The Federal Government has announced the activation of heightened surveillance for inbound passengers from China following reports of a surge in cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), a respiratory virus that has strained healthcare facilities across northern Chinese provinces.
HMPV cases have risen sharply, particularly among children under 14 in northern China. The outbreak has overwhelmed hospitals, with social media footage showing overcrowded facilities and sparking fears of a larger health crisis.

Chinese authorities have implemented measures including:

• Monitoring and tracking pneumonia cases of unknown origin.
• Promoting mask-wearing and social distancing.
• Disinfecting public spaces to limit virus spread.

Mao Ning, spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry, stated on Friday that while respiratory infections often peak in winter, the current illnesses appear less severe and widespread compared to the previous year.
To mitigate the risk of importation, Nigeria plans to:

• Conduct enhanced screening and monitoring of passengers arriving from China.
• Quarantine individuals if necessary.

The Federal Government aims to proactively address potential risks, drawing on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, which originated in China five years ago and had a profound global impact.
Neighboring countries like Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Cambodia are also closely tracking the situation, reporting isolated cases but no significant outbreaks.

China has launched a pilot program to monitor and manage pneumonia of unknown origin effectively, reinforcing laboratory reporting and coordination across health agencies.

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has announced a new opportunity for candidates to resit their West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) papers.

Starting January 2025, candidates who wish to improve their scores or retake failed subjects will have the chance to sit for the newly introduced WASSCE Private Candidate (PC1) exams.

Registration and Schedule
Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show in Ghana, WAEC’s Head of Public Affairs, John Kapi, shared details about the development:

• Candidates can register online via WAEC’s website or at WAEC-accredited internet cafés.
• Registration closes on 8th January 2025.
• The resit exams are scheduled to take place between 24th January and 15th February 2025.

Kapi emphasized that this initiative aims to provide students a timely opportunity to improve their results without waiting an entire year.
Candidates whose results were canceled due to administrative reasons can participate in the resit, provided they have not been banned for examination malpractice.

South Korea’s suspended president, Yoon Suk Yeol, remains entrenched in his fortified residence as the deadline for his arrest warrant on charges of insurrection and abuse of power approaches. Yoon, who was impeached following his controversial attempt to impose martial law, has refused to surrender, escalating a constitutional crisis in the country.

Over the weekend, Yoon’s security team erected barbed wire and barricaded the compound with buses, thwarting investigators who sought to arrest him on Friday. After a six-hour standoff, investigators withdrew, unable to bypass the presidential security service.

The arrest warrant, tied to Yoon’s brief martial law order citing threats from North Korea and “anti-state forces,” is set to expire Monday. Investigators have sought an extension and requested police assistance to execute the warrant. However, police have declined, citing legal ambiguities, and stated that responsibility should remain with anti-corruption investigators.

Public opinion is deeply divided, with thousands of protesters rallying in heavy snow over the weekend, both supporting and opposing Yoon. The political turmoil coincides with a high-stakes visit by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, aiming to stabilize regional relations ahead of the incoming Donald Trump presidency.

Yoon’s legal team has challenged the legitimacy of the arrest warrant, claiming anti-corruption investigators lack jurisdiction over insurrection cases. The presidential security service has echoed this argument, emphasizing Yoon’s status as a sitting president until the constitutional court rules on his impeachment.

Yoon’s lawyers have filed complaints against investigators for their actions, arguing that he has been “practically detained in his residence.” An injunction against the warrant was rejected by the court, and an appeal is being considered.