President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the establishment of a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats.
The President also directed the immediate release of N10 billion as emergency intervention funding to strengthen Nigeria’s readiness against any potential outbreak.
According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the fund will boost the operational preparedness of the National Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and support critical public health emergency response activities across the country.
The Presidential Task Force on Ebola will be chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, with members drawn from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, as well as representatives of state governments.
The move follows recent reports of Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, raising concerns over the possible spread of the disease across borders.
President Tinubu’s approval came after a high-level stakeholders’ meeting chaired by the Chief of Staff to assess Nigeria’s preparedness and develop strategies to prevent the importation of Ebola into the country.
The meeting was attended by key stakeholders, including representatives of the Ministry of Interior, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Lagos State Government and other relevant agencies.
The President further directed all states with international airports and border corridors, alongside relevant MDAs, to submit their preparedness plans, funding requirements and intervention needs for coordinated implementation.
Among the measures approved are intensified passenger screening at international airports, enhanced temperature checks,
NTA NEWS
