Ebola: Tinubu approves N10bn funding for emergency response

President Bola Tinubu has authorized the immediate release of N10 billion in emergency funding to bolster Nigeria's preparedness against the Ebola virus disease. The decision follows a significant outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, which the World Health Organization has declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

A newly established Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness will spearhead the nation's response. Chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, the task force comprises members from relevant government ministries, departments, and agencies, alongside state representatives. The allocated funds will enhance the operational readiness of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and support critical national public health emergency activities.

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The task force would be chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, with membership drawn from relevant ministries, departments and agencies and state representatives.

President Tinubu has directed stringent measures at international airports, including intensified passenger screening, enhanced temperature checks, and crowd-control protocols. Specific airlines from affected regions, such as Air Uganda, RwandAir, and Ethiopian Airlines, will face heightened monitoring. Referral and isolation centers are being activated at Lagos and Abuja international airports, with plans to extend to others. The mandatory use of QR code-based health declaration systems for passengers from high-risk countries is also being implemented.

Further precautionary environmental measures include the disinfection of airport facilities. The task force is also considering designating specific terminals for high-risk flights to streamline screening and isolation procedures. Additionally, the regulation of flights from affected countries is under review in consultation with security, diplomatic, and aviation bodies.

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intensification of passenger screening at all international airports, including enhanced temperature checks and crowd-control protocols, and enhanced monitoring of passengers arriving on high-risk airline routes, including Air Uganda, RwandAir, Air Tanzania, Air Angola, Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airlines, all carriers with direct or connecting services from the affected region.