Ebola: Tinubu approves ₦10bn, appoints Gbajabiamila to lead Presidential Task Force

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved ₦10 billion in emergency funding to strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness against Ebola and other emerging public health threats.

The President also appointed his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, to lead a presidential task force responsible for coordinating the country’s response and strengthening measures to prevent potential outbreaks.

The development was announced in a State House statement issued on June 9 by Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy.

According to the statement, the approved funds will enhance the operational capacity of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and support critical public health emergency response activities, particularly early detection, surveillance and outbreak containment.

The Federal Government’s intervention comes amid concerns over Ebola outbreaks reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, prompting renewed efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness against the possible importation and spread of the disease.

Following a high-level meeting chaired by Gbajabiamila, Tinubu directed states with international airports and major border corridors, alongside relevant government agencies, to submit detailed response plans, budgets and operational requirements.

As part of the emergency measures, isolation and referral centres at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja are expected to be activated. Similar arrangements are planned for other airports across the country.

The government is also introducing a QR code-based pre-arrival health declaration system for passengers travelling from or transiting through designated high-risk countries.

The system is expected to strengthen health screening and help authorities identify travellers who may require further medical assessment.

In addition, airport facilities, including departure halls, cargo areas and baggage-handling sections, are scheduled for disinfection as part of efforts to minimise the risk of disease transmission.

The presidential task force has also been directed to designate specific airports or terminals for flights arriving from high-risk areas to improve the coordination of passenger screening, monitoring and isolation procedures where necessary.

The measures are intended to strengthen coordination among federal and state authorities, improve surveillance and ensure that emergency facilities are prepared to respond promptly to potential public health threats.

With the ₦10 billion intervention, the Federal Government is seeking to reinforce Nigeria’s capacity to detect, contain and manage emerging infectious diseases before they develop into wider public health emergencies.

Effective implementation of the measures will be crucial to ensuring that the funding translates into improved surveillance, adequately equipped emergency facilities and a coordinated national response.

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