President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the establishment of a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats and authorised the immediate release of N10 billion to strengthen Nigeria’s readiness against a possible outbreak.
The emergency intervention fund is expected to boost the operational capacity of the National Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and support critical public health response measures across the country.
According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the newly established task force will be chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, with membership drawn from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as state government representatives.
The decision follows growing concerns over the resurgence of Ebola Virus Disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, raising fears of possible cross-border transmission.
President Tinubu’s approval came after a high-level stakeholders’ meeting chaired by Gbajabiamila to assess Nigeria’s preparedness and develop strategies to prevent the importation of the deadly virus into the country.
The meeting brought together representatives of key agencies, including the Ministry of Interior, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and the Lagos State Government.
As part of the emergency response plan, 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 Task Force has also been mandated to intensify passenger screening at international airports through enhanced temperature checks, crowd-control measures, and closer monitoring of passengers arriving on high-risk routes, including flights operated by Air Uganda, RwandAir, Air Tanzania, TAAG Angola Airlines, Kenya Airways, and Ethiopian Airlines.
Other measures approved by the Federal Government include 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 nationwide.
The government will also implement mandatory QR code-based pre-arrival health declaration systems for passengers arriving from or transiting through designated high-risk countries. In addition, airport facilities, cargo sections, baggage handling areas, and departure halls will undergo regular disinfection as precautionary measures.
President Tinubu further directed the advisory group to engage security, diplomatic, and aviation authorities on possible regulations affecting flights from countries classified as high-risk.
The Task Force is expected to consider the designation of specific airports or terminals for high-risk flights to facilitate controlled screening and isolation procedures, while flight schedules may also be adjusted to minimise contact between high-risk travellers and other passengers.
The latest measures underscore the Federal Government’s determination to prevent a repeat of previous Ebola outbreaks and strengthen Nigeria’s public health emergency response system against emerging disease threats.
