RismadarVoice Reporters
June 9, 2026
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the establishment of a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats, alongside the immediate release of N10 billion as emergency intervention funding to strengthen Nigeria’s health security architecture.
The announcement was contained in a State House press release issued on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the statement, the funding will enhance the operational readiness of the National Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and support broader national emergency response efforts against potential public health threats.
The Presidential Task Force will be chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, with membership drawn from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as state government representatives.
The decision follows renewed concerns over the resurgence of Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda, both of which share regional travel links that raise the risk of cross-border transmission.
The presidency said the task force was constituted after a high-level stakeholder meeting chaired by the Chief of Staff, which reviewed Nigeria’s preparedness and response strategies in the event of any imported cases.
Stakeholders at the meeting included representatives of the Ministry of Interior, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and the Lagos State Government, among others.
President Tinubu also directed all states with international airports and border corridors, as well as relevant federal agencies, to submit preparedness plans, funding requirements, and intervention needs for coordinated implementation.
As part of preventive measures, the task force is expected to intensify passenger screening at all international airports, including enhanced temperature checks and crowd-control protocols.
Other measures include heightened monitoring of passengers arriving through high-risk airline routes such as Air Uganda, Rwanda Air, Air Tanzania, Air Angola, Kenya Airways, and Ethiopian Airlines.
The directive also mandates the activation of referral and isolation centres at Lagos and Abuja international airports, with similar arrangements to be extended to other airports nationwide.
In addition, the government has ordered the implementation of QR code-based pre-arrival health declaration systems for travellers from or transiting through designated high-risk countries, as well as disinfection of airport facilities and baggage areas.
The task force is further empowered to consult security, diplomatic, and aviation authorities on possible flight regulation measures, including the designation of specific terminals for high-risk passengers and adjustment of flight schedules to improve screening efficiency.
The presidency said the measures are part of a proactive strategy to safeguard public health and prevent any potential outbreak within Nigeria’s borders.
