose life depends on it. When those resources are diverted, the cost is not abstract. It is a medicine that never arrives, equipment that is unavailable when needed, or a service that falls short. In this sector, corruption can cost lives.”

Prof. Pate sees the Joint Task Team as “an instrument for institutional change”, whose mandate is centred on identifying institutional vulnerabilities, strengthening preventive controls and improving oversight across the health sector.

Under BHCPF 2.0, the Federal Government has deployed 774 Performance and Financial Management Officers, one to every Local Government Area, to independently verify the receipt and utilisation of funds. Verified National Identification Numbers are also being used to strengthen beneficiary authentication and reduce duplication, while digitalisation is improving transparency and traceability.

The Task Team builds on the Federal Government’s Red Letter of October 2025, which called on communities and ward health committees to track whether BHCPF funds reach their facilities. The Joint Task Team now adds structured institutional oversight to that citizen vigilance.

The Joint Task Team will conduct assessments following each quarterly disbursement of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, with the BHCPF Secretariat serving as its Secretariat. The Team is co-chaired by the Director of Hospital Services, representing the Ministry, and a Director of the ICPC, with membership drawn from relevant supervising offices and departments. The Memorandum of Understanding runs for two years, subject to renewal.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom S. mni, said protecting health-sector resources is fundamental to the Ministry’s mandate to save lives, reduce the physical and financial pain of ill-health, and produce health for all Nigerians. In her words:

“This is a Team designed to be embedded in how the Ministry already works, not to sit outside it.”

The Chairman of the ICPC, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, represented by the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Mr. Clifford Oparaodu, said the partnership strengthens preventive oversight of health-sector resources, particularly the BHCPF.

“Corruption in the health sector is not measured only in financial losses or accounting irregularities. The losses are measured in maternal and infant mortality rates, rates of immunisation, mortality from preventable diseases, easy and affordable access to medical care at all levels.”

The Coordinating Minister, alongside the Chairman of the ICPC, formally inaugurated the Joint Task Team.

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FG Reiterate Commitment to Health Sector Vows Zero Tolerance for Corruption 

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1 week ago

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August 17, 2026

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The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, said this on Monday in Abuja during the inauguration of the Joint Task Team of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

Pate said, “Let me be unequivocal: this Ministry will not tolerate corruption,” adding that effective systems should identify vulnerabilities early and close loopholes before resources were lost through misconduct or diversion.

He said that principle informed the establishment of the Joint Task Team between the ministry and ICPC, with prevention at the heart of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and its mandate.

“The team is expected to identify institutional vulnerabilities, strengthen preventive controls, improve oversight across the health sector while supporting transparent management and accountability nationwide and closing gaps before they worsen further.”

Pate said the ministry was already applying the approach where significant public resources were being deployed, including BHCPF 2.0, where 774 officers, one per LGA, independently verify funds received and utilised.

He added that verified National Identification Numbers were being used to authenticate beneficiaries, reduce duplication, while tighter standards governed fund utilisation and violations attracted clear consequences across supported programmes nationwide already.

“The ministry is also digitalising processes so resources can be tracked transparently from allocation to use, while the ICPC provides independent preventive oversight to identify weaknesses before they become failures institutionally.

“This responsibility does not rest with government alone.

“The effort also requires public servants, honest contractors, development partners and citizens willing to speak when something goes wrong promptly and openly.”

He also charged members of the team to approach the assignment with professionalism, independence, courage and diligence, while ensuring recommendations outlast the team and strengthen systems beyond its lifespan through sustained implementation.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Ms Daju Kachollom, described the partnership with ICPC as timely and important, saying the team would be embedded in existing ministry structures and continuity.

She said the team would be co-chaired by the Director of Hospital Services, representing the ministry, and an ICPC director, with members drawn from relevant supervising offices and departments as required.

Kachollom said the team would report through the ministry’s established workflow structures and conduct assessments after each quarterly BHCPF disbursement, with the BHCPF Secretariat serving as its secretariat throughout the two-year MoU.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the ICPC, Dr Musa Aliyu, said the team gave practical expression to the MoU signed between the commission and ministry in October 2025.

Represented by the Executive Secretary, Mr Clifford Oparaodu, Aliyu said the agreement reflected a shared commitment to transparency, accountability and integrity, particularly in managing BHCPF resources across Nigeria’s health sector effectively.

He said the MoU must produce concrete outcomes, ensuring funds allocated for primary healthcare reached intended facilities and people, while ICPC identified process weaknesses and eliminated opportunities for corrupt practices nationwide.

Aliyu described prevention as cheaper, less intrusive and more sustainable than reacting after corruption occurred, urging the team to undertake credible, evidence-based nationwide assessments of BHCPF flows and utilisation.

“Corruption in the health sector is not measured only in financial losses or accounting irregularities.”

The consequences, he emphasised directly affect lives and healthcare access.

“The losses are measured in maternal and infant mortality rates, rates of immunisation, mortality from preventable diseases, easy and affordable access to medical care at all levels,” he said.

Aliyu said integrity in healthcare meant medicines being available, functional equipment, working generators, present and paid health workers, and facilities capable of responding when citizens needed them most without delays or failures.

“Verify what you are told. Examine what has been delivered. Identify vulnerabilities, recommend practical remedies and follow through to ensure that corrective measures are implemented,” he said urging nationwide consistency.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the MoU between organisations was signed in October 2025 to strengthen collaboration and preventive oversight in managing health-sector resources, particularly BHCPF funds nationwide

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WHO Expresses Concern Over Trump’s Executive Order on Vaccines

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2 weeks ago

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August 13, 2026

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The World Health Organisation (WHO) has expressed concern over U.S. President Donald Trump administration’s executive order on vaccines.

In a statement on Wednesday by the Secretary-General of WHO, Tedros Ghebreyesus underscored the critical role of vaccination for public health.

WHO, also on Wednesday, upheld the safety of childhood vaccines in response to a new directive from the White House to overhaul the recommended inoculation schedule.

He also acknowledged that “every parent wants to keep their children safe, and vaccines are among the most powerful tools for doing that, making deadly diseases preventable.”

On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order that calls for reducing the number of routine childhood immunisation  from diseases 18 to 11.

The administration’s Gold Standard Childhood Vaccine Recommendations also advocate for separating the combined measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine into three single-disease shots that would be administered during separate medical appointments.

The policy also aims to improve vaccine research and to maximise parental choice over which shots their children receive.

This is to ensure state compliance with constitutional and federal statutory obligations regarding parental authority, religious freedom, accommodations for those with disabilities and equal protection under the law.

Tedros said WHO was concerned that the changes “are not aligned with decades of evidence” on when best to immunise children, how many doses are needed, and which vaccines can be administered together safely.

This evidence is also reviewed continuously as new data emerge from across the world.

“The current evidence is unequivocal: vaccines – including the MMR vaccine – are safe and do not cause autism,” he said.

Moreover, “delaying vaccines or separating doses unnecessarily does not make vaccination safer and can leave children unprotected.” he added.

Tedros said “global evidence and recommendations, including from WHO” inform national experts to determine which vaccines and schedules are best for their country.

He stressed that “vaccination policy should be guided by rigorous, independent and transparent review of the best available science, not by political influence.”

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