The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) says it is strengthening states’ capacity to respond to Ebola through ongoing healthcare worker training and improved infection prevention and control measures nationwide.
NCDC Director-General Dr Jide Idris said this at the agency’s Sunday news conference, where he outlined efforts to strengthen preparedness and improve the country’s response to potential Ebola threats.
Idris said the agency was training healthcare workers and providing practical guidance to improve preparedness and reduce infection risks in health facilities across the country.
He said preparedness varied at the subnational level, making continuous capacity-building essential to equip healthcare workers with the knowledge and skills needed to respond effectively to Ebola.
Idris said NCDC teams were visiting health facilities to assess infection prevention and control systems, identify gaps and provide guidance to improve safety practices.
He added that members of the Federal Capital Territory response team had been trained in the proper use of protective equipment to support ongoing Ebola response efforts.
Training programmes would evolve as new evidence emerged, he said, noting that regular updates were necessary to maintain healthcare workers’ competence and improve Nigeria’s readiness to manage infectious disease outbreaks.
On laboratory capacity, Idris said Nigeria had specialised facilities capable of testing for Ebola, including the National Reference Laboratory in Abuja and the Central Public Health Laboratory in Lagos.
He said the laboratories had genomic sequencing capabilities and appropriate biosafety infrastructure. Authorities were continuing to strengthen laboratory systems to improve preparedness for Ebola and other infectious disease threats.
Not every laboratory could safely test for Ebola, he said, emphasising that testing must be conducted in facilities with appropriate biosafety standards, equipment and trained personnel.
He added that Nigeria was expanding laboratory capacity through training, equipment optimisation and collaboration with teaching hospitals and partner institutions, while strengthening genomic surveillance to support faster outbreak detection.
Idris said laboratory equipment required proper calibration and skilled personnel to ensure accurate results. Technical capacity and professional collaboration, he added, were essential for reliable diagnosis and disease surveillance.
He said healthcare worker training was ongoing through online programmes and visits to health facilities, with curricula regularly updated to reflect new evidence and operational requirements.
Idris cautioned against politicising the Ebola response, saying public health authorities would continue providing information as investigations progressed. He also urged people not to link unrelated government decisions to the outbreak.
NCDC had requested funds to support states’ preparedness activities, he said, explaining that the proposed arrangement would enable resources to reach states for necessary public health interventions.
He acknowledged concerns from quarantined individuals separated from their families and said authorities were working to address their welfare needs while maintaining restrictions necessary to prevent possible transmission.
On airport surveillance, Idris said travellers were required to complete health declaration forms. NCDC was also engaging aviation authorities to address operational challenges affecting public health activities at points of entry.
He said the patient had reportedly arrived in Nigeria without symptoms, making immediate identification difficult. Subsequent medical consultations and reviews of her history helped authorities identify possible exposure points.
Investigators were reviewing passports, travel records and other available information to establish the patient’s movements and identify potential surveillance gaps, Idris said, describing the process as detailed and ongoing.
He added that authorities were working with security agencies to support investigations. Some travellers might conceal symptoms or use medication to suppress a fever, complicating screening and case detection.
Idris urged journalists to counter misinformation and report verified updates responsibly. He said NCDC would publish information on its website and provide further updates as the situation evolved.
