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 prevent and respond to any potential outbreak.
The task force was inaugurated on Thursday at the State House by the Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness, Femi Gbajabiamila, who said Nigeria remains free of Ebola but is intensifying measures to ensure the disease does not enter the country.
According to him, the government’s strategy is anchored on prevention, with lessons from the 2014 Ebola outbreak shaping the country’s current preparedness framework.
“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 the need for vigilance despite the country’s current status.
“That is why all hands must be on deck to ensure that preventive measures are prioritised rather than curative measures.”
Recalling the challenges of the 2014 Ebola outbreak, the Chief of Staff said the government has put in place stronger systems to prevent a recurrence.
“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.”
Gbajabiamila disclosed that specialised sub-committees have been established to coordinate critical aspects of the country’s preparedness, expressing confidence that Nigeria is well positioned to become a continental leader in epidemic 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 said the Federal Government is working closely with states that host international airports, including Lagos, Kano, Rivers, Enugu and the Federal Capital Territory, to strengthen surveillance and ensure rapid response to any suspected cases.
He added that special attention is also being given to Nigeria’s land borders due to the high volume of cross-border movement.
“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.”
Gbajabiamila said the government’s objective is to institutionalise permanent response mechanisms that will remain effective beyond the current administration.
“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 explained that the Presidential Task Force comprises committees on border management, immigration control and disease surveillance, with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) providing overall technical leadership and coordination.
The inauguration was attended by senior government officials, health experts and development partners, including the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Jide Idris; Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Olubunmi Kuku; and the WHO Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Pavel Ursu, among others.