Ebola Task Force moves to prevent virus importation into Nigeria

Health

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats has urged all stakeholders to intensify efforts to prevent the importation of the virus into Nigeria amid outbreaks in parts of East and Central Africa.

The Chairman of the task force and Chief of Staff to the President, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, made the call on Thursday in Abuja during the inauguration of the committee.

Gbajabiamila said the immediate priority of the task force was to closely monitor the Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Uganda and neighbouring countries while strengthening measures to prevent the disease from entering Nigeria.

“Our first task is to address the Ebola outbreak in DRC, Uganda and neighbouring countries and prevent the importation of the virus into Nigeria,” he said.

“We want to ensure that Nigeria is not caught unprepared for the task ahead. We have been down this road before and we intend to address whatever shortcomings there may have been in the past.”

According to him, the task force will serve as the principal decision-making body on matters requiring executive or presidential approval, including flight restrictions, port closures, quarantine directives and emergency funding releases.

He said the committee would coordinate Nigeria’s whole-of-government response to Ebola and other emerging public health threats.

The Chief of Staff explained that the task force would receive and review reports from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC)-led Emergency Operations Centre and other relevant subcommittees, while escalating recommendations requiring presidential approval.

He added that the committee would oversee the implementation and funding of the National Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness and Response Plan.

Other responsibilities include managing Nigeria’s international obligations, coordinating public communication strategies and determining escalation measures in the event of confirmed Ebola cases in neighbouring countries or within Nigeria.

“The task force will ensure timely public messaging through the Ministry of Information and the NCDC and provide regular reports to President Bola Tinubu as may be required,” Gbajabiamila said.

He noted that the committee would review and approve subcommittee recommendations before implementation or public communication and could be dissolved or reconstituted once the threat had been contained or escalated into a full national emergency.

The task force is expected to meet every two months or as circumstances require.

Earlier, the Director-General of the NCDC, Dr Olajide Idris, disclosed that the agency had already activated several preparedness measures, including strengthening disease surveillance systems at international airports and other entry points.

According to him, surveillance structures have been activated at Lagos and other international airports, while coordination mechanisms have been established between airport authorities and state governments.

“The focus is to be prepared. We do not have any Ebola case in Nigeria at the moment, but we must ensure that the virus does not enter the country,” Idris said.

“However, if a case slips through, we must be fully prepared nationally to identify it quickly and respond effectively.”

He added that special attention was also being given to Nigeria’s land borders to ensure comprehensive surveillance beyond airports.

The 18-member task force is chaired by Gbajabiamila, while the NCDC Director-General (Technical) serves as Vice Chairman.

Members include the Ministers of Aviation, Interior, Finance, Information and State for Foreign Affairs, as well as representatives of the Ministry of Health, the Presidency, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and state commissioners for health from Lagos, Kano, Rivers and Enugu states.

Also represented on the committee are the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria (APHPN), and the DRASA Health Trust.

President Bola Tinubu recently approved the establishment of the task force and authorised the release of N10 billion to support emergency preparedness efforts against Ebola and other emerging public health threats.