Abuja, Nigeria — The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining Nigeria’s zero-case status for Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), while positioning the country as a continental leader in epidemic preparedness and response.
Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Preparedness and Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, made this known on Thursday during the inauguration of the task force at the State House, Abuja.
Gbajabiamila said Nigeria currently has no reported cases of Ebola, describing the situation as encouraging but requiring sustained vigilance through proactive preventive strategies.
He emphasised that the government’s approach is anchored on prevention rather than cure, drawing lessons from the 2014 Ebola outbreak which exposed gaps in rapid response systems.
> “There are presently no reported cases in the country, which is good news. That is why all hands must be on deck to ensure that preventive measures are prioritised,” he said.
The Chief of Staff noted that the newly inaugurated task force has already established sub-committees to address critical areas, including surveillance, border control, and emergency response coordination.
According to him, Nigeria is determined not only to strengthen its internal systems but also to take a leadership role across Africa in combating infectious disease threats.
> “We will not follow; we will lead,” Gbajabiamila declared, expressing confidence in the country’s preparedness framework.
He highlighted enhanced collaboration between the Federal Government and states hosting international airports—Lagos, Kano, Rivers, Enugu, and the Federal Capital Territory—as a key component of the strategy to ensure early detection and rapid containment.
The government is also intensifying monitoring across land borders, with active involvement of the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Border Management Agency, and local border communities, given the high volume of cross-border movements.
Gbajabiamila added that permanent structures are being institutionalised to ensure long-term readiness, noting that future outbreaks would be met with swift, coordinated responses rather than emergency improvisation.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), led by Jide Idris, will provide technical leadership and coordination for the task force.
Other key officials present at the inauguration included the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; and the World Health Organization (WHO) Country Representative, Pavel Ursu.
READ ALSO: Nigeria Government Bans Use of Yahoo, Gmail for Official Communications, Mandates GovMail
Tinubu Appoints Kunle Elebute To Chair FRCN Board, Strengthen Corporate Governance
Also in attendance were health commissioners from Lagos and Enugu states, senior public health officials, and representatives of key agencies involved in disease surveillance and emergency response.
The renewed push underscores Nigeria’s broader strategy to strengthen health security systems and safeguard the population against emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.
About The Author
