Nigeria Roundup: Health emergency, Islamist attacks, fires

Increased malaria cases

Nigeria’s House of Representatives have declared an emergency on Malaria cases in the country. Lawmakers say the alarming rate of infections in the country calls for urgent measures, local Nigerian media outlet Vanguard reports. House Chairman on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Control, Rep Amobi Godwin Ogar who made this known at an inaugural meeting in Abuja on Thursday says the committee is working to introduce new mechanisms to fight the disease.

Presidential yacht budget rejected

Nigeria’s House of Representatives has rejected a proposal from the Federal Government for an amount of 5 billion naira ($6m) to be used for the purchase of a yacht for the president. According to Premiumtimes, this was announced by the Chairperson of the House Committee on Appropriation, Abubakar Bichi on Thursday, after the passage of the 2.17 trillion Naira ($2.8b) supplementary budget by the House.

Boko Haram murders

Over 24 villagers in Nguro Kayayya, a community in Yobe state have been killed in suspected reprisal attacks by members of the Islamist group, Boko Haram. Premium Times reports that the insurgents attacked residents with planted Improvised Explosive Devices in the community. Yobe State Police Command has confirmed the incident but declined to give further details.

Highest out-of-pocket expenditure

The World Health Organisation has ranked Nigeria as the highest out-of-pocket expenditure nation in West Africa, The Guardian has said. This means more patients are paying for medical expenses without insurance support services. The WHO representative in Nigeria, Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo is concerned about the rising number of Nigerians falling into poverty due to ill health while urging for various stakeholders to work towards improving the situation.

Shops destroyed in fire

300 shops in the Ladipo plank market, Orile-Iganmu area of Lagos State were destroyed in a fire incident on Wednesday, November 1. Punch Metro confirms that traders who were affected by the incident are counting their losses as several properties and goods were lost to the fire. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.