Nigeria Intensifies Ebola Preparedness, Maintains Zero-Case Status

Nigeria Intensifies Ebola Preparedness, Maintains Zero-Case Status

Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining its current zero-case status for the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) while strengthening measures aimed at positioning the country as a leader in epidemic preparedness and response across Africa.

The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, who also serves as Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness, stated this on Thursday during the inauguration of the Task Force at the State House in Abuja.

Gbajabiamila disclosed that no Ebola cases have been reported in Nigeria, stressing that authorities are intensifying preventive measures to ensure the country remains free of the disease.

According to him, the government’s strategy is focused on prevention rather than cure, drawing lessons from the 2014 Ebola outbreak to build stronger surveillance, monitoring and emergency response systems.

“We inaugurated the committee today on Nigeria’s preparedness for the Ebola Virus Disease. We have covered a lot of ground, and there are presently no reported cases in the country, which is good news.

“That is why all hands must be on deck to ensure that preventive measures are prioritised rather than curative measures,” he said.

The Chief of Staff noted that structures and sub-committees have been established to address key areas of concern and enhance the country’s readiness to respond to any potential outbreak.

“We have set up sub-committees to address key areas of concern, and hopefully Nigeria will take the lead among African nations. We will not follow; we will lead,” he added.

Gbajabiamila expressed confidence in Nigeria’s ability to spearhead efforts against Ebola and other emerging public health threats on the continent, citing improved collaboration between the Federal Government and states with international airports, including Lagos State, Kano State, Rivers State, Enugu State and the Federal Capital Territory.

He also highlighted the importance of monitoring land borders, given the high volume of cross-border movement, noting that agencies such as the Border Management Agency and the Nigeria Immigration Service are actively involved in preparedness efforts.

“We have learnt valuable lessons from the 2014 outbreak and are building on those gains by putting structures in place to eliminate any gaps in our preparedness,” he said.

The Chief of Staff explained that the task force includes committees on border management, immigration control and disease surveillance, with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention providing technical leadership and coordination.

The inauguration was attended by several senior government officials and health experts, including the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; Director-General of the NCDC, Jide Idris; Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Olubunmi Kuku; and the World Health Organization Representative in Nigeria, Pavel Ursu.

Others in attendance included state health commissioners, public health officials, epidemiologists and representatives of health-focused organisations, all of whom pledged support for strengthening Nigeria’s preparedness against Ebola and other infectious disease outbreaks.

The government said the newly inaugurated task force will focus on building permanent response structures capable of addressing future public health emergencies efficiently and effectively.

Nigeria Intensifies Ebola Preparedness, Maintains Zero-Case Status