President Bola Tinubu has approved the release of N10 billion in emergency funding to strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness against a possible outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), following renewed cases reported in some African countries.
The Federal Government said the intervention is aimed at reinforcing the country’s public health response systems and ensuring that relevant agencies are fully prepared to detect, prevent and contain any possible spread of the deadly virus.
The approval was announced in a statement issued on Tuesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the statement, the emergency fund will be used to improve national health security, strengthen surveillance systems, and boost rapid response capacity across the country.
“The fund will strengthen the operational preparedness of the National Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and support critical national public health emergency response activities,” the statement said.
A major part of the funding will go to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the agency responsible for coordinating disease surveillance, outbreak investigations and emergency health responses in the country.
As part of the measures approved by the President, a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats has also been established.
The task force will be chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and will include representatives of key federal agencies as well as state governments.
The committee has been given the responsibility of coordinating efforts among health, aviation, security and diplomatic agencies to ensure that preventive measures are effectively implemented nationwide.
The latest government action follows growing concerns over fresh Ebola outbreaks reported in parts of Africa, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.
Nigeria, which successfully contained an Ebola outbreak in 2014, is now seeking to avoid a repeat of the public health emergency by strengthening surveillance at airports, land borders and other entry points.
Under the new directive, authorities will intensify passenger screening at all international airports across the country.
The Federal Government said enhanced temperature checks, crowd-control measures and closer monitoring of passengers arriving from high-risk locations will be introduced immediately.
The statement noted that stronger screening procedures would be carried out at major international airports to identify any suspected cases before they enter local communities.
Relevant agencies involved in implementing the measures include the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), state governments and other federal ministries.
The government also announced plans to activate isolation centres at the international airports in Lagos and Abuja. These facilities are expected to provide temporary holding and treatment spaces for travellers who may show symptoms associated with Ebola or other infectious diseases.
In addition, all inbound travellers arriving in Nigeria will be required to complete health declaration procedures as part of efforts to strengthen disease monitoring and contact tracing.
The government said airport facilities, cargo terminals and baggage handling areas would undergo regular disinfection to reduce the risk of contamination and transmission.
Authorities are also expected to increase monitoring of flights arriving from countries considered high-risk. The Presidential Task Force has been directed to work closely with aviation, immigration, security and diplomatic agencies to regulate flights from affected regions where necessary.
Part of the containment strategy includes designating specific airport terminals for travellers arriving from high-risk locations to enable closer screening and monitoring.
Health officials believe the measures will improve the country’s ability to quickly identify suspected cases and prevent widespread transmission.
Nigeria’s decision to strengthen its preparedness comes more than a decade after the country recorded one of its most significant public health victories.
In July 2014, Ebola entered Nigeria when an infected traveller from Liberia arrived in Lagos. The virus posed a major threat due to the city’s large population and extensive transport links.
However, Nigerian health authorities, working with local and international partners, quickly launched aggressive contact tracing, surveillance and public awareness campaigns. Their efforts helped contain the outbreak within a few months.
The World Health Organization later declared Nigeria Ebola-free, and the country’s response was widely praised as a model for managing infectious disease outbreaks.
Despite that success, health experts have repeatedly warned that continued vigilance remains necessary because Ebola outbreaks continue to occur periodically in some African countries.
Ebola is a severe and often fatal disease that spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected persons or contaminated materials. Symptoms can include fever, weakness, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and, in severe cases, internal and external bleeding.
Although advances have been made in treatment and vaccination, public health authorities stress that early detection and rapid response remain the most effective tools for preventing large-scale outbreaks.
The Federal Government said the newly approved funding and the creation of the Presidential Task Force demonstrate its commitment to protecting Nigerians from emerging health threats.
Officials expressed confidence that the measures would strengthen the country’s preparedness and ensure that relevant agencies are equipped to respond swiftly should any Ebola-related emergency arise.
With surveillance being intensified at airports and borders, authorities are urging citizens to remain alert, observe public health guidelines and promptly report any suspected symptoms to health officials.
The government said it would continue to monitor developments across the continent and adjust its response strategy as necessary to safeguard public health and national security.