Nigeria Ebola readiness low, says NCDC boss Dr Jide Idris, warning the country is only 59% prepared for a potential Ebola outbreak

Dr Jide Idris, Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), speaking in an interview on Arise News television in Nigeria on Monday, 1 June 2026, revealed that Nigeria is only 59 per cent prepared to respond to a possible Ebola outbreak, describing the current situation as a grave reminder of remaining gaps in the country’s public health readiness.

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The disclosure comes amid renewed concern over Ebola cases reported in parts of Africa, including Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, prompting heightened regional surveillance and preparedness discussions.

The Nigeria Ebola readiness low assessment was based on a recent evaluation conducted by the NCDC.

Dr Idris explained that while Nigeria has recorded significant improvements in disease surveillance and emergency response capacity since previous outbreaks, critical weaknesses remain, particularly at border entry points and in remote communities where monitoring is more difficult.

He stated that the 59 per cent readiness level reflects both progress and persistent vulnerabilities, noting that preparedness is an evolving process rather than a fixed achievement.

The NCDC boss emphasised that public health systems must continuously adapt to changing threats.

As part of ongoing efforts, Dr Idris confirmed that teams have been deployed nationwide to assess isolation centres, laboratories, and emergency operations systems.

These facilities are considered essential to rapid containment in the event of an outbreak.

He also highlighted Nigeria’s porous borders as a major concern, warning that uncontrolled cross-border movement through unofficial routes could heighten the risk of disease importation.

This, he said, remains one of the most challenging aspects of national preparedness planning.

Despite the concerns, Dr Idris expressed cautious confidence in Nigeria’s ability to respond effectively, referencing lessons learned from the successful containment of the 2014 Ebola outbreak as a foundation for current response strategies.

Also read: NCDC raises serious Ebola surveillance alert

The Nigeria Ebola readiness low assessment has therefore renewed calls for strengthened surveillance, improved infrastructure, and sustained investment in public health systems to ensure faster detection and response capabilities in future outbreaks.