FG Assures Nigerians of Ebola Containment, Activates Emergency Response Measures
The Federal Government has assured Nigerians of its capacity to contain the Ebola virus disease outbreak, saying emergency response measures, contact tracing and surveillance systems have been activated to prevent further transmission.
The Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Preparedness, Virus Disease Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats, Femi Gbajabiamila, gave the assurance on Wednesday after an emergency meeting of the task force at the State House, Abuja.
Gbajabiamila, who is also the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, said the task force had been working behind the scenes since its inauguration in June 2026 to strengthen the country’s preparedness against Ebola and other emerging public health threats.
He explained that the surveillance systems and protocols established by the Ministry of Health and relevant agencies contributed to the early identification of the index case reported in Abuja.
According to him, approximately 44,000 flights had entered and departed Nigeria since the Ebola preparedness concerns emerged in June, highlighting the importance of the measures implemented by health authorities and other relevant agencies.
He noted that the infected passenger initially showed no symptoms, which developed four days after she arrived in Abuja. However, established identification procedures and protocols enabled authorities to detect the case promptly.
The presidential aide assured Nigerians that the government would strengthen existing protocols and improve enforcement where necessary to prevent further spread of the disease.
He also called for public cooperation, urging citizens to comply with health directives and avoid panic, while emphasising that containing the outbreak required collaboration between the government and the public.
FG Intensifies Contact Tracing
Also speaking after the meeting, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, said Nigeria had the necessary public health expertise and institutional capacity to respond to the outbreak.
He identified the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), immigration authorities, aviation agencies, private healthcare providers and state-level institutions as key partners in the response.
Pate disclosed that contact tracing was ongoing, while individuals identified as contacts of the imported index case were being isolated in line with established public health protocols.
He said the government and its technical partners had activated the incident management system across relevant response areas, adding that healthcare facilities and other response capabilities were being mobilised to contain the outbreak.
The minister expressed confidence that Nigeria could contain the case if the established measures were sustained, noting that most states had response plans and that resources were being mobilised to strengthen their preparedness.
He, however, urged Nigerians to take public health directives seriously and avoid spreading misinformation or unverified reports that could trigger unnecessary fear.
Task Force Mobilises Key Agencies
Pate recalled that Nigerian public health experts had successfully managed the Ebola outbreak in 2014 and had also contributed their expertise to response efforts in other countries.
He expressed confidence that the country’s experience, combined with the support of international partners and the ongoing emergency response, would help Nigeria address the current situation.
The emergency meeting was attended by representatives of several government agencies and public health institutions, including the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Kemi Nandap; Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Bunmi Kuku; and WHO Representative, Pavel Ursu.
Others present included the Africa CDC’s Special Regional Representative to the Director-General, Dr Aliko Ahmed; FCT Mandate Secretary for Health and Environment, Dr Dolapo Fasawe; and Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee at the State House Medical Centre, Dr Victoria Ogala.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole; Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi; and Director of Operations, Licensing and Training Standards at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Captain Donald Spiff, participated in the meeting virtually.
The Federal Government reiterated its commitment to working with relevant agencies, state governments and international partners to contain the outbreak and protect public health.
