President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate release of N10 billion as emergency intervention funding to strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness against Ebola and other emerging public health threats, following the recent resurgence of the virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, said in a statement on Tuesday that Tinubu also approved the establishment of a presidential task force on Ebola virus disease preparedness and emerging public health threats, to be chaired by Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila with members drawn from relevant ministries, departments, agencies, and state representatives.
The president directed all states hosting international airports and international border corridors, as well as relevant MDAs, to submit their plans, funding requirements, and intervention needs for coordinated implementation. The task force is expected to intensify passenger screening at all international airports through enhanced temperature checks and crowd control protocols, enhance monitoring of passengers arriving through high-risk airline routes, and immediately activate referral and isolation centres at Lagos and Abuja international airports.
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The N10 billion fund will strengthen the operational preparedness of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and support critical national public health emergency response activities.
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