Ebola: FG Orders Isolation For High-Risk Travellers

The federal government has intensified health screening at airports, seaports and land borders as part of efforts to prevent the entry of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) into Nigeria amid an outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain in parts of East and Central Africa.

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare said there is currently no confirmed Ebola case in Nigeria but noted that heightened preparedness measures have been activated nationwide.

The ministry, in a statement on Tuesday, by the Assistant Director of Press and Public Relations, Ado Bako, said all incoming travellers will undergo enhanced screening and risk assessment procedures, including temperature checks, health declaration reviews, travel history assessments and risk profiling.

He said travellers identified as high-risk or exhibiting symptoms associated with Ebola and other viral haemorrhagic fevers will be subjected to secondary screening, isolation and referral protocols.

It added that surveillance systems have been strengthened nationwide through enhanced Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) activities, community-based monitoring and active tracking of public health alerts to ensure early detection of suspected cases.

Reps seek urgent funding for NCDC

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to immediately provide adequate funding to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to strengthen the country’s preparedness and response capacity against Ebola and other epidemic-prone diseases.

This followed a motion by Amobi Godwin Ogah during plenary on Tuesday.

Ogah said that although the NCDC had announced measures to strengthen national coordination and preparedness, the agency’s capacity had been severely weakened by inadequate funding.

He said the NCDC received no operational funding in 2025, while no capital releases have been made so far against its approved 2026 budget allocation.

Nigeria successfully contained the 2014 Ebola outbreak through aggressive contact tracing, isolation and coordinated emergency response efforts, and authorities say the country remains vigilant against any potential threat. (Daily trust)