The Federal Government has inaugurated a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) Preparedness as part of efforts to sustain Nigeria’s zero-case status and strengthen the country’s capacity to respond swiftly to any potential outbreak.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony held at the State House, Abuja, on Thursday, the Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Preparedness, Femi Gbajabiamila, said the government is determined to prevent the re-emergence of the deadly disease in the country.
He noted that Nigeria currently has no reported case of Ebola and stressed that the government’s strategy is firmly rooted in prevention rather than cure.
“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 said the painful lessons from Nigeria’s 2014 Ebola outbreak had informed the country’s current preparedness framework, adding that robust surveillance and response structures are now being put in place to forestall any future outbreak.
“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 stated.
According to him, the Task Force has established several sub-committees to focus on critical areas, including border management, immigration control and disease surveillance, with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) providing technical leadership and coordination.
Gbajabiamila expressed confidence that Nigeria would emerge as a continental leader in epidemic preparedness and response.
“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 said.
He disclosed that the Federal Government is working closely with states hosting international airports, including Lagos, Kano, Rivers and Enugu States, as well as the Federal Capital Territory, to ensure effective disease surveillance and rapid emergency response.
The Chief of Staff also highlighted the importance of securing Nigeria’s land borders, noting that the Border Management Agency, the Nigeria Immigration Service and border communities are playing active roles in the country’s preparedness efforts.
“There is significant emphasis on land borders because of the high volume of cross-border movements. 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,” he said.
He added that the government is establishing permanent systems and response mechanisms that would remain effective long after the current administration, ensuring that Nigeria is always prepared for future public health emergencies.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by key government officials and health experts, including the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Dr Jide Idris; Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Olubunmi Kuku; and the World Health Organization (WHO) Representative and Head of Mission in Nigeria, Dr Pavel Ursu.
Also present were senior health officials from Lagos, Rivers and Enugu States, representatives of the Federal Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as public health experts and stakeholders involved in disease prevention and emergency response.
The inauguration of the Presidential Task Force is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s readiness to prevent, detect and respond effectively to Ebola and other emerging infectious diseases.
