The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has activated enhanced Ebola response protocols at all international airports across Nigeria to strengthen surveillance, passenger screening, and emergency preparedness against the possible spread of the virus into the country.
The move was announced in a statement issued on Wednesday by Henry Agbebire, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at FAAN.
According to the agency, the measures were introduced following the outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola Virus Disease in parts of Central Africa, which has triggered renewed regional health surveillance and cross-border preparedness efforts.
FAAN said it has intensified preventive health operations at international airports in collaboration with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and Port Health Services.
“The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (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 (EVD) situation in parts of Central Africa,” the statement said.
The authority disclosed that passengers arriving from high-risk regions are now undergoing enhanced screening, while any traveller showing symptoms associated with Ebola will be isolated and referred for secondary medical evaluation.
FAAN added that surveillance and monitoring have been intensified, particularly for travellers arriving from affected countries, stressing that all measures are aligned with national and international health guidelines aimed at safeguarding public health and aviation safety.
The agency further revealed that airport personnel have received additional training and sensitisation on updated emergency response protocols to improve coordination and rapid response across airport terminals nationwide.
According to FAAN, the goal is to maintain a balance between swift public health intervention and seamless airport operations for passengers.
The authority also reassured Nigerians that no confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease has been recorded in the country at this time and urged travellers not to panic. Passengers were encouraged to cooperate fully with screening procedures and promptly report any symptoms to health officials to support early detection and containment efforts.
The development follows recent concerns raised by the World Health Organization (WHO), which declared the ongoing Ebola outbreak linked to the Bundibugyo strain a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) due to rising cross-border transmission and uncertainty surrounding the full scale of infections.
According to WHO, the outbreak has been reported in parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with confirmed spread to Uganda following the movement of infected individuals. The organisation also warned of possible underreporting amid rising suspected cases and unexplained deaths in affected regions.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has maintained that Nigeria has not recorded any Ebola case despite heightened regional risks linked to the outbreak.
The NCDC said it is strengthening surveillance systems, laboratory readiness, infection prevention measures, and public risk communication in response to the evolving situation. It also urged Nigerians to rely only on official health updates and report symptoms early for prompt medical attention.
Healthcare workers across the country were advised to maintain a high level of vigilance for patients showing symptoms consistent with Ebola, particularly those with relevant travel history, while strictly adhering to infection prevention and control protocols.
