President Tinubu Establishes Ebola Preparedness Task Force, Approves N10 Billion Emergency Fund
President Tinubu Establishes Ebola Preparedness Task Force, Approves N10 Billion Emergency Fund
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 readiness against potential outbreaks.
The emergency intervention fund is aimed at enhancing the operational capacity of the National Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and supporting critical public health emergency response activities across the country.
According to a statement issued by the Presidency on Tuesday, the newly established task force will be chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and will comprise representatives from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as state governments.
The decision followed a high-level stakeholder meeting convened by the Chief of Staff to assess Nigeria’s preparedness and develop strategies to prevent the possible importation of Ebola into the country.
The Presidency noted that recent outbreaks of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda have heightened concerns across the region, prompting proactive measures by the Federal Government.
Participants at the preparedness 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), the Lagos State Government, and other key stakeholders.
As part of the government’s response plan, President Tinubu directed all states hosting international airports and border corridors, as well as relevant federal agencies, to submit their preparedness plans, funding requirements, and intervention needs for coordinated implementation.
The task force has also been mandated to intensify passenger screening at international airports through enhanced temperature checks and crowd-control measures. Authorities will further strengthen surveillance of passengers arriving through routes considered high-risk, including flights operated by Air Uganda, RwandAir, Air Tanzania, Air Angola, Kenya Airways, and Ethiopian Airlines.
The President also ordered the immediate activation of referral and isolation centres at the international airports in Lagos and Abuja, with similar facilities to be established at other airports across the country.
Additional measures include the mandatory use of QR code-based pre-arrival health declaration systems for travellers arriving from or transiting through designated high-risk countries. Airport authorities have also been directed to carry out regular disinfection of departure halls, cargo sections, baggage handling areas, and other airport facilities.
Furthermore, the task force has been instructed to engage security, diplomatic, and aviation authorities in reviewing flight operations from affected countries. It is also expected to designate specific airports or terminals for high-risk flights and explore adjustments to flight schedules to minimise contact between passengers from high-risk destinations and other travellers.
The Federal Government said the measures form part of broader efforts to protect public health and prevent any resurgence of Ebola within Nigeria’s borders.
