President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the establishment of a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness and other emerging public health threats, alongside the immediate release of ₦10 billion as emergency intervention funding.
The fund is expected to strengthen the operational capacity of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and support national response systems in the event of any public health emergency.
According to a statement issued by the Presidency, the 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 representatives of state governments.
The move follows renewed concerns over Ebola outbreaks recently reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, countries within the region that have heightened Nigeria’s surveillance alertness.
The President’s approval was based on recommendations from a high-level stakeholder meeting convened to assess Nigeria’s preparedness and strengthen coordination mechanisms against possible importation of the virus.
Participants at the meeting included representatives of the Ministry of Interior, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Lagos State Government, and other key agencies.
Tinubu also directed all states hosting international airports and major border corridors, alongside relevant federal agencies, to submit preparedness plans, funding requirements and intervention needs for coordinated implementation.
As part of immediate preventive measures, the Task Force is mandated to intensify passenger screening at all international airports, including enhanced temperature checks and improved crowd-control protocols.
It is also expected to strengthen monitoring of inbound passengers arriving via identified high-risk airline routes, including Air Uganda, Rwanda Air, Air Tanzania, Air Angola, Kenya Airways, and Ethiopian Airlines.
Other measures include the activation of referral and isolation centres at Lagos and Abuja international airports, with expansion to other airports, as well as the introduction of QR code-based pre-arrival health declaration systems for travellers from designated high-risk countries.
The government also directed the disinfection of airport facilities, baggage areas and cargo sections as part of environmental safety measures.
In addition, the Task Force is to work with aviation, security and diplomatic authorities on possible flight regulation from affected regions, including the designation of specific terminals for high-risk passengers and adjustments to flight schedules to reduce contact with other travellers.
The Presidency said the measures are part of proactive efforts to safeguard public health and prevent the spread of infectious diseases into Nigeria.
