The Federal Government has stepped up disease surveillance at airports, seaports and land borders across the country, announcing stricter screening measures for travellers as concerns grow over the spread of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus disease in parts of East and Central Africa.
Under the new measures, travellers identified as high-risk or exhibiting symptoms linked to Ebola and other viral haemorrhagic fevers will undergo additional health checks, isolation and referral procedures where necessary.
The move forms part of Nigeria’s broader preparedness plan aimed at preventing the importation of the deadly disease into the country.
In a statement released on Tuesday by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and signed by Assistant Director of Press and Public Relations, Ado Bako, authorities emphasized that no case of Ebola has been recorded in Nigeria.
The ministry, however, said the government has activated nationwide preparedness protocols to strengthen the country’s health security and guard against cross-border transmission of infectious diseases.
As part of the enhanced surveillance strategy, health officials at designated entry points have been directed to intensify screening procedures for incoming travellers. Measures now include mandatory temperature checks using thermal scanners and handheld thermometers, health declaration requirements, travel history reviews and risk assessments.
According to the ministry, additional screening procedures have also been put in place for passengers showing symptoms associated with viral haemorrhhagic fevers, with provisions for immediate isolation and referral for further medical evaluation.
Beyond border controls, the government said disease monitoring systems have been strengthened nationwide through enhanced Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response activities, active public health monitoring and expanded community-based surveillance networks designed to detect suspected cases early.
The ministry further disclosed that Public Health Emergency Operations Centres have been activated while Rapid Response Teams at both national and state levels have been placed on alert to respond swiftly to any suspected outbreak.
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Hospitals and healthcare facilities across the country have also been instructed to reinforce infection prevention measures, improve patient triage systems and ensure prompt reporting and isolation of suspected cases.
While reassuring Nigerians that there is no immediate cause for alarm, the government described the measures as precautionary steps intended to keep the country prepared for any potential public health threat.
Citizens were advised to maintain good hygiene practices, including regular hand washing, avoid contact with bodily fluids of sick individuals, refrain from handling dead animals or bushmeat from unknown sources and promptly report unusual illnesses or unexplained deaths to health authorities.
Nigeria is widely recognized for its successful containment of the 2014 Ebola outbreak after an infected traveller entered the country through Lagos. Through aggressive contact tracing, isolation measures and coordinated emergency response efforts, the outbreak was contained within months, earning international recognition from the World Health Organization.
The current alert is linked to the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, a less common variant known to cause severe illness marked by fever, headaches, muscle pain, weakness, vomiting, diarrhoea and, in some cases, internal and external bleeding.
Health authorities say continued vigilance remains critical as regional outbreaks continue to pose a potential risk to countries across the continent