May 20, (THEWILL) — 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 spread of the virus into Nigeria.
The move was announced in a statement issued on Wednesday by FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire.
According to the agency, the intensified measures follow the outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in parts of Central Africa, which has prompted renewed regional surveillance and cross-border health preparedness efforts.
FAAN said it is working closely with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and Port Health Services to strengthen screening, surveillance, and emergency response systems at international terminals nationwide.
The authority explained that passengers arriving from high-risk regions are now subject to enhanced health screening, while anyone showing symptoms associated with Ebola will be isolated immediately for further medical evaluation.
“FAAN wishes to reassure the travelling public and stakeholders that robust preventive measures have been put in place across all international airports in response to the recent Ebola Virus Disease situation in parts of Central Africa”, the statement read.
The agency added that surveillance and monitoring activities have been intensified, particularly for travellers arriving from affected countries, in line with both national and international public health guidelines.
FAAN also disclosed that airport personnel have undergone additional training and sensitisation on updated emergency response procedures to improve coordination and rapid intervention across airport facilities.
According to the authority, the measures are designed to ensure effective health protection while maintaining smooth airport operations and passenger movement.
Despite the heightened alert, FAAN stressed that Nigeria has not recorded any confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease and urged the public to remain calm.
Passengers were encouraged to cooperate fully with health screening procedures and promptly report any symptoms to health officials to support early detection and containment efforts.
The latest response measures come amid growing concern over the Ebola outbreak linked to the Bundibugyo strain in parts of Central Africa.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), citing increasing cross-border transmission and uncertainty over the full scale of infections.
According to the WHO, cases have been reported in parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), with confirmed spread into Uganda following the movement of infected persons. The organisation also warned of possible underreporting due to rising suspected infections and unexplained deaths in affected areas.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has maintained that no case of Ebola has been detected in Nigeria.
The NCDC said it has intensified surveillance and preparedness measures in response to the regional outbreak, identifying increased cross-border movement as a major risk factor under close monitoring.
The agency added that it is strengthening laboratory readiness, infection prevention systems, and public risk communication efforts nationwide.
It also advised healthcare workers to maintain a high level of suspicion for Ebola in patients presenting compatible symptoms and relevant travel history, while strictly adhering to infection prevention and control protocols.
Nigerians were further urged to rely only on official health updates and report suspected symptoms early to health authorities.
Ogochukwu Onwaeze is a writer specializing in business and economic journalism. At THEWILL News Media, she translates market trends, financial developments, and policy shifts into clear and engaging stories.
