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The Nigerian Government is considering possible restrictions on flights from countries affected by Ebola as part of new measures to prevent an outbreak in Nigeria.
This was disclosed on Thursday by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, after a high-level meeting held in Victoria Island, Lagos, to assess Nigeria’s Ebola preparedness and response systems.
Gbajabiamila said the proposed restrictions would be combined with stronger screening measures, including the isolation of passengers showing symptoms consistent with Ebola at entry points into the country.
The meeting included top officials such as the Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Dr. Jide Idris, Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi.
Gbajabiamila said President Bola Tinubu had been briefed on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, assuring that the government would take all necessary steps to prevent any outbreak in Nigeria.
“We have a health scare, which is Ebola, and we all know what happened the last time. The cases are getting worse, internationally and worldwide, and we don’t want to leave anything to chance,” he said.
He explained that officials were considering several preventive options, including restricting flights from high-risk countries, isolating suspected cases, and strengthening cargo and passenger screening at airports.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said all entry points would be placed under strict surveillance, while the Nigeria Immigration Service would work with the NCDC to enhance early detection and response.
NCDC Director General Dr. Jide Idris warned that Ebola remains a highly dangerous disease with no approved cure or vaccine, stressing the importance of rapid detection, isolation, and public awareness.
He said preparedness plans had been activated across all 36 states, with health workers receiving renewed training and advisory updates.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) reported 10 confirmed and 223 suspected Ebola deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo since mid-May, out of more than 1,000 suspected and confirmed cases.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that insecurity in eastern Congo continues to hinder efforts to contain the outbreak.
