By: Manoah Kikekon
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| Bola Ahmed Tinubu |
ABUJA, NIGERIA — In a proactive move to shield the nation from a potential healthcare crisis, President Bola Tinubu has approved the immediate release of N10 billion in emergency intervention funding. The financial injection aims to fortify Nigeria's defenses against a potential Ebola virus outbreak, following a recent resurgence of cases in parts of Africa, including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda.
Alongside the massive funding, the Presidency announced the formation of the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats. The specialized committee will be chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and will unite various federal agencies and state representatives to ensure a swift, coordinated national response.
According to an official statement released on Tuesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the administration is prioritizing national health security and rapid response capacity. The presidency emphasized that the funds are strategically earmarked to scale up surveillance and response infrastructure.
“The fund will strengthen the operational preparedness of the National Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and support critical national public health emergency response activities,” the statement noted.
With the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) leading the medical frontline, the federal government has directed a sweeping overhaul of security at all major entry points. Particular focus will be placed on international airports, where strict biosecurity protocols are currently being rolled out.
The presidential directive mandates the immediate "intensification of passenger screening at all international airports, including enhanced temperature checks and crowd-control protocols," to minimize the risk of cross-contamination.
To ensure seamless compliance, the newly formed task force will collaborate with key aviation, border, and transport regulatory bodies. These include: FAAN (Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria), NIS (Nigeria Immigration Service), NCAA (Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority)
As part of the emergency containment strategy, Nigeria’s health officials will enforce mandatory health declaration systems for all inbound travelers. Dedicated isolation centers at the Lagos and Abuja international airports are also being fully activated to handle any suspected cases immediately.
The Gbajabiamila-led task force has been ordered to implement stricter monitoring on passengers arriving via high-risk routes. Furthermore, President Tinubu has directed that airport facilities, cargo zones, and baggage areas undergo rigorous, routine disinfections.
To prevent any gaps in the defense chain, the task force is empowered to coordinate directly with diplomatic, security, and aviation agencies. Their mandate includes regulating flights originating from heavily impacted regions and designating specific airport terminals for high-risk arrivals to ensure maximum containment.