President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats and directed the immediate release of N10 billion to strengthen Nigeria’s readiness against a possible outbreak.
The intervention fund is expected to boost the operational preparedness of the National Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC and support critical public health emergency response activities across the country.
According to a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Tuesday , the Presidential Task Force will be chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, with membership drawn from relevant ministries, departments and agencies as well as state representatives.
The decision follows the recent resurgence of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, DRC and Uganda, raising concerns about the possible importation of the disease into Nigeria.
The President’s approval came after a stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila to assess Nigeria’s preparedness and develop strategies to prevent the spread of the disease. Representatives of key agencies, including the Ministry of Interior, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, and the Lagos State Government participated in the meeting.
President Tinubu also directed states hosting international airports and border corridors, alongside relevant government agencies, to submit their preparedness plans, funding requirements, and intervention needs for coordinated implementation.
As part of immediate preventive measures, the Task Force will intensify passenger screening at international airports through enhanced temperature checks and crowd-control protocols.
Authorities will also increase surveillance of passengers arriving through identified high-risk airline routes, including Air Uganda, RwandAir, Air Tanzania, Air Angola, Kenya Airways, and Ethiopian Airlines.
The President further approved the activation of referral and isolation centres at the international airports in Lagos and Abuja, with plans to extend the measure to other airports nationwide.
Additional measures include the mandatory use of QR code-based pre-arrival health declaration systems for passengers arriving from or transiting through designated high-risk countries, as well as the routine disinfection of airport facilities, baggage areas, cargo sections, and departure halls.
President Tinubu also directed the advisory group to work closely with security, diplomatic, and aviation authorities to review and regulate flights originating from affected countries.
The Task Force is expected to designate specific airports or terminals for high-risk flights and consider adjustments to flight schedules to minimise contact between high-risk passengers and other travellers.
The government says the measures are aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s public health response system and preventing the entry and spread of Ebola and other emerging infectious diseases.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
