The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining Nigeria’s current zero-case status for the Ebola Virus Disease while positioning the country as a leading force in epidemic preparedness and response across Africa.
This assurance was given by Femi Gbajabiamila, who also serves as Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness, during the inauguration of the task force at the State House on Thursday.
Gbajabiamila disclosed that no Ebola cases have been reported in Nigeria, describing the development as encouraging while stressing the need for sustained vigilance and preventive measures.
According to him, the government’s approach is centred on prevention rather than reaction, with lessons from Nigeria’s successful containment of the 2014 Ebola outbreak guiding current preparedness efforts.
“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.
“That is why all hands must be on deck to ensure that preventive measures are prioritised rather than curative measures.
“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 said.
Gbajabiamila explained that several sub-committees have been established to focus on critical aspects of disease prevention, surveillance and emergency response.
He expressed confidence that Nigeria is well positioned to become a continental leader in responding to Ebola and other emerging public health threats.
“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 added.
The Chief of Staff further revealed that the Federal Government is working closely with states that host international airports, including Lagos State, Kano State, Rivers State, Enugu State and the Federal Capital Territory, to strengthen monitoring systems and ensure rapid response capabilities.
He noted that attention is also being directed toward Nigeria’s land borders due to the high volume of cross-border movements. Agencies such as the Border Management Agency and the Nigeria Immigration Service, alongside border communities, are actively involved in preparedness efforts.
“There is also significant emphasis on land borders because of the high volume of cross-border movements. The Border Management Agency, Immigration Service and border communities are all involved. 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.
Gbajabiamila stressed that the government is focused on establishing permanent systems and structures that will remain effective long after the current threat has passed.
He disclosed that the task force includes committees dedicated to border management, immigration control and disease surveillance, while the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention will provide overall technical leadership and coordination.
The inauguration was attended by several top government officials and health experts, including Mohammed Idris, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Jide Idris, Olubunmi Kuku and Pavel Ursu.
Other attendees included representatives from federal and state health agencies, medical institutions, international organisations and public health advocacy groups.
