The Federal Government is considering tighter travel measures, including possible flight restrictions from Ebola-affected countries, as part of efforts to prevent the virus from entering Nigeria.
This followed a strategic meeting held on Thursday in Victoria Island, Lagos, where senior government officials reviewed the nation’s preparedness and response plans against a potential Ebola outbreak.
Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, who chaired the meeting, said authorities were examining several preventive options, including isolating travellers who show symptoms linked to Ebola at airports and other entry points.
Among those present at the meeting were the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Dr Jide Idris; Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; and Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi.
Gbajabiamila disclosed that President Bola Tinubu had already been briefed on the growing Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, stressing that the government would take proactive measures to stop the disease from spreading into Nigeria.
According to him, authorities are focused on improving surveillance systems, strengthening emergency response mechanisms, and enhancing collaboration among relevant agencies.
He explained that the government was assessing the possibility of restricting flights from high-risk countries while also considering the use of designated cargo terminals to manage incoming passengers from affected areas.
“We do not want to take chances with public health. Preventive measures are critical, and protocols must be put in place to quickly identify and manage any suspected case,” he said.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, stated that all entry points into the country would be placed under tighter monitoring. He added that the Nigeria Immigration Service would collaborate closely with the NCDC to improve early detection and emergency response efforts.
Meanwhile, NCDC Director-General, Dr Jide Idris, described Ebola as a dangerous viral disease with no approved cure or vaccine, emphasising the need for vigilance, especially among healthcare workers.
He said preparedness plans had already been activated nationwide, covering all 36 states and points of entry into the country.
Dr Idris noted that the agency would intensify public awareness campaigns and continue sensitising health workers on infection prevention and control measures.
According to the World Health Organisation, the Democratic Republic of Congo has recorded 10 confirmed Ebola-related deaths and 223 suspected fatalities since the outbreak was declared in mid-May. More than 1,000 confirmed and suspected cases have also been reported.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that insecurity and prolonged conflict in eastern DR Congo were complicating efforts to contain the outbreak.