FG activates preparedness plans across all 36 states as DRC death toll climbsThe Federal Government is considering restricting flights from Ebola-affected countries and isolating symptomatic passengers at points of entry, as Nigeria moves to shield itself from the worsening outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda.
The measures were disclosed Thursday by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, after a high-level strategic meeting in Victoria Island, Lagos, convened to review Nigeria’s Ebola preparedness and response framework.
Gbajabiamila, who chaired the session, said the government is also exploring the use of cargo terminals to process passengers arriving from high-risk countries, alongside strict protocols to intercept any cases that slip through.
“We have a health scare, which is Ebola, and we all know what happened the last time. The cases are getting worse, internationally and worldwide, and we don’t want to leave anything to chance,” he said.
President Bola Tinubu has been fully briefed on the situation, Gbajabiamila added, with the administration committed to strengthening surveillance, response systems, and inter-agency coordination.
All ports of entry to face strict monitoringThe meeting brought together key officials including NCDC Director General Dr. Jide Idris, Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and Lagos State Commissioner for Health Akin Abayomi.
Tunji-Ojo said all points of entry would be placed under strict monitoring, with the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) working closely with the NCDC on early detection and rapid response.
No cure, no vaccine — prevention is the only shieldNCDC chief Dr. Idris issued a stark warning: Ebola remains a severe viral disease with no known cure or approved vaccine, making public health measures the only line of defence.
Preparedness plans have been activated across all 36 states, with public awareness campaigns set to be intensified. Dr. Idris said health workers — among the most vulnerable — are being specifically targeted with advisories and communication efforts.
“Isolation, quick detection, public enlightenment, infection prevention and control — these are the areas we are concentrating on,” he said.
DRC outbreak spirals as conflict hampers containmentThe World Health Organisation (WHO) has recorded 10 confirmed and 223 suspected Ebola deaths in the DRC since the outbreak was declared in mid-May, out of more than 1,000 confirmed and suspected cases.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has warned that decades of insecurity and armed conflict in eastern DRC are making it extremely difficult to bring the outbreak under control.
