Tinubu Releases ₦10bn as Nigeria Steps Up Ebola Preparedness
President Bola Tinubu has approved the immediate release of ₦10 billion in emergency funding to strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness against a possible Ebola outbreak following the resurgence of the deadly virus in parts of Africa.
The President also established a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats to coordinate the country’s response and prevent the virus from spreading into Nigeria. The task force will be chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.
According to the Presidency, the emergency funds will be used to strengthen the operational readiness of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and support critical public health response activities across the country.
The move comes amid growing concerns over renewed Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, where hundreds of infections and deaths have been recorded. International health authorities have continued to monitor the situation closely as efforts to contain the disease intensify.
As part of the new measures, Tinubu directed the intensification of passenger screening at international airports, including enhanced temperature checks and stricter monitoring of travellers arriving from high-risk regions.
The President also ordered the immediate activation of referral and isolation centres at the international airports in Lagos and Abuja, while similar facilities are expected to be established in other airports across the country.
In addition, authorities have been instructed to implement stricter health declaration procedures for passengers arriving from affected countries and to increase surveillance at Nigeria’s borders.
Government officials said the intervention is aimed at ensuring that Nigeria remains prepared for any potential health emergency and can quickly respond if a case is detected within its borders.
Health experts have welcomed the decision, noting that early preparation and strong disease surveillance are crucial in preventing the spread of highly infectious diseases such as Ebola.
The latest action by the Federal Government reflects growing efforts to safeguard public health and avoid a repeat of previous outbreaks that placed significant pressure on healthcare systems across the region.