Abeokuta, Ogun State | September 4, 2025
Leading public health researchers have raised alarm over Nigeria’s outdated and underfunded infectious disease surveillance system, warning that its reliance on manual methods and delayed reporting hampers timely outbreak detection and response.
Speaking at the launch of the AI4OneHealth Research Hub at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, experts described the current system as inadequate for providing real-time health data needed to prevent avoidable fatalities. They stressed that recent cholera outbreaks across multiple states underscore the risks posed by weak surveillance infrastructure.
The World Health Organization reported over 1,500 suspected cholera cases in Nigeria between January and May 2025, while the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control confirmed 1,141 suspected cases and 30 deaths by late April. Experts warned that gaps in data reporting mean the true figures are likely higher.
At the event, the AI4OneHealth Research Hub was unveiled as a platform to harness artificial intelligence for outbreak detection and response. According to Project Director Dr. Jubel Falana, the initiative will pilot predictive systems for cholera and monkeypox in Ogun State, integrating mobile data collection, multimedia reporting, machine learning models, dashboards, and real-time alerts.
The research cluster is part of the Artificial Intelligence Applications for Development initiative housed in the university’s Department of Computer Science, with international support aimed at strengthening health intelligence systems across the global south.
Stakeholders emphasized that while the hub offers a promising tool, its impact will depend on sustained investment, integration with existing platforms such as SORMAS, and nationwide deployment to build resilience against future health crises.