The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has activated enhanced Ebola response protocols across all international airports in the country as part of efforts to prevent the possible importation and spread of the virus into Nigeria amid a renewed outbreak in parts of Central Africa.
The development was announced in a statement issued on Wednesday by FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, who said the agency had intensified surveillance, screening and emergency preparedness measures at international gateways nationwide.
According to FAAN, the move follows reports of the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus disease in parts of Central Africa, prompting heightened regional health monitoring and cross-border preparedness initiatives.
The authority stated that it is working closely with health agencies, including the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and Port Health Services, to strengthen preventive measures at airports. Enhanced screening procedures have been introduced for passengers arriving from high-risk areas, while travellers exhibiting symptoms associated with Ebola will be isolated and referred for further medical assessment.
FAAN reassured passengers and stakeholders that the measures are in line with both national and international public health guidelines aimed at safeguarding aviation operations and protecting public health. The agency noted that surveillance and monitoring activities have been significantly increased, particularly for travellers arriving from affected regions.
As part of the preparedness efforts, airport personnel have received additional training on updated emergency response procedures to improve coordination and rapid response capabilities across airport terminals. FAAN said the objective is to ensure effective disease prevention while maintaining seamless airport operations.
The authority further emphasized that Nigeria has not recorded any confirmed Ebola case linked to the current outbreak and urged the public to remain calm while complying with all screening requirements at airports. Passengers were also encouraged to promptly report any symptoms to health officials to facilitate early detection and containment.
The latest action follows a directive issued by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority to airlines, airport operators and other aviation stakeholders to intensify public health surveillance measures in response to the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. The NCAA has also strengthened airport disease surveillance systems and reinforced protocols for reporting suspected communicable diseases on board aircraft.
Meanwhile, the NCDC has maintained that no Ebola case has been detected in Nigeria but said it is enhancing surveillance, laboratory readiness, infection prevention measures and public risk communication as a precaution against potential cross-border transmission.
