Morning recap: Ebola contacts hit 53, IG seeks 200% gratuity, other top stories

Politics Spice Special Features Education Sex & Relationship Interview Columns Opinion Advertise with us Morning recap: Ebola contacts hit 53, IG seeks 200% gratuity, other top stories News October 26, 2026 6:27 am Two nurses in their PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) use a foaming disinfectant in a decontamination chamber after taking in a patient with a highly infectious disease such as Ebola, during a simulation at the special isolation ward of the Department of Infectious Diseases at the Charite Virchow hospital in Berlin on June 9, 2026. Photo: JOHN MACDOUGALL / AFP

As a new week begins, PUNCH Online brings you some of the major stories making headlines across health, security, politics, business and sports.

The Federal Government is stepping up its Ebola response, with 53 contacts now identified and plans under way for treatment centres in states with designated ports of entry.

Also making headlines, the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has proposed 200 per cent gratuity for retired police officers, while investors are demanding the refund of N100.35m paid to the Central Bank of Nigeria following the suspension of new finance house licence applications.

In politics, SDP presidential candidate Adewole Adebayo has warned against using the Ebola outbreak as a reason to disrupt the 2027 elections, while football’s biggest individual prize will be decided in London tonight, with no Nigerian nominated for the 2026 Ballon d’Or awards.

1. Ebola: FG plans state treatment centres as contacts hit 53

The Federal Government is planning to identify and equip Ebola treatment centres in states with designated ports of entry as the number of identified contacts linked to Nigeria’s confirmed case rises to 53.

The measures are part of efforts to strengthen the country’s preparedness for a possible spread of the disease, with the government assessing isolation capacity at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital and planning an infection prevention and control assessment at Karu General Hospital.

According to an Ebola situation report obtained by our correspondent on Sunday, the authorities are also working to establish referral mechanisms for suspected cases, strengthen surveillance at ports of entry and improve the capacity of healthcare facilities to manage possible infections.

2. IG proposes 200% gratuity for retired police officers

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has proposed a 200 per cent gratuity for retired police officers as part of efforts to address longstanding pension challenges in the Nigeria Police Force.

The proposal is being considered by a presidential committee established to examine the concerns of police personnel and recommend sustainable solutions to the pension crisis.

The committee comprises representatives of the Ministry of Finance, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, the Budget Office of the Federation and the National Pension Commission.

3. Ebola: SDP presidential candidate warns against shifting 2027 elections

The Social Democratic Party presidential candidate, Adewole Adebayo, has warned against any attempt to cancel ongoing political campaigns or shift the 2027 general election over the Ebola outbreak.

Adebayo said a single confirmed case of Ebola was insufficient to declare an epidemic, insisting that the country could protect public health without disrupting the electoral process.

He spoke at a dinner organised by his Presidential Campaign Council leadership in Abuja on Sunday, where he also announced that his manifesto had been translated into several Nigerian languages ahead of the 2027 elections.

4. Investors demand CBN refund of N100.35m after licence issuing suspension

Investors behind the proposed Coin Finance Company Ltd have demanded the return of N100.35m paid to the Central Bank of Nigeria for a finance house licence, alongside applicable interest, following the suspension of new licence applications.

Promoter Representative, Mr Christopher Itua, made the demand in a statement issued on Sunday, saying the funds had remained with the apex bank for about 15 months without the proposed institution progressing.

The investors said they paid N100m as capital deposit, N100,000 as application fee and N250,000 as licensing fee on 16 July, 2025, bringing the total payment to N100.35m.

5. Nigerians missing as 2026 Ballon d’Or winner emerges today

For the first time in three years, Nigeria will watch the Ballon d’Or from the outside, as the 2026 winner is named on Monday (today) at the London Palladium, with Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappe leading the race.

No Nigerian appears on the men’s shortlist, the women’s list or any of the other trophy categories.

The ceremony, the 70th edition of the award, starts at 8 pm in London, which is 9 pm in Nigeria. It is the first time the gala has been staged outside Paris, and Kate Scott and Thierry Henry will host.

Stay ahead with PUNCH Online, your front-row seat to the biggest stories, latest developments and conversations shaping Nigeria and the world.

Olugbenga Ige is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over nine years of professional reporting experience. He is known for his sharp eye for compelling stories and a strong instinct for identifying newsworthy developments. Over the years, Olugbenga has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience, editorial judgment, and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.

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