Tinubu Establishes Ebola Preparedness Task Force
…Approves N10bn 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 and directed the immediate release of N10 billion to strengthen Nigeria’s readiness against a possible outbreak.
The emergency intervention fund is aimed at boosting the operational preparedness of the National Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and supporting critical public health response activities across the country.
According to a statement issued by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, the newly created task force will be chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and will comprise representatives of relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as state governments.
The move follows recent reports of Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, raising concerns about the risk of the disease being imported into Nigeria.
President Tinubu’s approval came after a high-level stakeholder meeting chaired by Gbajabiamila to assess Nigeria’s preparedness and develop strategies to prevent the entry and spread of Ebola within the country.
The meeting was attended by representatives of 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 measures, the President directed all states with international airports and border corridors, alongside relevant agencies, to submit detailed 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 increase surveillance of passengers arriving on routes considered high-risk, including flights operated by Air Uganda, RwandAir, Air Tanzania, TAAG Angola Airlines, Kenya Airways, and Ethiopian Airlines.
Additionally, referral and isolation centres are to be activated immediately at the international airports in Lagos and Abuja, with similar facilities to be established at other airports nationwide.
Other directives 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 facilities, cargo areas, baggage sections, and departure halls.
The President further instructed the advisory group to engage security, diplomatic, and aviation authorities on possible regulations affecting flights from affected countries. The task force is also expected to designate specific airports or terminals for high-risk flights and consider adjusting flight schedules to minimise contact between high-risk passengers and other travellers.
The Federal Government said the measures are intended to safeguard public health and ensure Nigeria remains prepared to respond swiftly to any emerging disease threats.
