The Federal Government has announced plans to enforce stricter monitoring and screening measures at airports and border points to prevent a possible Ebola outbreak in Nigeria.
The move follows an emergency preparedness meeting convened in Lagos on the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, where health authorities, security agencies, and emergency response officials reviewed the country’s readiness against the deadly virus. The high-level meeting was led by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Speaking after the closed-door meeting, Gbajabiamila assured Nigerians that there is currently no confirmed Ebola case in the country. “The government is putting things in place to make sure that this doesn’t spread out,” he said, urging Nigerians not to panic.
The World Health Organization declared Ebola virus disease a public health emergency of international concern. As of May 27, 2026, authorities reported at least 1,205 suspected and confirmed cases and 264 deaths in parts of Central and East Africa, prompting Nigeria’s heightened response.
The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said frontline health workers have been equipped with critical training, surveillance tools, and response materials to manage a potential outbreak. “This particular virus has no treatment, no vaccines. So it’s public health measures that need to be done: isolation, quick detection, public enlightenment, infection prevention and control,” the DG stated.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed that the government is considering stricter monitoring and screening measures at airports and borders to prevent the virus from entering the country, emphasizing border control and preventive measures at various points of entry.
Nigeria has now introduced border screening and temperature checks for arriving travellers, particularly passengers from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and neighbouring countries. The Federal Government and NCDC have stepped up strict passenger screening at airports and land borders.
While Nigerians are encouraged to remain calm, vigilant, and adhere to official health advisories, experts say response strategies will rely heavily on comprehensive public health measures including handwashing, avoiding contact with bushmeat, and reporting illness as soon as symptoms appear.
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