Nigeria’s preparedness level against a possible Ebola outbreak currently stands at 59%, according to the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Dr. Jide Idris, who has warned that the country remains at risk due to international travel, porous borders, and regional movement across West and Central Africa.
Health authorities say the ongoing Ebola outbreaks in parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda have heightened concerns, prompting Nigeria to strengthen surveillance at airports, seaports, and land borders nationwide.
The NCDC has intensified screening measures at all points of entry as part of efforts to prevent importation of the virus. Focus areas include early detection, rapid isolation of suspected cases, contact tracing, and improved protection for healthcare workers.
According to the agency’s latest risk assessment, Nigeria faces a high risk of Ebola importation. As a result, emergency preparedness measures have been activated across federal and state levels, with heightened monitoring in states considered high-risk due to international travel routes and border activity. These include the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos, Kano, Rivers, Enugu, Borno, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Taraba, and Adamawa States.
Dr. noted that the current outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which there is no widely available approved vaccine or specific treatment, making prevention and rapid response critical tools in containment efforts.
To strengthen national readiness, the NCDC has placed its Emergency Operations Centre on alert, expanded laboratory testing capacity, and intensified public awareness campaigns across the country. Health workers have also been directed to maintain a high index of suspicion for Ebola symptoms, particularly among travellers arriving from affected regions.
Public health experts have called on the federal government to introduce more robust screening systems at entry points, activate emergency response structures in all states, and ensure adequate supply of protective equipment for frontline health personnel.
Although no confirmed Ebola case has been reported in Nigeria, health authorities insist that sustained vigilance is necessary to prevent a recurrence of past outbreaks and to safeguard public health nationwide.
