Tinubu Approves N10bn Emergency Fund, Sets Up Presidential Task Force on Ebola Preparednes
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the establishment of a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats, alongside the immediate release of N10 billion as emergency intervention funding to strengthen Nigeria’s readiness against potential outbreaks.
The emergency fund is aimed at enhancing the operational preparedness of the National Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and supporting critical national public health emergency response activities across the country.
The Presidential Task Force on Ebola will be chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, and will comprise representatives from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as state governments.
The move follows recent reports of Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda, raising concerns about the possible importation of the disease into Nigeria.
President Tinubu’s approval came after a high-level stakeholder meeting chaired by the Chief of Staff to assess Nigeria’s preparedness and develop strategies to prevent the spread of the virus into the country.
Participants at the meeting included representatives of the Ministry of Interior, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Lagos State Government, and other key stakeholders.
The President also directed all states hosting international airports and border corridors, as well as relevant MDAs, to submit detailed preparedness plans, funding requirements and intervention needs for coordinated implementation.
Among the immediate measures approved are the intensification of passenger screening at all international airports, including enhanced temperature checks and crowd-control protocols. Authorities will also strengthen monitoring of passengers arriving through high-risk routes serviced by airlines such as Air Uganda, RwandAir, Air Tanzania, TAAG Angola Airlines, Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airlines.
In addition, referral and isolation centres will be activated immediately at the international airports in Lagos and Abuja, with similar facilities to be established at other airports across the country.
The Task Force is also expected to implement mandatory QR code-based pre-arrival health declaration systems for passengers arriving from or transiting through designated high-risk countries.
Other preventive measures include the disinfection of departure halls, cargo terminals, baggage handling areas and airport facilities.
Furthermore, President Tinubu directed the advisory group to engage security, diplomatic and aviation authorities on the regulation of flights originating from affected and other designated high-risk countries.
The Task Force has also been mandated to designate specific airports or terminals for high-risk flights to facilitate controlled screening and isolation procedures, while considering adjustments to flight schedules to minimise interaction between high-risk passengers and other travellers.
The measures form part of the Federal Government’s proactive efforts to safeguard public health and prevent any resurgence of Ebola within Nigeria.
