By Oluwatimilehin Fajemisin
The Federal Government has approved the establishment of a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease preparedness and emerging public health threats, alongside the release of ₦10 billion to strengthen Nigeria’s national response capacity amid renewed concerns over outbreaks in parts of Africa.
According to a statement from the Presidency on Tuesday, President Bola Tinubu directed the immediate creation of the task force to coordinate surveillance, prevention, and rapid response measures after reports of rising Ebola infections in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. The committee is expected to assess Nigeria’s preparedness level and develop updated response strategies to prevent any potential spread into the country.
The government also confirmed that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) will receive the emergency funding to improve operational readiness, laboratory capacity, and monitoring systems at the points of entry across the country. This is part of broader efforts to reinforce Nigeria’s health security architecture and ensure early detection of any suspected cases.
Health authorities continue to reassure Nigerians that there is currently no confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease in the country. However, they warned that Nigeria remains at risk due to increased cross-border movement and ongoing transmission in affected regions within Africa.
The NCDC has also placed several states of heightened alert and activated emergency surveillance systems nationwide, including screening at airports, seaports, and land borders.
Officials added that there would be public awareness campaigns and infection prevention measures to make sure citizens remain vigilant while avoiding panic. The task force will submit its first assessment report in the coming weeks as Nigeria increases preparedness against possible infectious disease threats.
