The Lagos State Government has called for measures to reduce interactions between passengers arriving from high-risk countries and other travelers to prevent the transmission of the Ebola virus into Nigeria. This follows reports that as of May 30, 263 confirmed Ebola cases have been recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, as disclosed by the Director General of the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Jean Kaseya.
Heightened Surveillance at MMIA
Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, announced yesterday that the state, in partnership with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), is stepping up surveillance and preparedness measures at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) to prevent the transmission of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) into Nigeria. This move is crucial as concerns grow over the resurgence of the deadly viral infection in parts of Central and East Africa.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the initiative comes amid heightened vigilance by health authorities following reports of Ebola outbreaks in affected African countries. Lagos, being Nigeria's commercial hub and principal international gateway, is reinforcing its biosecurity architecture against potential cross-border transmission.
Inspection and Preparedness Tour
Leading a high-level delegation on an inspection and preparedness tour of MMIA, Abayomi emphasized that Lagos cannot afford to be complacent given its position as the country's busiest entry point and its experience during Nigeria's historic Ebola outbreak in 2014. The delegation included the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi; the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Dayo Lajide; the Director of Epidemiology, Biosecurity and Global Health, Dr. Ismail Abdus-Salam; and senior officials of the Lagos State Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC).
The team was received by airport authorities led by the Airport Manager and Regional General Manager, South-West MMIA, Mr. Olatokunbo Arewa, alongside officials from Port Health Services, FAAN, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and other agencies.
Review of Systems and Plans
During the inspection, both teams reviewed passenger movement systems, disease surveillance mechanisms, infection prevention and control procedures, emergency response plans, and opportunities for stronger collaboration between state and federal authorities. Abayomi warned that diseases such as Ebola, COVID-19, and Lassa fever continue to pose significant risks due to the volume of international travel and global mobility.
Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, emphasized that disease prevention requires a coordinated, multi-sectoral approach involving all levels of government and frontline personnel. Dr. Dayo Lajide, Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, urged airport workers to maintain strict compliance with infection prevention and control protocols, noting that their safety is essential to protecting travelers and the wider population.
Commitment to Prevention
Airport Manager Olatokunbo Arewa reaffirmed MMIA's commitment to preventing the entry of Ebola into Nigeria. The Head of Port Health Services at MMIA, Dr. Lawal Abdullahi, disclosed that the airport reviewed and updated its Public Health Emergency Contingency Plan on March 18, 2026, before the latest Ebola developments in Africa.
The Aeromedical Assessor of NCAA, Dr. Abayomi Asunbo, said the Agency had issued directives requiring airlines operating designated international routes to strictly comply with public health regulations before passengers are admitted into Nigeria. Similarly, the General Manager of Aviation Medical Services at FAAN, Dr. Bilkis Ibrahim, disclosed that additional personal protective equipment, public awareness materials, multilingual health advisories, and staff training programs are being deployed to bolster preparedness across the airport system.
Dr. Uche Ofoegbu, Head of Department, Medical Services, MMIA, said airport stakeholders have intensified awareness campaigns and educational programs to further strengthen the response.
