The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has declared Nigeria at high risk of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) importation amid ongoing outbreaks in some African countries, even as it reassured Nigerians that no confirmed Ebola case has been recorded in the country.
Speaking at a press conference in Lagos on Friday, Director-General of the NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris, said the agency had intensified nationwide preparedness measures to prevent the virus from entering Nigeria and to ensure rapid containment if a case is detected.
“As of today, there is currently no confirmed case of Ebola virus disease in Nigeria,” Idris said. “However, following ongoing transmission in the region, the NCDC has conducted a comprehensive risk assessment which classified Nigeria’s risk of Ebola importation as high.”
According to him, Nigeria’s high-risk status is driven by increasing international travel and population movements, porous borders, and the possibility of delayed detection because Ebola symptoms can initially resemble malaria and other common febrile illnesses.
He noted that the seriousness of the outbreak has been underscored by the World Health Organization’s declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern and a continental public health emergency declaration by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
Idris disclosed that the NCDC has activated the National Emergency Operations Centre in alert mode and completed a national risk and vulnerability assessment to identify gaps and prioritise interventions.
Other preparedness measures include risk stratification of states, dissemination of Ebola case definitions and surveillance protocols, enhanced monitoring of travellers from affected countries, and assessment of 549 health facilities across 32 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The agency has also evaluated 17 designated treatment centres, strengthened laboratory readiness, issued public health advisories, and intensified collaboration with state governments and development partners.
“We are not waiting for an outbreak before acting,” Idris said. “Preparedness must begin before the first case is detected.”
He revealed that strict entry protocols have been activated at Nigeria’s five international airports in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Enugu and Port Harcourt. Travellers from affected countries are being screened, required to complete health declaration forms, and monitored based on established case definitions.
The NCDC boss urged governors, state ministries of health and local government authorities to activate emergency preparedness structures, strengthen surveillance systems, operationalise treatment centres and improve infection prevention and control measures.
“Preparedness is a shared responsibility,” he stressed. “Effective prevention and response require active collaboration among federal, state and local governments, healthcare facilities, communities, development partners and the public.”
Idris also called on healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion, particularly among persons with recent travel history to affected countries, and to promptly notify public health authorities of suspected cases.
Addressing concerns about manpower shortages, he expressed confidence in Nigeria’s ability to contain Ebola if it enters the country.
“Let me be frank with you. If Ebola comes into Nigeria, we will stop it,” he said. “Nigeria successfully contained Ebola in 2014 through strong leadership, rapid detection, effective coordination, public trust and collective action. We are building on those lessons.”
He urged Nigerians to remain calm, avoid misinformation, practise good hygiene and report unusual illnesses through established public health channels, stressing that collective vigilance remains the country’s strongest defence against Ebola.
