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Africa’s weak health systems face escalating virus peril

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Equipment shortages, scarce beds and poorly-paid doctors and nurses: Africa is finding that it has few means to protect itself as a feared coronavirus tsunami looms.

Earth’s poorest continent has so far confirmed around 1,800 cases and 57 deaths — a tally that is low compared with Europe, the Middle East and Asia, but is now ratcheting up quickly as testing remains patchy.

BATSV appoints six Kwarans into key postions

In Nigeria, the region’s most populous country, doctors complain that years of underfunding and neglect have debilitated the health system.

“No country is really prepared for this — even countries with very developed healthcare systems are crying out for help,” Yusuf Tanko Sununu, the head of the health committee in Nigeria’s lower house of parliament, told AFP.

“In a low-resource country like ours, the healthcare system is already facing serious problems.”

While the government has been setting up more isolation wards and insists respirators are on its “shopping list” — it has not said how many machines there are and Sununu insists the capacity is “grossly inadequate”.

“We need to move faster — but one major drawback is global travel restrictions mean the ability to get in equipment is seriously limited,” he said.

Francis Faduyile, head of doctors’ union the Nigerian Medical Association, complained that the majority of health facilities across the country do not even have clean running water.

His organisation has told medics to call off strike actions over unpaid wages after they staged a walkout in the capital Abuja last week — but he insists the government needs to do more to provide protective equipment.

“We don’t have proper masks, or at least, we need to assess how many we have,” he told AFP.

“We are doing our own background work and getting ready.”

– Intensive-care crisis –

Figures for critical care facilities in Africa are hard to find and the World Health Organization (WHO) itself said last week it was still trying to assess the continent’s capacity in this area.

The global body’s Africa director Matshidiso Moeti said that intensive care beds were in “very short supply” and even countries with the most advanced systems like South Africa would struggle.

“They are recognising too that looking at the evolution in terms of the number of cases if the situation explodes in numbers, and large numbers of people have severe disease and are critically ill, this will indeed be a challenge,” he said.

In many places the situation is already far more precarious.

A Kenyan health ministry official speaking on condition of anonymity told AFP that across the country of some 50 million there are no more than 100 intensive care units that “are operational at any given time”.

In Cameroon, which has recorded over 50 infections, an aid worker said the country “has no capacity to deal with serious cases”.

The central African nation — like many others in the region — is already facing armed conflicts that have displaced people into camps vulnerable to the spread of other diseases like cholera.

Like strife-torn Central African Republic and Somalia, both of which have recorded infections, it boasts less than one doctor for every 10,000 citizens.

“If the epidemic spreads then it is going to be serious,” the aid worker said on condition of anonymity.

– Ebola experience –

Decades of economic misrule have brought the health service in Zimbabwe to its knees.

“Unfortunately, the system itself is overstretched and inadequate to deal with a coronavirus epidemic,” warned Norman Matara, secretary general of the Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights.

In West Africa, which dealt with the devastating Ebola epidemic from 2013-2016, health services are falling back on the facilities put in place to cope with that outbreak.

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Bloggers, Vloggers Urges Security Chiefs To Deepen National Protection, Seeks Partnership For Enlightenment

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The Bloggers and Vloggers, Content Creators Association of Nigeria (BAVCCA) has welcomed the recent appointments of Nigeria’s new service chiefs and called on them to redouble efforts in protecting all Nigerians—regardless of religious, ethnic or regional background.

The association also announced its readiness to partner with the security leadership in nationwide public-enlightenment programmes.

It will be recalled, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently approved the following appointments of Service Chiefs including:
General Olufemi Oluyede – Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)
Major‑General Waidi (S.) Shaibu – Chief of Army Staff (COAS)
Air Vice‑Marshal S.K. Aneke – Chief of Air Staff (CAS)
Rear Admiral Idi Abbas – Chief of Naval Staff (CNS)
Major‑General E.A.P. Undiendeye – Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI) – retained his position

BAVCCA’s position and commitments was made known in a statement signed by Ikechukwu Chukwunyere, President of BAVCCA, on Sunday in a Abuja.

Chukwunyere while congratulating the new service chiefs, revealed BAVCCA’s readiness to partner with them in a bid to assist them deliver on their respective mandates.

