Nigeria Ebola preparedness efforts intensify as the Federal Government launches a task force to maintain zero Ebola cases and strengthen response systems

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining Nigeria’s zero-case status for Ebola Virus Disease while strengthening structures aimed at positioning the country as a leader in epidemic preparedness and response across Africa.

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Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness, Femi Gbajabiamila, made the declaration on Thursday during the inauguration of the task force at the State House in Abuja.

Gbajabiamila said Nigeria currently has no reported cases of Ebola, describing the development as encouraging but warning that sustained vigilance remains essential to prevent any future outbreak.

According to him, the government’s strategy is centred on prevention, drawing lessons from previous public health emergencies, particularly the country’s successful containment of the 2014 Ebola outbreak.

“We inaugurated the committee today on Nigeria’s preparedness for the Ebola Virus Disease. We have covered a lot of ground, and there are presently no reported cases in the country, which is good news,” Gbajabiamila said.

“That is why all hands must be on deck to ensure that preventive measures are prioritised rather than curative measures.”

The Chief of Staff recalled the challenges faced during the 2014 outbreak when an infected traveller entered Nigeria, triggering an emergency response that ultimately became a global public health success story.

“We do not want a repeat of what happened during the last outbreak when a carrier entered the country, and everyone was scrambling to respond.

Today, we have covered a lot of ground and established structures to address any potential threat,” he said.

As part of the enhanced preparedness strategy, the Presidential Task Force has established specialised sub-committees to focus on critical areas, including disease surveillance, immigration control and border management.

Gbajabiamila expressed confidence that Nigeria could become a model for epidemic response on the continent.

“We have set up sub-committees to address key areas of concern, and hopefully Nigeria will take the lead among African nations. We will not follow; we will lead,” he added.

A major component of the Nigeria Ebola Preparedness plan involves closer collaboration between the Federal Government and states hosting international airports, including Lagos, Kano, Rivers and Enugu, as well as the Federal Capital Territory.

The initiative is designed to improve monitoring systems and strengthen rapid-response capabilities at key entry points into the country.

Gbajabiamila also highlighted the importance of securing Nigeria’s extensive land borders, noting that high volumes of cross-border movement present additional public health risks.

According to him, agencies such as the Border Management Agency, the Nigeria Immigration Service and border communities are being integrated into the preparedness framework.

“There is also significant emphasis on land borders because of the high volume of cross-border movements. The Border Management Agency, Immigration Service and border communities are all involved,” he said.

“We have learnt valuable lessons from the 2014 outbreak and are building on those gains by putting structures in place to eliminate any gaps in our preparedness.”

The task force is also seeking to establish long-term institutional arrangements capable of responding quickly to future disease outbreaks.

“We want to put in place permanent arrangements and structures so that in two or three years, if another outbreak occurs, we will not be running from pillar to post trying to establish response mechanisms,” Gbajabiamila stated.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention is expected to provide overall technical leadership and coordination for the initiative, working alongside federal and state health authorities as well as international partners.

Among those present at the inauguration were Mohammed Idris, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Jide Idris, Olubunmi Kuku and Pavel Ursu.

Also in attendance were public health officials from Lagos, Rivers, Enugu and the Federal Capital Territory, alongside representatives of civil society and global health organisations.

Nigeria gained international recognition in 2014 for successfully containing an Ebola outbreak after a Liberian-American traveller introduced the virus into the country.

Health experts have since cited the response as one of Africa’s most effective public health interventions.

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The renewed focus on Nigeria Ebola Preparedness comes amid increasing concerns over emerging infectious diseases globally, with authorities seeking to ensure that the country remains ready to respond swiftly to any future health threat.