President Bola Tinubu has approved the creation of a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats and authorised the immediate release of ₦10 billion to strengthen Nigeria’s readiness against a possible outbreak.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the intervention fund will bolster the operational capacity of the National Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and support critical emergency response measures nationwide.
The development follows renewed concerns over the resurgence of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, raising fears of possible cross-border transmission into Nigeria.
The statement disclosed that the newly established task force will be chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and will comprise representatives from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as state governments.
“The fund will strengthen the operational preparedness of the National Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and support critical national public health emergency response activities,” the statement said.
President Tinubu approved the initiative after a high-level stakeholders’ meeting chaired by Gbajabiamila to assess Nigeria’s preparedness and formulate strategies to prevent the importation of the disease.
Representatives of the Ministry of Interior, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Lagos State Government and other key institutions attended the meeting.
As part of the emergency measures, the President directed all states with international airports and border corridors to submit their preparedness plans, funding requirements and intervention needs for coordinated implementation.
The statement outlined several immediate actions to be implemented by the task force, including intensified passenger screening at international airports, enhanced temperature checks, crowd-control protocols and closer monitoring of travellers arriving through high-risk routes.
According to the presidency, there will also be “enhanced monitoring of passengers arriving through high-risk airline routes including Air Uganda, Rwanda Air, Air Tanzania, Air Angola, Kenya Airways, and Ethiopian Airlines.”
The government further ordered the immediate activation of referral and isolation centres at the international airports in Lagos and Abuja, with similar facilities to be established at other airports across the country.
Other measures include the mandatory activation of QR code-based pre-arrival health declaration systems for passengers travelling from or transiting through designated high-risk countries, as well as the disinfection of airport facilities, baggage areas, cargo sections and departure halls.
“The President mandated that the advisory group consult with security, diplomatic, and aviation bodies with a view to regulating flights from affected and designated high-risk countries,” the statement added.
The task force has also been directed to consider designating specific airports or terminals for high-risk flights and adjusting flight schedules where necessary to minimise contact between high-risk passengers and other travellers.
The Presidency said the measures are aimed at ensuring Nigeria remains prepared to respond swiftly and effectively to any emerging public health threat.
