ABUJA — President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats, alongside the immediate release of N10 billion in emergency intervention funding to bolster Nigeria’s readiness against potential outbreaks.
The emergency fund is aimed at strengthening the operational capacity of the National Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and supporting critical public health emergency response activities nationwide.
According to a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the newly constituted Presidential Task Force will be chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila. The task force will comprise representatives from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as state governments.
The decision follows growing concerns over the resurgence of Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda, raising fears of possible cross-border transmission within the region.
“The President’s approval followed a stakeholder meeting convened under the chairmanship of the Chief of Staff to review Nigeria’s preparedness and develop strategies against the possible importation of Ebola into Nigeria,” the statement said.
The meeting brought together 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 move underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening disease surveillance, border health security, and rapid response mechanisms to safeguard public health against emerging threats.
