The Federal Government has assured Nigerians of its capacity to contain the Ebola outbreak, saying surveillance systems, contact tracing and isolation measures have been activated following the detection of an imported case in Abuja.
The Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Preparedness, Viral Disease Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats, Femi Gbajabiamila, gave the assurance on Wednesday after an emergency meeting of the task force at the State House, Abuja.
Gbajabiamila, who is also the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, said the task force had been working behind the scenes since its inauguration in June to strengthen the country’s preparedness and response to emerging public health threats.
He attributed the early detection of the index case to surveillance mechanisms and protocols implemented by the Ministry of Health, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and other relevant agencies.
According to him, about 44,000 flights have travelled into and out of Nigeria since concerns over Ebola emerged in June, underscoring the importance of sustained surveillance and coordination among government agencies.
“It’s very important to note this. Since the issue of Ebola came up in June, there have been about 44,000 flights in and out of Nigeria. So, it’s because of what the Ministry of Health, the task force and all the agencies have been doing. All hands have been on deck,” he said.
Gbajabiamila explained that the passenger who tested positive for the virus initially showed no symptoms, which reportedly developed four days after the woman arrived in Abuja.
He said the identification process and protocols already in place enabled the authorities to detect the case promptly, demonstrating the country’s capacity to respond to the threat.
The presidential aide said the task force would review existing measures, strengthen areas requiring improvement and ensure stricter enforcement of public health protocols.
“The Task Force is on top of it. NCDC is on top of it; everyone is on deck. We must build community trust and avoid panic, but it’s also important to state clearly that this is a collaborative effort between the government and the people,” he said.
He urged Nigerians to cooperate with health authorities and comply with public health directives to prevent further transmission.
Also speaking, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, said Nigeria had competent health professionals and established surveillance systems capable of supporting an effective response.
Pate said relevant agencies, including immigration, aviation, interior and health authorities, as well as private healthcare providers and state governments, had been mobilised to strengthen surveillance and response efforts.
He disclosed that contact tracing was ongoing, while individuals identified as contacts of the imported case were being isolated in line with established public health protocols.
“We have been conducting contact tracing diligently and isolating those contacts of the index imported case in this country. We will continue to do that,” the minister said.
He added that the Federal Government, working with the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the NCDC, had activated the incident management system across different response areas.
According to Pate, response teams are working continuously, while hospital capacities have been activated to support efforts to contain the case and prevent further spread.
He said most states had adequate response plans and that the government was mobilising available resources and capabilities to manage the situation.
Pate, however, warned that the response would require sustained vigilance and public cooperation, urging Nigerians to comply with health advisories and avoid spreading misinformation or unverified reports that could trigger unnecessary panic.
He expressed confidence in Nigeria’s public health expertise, recalling the country’s successful response to the 2014 Ebola outbreak and the contributions of Nigerian health professionals to containment efforts in other countries.
The minister said the experience and expertise of Nigerian public health physicians, combined with support from international partners, would strengthen the country’s ability to manage the current threat.
Members of the task force at Wednesday’s meeting included the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Kemi Nandap; Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Bunmi Kuku; FAAN General Manager, Adamu Adamu; WHO representative, Pavel Ursu; and Africa CDC Special Regional Representative to the Director-General, Dr Aliko Ahmed.
Others present were the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Administration and Operations and Secretary of the task force, Oyinade Nathan-Marsh; public health executive Niniola Williams; FCT Mandate Secretary for Health and Environment, Dr Dolapo Fasawe; and Chairman of the State House Medical Centre’s Medical Advisory Committee, Dr Victoria Ogala.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole; Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi; and Director of Operations, Licensing and Training Standards at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Capt. Donald Spiff, participated in the meeting virtually.
The government reiterated its commitment to working with state authorities, health institutions and international partners to contain the case, strengthen preparedness and protect public health.