President Bola Tinubu has approved the creation of a Presidential Task Force on Ebola preparedness and other emerging public health threats, alongside the release of N10 billion to strengthen Nigeria’s disease surveillance and emergency response capacity.
Drivetvnews gathered that the task force will be chaired by Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila and will include representatives from relevant ministries, government agencies, and state governments.
The decision follows growing concerns over the resurgence of Ebola cases in neighbouring African countries, particularly the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. According to the Presidency, the intervention fund is intended to enhance the readiness of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and support nationwide public health emergency operations.
The announcement was contained in a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, after a high-level stakeholders’ meeting led by Gbajabiamila to review Nigeria’s preparedness against possible Ebola outbreaks.
Officials from the Ministry of Interior, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and the Lagos State Government participated in the meeting.
As part of the new measures, states hosting international airports and border corridors have been directed to submit detailed response plans and funding requirements for coordinated implementation.
The Federal Government also ordered tighter surveillance at all entry points into the country. The measures include enhanced passenger screening, temperature checks, crowd-control procedures, and closer monitoring of travellers arriving on designated high-risk routes.
Airlines placed under enhanced monitoring include Air Uganda, RwandAir, Air Tanzania, Air Angola, Kenya Airways, and Ethiopian Airlines.
Additionally, referral and isolation centres at the international airports in Lagos and Abuja are to be activated immediately, with similar arrangements expected to be extended to other airports across the country.
The government further approved the compulsory use of QR code-based health declaration systems for passengers arriving from high-risk countries, as well as routine disinfection of airport terminals, cargo facilities, and baggage handling areas.
Tinubu also directed the task force to work with security, diplomatic, and aviation authorities on possible regulations for flights originating from affected countries. The committee is expected to identify specific airports or terminals for high-risk flights and may recommend adjustments to flight schedules to reduce contact between high-risk travellers and other passengers.
