President Bola Tinubu has approved the release of ₦10 billion as emergency funding to bolster Nigeria’s readiness against a possible Ebola outbreak, following renewed cases reported in parts of Africa.
According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the intervention is designed to reinforce national health security systems and improve rapid response capacity.
The funding will primarily support the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), strengthening operational preparedness and critical public health emergency activities.
As part of the measures, Tinubu also approved the establishment of a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats, chaired by Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, with membership drawn from relevant federal agencies and state representatives.
The move comes amid concerns over recent Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.
Nigeria is stepping up border and airport surveillance to prevent importation of the virus, including intensified passenger screening, enhanced temperature checks, and stricter crowd-control protocols at international airports.
Other measures outlined include:
Isolation centres at Lagos and Abuja airports.Mandatory health declarations for inbound passengers.Regular disinfection of airport facilities, cargo zones, and baggage areas.Coordination with security, aviation, and diplomatic agencies to regulate flights from affected regions.
The task force has also been mandated to designate specific terminals for high-risk arrivals to strengthen containment procedures.
