The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Jide Idris, has called on state governments across Nigeria to strengthen funding and infrastructure for healthcare systems in order to prevent the possible importation of Ebola into the country.
He made the appeal during a public health event in Lagos, stressing that national health security cannot be achieved without strong collaboration and investment from state-level authorities.
According to him, health workers at the state level remain the first line of defence in responding to disease outbreaks, making it essential for governments to provide adequate resources, training, and infrastructure support.
He noted that federal and state health agencies are currently working together to enhance surveillance, screening, and contact tracing systems at international airports and border entry points, especially in high-traffic locations such as Lagos.
Although Nigeria has not recorded any case of Ebola, several states, including Lagos and Oyo, have activated emergency preparedness structures, including technical working groups, rapid response teams, and heightened monitoring of health facilities.
Officials say these measures are part of ongoing efforts to prevent any potential outbreak, with intensified screening processes already in place at airports and other points of entry.
Health experts at the event also emphasized the importance of travel history checks in routine medical assessments, describing them as a critical tool for early detection and prevention of infectious diseases.
The Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS also highlighted the need to integrate HIV testing and broader health services into travel health systems to ensure continuity of care for mobile populations.
State health authorities in Lagos and Oyo confirmed that preventive structures are already operational, including surveillance systems covering all local government areas and coordination with community leaders to identify and report symptoms such as fever, weakness, vomiting, and unexplained bleeding.
Officials continue to urge vigilance while reassuring the public that no Ebola cases have been detected in Nigeria at this time.
