The Federal Government is considering imposing restrictions on flights from countries currently affected by the Ebola virus, as part of renewed efforts to prevent an outbreak in Nigeria.
Read more: Federal Government Mulls Flight Restrictions Amid Ebola ConcernsThis was announced on Thursday by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, following a high-level strategic meeting in Victoria Island, Lagos, convened to review Nigeria’s Ebola preparedness and response strategies.
Gbajabiamila, who led the meeting, explained that the proposed travel restrictions would be supported by the isolation of passengers displaying Ebola-like symptoms at entry points across the country.
The meeting brought together key stakeholders, including Dr. Jide Idris, Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC); Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; and Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, among others.
Gbajabiamila further revealed that President Bola Tinubu had been briefed on the current Ebola situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda, and assured the public that the government would take all necessary steps to prevent any cases in Nigeria.
“We are facing a potential health scare with Ebola, and given our past experiences, we cannot afford to take chances,” Gbajabiamila said. “We explored several options, including possible flight restrictions from affected countries, isolation protocols for symptomatic passengers, and the use of cargo terminals for screening. Our priority is prevention, but we are also preparing measures to respond swiftly should any cases arise.”
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, stated that all entry points into Nigeria would be under strict surveillance to prevent an outbreak, and that the Nigeria Immigration Service would collaborate closely with the NCDC to ensure rapid detection and response.
Dr. Jide Idris, NCDC Director General, emphasized that Ebola remains a severe viral disease with no known cure or vaccine, underscoring the need for continued vigilance, especially among healthcare workers. He noted that preparedness plans have been activated across all 36 states, with intensified public awareness campaigns to educate citizens on prevention and response.
“We have a comprehensive preparedness plan covering all state governments and ports of entry,” Idris said. “Since there is no treatment or vaccine for this virus, our focus is on public health measures: rapid detection, isolation, infection prevention, and public education. We have issued advisories and are enhancing communication, particularly with healthcare workers who are most vulnerable.”
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported 10 confirmed and 223 suspected Ebola deaths in the DRC since the current outbreak was declared in mid-May, out of more than 1,000 confirmed and suspected cases. WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, expressed concern that ongoing conflict in eastern DRC is hampering efforts to contain the outbreak.
