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Commissioner for Health in Plateau state, Dr. Nicholas Ba’amlong, has disclosed that the state recorded 441 suspected cholera cases and 14 deaths across four local government areas since the outbreak of the disease in June.

Ba’amlong, who gave the update in Jos on Monday also confirmed 20 positive Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) cases and six laboratory-confirmed cases through culture, with infections affecting 25 wards and 107 settlements.

Commissioner said that the state government is intensifying emergency response measures to curb further spread.

Ba’amlong said that only three patients remain on admission in Jos North Local Government Area, describing the development as an indication that the government’s interventions were yielding results.

According to the commissioner, the disease was first isolated in Mangu Local Government Area in early June 2026, which prompted the ministry to activate a coordinated multi-sectoral emergency response in collaboration with local government councils, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), and development partners.

Ba’amlong said Mangu, which he described as the epicentre of the outbreak, recorded 53 suspected cases, with 10 testing positive through Rapid Diagnostic Tests and four confirmed by laboratory culture, while 10 deaths were reported across nine wards and 64 settlements.

The commissioner noted that there is currently no active cholera case in Mangu, with the last reported case recorded on July 22, 2026.

He said, “Jos North LGA has recorded 277 suspected cases, seven positive Rapid Diagnostic Tests, one laboratory-confirmed case, and four deaths, affecting 61 settlements in 14 wards.

“In Jos South Local Government Area, the commissioner said only one confirmed case was recorded, adding that the patient had been successfully treated and discharged without any fatality.

“Barkin Ladi Local Government Area recorded its first case on July 16, with 23 suspected cases, two positive Rapid Diagnostic Tests, no laboratory-confirmed case, and no death reported, while two settlements in one ward have been affected.

The commissioner warned that even though transmission has been interrupted in Mangu, infections were still being recorded in Jos North, Jos South and Barkin Ladi, indicating continued transmission in some communities.

Ba’amlong attributed many of the fatalities to late presentation at health facilities, urging residents to seek immediate medical attention whenever symptoms of cholera are noticed.

The commissioner said the government has intensified active case searches, expanded community surveillance, strengthened disease reporting across health facilities and ensured the continuous availability of Oral Rehydration Salts, intravenous fluids, antibiotics and other essential medical supplies.

He assured residents of Jos North that additional Oral Rehydration Points will be established in the area, while free or subsidised treatment is being provided at designated cholera treatment centres.

Ba’amlong said healthcare workers in Mangu, Barkin Ladi and Jos North were being trained with the support of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF, while Rapid Diagnostic Test kits had been distributed to all affected local government areas to improve early detection.

The commissioner also assured residents that the state government would sustain its collaboration with the NCDC, WHO, UNICEF and other development partners until the outbreak is fully contained, urging the public to maintain proper hygiene, drink safe water and report suspected cases promptly.

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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has blacklisted Onifam Laboratories Limited, its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, all members of its board of directors, and every affiliated or associated individual and entity found to have participated in regulatory violations, following what it described as extensive investigations into the company’s operations.

The sanction, which takes immediate effect, effectively excludes the company and all affected individuals from participating in any pharmaceutical business regulated by NAFDAC pending further directive from the agency.

In a statement signed on Monday by its Director-General/CEO, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the agency said its investigations established that Onifam Laboratories engaged in regulatory misrepresentation, misuse of NAFDAC approvals and certificates, improper registration and transfer of pharmaceutical products, as well as activities that deliberately circumvented established regulatory procedures.

According to NAFDAC, the alleged infractions compromise product traceability, weaken accountability within the pharmaceutical supply chain and expose the public to significant health risks.

The agency said the company’s actions violate the provisions of the NAFDAC Act, the Food, Drug and Related Products (Registration, etc.) Act, the Drug and Related Products Registration Regulations 2021 and other applicable regulatory guidelines governing pharmaceutical products in Nigeria.

As part of the blacklist, Onifam Laboratories and all affected persons are prohibited from participating, either directly or indirectly, in any pharmaceutical business regulated by NAFDAC.

The prohibition extends to applying for or benefiting from any NAFDAC registration, licence, permit, certificate or approval.

It also bars them from operating as manufacturers, importers, distributors, marketing authorisation holders, agents, representatives, consultants, promoters or sponsors of any product regulated by the agency.

Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), whose agency announced the immediate blacklisting of Onifam Laboratories Ltd, its Managing Director, directors and affiliated entities over multiple regulatory violations/Credit: NAFDAC

The sweeping sanctions equally apply to affiliated companies and associated entities found to have been involved in the regulatory violations.

NAFDAC stated that the blacklist would remain in force until otherwise directed by its management.

The agency further warned that it reserves the right to initiate additional regulatory, administrative, enforcement and legal actions where necessary to protect public health and preserve the integrity of Nigeria’s medicines regulatory system.

It stressed that the action reflects its determination to ensure strict compliance with pharmaceutical regulations and deter practices capable of undermining the safety and quality of medicines available to Nigerians.

Reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding public health, NAFDAC urged all stakeholders in the pharmaceutical sector to comply fully with applicable laws and regulatory requirements.

The agency maintained that only safe, quality-assured and properly regulated medicines should be manufactured, imported, distributed and sold in Nigeria, warning that any attempt to bypass regulatory procedures would attract decisive sanctions.

The blacklist of Onifam Laboratories marks one of the agency’s strongest recent enforcement actions and underscores its resolve to strengthen regulatory oversight, improve accountability within the pharmaceutical industry and sustain public confidence in Nigeria’s medicines regulatory framework.

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Poor  funding could undermine the ability of the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) to deliver on its mandate, the Senate has said, insisting that the N2.9 billion monthly allocation being released to the commission is only “a drop in the ocean” compared to its N140 billion budget  allocation for 2026.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the North Central Development Commission, Titus Zam, sounded the warning while briefing journalists after an interactive session between the committee and the commission’s management at the National Assembly on Tuesday.

According to him, the current monthly release would amount to less than half of the commission’s approved budget if maintained throughout the year, expressing optimism that the federal government would increase funding as the commission becomes fully operational.

“If you give someone that has a budget of N140 billion, N2.9 billion per month, in 12 months, it won’t be up to half of the entire budgetary sum,” Zam said.

“I suppose that is just a temporary package. When the commission finally comes to fruition, much more funds will be released. So we thank Mr President and the Executive for dropping something now, but we look forward to more.”

The lawmaker, however, assured that the Senate Committee would ensure the prudent utilisation of the funds already released by providing effective oversight and guiding the commission on areas of priority.

He urged the commission to focus its interventions on agriculture, security and rural development, stressing that the North Central region is largely agrarian and continues to face serious security challenges.

“North Central is mostly an agricultural land. We have arable land, we have good rainfall and vegetation. There is policy for agriculture. We need the department of NCDC to take agriculture very seriously.

“We also have a challenge of insecurity. The commission is advised to support the security forces and state governments to complement their efforts towards mitigating the tide of insecurity within the region.

“We also ask them to take rural development very seriously because we are also rural in nature,” Zam said.