The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), has expressed concern over illnesses and deaths among tourists and students at the Yankari Game Reserve in Bauchi State.
The Director General of NCDC, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, said this on Wednesday in Abuja.
Ihekweazu was reacting to the death of some students from the College of Education, Waka-Biu, in Biu Local Government Area of Borno State, who were on a field trip to the reserve.
The director, who described the situation as very sad and unfortunate, said the NCDC was working closely with Bauchi State Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation (WHO), for further investigation and appropriate response.
He, however, advised Nigerians to remain calm and stay away from areas where the incident occurred until investigations were completed.
The NCDC boss again advised persons who had visited the area to report at the nearest hospital for check up.
The Provost of the college Mohammed Audu, had earlier confirmed the death of nine of the students, saying some were being treated in hospitals.
According to Audu, Biu has been thrown into confusion in the last few days as the strange illness continues to affect mainly students of the institution.
He said the deceased students had complained of abdominal pains, and would later vomit blood before succumbing to the cold hands of death.
Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos on Wednesday pledged the state government’s commitment to constructing a permanent bridge to replace the Egan wooden bridge in Igando, Alimosho LGA.
Sanwo-Olu also promised that the state Ministry of the Environment would tackle overflow of dumpsites in Igando, which caused gridlock.
The governor made the promise while inaugurating the Igando Gardens Estate, a 492-unit estate renamed after Alhaji Lateef Jakande, the first civilian Governor of Lagos State.
The event was part of activities to mark the governor’s 100 days in office.
The governor hailed the lawmaker representing Alimosho in the state Assembly, Mr Kehinde Joseph, for informing him of the infrastructure needs of the community.
Joseph had informed the governor of the suffering of the community members, who use Egan wooden link bridge.
He also told the governor that dumpsites and lack of access roads caused gridlock in Alimosho.
The governor said that the state government would construct the bridge to open up Igando and improve access to other parts of the state.
Sanwo-Olu said: “We shall in the very near future go back to site and see how we are going to push that construction to alleviate the suffering of the people of this area.
“I know that if we are able to do the bridge, we are going to be connecting several communities together, and people will have access from all parts of Igando, Alimosho to other parts of the state, ” he said.
