The Federal Government has inaugurated a Presidential Task Force on Ebola preparedness, reaffirming its commitment to maintaining Nigeria’s zero-case status and strengthening epidemic response mechanisms nationwide.
The Federal Government has inaugurated a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) Preparedness as part of efforts to sustain Nigeria’s zero-case status and strengthen the country’s capacity to respond to potential public health emergencies.
The task force was inaugurated on Thursday at the State House in Abuja, with senior government officials, health experts, and development partners in attendance.
Speaking during the inauguration, the Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Preparedness, Femi Gbajabiamila, said Nigeria currently has no reported cases of Ebola but is intensifying preventive measures to ensure the situation remains unchanged.
According to him, the government is prioritising prevention over response, drawing lessons from the 2014 Ebola outbreak to build stronger surveillance, coordination, and emergency response systems.
“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,” Gbajabiamila said.
He stressed that all stakeholders must remain vigilant to prevent any outbreak, noting that early preparation remains the most effective strategy against infectious disease threats.
The Chief of Staff explained that specialised sub-committees have been established to address critical areas including disease surveillance, border control, immigration management, and emergency response coordination.
He expressed confidence that Nigeria could emerge as a continental leader in epidemic preparedness and response.
“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 stated.
Gbajabiamila said collaboration between the Federal Government and states hosting international airports has been strengthened to ensure effective monitoring and rapid intervention in the event of any suspected Ebola case.
The states include Lagos, Kano, Rivers, and Enugu, as well as the Federal Capital Territory.
He added that particular attention is also being paid to land border surveillance because of the high volume of movement across Nigeria’s borders.
According to him, agencies such as the Border Management Agency, the Nigeria Immigration Service, and border communities are actively involved in preparedness efforts.
The Chief of Staff noted that the government aims to establish permanent institutional structures capable of responding swiftly to future outbreaks without the delays experienced in previous health emergencies.
“We want to put in place permanent arrangements and structures so that in two or three years, if another outbreak occurs, we will not be running from pillar to post trying to establish response mechanisms,” he said.
He further disclosed that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention will provide overall technical leadership and coordination for the task force.
Among those present at the inauguration were the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; and Director-General of the NCDC, Jide Idris.
Others included Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Olubunmi Kuku; World Health Organization Representative in Nigeria, Pavel Ursu; and Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi.
Also in attendance were Enugu State Commissioner for Health, George Ugwu; Rivers State health officials; representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and members of the medical and public health community.
The inauguration of the task force underscores the Federal Government’s determination to strengthen disease surveillance systems, improve border health security, and maintain Nigeria’s record of zero Ebola cases through proactive preparedness measures.
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