Nigeria not 100% ready, but can contain Ebola — NCDC

By Chioma Obinna

During a press briefing in Lagos on Friday, Dr. Jide Idris, Director‑General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), acknowledged that Nigeria is not fully prepared for a potential Ebola outbreak. He emphasized, however, that the country’s existing systems are capable of containing the virus if it were to arrive.

Speaking amid rising concerns over Ebola cases in East Africa, Idris noted that while Nigeria’s preparedness level is not at 100 percent, the mechanisms in place are robust enough to halt transmission. “We cannot be 100 percent prepared. It is not possible, not even America can claim that,” he said. “But let me be frank with you: if Ebola comes into Nigeria, we will stop it with the current knowledge and systems we have now.”

Idris explained that the NCDC has classified the risk of Ebola importation as high, citing increased international travel, population movement, and porous borders. The federal government has intensified surveillance and emergency preparedness measures nationwide, especially at international airports and border entry points. “For Nigeria, our main focus is on points of entry. What we have done is strengthen surveillance at these points,” he said.

Surveillance systems are active at Nigeria’s five international airports—Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Enugu, and Port Harcourt—where Port Health officials, aviation agencies, immigration officers, and state governments collaborate to monitor travellers arriving from affected countries. Passengers from high‑risk countries undergo screening procedures and must complete mandatory health declaration forms before boarding flights into Nigeria. “The idea is not to allow the disease to enter the country in the first place,” Idris added.

Despite these efforts, the NCDC DG highlighted significant challenges, notably a shortage of health workers and limited laboratory capacity. “Yes, we have a shortage of health workers. The shortage is affecting NCDC,” he admitted. He also noted that only a few laboratories in Nigeria can test for Ebola, citing the high cost of establishing and maintaining such facilities. “The laboratories are expensive, maintaining them is expensive, and training the right personnel is also expensive. That is why the system has been tiered,” he explained.

Designated laboratories capable of Ebola testing include the National Reference Laboratory in Abuja, the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), and certain private laboratories with genomic testing capabilities. Suspected cases identified in states would be isolated immediately, with samples sent to these laboratories for confirmation.

Idris stressed that infection prevention and control remain the strongest defense against Ebola transmission. “If all of us adopt proper hygiene practices, hospitals become safer for everyone,” he said. Ebola spreads through direct contact with infected body fluids such as blood, sweat, and saliva, making individual behaviour and hygiene practices critical to prevention.

He urged the media and the public not to spread fear or panic through unverified information and negative narratives about the country’s preparedness. “But I beg of you, do not stampede people with all these negative thoughts,” he cautioned. “When we start creating doubts and fear among our people, we are putting ourselves in danger.”

Idris assured Nigerians that the NCDC would remain transparent and would not conceal any confirmed Ebola case. “We will not deny anything. We will not hide anything from Nigerians. If Ebola comes and it is Ebola, we will say it openly.”

The NCDC boss highlighted lessons learned from the successful containment of Ebola in 2014 and stated that the agency is building on those experiences to strengthen response systems nationwide. “We are not denying our weaknesses. We know there are gaps. But preparedness is a continuous process,” he said.

The agency has already conducted readiness assessments in hundreds of health facilities across the country and activated emergency coordination systems to enhance response capacity. Discussions are underway regarding hazard allowances, insurance, and welfare support for frontline health workers who may be involved in surveillance, contact tracing, and case management if Ebola enters Nigeria.

Idris emphasized that preparedness is everyone’s responsibility. “Preparedness is everybody’s responsibility. The problem is not only with the NCDC. It concerns everybody, including the public.”

While confirming that no Ebola case has yet been reported in Nigeria, Idris warned that vigilance must remain high because preparedness begins before the first case is detected. “We are hopeful that Ebola will not come into Nigeria. But if it does, we are ready to respond and contain it.”

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