President Bola Tinubu has approved the creation of a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats, and ordered the immediate release of N10 billion for emergency intervention.
According to a State House statement dated 9 June 2026, the directive contained is aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s readiness following fresh Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda.
It revealed the N10bn fund will boost the operational preparedness of the National Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and support critical national public health emergency response activities.
The Presidential Task Force will be chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila while members will be drawn from relevant ministries, departments, agencies and state representatives.
President Tinubu approved the move after a stakeholder meeting chaired by the Chief of Staff to review Nigeria’s preparedness and develop strategies against possible importation of Ebola.
Stakeholders at the meeting included representatives from the Ministry of Interior, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Lagos State Government and others.
READ ALSO: Tinubu Swears in New Power, State Foreign Affairs Ministers
The President also directed all states with international airports and border corridors, as well as relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), to submit their plans, funding requirements and intervention needs for coordinated implementation.
The Task Force will intensify passenger screening at all international airports, including enhanced temperature checks and crowd-control protocols.
Passengers arriving through high-risk airline routes like Air Uganda, Rwanda Air, Air Tanzania, Air Angola, Kenya Airways, and Ethiopian Airlines will face stricter monitoring.
Referral and isolation centres will be activated immediately at Lagos and Abuja international airports, with other airports to follow.
Other measures include mandatory QR code-based pre-arrival health declarations for passengers from or transiting through high-risk countries, and disinfection of departure halls, cargo, baggage areas and airport facilities.
The Task Force has also been directed to designate specific airports or terminals for high-risk flights and consider adjusting flight timings to minimise interaction between high-risk passengers and others.
President Tinubu mandated the advisory group to consult with security, diplomatic and aviation bodies on regulating flights from affected and designated high-risk countries.
0 Comments