Nigeria Unprepared for Ebola Outbreak; Porous Borders Pose Major Risk, Says NCDC

By Adegboyega Adeleye

Dr Jide Idris, director‑general of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), stated that Nigeria is presently only 59 percent prepared to respond to a potential Ebola outbreak. He identified porous land borders as the country’s greatest vulnerability.

Idris made the comments during an interview with ARISE News on Monday, emphasizing that although Nigeria is strengthening its public health systems, full readiness has not yet been achieved.

“Our latest assessment places us at about 59 percent. That figure is variable. You can’t be 100 percent prepared, but the point is that we keep preparing because circumstances change,” he said.

He noted that international airports remain critical points of concern, as they are entry routes for travelers from affected countries. However, he stressed that Nigeria’s extensive and poorly monitored land borders present an even greater challenge to disease surveillance and control.

“The key is to control traffic into the country, especially air traffic. Those states with international airports are where people come in,” Idris explained.

“But the biggest issue is our porous borders. Not everyone enters by air. People also migrate by road, and that creates risks. That’s why it’s essential for us to prepare,” he added.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s successful containment of the 2014 Ebola outbreak, Idris said the experience provided important lessons in disease detection, isolation, contact tracing and emergency response. He noted that the NCDC has since expanded laboratory capacity, trained health workers, and supplied high‑risk states with testing materials, protective equipment and emergency response resources.

“To be frank, we are not 100 percent ready, but we are improving our readiness,” he said.

“This readiness must cover the entire country. We sent advisers to state commissioners to assess readiness and guide them on what to do, looking at infrastructure, isolation centres, public health emergency operation centres and stockpiles available in case of an outbreak.”

The NCDC chief also revealed that Nigeria is currently managing between seven and eight disease outbreaks, including cholera and Lassa fever, and warned that some continue to claim lives across the country.

“Aside from Lassa fever, we are managing about seven to eight outbreaks in this country right now. Cholera is there; it’s killing people,” he said.

Idris linked the persistence of some infectious diseases to cultural practices and health‑seeking behaviours in certain communities, particularly the consumption of rats and bushmeat in areas where Lassa fever remains prevalent.

“It’s interesting, but again, everything has to do with our culture, our tradition and our health‑seeking behaviours. In those areas, people regard these rats as delicacies,” he said.

He also urged state governments to take greater ownership of disease prevention and emergency preparedness instead of relying largely on the federal government.

“Everybody relies on the federal government. The state governments need to take leadership of this,” Idris added.

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