Tinubu approves Ebola task force, releases N10bn for emergency preparedness
President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of a presidential task force on Ebola virus disease (EVD) preparedness and emerging public health threats and ordered the immediate release of N10 billion to strengthen the country’s readiness against the disease.
Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, said in a statement on Tuesday that the funding is expected to boost the operational preparedness of the National Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and support critical public health emergency response activities across the country.
Onanuga said the presidential task force will be chaired by Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff to the president, and will comprise representatives of relevant ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), as well as state governments.
The decision follows growing concerns over the resurgence of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda, countries within the African region.
Tinubu’s approval came after a stakeholders’ meeting chaired by Gbajabiamila to assess Nigeria’s preparedness and develop strategies to prevent the possible importation of the virus into the country.
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 agencies attended the meeting.
As part of measures to strengthen preparedness, the president directed all states hosting international airports and border corridors, as well as relevant MDAs, to submit their response plans, funding requirements and intervention needs for coordinated implementation.
The task force is expected to intensify passenger screening at international airports through enhanced temperature checks and crowd-control protocols.
Authorities will also increase surveillance of passengers arriving through routes considered high-risk, including flights operated by Air Uganda, RwandAir, Air Tanzania, TAAG Angola Airlines, Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airlines.
Tinubu further approved 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 nationwide.
The government will also introduce mandatory QR code-based pre-arrival health declaration systems for passengers arriving from or transiting through designated high-risk countries.
In addition, airport facilities, including departure halls, cargo terminals and baggage handling areas, will be subjected to regular disinfection as a precautionary measure.
The president directed the task force to engage security, diplomatic and aviation authorities on possible regulations affecting flights from countries considered high-risk.
The advisory body was also mandated to designate specific airports or terminals for high-risk flights to facilitate controlled screening and isolation procedures where necessary.
It is also expected to consider adjustments to flight schedules to minimise contact between passengers arriving from high-risk destinations and other travellers.
The measures form part of the federal government’s broader efforts to prevent a repeat of the Ebola outbreak that affected parts of West Africa and to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to respond to emerging public health threats.
