President Bola Tinubu has taken the crucial step of issuing a directive for the creation of an inter-ministerial committee. This committee has been tasked with the responsibility of overseeing the operations of the cholera emergency center, which is being managed by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

Two days ago, Health Minister, Prof Ali Pate, revealed that the committee formed after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, which was chaired by the president at the State House in Abuja, will consist of members from various government departments. The committee members include representatives from the Federal Ministry of Health, Finance, Water Resources, Environment, Youth, Aviation, and Education. This committee will be tasked with addressing important health-related issues and working towards improving the overall health situation in the country.

He stated that the committee’s work complements the assistance of state governments in helping Nigeria make strides in reducing open defecation, as a multi-sectoral approach is needed to combat cholera.

He mentioned: “The council subsequently gave the go-ahead for a committee of cabinet members from the Federal Ministries of Health, Finance, Water Resources, Environment, Youth, Aviation, and Education due to the anticipated return of some of our children to school.”

“In order to make progress in reducing open defecation and addressing the issue of cholera, it is important to collaborate with the State government. This collaborative effort is essential as cholera is not only a health issue, but also a developmental issue that requires a multi-sectoral approach for effective and sustainable solutions.”

“The president has issued a directive for the creation of a cabinet committee to provide oversight for the emergency operation center, which is led by the NCDC. This is in order to ensure that the necessary resources are provided and complemented by the state governments.”

Pate further disclosed that at the moment 31 states have recorded 1,528 cases  with 53 deaths.

He mentioned that currently, 1528 cases and 53 deaths have been reported in Nigeria across 31 states. This is the focus of the emergency operation center activated by NCDC on Monday.

We currently have a cholera outbreak, which has been the subject of extensive discussion in the Council. Additionally, there has been a new emergence of yellow fever, particularly in Bayelsa State.

“In the context of cholera, the world is currently experiencing the 7th global pandemic. In 2022, nearly 500,000 cases of cholera were reported worldwide, showing that this issue is not exclusive to Nigeria. The World Health Organisation (WHO) reported almost 700,000 cases of cholera in 2023. This year, more than 200,000 cases have been documented in five different regions across the globe.”

Also yesterday, FEC approved a total sum of  N42.4 billion as cost of variation for three federal roads across the country.

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, shared this information with reporters following the council meeting.

Umahi mentioned that during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, three project approvals were reviewed. The first approval was for the review of the ongoing construction of the Umulungbe – Umuoka road in Enugu state. The initial budget of N6.245 billion was approved for review and has been increased to N8.85 billion, resulting in an additional allocation of about N2.6 billion.

The review for the repair of the Iganmu bridge in Lagos State increased from N1.16 billion to N2.229 billion. The most recent approval was for the dualization of the Calabar to Udopkani road to Itu road in Cross River State. This change involved transitioning from flexible pavement to a dualized, rejigged pavement with improved soft structure engagement. The cost was adjusted from N79.649 billion to N118.412 billion.

There is also approval for the immediate procurement of full rehabilitation of the road in Katsina State, that is, the road on the Katsina – Dustsinma-Maraba road and it is approved for immediate procurement.

“Allow me to state that the 330 urgent repairs of roads and bridges nationwide, amounting to over N500 billion, have reached about 80 percent completion. The Ministry of Finance has disbursed N300 billion for these projects in full, and next week, we will publish comprehensive information on the progress and status of completion.”

“The route from Abuja to Kano, as well as the roads from Lagos to Ibadan and the Second Niger Bridge, have been divided into three sections. Two sections are being handled by Dangote and BUA, and the third section is being managed by Julius Berger, which has resumed work on the site. The additional contractors eligible for tax credit will be deployed by next week.”