NCDC Tightens Ebola Measures as Nigeria Enhances Border Surveillance

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) announced that it has stepped up preparedness for Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), even though no confirmed cases have been reported in the country.

Dr. Olajide Idris, the NCDC Director‑General, made the announcement during the 15th Expanded Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC) meeting held over the weekend in Abuja.

Idris said the agency had activated surveillance systems, bolstered coordination with other agencies, and evaluated treatment and laboratory facilities to improve national readiness.

He noted that, although the Presidential Ebola Task Force had only recently been reconstituted, response activities had begun before its first meeting.

“The task force has only met once, but we did not wait for its reconstitution because we started working immediately after the outbreak was reported,” he said.

Idris said the NCDC was working with Port Health Services, aviation authorities, the Nigeria Immigration Service, and the Nigeria Customs Service to reinforce surveillance at entry points.

According to him, the initial focus is on five states that have international airports to enhance screening of inbound travellers.

He added that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare had issued entry protocols that require travellers arriving in Nigeria to submit health declaration forms prior to arrival.

The NCDC boss said that travellers flagged as persons of interest were being recorded and monitored, and their destination states were notified for appropriate follow‑up.

He acknowledged implementation challenges but expressed confidence that the system would keep improving.

Idris said the NCDC had evaluated molecular laboratories and isolation centres set up during the COVID‑19 pandemic to assess their readiness for an Ebola response.

He said that executive approval of N785.3 million has been granted for Ebola readiness activities, and that the State Ebola Readiness Plan has been finalized, with disbursements to states that are at an advanced stage.

He, however, expressed concern about the poor condition of several facilities, attributing this to inadequate maintenance since their establishment.

“We found that most of the facilities are in a horrible, dilapidated state. Some have been abandoned and require urgent rehabilitation,” he said.

Idris said some molecular laboratories had also faced operational challenges, such as unreliable electricity supply, which led to wastage of reagents and consumables.