The Federal Government has stepped up health screening measures at airports, seaports and land borders in response to renewed concerns over Ebola virus disease outbreaks in parts of East and Central Africa.
Travellers identified as high-risk or showing symptoms consistent with Ebola and other viral haemorrhagic fevers will now undergo secondary screening, isolation, and referral procedures under the enhanced surveillance framework.
The move follows reports of an outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola in parts of the region and forms part of Nigeria’s broader preparedness strategy aimed at preventing importation of the disease.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, through its Assistant Director of Press and Public Relations, Ado Bako, said no confirmed case of Ebola had been recorded in Nigeria.
“The ministry wishes to reassure Nigerians that there is presently no confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria,” the statement said. “However, in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening national health security and preventing cross-border disease transmission, heightened preparedness measures have been activated nationwide.”
The ministry said enhanced border surveillance would include mandatory temperature checks using infrared scanners and handheld thermometers, completion of health declaration forms, travel history assessments, and intensified risk profiling at points of entry.
It added that secondary screening, isolation and referral systems had been activated for travellers presenting symptoms suggestive of viral haemorrhagic fevers.
According to the ministry, Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) systems had also been strengthened nationwide, alongside community-based surveillance and real-time public health alert monitoring.
Public Health Emergency Operations Centres have been activated, while Rapid Response Teams at both national and sub-national levels have been placed on standby.
Healthcare facilities were also directed to maintain heightened vigilance, strengthen triage systems, improve infection prevention and control measures, and ensure prompt reporting of suspected cases.
The ministry urged Nigerians not to panic, stressing that the measures are precautionary and aimed at ensuring early detection and rapid response to any potential outbreak.
It also advised the public to maintain proper hand hygiene, avoid contact with bodily fluids of infected persons, refrain from handling bushmeat or dead animals of unknown origin, and promptly report unusual illnesses or deaths to health authorities.
Reps raise alarm over NCDC funding crisis
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has raised concerns over what it described as a critical funding shortfall affecting the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), warning that the situation could undermine the country’s preparedness for Ebola and other infectious disease outbreaks.
The concern followed a motion of urgent national importance sponsored by Amobi Ogah, representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency of Abia State.
Presenting the motion, Ogah said recent Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo had increased the risk of cross-border transmission, necessitating stronger preparedness measures in Nigeria.
He noted that the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention had reported an Ebola outbreak in Ituri Province involving the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, while the NCDC had placed Nigeria on high alert.
However, he questioned the agency’s operational readiness, citing severe funding constraints.
According to him, the NCDC received no operational funding in 2025, while capital releases for 2026 had not been implemented and overhead allocations remained inconsistent and inadequate.
He warned that the funding gap had significantly weakened key public health functions, including outbreak response, laboratory services, surveillance systems, logistics coordination and emergency preparedness.
Ogah also listed unpaid contractors, stalled projects, shortages of diagnostic materials, weak biosafety infrastructure and limited emergency response capacity among the challenges facing the agency.
He further warned that essential laboratory reagents and consumables were nearly depleted, raising concerns about diagnostic capacity.
Nigeria is widely recognised for its swift containment of the 2014 Ebola outbreak, which was traced to an infected traveller from Liberia. Public health experts, however, have consistently warned that sustaining such capacity requires consistent investment in surveillance systems and emergency response infrastructure.
Following debate, the House urged the Federal Government to promptly release adequate funds to the NCDC to settle outstanding obligations and ensure effective operations.
Lawmakers also called on port health authorities to strengthen cross-border screening and surveillance to prevent disease importation.
In addition, the House mandated its Committee on Infectious Diseases to monitor the utilisation of funds, while the Committee on Legislative Compliance was directed to ensure implementation of the resolutions.
