The Federal Government has inaugurated a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness as part of efforts to prevent any possible outbreak of the disease in Nigeria.
Speaking after inaugurating the task force at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday, the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, said the initiative was aimed at ensuring the country remains fully prepared despite having no confirmed Ebola cases.
According to him, the government is determined to adopt preventive measures rather than wait for an outbreak before responding.
“We currently have no reported Ebola case in Nigeria, which is encouraging. Our focus is to ensure that all necessary preventive measures are in place so that the country remains protected,” Gbajabiamila said.
He stressed that the government intends to avoid a repeat of the challenges experienced during the 2014 Ebola outbreak, when the country had to respond rapidly after the virus was introduced by an infected traveller.
The Chief of Staff noted that maintaining Nigeria’s current zero-case status remains the administration’s priority.
Enhanced Border Surveillance
Gbajabiamila disclosed that the task force has established several subcommittees to oversee surveillance, immigration control, border management, and emergency response operations.
He explained that lessons from previous outbreaks highlighted the need for stronger collaboration between federal and state authorities, particularly in states hosting international entry points.
Representatives from Lagos, Rivers, Enugu, and the Federal Capital Territory, alongside state governors, participated in the inaugural meeting.
The government, he added, is expanding its focus beyond airports to include land borders, which remain vulnerable due to significant cross-border movements through formal and informal routes.
“While airports are often the primary concern during disease outbreaks, land borders also require close monitoring because of the high level of migration across them,” he stated.
Gbajabiamila said relevant agencies, including immigration authorities, border management agencies, and host communities, have been integrated into the preparedness strategy.
NCDC Intensifies Preparedness Efforts
Also speaking, the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Dr. Jide Idris, said surveillance systems have been strengthened at major points of entry nationwide.
He emphasized that although no Ebola case has been recorded in Nigeria, authorities must remain vigilant and ready to respond to any potential threat.
“Our objective is to prevent Ebola from entering the country. However, if a case is detected, we want to ensure that the nation can quickly identify, contain, and manage it effectively,” Idris said.
The NCDC chief revealed that existing emergency response structures and disease surveillance mechanisms are being upgraded to improve readiness.
He added that the preparedness framework involves collaboration among the Ministries of Health, Interior, and Education, as well as immigration services, border control agencies, and state governments.
Idris reiterated that the ultimate goal is to keep Nigeria free of Ebola while maintaining the capacity to respond swiftly should the virus enter the country.
The inauguration of the task force comes amid heightened vigilance across several African countries following renewed concerns over Ebola outbreaks in parts of the continent.
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