President Bola Tinubu has approved ₦10 billion in emergency funding to strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness for Ebola Virus Disease and other emerging public health threats, while appointing his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, to chair a presidential task force.
The decision was announced on June 9, 2026, following a high-level meeting convened to assess Nigeria’s readiness to prevent and respond to a possible Ebola outbreak.
According to a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, the funding is intended to strengthen the operational capacity of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and support critical emergency response activities.
The presidential task force comprises representatives of relevant ministries, departments and agencies, alongside state government representatives. The NCDC is expected to provide technical leadership in disease surveillance and response coordination.
Among the measures approved by the President are enhanced passenger screening at international airports, increased monitoring of travellers arriving through designated high-risk routes, and the activation of referral and isolation centres at the international airports in Lagos and Abuja.
The government also announced plans to introduce QR code-based pre-arrival health declarations for travellers from or transiting through designated high-risk countries. Airport facilities, baggage areas and cargo sections are also to undergo precautionary disinfection.
Tinubu further directed states hosting international airports and major border corridors, as well as relevant federal agencies, to submit their preparedness plans and funding requirements to support a coordinated national response.
The measures are designed to strengthen Nigeria’s ability to detect potential infections early, contain the spread of the virus and protect public health.
The issue has gained renewed attention following the Federal Government’s October 21 update on its response to a confirmed imported Ebola case in Abuja. Gbajabiamila said the task force had been working with health authorities and other agencies to strengthen the country’s preparedness and response systems.
The government has urged Nigerians to follow public health guidance and avoid spreading misinformation that could cause unnecessary panic.
ALSO READ:Obasanjo Reveals How Tinubu’s Reforms Have Made Nigerians Poorer
Hope you find the Above publication useful, Calabargist will love to keep you updated via our newsletter by subscribing with your email.
