The Federal Government has inaugurated a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s readiness against potential outbreaks and prevent a repeat of past public health emergencies.
The task force was inaugurated on Thursday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, who emphasized that Nigeria’s strategy is focused on prevention and early preparedness rather than emergency response after an outbreak occurs.
Speaking after the inauguration, Gbajabiamila noted that no case of Ebola has been reported in Nigeria, describing the current situation as an opportunity to reinforce preventive measures across the country.
According to him, the government is determined to ensure that systems are in place to detect and contain any potential threat before it escalates into a national health crisis.
He recalled Nigeria’s 2014 encounter with the deadly virus, when an infected traveler arrived in Lagos, triggering a nationwide emergency response. Although the outbreak was eventually contained, several lives were lost, including healthcare workers who were at the forefront of the response.
Gbajabiamila said the government is committed to avoiding a similar scenario by prioritizing preparedness and coordinated action among relevant agencies.
The newly inaugurated task force has established subcommittees responsible for key areas such as disease surveillance, border management, immigration control, and emergency response coordination.
Representatives from states with international airports participated in the inaugural meeting, reflecting the government’s efforts to strengthen monitoring at major entry points into the country.
However, officials noted that preparedness plans will extend beyond airports to include Nigeria’s extensive land borders, which are frequently used for cross-border movement and trade.
Gbajabiamila stressed that effective disease prevention requires close collaboration among border communities, immigration authorities, and agencies responsible for border security and development.
The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Jide Idris, said surveillance measures have already been strengthened at major points of entry across the country.
He explained that while Nigeria currently has no confirmed Ebola case, authorities are maintaining heightened vigilance to prevent the virus from entering the country and to ensure a rapid response should any suspected case emerge.
Idris described the preparedness initiative as a coordinated national effort involving multiple ministries, government agencies, and state authorities working under a unified response framework.
He said the primary objective remains preventing the virus from entering Nigeria, while also ensuring that health authorities are fully prepared to quickly identify, isolate, and manage any case if necessary.
The inauguration of the task force signals a renewed commitment by the government to reinforce public health preparedness and strengthen the country’s capacity to respond to emerging infectious disease threats.
