President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats as part of measures to prevent the possible importation of the deadly disease into Nigeria.
Tinubu also authorised the immediate release of N10 billion to strengthen the country’s emergency preparedness capacity and support critical public health response activities through the National Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the intervention followed growing concerns over the resurgence of Ebola in neighbouring African countries, particularly the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
The newly established task force will be chaired by Femi Gbajabiamila and will comprise representatives of relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, as well as state governments.
The decision was reached following a high-level stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Chief of Staff to assess Nigeria’s preparedness and develop strategies to guard against the possible entry of the virus into the country.
The meeting brought together officials from key institutions, including the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, the Ministry of Interior and representatives of the Lagos State Government.
As part of the directives issued by the President, all states hosting international airports and border entry points have been instructed to submit detailed preparedness plans, funding requirements and intervention needs for coordinated implementation.
The task force is expected to immediately intensify passenger screening at all international airports through enhanced temperature checks, crowd-control measures and closer monitoring of passengers arriving on routes considered high-risk.
Airlines identified for enhanced surveillance include Air Uganda, RwandAir, Air Tanzania, Air Angola, Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airlines.
The Federal Government also ordered the activation of referral and isolation centres at the international airports in Abuja and Lagos, with similar facilities to be established at other airports across the country.
Additional measures approved by the President include the mandatory use of QR code-based pre-arrival health declaration systems for travellers arriving from or transiting through designated high-risk countries, as well as the disinfection of airport terminals, cargo facilities, baggage handling areas and other critical infrastructure.
President Tinubu further directed the task force to engage security, diplomatic and aviation authorities on possible regulations affecting flights from affected countries and other designated high-risk locations.
The advisory body is also expected to consider designating specific airports or terminals for high-risk flights and adjusting flight schedules where necessary to minimise contact between potentially exposed passengers and the general travelling public.
The Federal Government said the measures are aimed at ensuring Nigeria remains vigilant and adequately prepared to respond swiftly to any emerging public health threat while safeguarding the health and safety of citizens.
