Tinubu Sets Up Ebola Task Force, Approves N10bn To Strengthen Nigeria’s Preparedness
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the establishment of a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats, alongside the immediate release of N10 billion to bolster Nigeria’s readiness against a potential outbreak of the deadly disease.
The decision comes amid renewed concerns over the resurgence of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, prompting the Federal Government to intensify preventive measures aimed at protecting the country from possible importation of the virus.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Special Adviser to the president on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the intervention fund will be deployed to strengthen the operational capacity of the National Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and support critical emergency response activities nationwide.
“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 newly established Presidential Task Force will be chaired by the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, and will comprise of representatives from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as state governments.
The move followed a high-level stakeholder meeting convened under Gbajabiamila’s leadership to assess Nigeria’s preparedness and formulate strategies to prevent the virus from entering the country.
Participants at the meeting included officials from 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 involved in border management and public health response.
As part of the emergency measures, President Tinubu directed all states with international airports and border corridors to submit their preparedness plans, funding requirements and intervention needs for coordinated implementation.
The statement outlined several immediate actions to be implemented by the task force, including intensified passenger screening at all international airports, enhanced temperature checks, stricter crowd-control measures and closer monitoring of passengers arriving through high-risk airline routes.
“Enhanced monitoring of passengers arriving through high-risk airline routes including Air Uganda, Rwanda Air, Air Tanzania, Air Angola, Kenya Airways, and Ethiopian Airlines,” the presidency stated.
The government also ordered the immediate activation of referral and isolation centres at the international airports in Lagos and Abuja, with plans to extend the measure to other airports across the country.
Additional safeguards include the mandatory use of QR code-based pre-arrival health declaration systems for travellers arriving from or transiting through designated high-risk countries, as well as the disinfection of airport facilities, departure halls, cargo terminals and baggage handling areas.
President Tinubu further instructed the advisory group to engage security, diplomatic and aviation authorities on possible regulations affecting flights from countries considered high-risk.
“The Task Force is further directed to designate specific airports or terminals for high-risk flights to enable controlled screening and isolation procedures, and to consider adjusting flight timings to minimise interaction between high-risk passengers and others,” the statement added.