President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate release of ₦10 billion as emergency intervention funding to strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness against Ebola and other emerging public health threats.

The move comes amid renewed Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda, both neighbouring countries.

According to a statement by Bayo Onanuga, the President also approved the establishment of a Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Ebola virus disease preparedness and broader public health emergencies.

The funding is expected to strengthen the operational capacity of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and support national emergency response systems.

The PTF will be chaired by Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and will include representatives from relevant ministries, agencies, and state governments.

The approval followed a stakeholder meeting chaired by Gbajabiamila, where Nigeria’s readiness to prevent Ebola importation was reviewed and coordinated response strategies were discussed.

Attendees included officials from the Ministry of Interior, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, the Lagos State Government, and other agencies.

Tinubu also directed all states with international airports and border corridors, alongside relevant MDAs, to submit preparedness plans, funding requirements, and intervention proposals for coordinated implementation.

The task force will intensify passenger screening at international airports, including temperature checks and crowd-control measures, while closely monitoring arrivals from high-risk airline routes such as Air Uganda, RwandAir, Air Tanzania, Air Angola, Kenya Airways, and Ethiopian Airlines.

Other measures include activating referral and isolation centres at Lagos and Abuja international airports, with expansion to other airports, as well as introducing QR code-based pre-arrival health declaration systems for travellers from designated high-risk countries.

Airport facilities, including terminals, cargo areas, and baggage zones, are also expected to undergo routine disinfection as part of preventive measures.

The Presidential Advisory Group is further expected to engage security, diplomatic, and aviation authorities on possible flight regulations from affected countries.

It will also consider designating specific airports or terminals for high-risk flights to ensure controlled screening and isolation, alongside possible adjustments to flight schedules to reduce contact between passengers.