His words: “As the new service chiefs settle into their roles, BAVCCA stands ready as an ally in public-education and digital-media partnership. With synergy between security leaders and digital creators, the association believes Nigeria can headline a new era of renewed hope—one backed by clarity of purpose, transparency of action, and inclusion of all.

“Commendation for the newly appointed service chiefs for their emergence at a critical time in Nigeria’s security history.

“I’m urging that the security leadership must act impartially — protecting every Nigerian regardless of faith, ethnicity or region — in order to restore trust and unity.

“This is a reaffirmation of BAVCCA’s unwavering commitment to unity, transparency, and responsible reporting, particularly at a moment when Nigeria faces heightened global scrutiny over human rights and governance.

“This is also a pledge that BAVCCA will leverage its platforms of over 5,000 digital creators, bloggers, vloggers and online journalists to promote narratives of resilience, reconciliation and collective progress.

“As well, this is to show our readiness to partner directly with the service chiefs and their offices in joint public-education and digital media campaigns aimed at elevating citizen awareness, trust and engagement in security and governance.”

Partnership in Public Enlightenment

BAVCCA underscored that effective security extends beyond military operations—it also demands citizen awareness, media transparency and collaborative public engagement. In that regard, the association proposed:

Launching a series of digital‐media campaigns in partnership with the new service chiefs to spotlight security efforts, successes and citizen responsibilities.

Hosting media-workshops for digital creators on responsible coverage of security issues, civil-military relations, and the protection of human rights.

Establishing communication channels with security institutions to ensure accurate, timely, verified reporting—thus combating misinformation and strengthening national cohesion.

Why This Matters

BAVCCA emphasised that in today’s digital age, the narrative around national security is shaped not only by deployments and operations—but also by how citizens perceive them, engage with them and trust them. The service chiefs must therefore not only fight threats, but win hearts and minds. The media—including digital creators and content professionals—are key partners in this mission.

Chukwunyere said: “Through ethical storytelling and digital advocacy, we can help build a Nigeria where every citizen feels protected, where institutions are trusted, and where our common identity is stronger than what divides us.”

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Alleged N5m Bribery: Why Chief Judge Tsoho, is been blackmailed

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Indications emerged that the allegations against the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Terhemba Tsoho, over a petition of involvement in an alleged $5 million bribery scheme aimed at overturning a court order restraining Nestoil Limited and its affiliates from tampering with their assets in a $1 billion debt recovery dispute is baseless and mere distractions.

Three petitions were written against Justice Dehinde Dipeolu, one by the fourth defendant in the matter and two by the defendant lawyer himself Mofesomo Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, to the Chief Judge of the Federal High, Justice John Terhemba Tsoho, who directed the trial judge to respond within 14 days.

The allegations surfaced barely one week after Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Lagos granted a Mareva injunction inSuit No. FHC/L/CS/2127/2025, empowering First Trustees Limited and FBNQuest Merchant Bank Limited to take possession of Nestoil’s assets pending determination of the case.

Investigations by our judiciary correspondent revealed that the story flying on some online platforms is aimed at diverting attention on the issues raised in the matter.
The investigation has revealed that on 22nd day of October, 2025 in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/2127/2025 between FBNQuest Merchant Bank Limited & 1 Other vs Nestoil Limited and others, the Federal High Court made Ex-parte orders which:

  1. Were the same in all respects to those contained in the Motion on Notice and in the Originating Summons. In such a situation, granting the orders ex-parte will amount to determining the substantive suit and courts are enjoined to hear both parties before making such orders.
  2. Apart from directing the Nigerian Police to assist the Receiver in carrying out the functions as directed by the court, it went ahead to also direct the Navy and the DSS to equally assist as contained in Order 7 in the attached ruling of the Court.
  3. Thirdly, while Order 5 of the Ruling empowered the receiver to take over the assets of Nestoil Limited under the Receivership, which he was duty bound to preserve, Order 8 thereof, contrary to the preservative order, empowered the Receiver to dispose of the assets of the defendants, including the sale of crude oil. These two orders are clearly conflicting and mutually exclusive but were granted ex-parte.
  4. Fourthly, the life span of ex-parte orders is for 14 days. Courts of law have been admonished not to grant far-reaching orders without putting the adverse party on notice in accordance with the Constitutional right to fair hearing.

Faced with the weighty allegations contained in the said petitions, the Trial Judge, Hon. Justice D.I. Dipeolu was directed to respond within Seven days and to stay further proceedings within the period in order to preserve the sanctity of the judiciary.

