The Federal Government is considering stricter border control measures, including possible flight restrictions from affected countries, as part of efforts to prevent the importation of the Ebola virus into Nigeria.
The proposal was discussed during a high-level meeting in Lagos involving key health and security officials who reviewed the country’s preparedness amid ongoing Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and concerns about regional transmission.
Among those at the meeting were Jide Idris, Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila and Lagos State Commissioner for Health Akin Abayomi.
Speaking after the meeting, Gbajabiamila said President Bola Tinubu had been fully briefed on the situation and assured Nigerians that proactive measures were being put in place to prevent any outbreak in the country.
He said the government was evaluating several options, including restricting flights from countries experiencing Ebola outbreaks, strengthening screening procedures at points of entry and isolating travellers who exhibit symptoms associated with the disease.
Related Posts:
According to him, authorities are also considering the use of designated facilities at airports to manage travellers arriving from high-risk areas, while additional health protocols are being developed to improve early detection and containment.
The Minister of Interior disclosed that all entry points into Nigeria have been placed on heightened surveillance, with the Nigeria Immigration Service expected to work closely with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention to strengthen monitoring and rapid response efforts.
The NCDC Director-General said preparedness measures had already been activated across the country, with emergency response structures on alert and public awareness campaigns set to be intensified.
The renewed vigilance follows growing concerns over Ebola outbreaks in parts of Central and East Africa. Nigeria successfully contained a previous Ebola outbreak in 2014, a response widely praised by the World Health Organization as a model for outbreak management.
Health authorities have urged Nigerians to remain calm, maintain proper hygiene practices and rely on verified information as the government continues to monitor developments closely.
