Anietie Udobit, Abuja
As concerns grow over the resurgence of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in parts of Central Africa, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the release of ₦10 billion and inaugurated a specialized national Ebola Task Force aimed at preventing the importation of the deadly disease into Nigeria.
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The intervention comes amid heightened surveillance across the continent following reported outbreaks in neighboring African countries, particularly the Democratic Republic of Congo, where health authorities continue to battle fresh clusters of infections.
Officials say the newly established task force will coordinate border surveillance, airport screening, emergency response planning, public awareness campaigns, and collaboration with international health partners.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), working alongside the Federal Ministry of Health, has already activated emergency preparedness mechanisms across high-risk states, particularly Lagos, Rivers, Kano, Anambra, and the Federal Capital Territory.
State governments are not waiting for federal directives alone. Lagos and Anambra States have issued precautionary public health advisories encouraging hand hygiene, prompt reporting of suspected symptoms, and vigilance at public gatherings.
Health experts have praised the proactive approach, recalling Nigeria’s successful containment of the 2014 Ebola outbreak, widely regarded as one of the country’s greatest public health achievements.
Public health analysts, however, warn that preparedness must move beyond funding announcements to include robust testing capacity, emergency isolation centres, healthcare worker training, and community-level awareness.
As regional outbreaks continue to evolve, Nigerian authorities are hoping that swift preventive measures will ensure the country remains Ebola-free while strengthening its overall disease surveillance system.
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