The Federal Government says it is considering possible flight restrictions from countries affected by the Ebola outbreak as part of efforts to prevent the virus from entering Nigeria.
The disclosure was made by Femi Gbajabiamila after a high-level strategic meeting held in Victoria Island, Lagos, to assess the country’s preparedness and response framework against Ebola.
According to Gbajabiamila, the proposed measures include restricting flights from countries of concern and isolating passengers showing symptoms associated with Ebola at Nigeria’s points of entry.
The meeting was attended by key government officials, including Jide Idris, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and Akin Abayomi.
Gbajabiamila said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had already been briefed on the Ebola situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, assuring Nigerians that the government would take every necessary precaution to prevent an outbreak.
“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.
He explained that authorities are also considering using cargo terminals for handling passengers arriving from affected areas, alongside stricter health protocols and screening systems.
The Minister of Interior, Tunji-Ojo, stated that all entry points into Nigeria would be placed under tighter surveillance, adding that the Nigeria Immigration Service would collaborate closely with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to strengthen early detection and rapid response mechanisms.
NCDC Director General Jide Idris warned that Ebola remains a deadly viral disease with no known cure or vaccine, stressing that prevention through public health measures remains critical.
“This particular virus has no treatment, no vaccines. So it’s the public health measures that need to be done — isolation, quick detection, public enlightenment, infection prevention, and control,” Idris said.
He added that preparedness plans had already been activated across all 36 states, while awareness campaigns and sensitisation efforts would be intensified, particularly among healthcare workers who are considered highly vulnerable.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) said it had recorded 10 confirmed and 223 suspected Ebola-related deaths in the DR Congo since the latest outbreak was declared in mid-May, with more than 1,000 confirmed and suspected cases reported.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that insecurity and prolonged conflict in eastern DR Congo are complicating efforts to contain the outbreak.
