By Lizzy Chirkpi
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a ₦10 billion emergency intervention fund to strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness for Ebola Virus Disease and other emerging public health threats, while appointing his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, to head a presidential task force on the response.
The fund is intended to strengthen the operational capacity of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and improve the country’s ability to detect, prevent and respond swiftly to potential public health emergencies.
According to a State House statement issued on June 9 by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the funding will support critical national emergency response activities.
“The fund will strengthen the operational preparedness of the National Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and support critical national public health emergency response activities,” the statement said.
The intervention follows concerns over Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda, prompting the Federal Government to step up preventive measures against the possible importation of the disease into Nigeria.
The approval followed a high-level stakeholders’ meeting chaired by Gbajabiamila to assess the country’s level of preparedness and develop strategies to safeguard public health.
As part of the measures, Tinubu directed states with international airports and border corridors, as well as relevant ministries, departments and agencies, to submit detailed intervention plans, funding requirements and other operational needs to ensure a coordinated response.
The government also ordered intensified surveillance and screening at international airports, including more rigorous temperature checks, improved crowd management and closer monitoring of passengers arriving on designated high-risk routes.
The airlines listed for enhanced monitoring are Air Uganda, RwandAir, Air Tanzania, Air Angola, Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airlines.
Referral and isolation centres at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja are to be activated immediately. Similar arrangements are also planned for other airports across the country.
The measures include the introduction of a QR code-based pre-arrival health declaration system for passengers travelling from or transiting through designated high-risk countries.
Airport authorities have also been directed to disinfect facilities, including departure halls, cargo areas and baggage-handling sections, as part of efforts to reduce potential public health risks.
The task force is expected to consult security, diplomatic and aviation authorities on possible regulations governing flights from affected and designated high-risk countries.
“The Task Force is further directed to designate specific airports or terminals for high-risk flights to enable controlled screening and isolation procedures,” the statement said.
The committee will also consider adjustments to flight schedules to minimise contact between passengers arriving from high-risk locations and other travellers.
Its membership will include representatives of relevant federal ministries, departments and agencies, as well as state governments. Key stakeholders in the preparedness initiative include the Ministry of Interior, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Lagos State Government.
The intervention comes amid recurring infectious disease threats in parts of Africa and efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s disease surveillance and emergency response systems.
Through emergency funding, enhanced airport screening, the activation of isolation facilities and closer coordination among government agencies, the Federal Government aims to reduce the risk of Ebola spreading into Nigeria and improve its capacity to contain any potential outbreak.