President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the establishment of a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats, alongside the immediate release of N10 billion to strengthen Nigeria’s emergency response capacity.
The move comes amid growing concerns over renewed Ebola outbreaks in parts of East and Central Africa, particularly in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The Presidential Task Force will be chaired by the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, and will comprise representatives from key Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as state governments.
The approval followed a high-level stakeholders’ meeting convened to assess Nigeria’s preparedness and develop strategies to prevent the importation and spread of the virus.
As part of the measures, the Federal Government has directed states with international airports and major border corridors to submit detailed preparedness plans and funding requirements for coordinated implementation.
Authorities have also been instructed to intensify passenger screening at international airports, strengthen surveillance on high-risk travel routes, and activate referral and isolation centres at the Lagos and Abuja international airports.
Additional measures include the deployment of QR code-based health declaration systems for travellers from high-risk countries, enhanced airport sanitation protocols, and closer collaboration with aviation, security, and diplomatic agencies.
The Federal Government said the intervention is aimed at strengthening early detection systems, tightening border surveillance, and ensuring rapid response capabilities to safeguard public health.
