President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the creation of a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s readiness against possible outbreaks. The President also authorised the immediate release of N10 billion in emergency funding to support national preparedness measures.
The approved funding is expected to boost the operational capacity of the National Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and finance key public health emergency response initiatives across the country.
The newly established task force will be led by the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, and will include representatives from relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), alongside state government representatives.
The move comes amid renewed concerns over Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda, raising fears about the possible cross-border spread of the disease.
Tinubu’s approval followed a high-level stakeholders’ meeting chaired by Gbajabiamila, where discussions focused on evaluating Nigeria’s preparedness level and strengthening preventive measures against any potential importation of Ebola.
Key participants at the meeting included officials from the Ministry of Interior, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and the Lagos State Government, among other agencies.
As part of the response strategy, the President directed states with international airports and border entry points to submit detailed preparedness plans, budget estimates, and intervention needs for coordinated implementation.
The task force is also expected to enforce stricter preventive measures, including intensified passenger screening at international airports through enhanced temperature checks and crowd management systems. Authorities will closely monitor passengers arriving from high-risk travel routes involving airlines operating from affected regions.
In addition, referral and isolation centres are to be activated immediately at Lagos and Abuja international airports, while similar measures will be expanded to other airports nationwide.
Nigeria will also implement mandatory QR code-based pre-arrival health declaration systems for travellers arriving from or passing through designated high-risk countries. Preventive sanitation measures, including the disinfection of airport terminals, baggage handling areas, cargo sections, and departure halls, will also be strengthened.
Furthermore, the President directed the advisory group to collaborate with aviation, security, and diplomatic agencies to review and regulate flights originating from affected countries when necessary. The task force will also assess the possibility of assigning specific airport terminals for high-risk passengers and adjusting flight schedules to reduce contact with other travellers.
