Ebola Risk: Nigeria Tightens Border Controls as Preparedness Stands at 59%, Says NCDC

Nigeria is only 59 per cent prepared to respond to a potential Ebola outbreak, according to the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Jide Idris, who says authorities are stepping up surveillance measures at airports and border posts to reduce the risk of importing the virus.

The disclosure comes amid growing concerns over Ebola cases reported in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Speaking during an interview on Arise Television, Idris said a recent nationwide assessment exposed critical preparedness gaps, especially at points of entry into the country.

“Our latest assessment puts Nigeria’s preparedness level at about 59 per cent. But preparedness is dynamic; you can never be 100 per cent prepared because situations keep changing,” he said.

“To be frank, we are not fully ready, but we are continuously improving our readiness. This preparedness must cover the entire country, not just a few locations.”

According to him, the NCDC has been working with state governments to evaluate emergency response systems, isolation facilities, public health infrastructure and medical stockpiles needed in the event of an outbreak.

“We sent advisers to work with state commissioners and assess their level of preparedness. We are looking at infrastructure, isolation facilities, emergency operations centres and available stockpiles in the event of an outbreak,” Idris explained.

The NCDC chief said one of the most significant risks identified during the assessment was the vulnerability of airports and border crossings.

“We carried out a dynamic risk assessment to determine where we are, what gaps exist and what actions are required. One area that clearly stood out was our points of entry, which are critical because our primary objective is to prevent the disease from entering Nigeria,” he stated.

“Shortly after the assessment, the Federal Ministry of Health released protocols for various government agencies. The goal is to regulate incoming traffic, especially through airlines and international travel routes.”

While enhanced airport monitoring is underway, Idris warned that Nigeria’s extensive land borders remain difficult to police.

“The biggest challenge remains our porous borders. Not everyone enters Nigeria by air. Many people travel across borders by road and through informal routes. This is one of the major concerns and why preparedness is so important,” he said.

Drawing lessons from the country’s handling of the 2014 Ebola outbreak, Idris said Nigeria has significantly improved its disease surveillance and laboratory capabilities.

“The 2014 outbreak was a unique experience for Nigeria. At the beginning, nobody fully understood the situation, but we learned quickly and adapted as events unfolded,” he said.

“Over the years, we have strengthened our laboratory systems and are extending these capabilities to more facilities, particularly those located in areas linked to international travel.”

He further disclosed that the country is currently managing multiple public health emergencies, including outbreaks of Cholera and Lassa Fever, while maintaining vigilance against a possible Ebola threat.

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