Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, on Wednesday, assured travellers and stakeholders that heightened preventive measures have been activated across the country’s international airports following renewed Ebola concerns in parts of Central Africa.
FAAN through its Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, said it is working closely with Port Health Services, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), and other relevant agencies to strengthen surveillance and monitoring of passengers, especially those arriving from high-risk regions.
The agency said passengers are currently being screened for symptoms linked to the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), while any suspected case will be immediately isolated and subjected to further medical evaluation in line with national and international health protocols.
It also disclosed that staff sensitisation has been intensified and emergency response procedures reinforced to ensure swift intervention where necessary.
FAAN stressed that there is no confirmed Ebola case in Nigeria at the moment, but maintained that authorities remain vigilant in safeguarding public health and ensuring safe airport operations nationwide.
Passengers were advised to remain calm, cooperate with health screening procedures, and promptly report any symptoms to health officials.
Meanwhile, following the recent outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with fresh reports indicating that the disease has spread into neighbouring Uganda, there have been renewed calls for Nigeria to strengthen border surveillance and public health preparedness.
Professor Sylvester Odion Akhaine, in a statement warned that any lapse in vigilance by Nigerian authorities could expose the country to serious health risks if the virus is imported through air or land travel.
According to him, more than 131 deaths have already been recorded in the affected areas, while the latest strain of the virus is said to have no specific vaccine coverage, raising fears among health experts and observers.
Akhaine expressed concern that while several East African countries have intensified monitoring and control measures at their borders, Nigeria appears insufficiently alarmed by the growing threat.
He recalled Nigeria’s experience during the 2014 Ebola outbreak, when the late Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh successfully prevented a wider spread of the disease after restraining Liberian-American Patrick Sawyer, who brought the virus into the country.
The university don noted that Adadevoh’s actions, despite pressures to release the infected traveller, saved countless Nigerian lives and demonstrated the importance of swift institutional response during public health emergencies.
He urged government officials and public health authorities to set aside political distractions and focus attention on what he described as an emerging global health emergency.
“Politics is about the welfare of the people,” he said, stressing that this is the time for proactive measures rather than reactive responses.
Akhaine called for heightened surveillance at Nigeria’s borders, increased public awareness, and stronger emergency preparedness to prevent any possible outbreak in the country.
