ABUJA, NIGERIA — The Nigerian Senate has called on the Federal Government to enforce compulsory health screening for all international travellers arriving in the country. The move aims to prevent the importation of Ebola and other infectious diseases.
The Senate proposed measures including health declaration forms, temperature checks, and symptom screening. These should be enforced at all international airports, seaports, and designated land borders.
The Motion
The resolutions were adopted on Wednesday following a motion. The motion was titled “Urgent Need to Enforce Mandatory Health Screening at All International Airports and Other Entry Points to Prevent the Importation of Ebola and Other Epidemic-Prone Diseases into Nigeria.”
The motion was sponsored by Senator Francis Adedayo Faduyile. He represents the Ondo South Senatorial District.
The Senate also called for enhanced screening of travellers who have visited or transited through affected areas within the previous 21 days. It said this should apply regardless of nationality or country of departure.
Calls for Emergency Funding
The Senate urged the Federal Government to release emergency funds. It said the funds should come from service-wide votes through the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.
It said the funds would support agencies involved in preventing and controlling the disease.
The Senate also called on the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, and the Nigeria Immigration Service to equip all entry points. It said they should provide trained Port Health officers, thermal scanners, protective equipment, and isolation rooms.
The lawmakers further urged the government to ensure that isolation and treatment centres were ready for use in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Repeal of Quarantine Act
The Senate called on the National Assembly to work with the Ministry of Health to repeal the Quarantine Act of 1926. It recommended reenacting it with modern public health legislation aligned with the International Health Regulations.
The existing law provides the legal framework for preventing the spread of dangerous infectious diseases.
Senator Faduyile’s Concerns
Presenting the motion, Faduyile raised concerns over the spread of the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak across African countries. He warned of the risk of infected travellers entering Nigeria through third countries.
He said the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo had exceeded 9,000 confirmed cases and 4,400 deaths. He described it as the second-largest Ebola outbreak in history.
Faduyile noted that the World Health Organisation had designated the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. He said there was no approved vaccine or treatment for the strain.
He also cited the spread of the outbreak to Uganda and Kenya. He noted that a traveller had moved from the DRC by road to Kampala before flying to Nairobi. He said this demonstrated how infected persons could pass through multiple countries.
Nigeria’s Vulnerability
Faduyile said the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention had rated the risk of Ebola being imported into Nigeria as high. He recalled that Nigeria recorded an Ebola case in July 2014 after an infected traveller arrived through Lagos airport.
He expressed concern that the health declaration requirement was narrowed on September 22, 2026, to travellers from selected countries. He said the policy excluded Kenya.
He also highlighted the shortage of Port Health personnel and screening equipment at departure halls and other entry points. He noted the continued reliance on the 1926 Quarantine Act.
Existing Disease Burden
Faduyile warned that Nigeria’s existing disease burden made it vulnerable to another public health emergency. He said the country had recorded 1,138 confirmed Lassa fever cases and 268 deaths in 2026.
He said cholera had caused more than 65,000 suspected cases. He also said diphtheria had recorded over 10,000 confirmed cases.
He stressed that protecting the country’s entry points was less costly than managing an imported case.
What This Means
The Senate’s resolutions highlight the urgency of strengthening Nigeria’s border health security. The confirmation of an Ebola case in Abuja has raised concerns about the country’s preparedness.
The calls for funding and equipment are critical. Without adequate resources, screening at entry points will remain weak.
What Happens Next
The Senate mandated its Committee on Legislative Compliance to ensure the implementation of the resolutions.
For now, the focus is on preventing the importation of Ebola and other infectious diseases. The coming weeks will reveal whether the government will act on the Senate’s recommendations.
