The World Health Organisation (WHO) has reported a significant 38% decrease in circulating variant polio virus type 2 (cVPV2) cases in Nigeria between 2023 and 2024.

Speaking at a news conference following a roadshow to mark World Polio Day in Maiduguri, Dr. Walter Mulombo, WHO’s Country Representative, highlighted the achievement as a result of concerted efforts by the Nigerian government and its partners to curb the outbreak.

Mulombo, represented by Dr. Aisha Kadi, emphasized the importance of vaccinating the remaining unvaccinated or under-vaccinated children, noting that the virus continues to spread due to gaps in immunization coverage.

“The global spread of cVPV2 underscores the need for continued vigilance, as no country is safe from polio until it is eradicated worldwide,” Mulombo said.

He praised the collective efforts that have protected millions of children from polio, adding that five of the six WHO regions, including Africa, are now free from wild poliovirus. However, challenges such as violence, vaccine refusals, and climate emergencies persist in reaching all children with vaccines.

Mulombo urged renewed support for global eradication efforts, stressing that the polio vaccine remains safe and effective in protecting children from paralysis caused by the virus.

A helicopter crash in Rivers State has left eight people, including six oil workers and two crew members, feared dead after the aircraft plunged into the Atlantic Ocean on Tuesday morning.

The helicopter, owned by Eastwind Aviation, was en route to the OML 123 oil field when it crashed around 11:40 a.m. near the Mimbo platform and Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel.

Eyewitnesses reported that the helicopter unexpectedly ditched and nosedived into the ocean. So far, three bodies have been recovered, with rescue efforts ongoing. Authorities have yet to confirm the total number of casualties, though concerns grow that all eight individuals onboard may have died.

This tragic incident has raised alarm over helicopter safety in Nigeria’s offshore oil sector. Aviation safety agencies are expected to investigate the cause of the crash, as calls for improved safety measures intensify following the growing number of similar accidents in the region.

Dr. Joseph Kaltungo, an agronomist based in Gombe, has advised farmers to stop using harmful pesticides for grain preservation, highlighting their severe health risks.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday, Kaltungo emphasized that the Federal Government has banned the use of hazardous chemicals in grain storage to protect public health. He cautioned against the use of products such as Actellic dusts, Actellic liquid, rat killers, and Phostoxin, which can pose significant dangers when consumed.

Kaltungo urged vegetable growers to avoid spraying pesticides just before harvest to prevent food poisoning. He recommended safer storage techniques, like using chemically coated polythene bags for long-term preservation and jerry cans or drums for short-term storage. Additionally, he suggested mixing dried pepper with grains to deter insects.

The agronomist also stressed the importance of properly drying grains before storage, noting that groundnuts contaminated with aflatoxins, caused by fungal infections, have been rejected in international markets. He advised farmers to avoid storing grains on the floor and to use crates or cartons to prevent moisture absorption, which can lead to spoilage.

Kaltungo urged farmers to fumigate their silos and warehouses, ensuring proper ventilation and sealing holes to keep pests out. He also called on the government and development organizations to build more community storage facilities to help farmers prevent post-harvest losses, which negatively impact rural incomes.