President Bola Tinubu has moved to strengthen Nigeria’s defence against Ebola by approving a ₦10 billion emergency response package and inaugurating a Presidential Task Force on disease preparedness. The intervention comes as health authorities monitor a growing Ebola outbreak in Central and East Africa, where hundreds of deaths have been reported and global health officials […]
President Bola Tinubu has moved to strengthen Nigeria’s defence against Ebola by approving a ₦10 billion emergency response package and inaugurating a Presidential Task Force on disease preparedness.
The intervention comes as health authorities monitor a growing Ebola outbreak in Central and East Africa, where hundreds of deaths have been reported and global health officials have raised concerns about further spread.
A statement from the Presidency said the task force, headed by Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, will coordinate preparedness efforts involving key ministries, agencies and state governments.
To reduce the risk of importation, the President directed enhanced screening of international passengers, particularly those arriving from countries considered high risk, while ordering stricter health surveillance at airports and border corridors.
The government also approved the activation of isolation facilities at major international airports and instructed relevant agencies to deploy digital health declaration systems for incoming travellers.
Authorities have been directed to disinfect airport facilities regularly and develop coordinated plans to strengthen emergency response capacity across states hosting international gateways.
The latest outbreak is linked to the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, a variant for which no approved vaccine currently exists. Health experts say early detection and supportive medical care remain the most effective tools for reducing fatalities.
Officials say Nigeria is relying on lessons from the 2014 Ebola response to prevent a recurrence and ensure rapid containment should any case be detected within the country.