By Opeyemi Adelakun
President Bola Tinubu has approved the release of ₦10 billion as emergency funding to strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness against Ebola Virus Disease and other emerging public health threats.
The Federal Government also announced the creation of a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Preparedness, aimed at coordinating national response measures and preventing any possible outbreak in the country.
According to a statement issued by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, the task force will be headed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and will include key ministries, agencies, and representatives from state governments.
The decision follows renewed concerns after recent Ebola outbreaks were reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, raising fears of possible cross-border transmission.
The government said the emergency fund will be used to enhance the capacity of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and improve the country’s response systems for health emergencies.
As part of the preventive measures, the task force has been mandated to strengthen passenger screening at international airports, including temperature checks and improved monitoring of incoming travellers.
Authorities will also increase surveillance of passengers arriving from or transiting through countries considered high-risk, including Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Angola, Kenya, and Ethiopia.
In addition, isolation and referral centres are to be activated at major international airports in Lagos and Abuja, with similar arrangements to be extended to other airports across the country.
The directive also includes mandatory health declaration forms for travellers from affected regions, as well as stricter environmental sanitation procedures at airport terminals and baggage areas.
The Federal Government further directed relevant agencies to work with security and aviation authorities to regulate flight operations from high-risk countries where necessary.
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