Nigeria Puts 46 Ebola Contacts on No-Fly List

Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo ordered the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to place 46 contacts of an Ebola patient on a 21-day no-fly list to contain the virus following a confirmed case in the Federal Capital Territory.

Keyamo announced the directive after a virtual meeting with Health Minister Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, who provided a list containing 44 hospital contacts and two domestic staff members of an infected female patient.

“Aviation authorities are required to put them on a no-fly list for at least 21 days,” Keyamo stated, explaining that the restriction matches the typical incubation period.

He also instructed the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to notify all domestic and international airlines immediately.

Furthermore, Keyamo directed FAAN to step up surveillance and response protocols across all international airports.

The heightened security measures feature enhanced health screenings, temperature checks, travel history tracking, digital health declarations, and close inter-agency coordination with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).

FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, emphasised that the agency maintains strict vigilance to protect passengers and the public, urging travellers to remain calm and cooperate with officials.

Meanwhile, the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Preparedness has assured the public of the country’s full readiness to handle the outbreak.

Task Force Chairman and Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila noted during an emergency meeting that proactive surveillance allowed authorities to quickly spot the index case.

“The Task Force is on top of it; NCDC is on top of it; everyone is on deck,” Gbajabiamila stated, emphasising the need for public trust and compliance.

Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare Ali Pate confirmed that health authorities are actively tracing contacts and isolating individuals linked to the imported case.

Pate highlighted that the Nigerian government, alongside partners like the World Health Organisation and the Africa CDC, has activated incident management systems and mobilised national hospital capabilities.

“We have the resources, and we’re mobilising those capabilities,” Pate assured citizens, while cautioning the public against spreading rumours and misinformation.