The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to keeping Nigeria free of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), unveiling a robust preparedness framework aimed at preventing any outbreak and positioning the country as a continental leader in epidemic response.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness at the State House on Thursday, Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the Task Force, Femi Gbajabiamila, disclosed that Nigeria currently has no recorded Ebola cases but is taking proactive steps to ensure the disease does not gain a foothold.
Gbajabiamila said the government’s strategy is firmly anchored on prevention, stressing that lessons from the 2014 Ebola outbreak have shaped stronger surveillance, border monitoring, and emergency response systems.
“There are presently no reported cases of Ebola in Nigeria, which is encouraging. However, all hands must remain on deck to ensure preventive measures take precedence over curative measures,” he said.
Recalling the challenges of the 2014 outbreak, he noted that authorities were determined to avoid a repeat scenario in which the country was forced into emergency response mode after an infected traveller entered Nigeria.
“We have established structures and set up sub-committees to address critical areas of concern. Our goal is clear: Nigeria will not follow others in epidemic preparedness; we will lead Africa’s response efforts,” he stated.
Gbajabiamila expressed confidence in Nigeria’s capacity to spearhead regional efforts against Ebola and other emerging health threats, citing enhanced collaboration between the Federal Government, states hosting international airports, and key health agencies.
According to him, states such as Lagos, Kano, Rivers and Enugu, alongside the Federal Capital Territory, are working closely with federal authorities to strengthen disease surveillance and rapid-response mechanisms.
He added that special attention is also being given to Nigeria’s land borders due to the high volume of cross-border movement.
“The Border Management Agency, Immigration Service and border communities are fully involved. We are building on the gains recorded in 2014 and closing every gap in our preparedness architecture,” he said.
Gbajabiamila further revealed that the task force has established specialised committees covering border management, immigration control and disease surveillance, with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) providing overall technical leadership and coordination.
He stressed that the government’s objective is to institutionalise permanent response structures capable of tackling future outbreaks without delays.
“We want systems that will endure. If another outbreak occurs in two or three years, Nigeria should already have the mechanisms in place rather than scrambling to create them,” he added.
The inauguration was attended by top government officials, health experts and development partners, including the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; Director-General of the NCDC, Dr Jide Idris; FAAN Managing Director, Olubunmi Kuku; and WHO Representative in Nigeria, Dr Pavel Ursu, among others.