Further findings revealed that the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, never asked Justice Dehinde Dipeolu, to recuse himself from the matter but, excersing his constitutional duties only asked the trial judge to respond to the petitions written against him.

Further investigations by judiciary correspondents, further that the story over allegations bordering on bribery against the Chief Judge of the Federal High, Justice John Terhemba Tsoho, is a pure case of blackmail and mischief.

See the attached Ruling of the Court

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Digital Creators Storm Surveyor-General’s Office: Seek Partnership to Remap Nigeria’s Image, Infrastructure

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The leadership of the Bloggers and Vloggers, Content Creators Association of Nigeria (BAVCCA), paid a courtesy visit to the Office of the Surveyor‑General of the Federation (OSGoF) at its headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, where discussions were held to strengthen collaboration for national development, public enlightenment, and enhanced digital visibility of government institutions.

Led by its President, Ikechukwu Chukwunyere, the BAVCCA delegation—comprising six executive members—was personally received by the Surveyor-General of the Federation, Abdulganiyu Adeyemi Adebomehin, at his office.

In his opening address, Chukwunyere expressed the honour of BAVCCA visiting the office of the Surveyor-General and lauded the institution’s immense contribution to Nigeria’s infrastructural and territorial development. He explained that BAVCCA, as an umbrella body of over 5,000 professional digital creators, bloggers, vloggers and online journalists, is committed to promoting truthful, ethical and responsible online discourse in support of national growth.

He emphasised that the Office of the Surveyor-General remains one of the most critical yet undervalued government agencies, pointing to its pivotal role in land mapping, boundary demarcation, geospatial data management and infrastructural planning.

“Your office lays the foundation for Nigeria’s progress. Unfortunately, many citizens—especially the youth immersed in digital spaces—are unaware of how vital your work is to our national development,” he said.

Chukwunyere said that BAVCCA is ready to partner with OSGoF in the following areas:

  • Joint public sensitisation campaigns to showcase OSGoF’s achievements and modernisation efforts.
  • A bespoke media workshop to train content creators on accurate reporting of land, boundary and infrastructure topics.
  • A co-hosted 2026 awareness event titled “Mapping the Future: The Role of Digital Media in Geospatial Development.”
  • The establishment of formal communication channels between OSGoF’s media unit and BAVCCA’s Digital Relations Unit to guarantee reliable reporting of OSGoF’s activities.

The BAVCCA President also applauded the Federal Government’s decision to extend the tenure of the Surveyor-General for two years from January 5, 2026, calling it a strong affirmation of his transformative reforms in geospatial data infrastructure and national mapping. He also welcomed the strategic repositioning of OSGoF directly under the Presidency, saying the move would streamline decision-making and strengthen the institution’s role in mapping, planning, land governance and security.

On broader national issues, Chukwunyere reaffirmed BAVCCA’s commitment to unity, transparency and responsible reporting amid global scrutiny of Nigeria’s human rights record. He urged the newly appointed security chiefs to redouble their efforts in protecting all Nigerians, regardless of religious, ethnic or regional background. He pledged that BAVCCA will leverage its platforms to promote narratives of resilience, reconciliation and collective progress.

In his response, Surveyor-General Adebomehin expressed delight at the visit from BAVCCA and described it as timely and impactful. He reiterated the indispensable role of OSGoF in national planning and governance, and emphasised that Nigeria’s last comprehensive mapping was done over five decades ago — highlighting the urgent need for a new national remapping exercise in line with international standards.

“Whatever you cannot map, you cannot manage,” he said, while showcasing a modern digital railway map linking Lagos to Calabar—an example of what geospatial technology can do for infrastructure.

He encouraged professionals in the surveying and geospatial fields to consider stepping into politics, saying that effective national development requires technically skilled individuals in leadership positions.

“Until we start thinking beyond self, we will remain under-developed as a nation,” he added.

Adebomehin assured BAVCCA of his office’s readiness to collaborate in public education, digital storytelling and national advocacy initiatives that promote the work of OSGoF.

The meeting concluded with a mutual agreement to establish a partnership framework between BAVCCA and OSGoF, aimed at strengthening public awareness, advancing geospatial innovation, and enhancing Nigeria’s digital governance ecosystem.

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