The federal government (FG) is weighing the introduction of stricter travel controls, including possible flight restrictions and isolation procedures for incoming passengers.
This follows renewed concerns over the spread of Ebola in parts of Africa.
The proposal was disclosed on Thursday after a security and health coordination meeting held in Lagos, where top government officials reviewed Nigeria’s preparedness strategy against potential disease importation.
According to officials, the planned measures would target travellers arriving from countries currently experiencing Ebola outbreaks, with health screening and isolation protocols to be enforced at entry points for anyone showing suspicious symptoms.
The meeting, chaired by Femi Gbajabiamila, the President’s Chief of Staff included senior representatives from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the Ministry of Interior, and Lagos State health authorities.
Gbajabiamila said the government is treating the situation with urgency, stressing that Nigeria must avoid a repeat of past Ebola incidents by strengthening preventive systems rather than reacting after detection.
He added that President Bola Tinubu has been updated on developments in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, where fresh outbreaks have been reported, and has directed relevant agencies to remain on high alert.
Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the minister of interior said all airports, seaports, and land borders would be placed under enhanced surveillance, with inter-agency collaboration to ensure early detection of possible cases.
Health authorities also warned that Ebola remains a highly dangerous virus with no approved cure, noting that rapid response, strict hygiene practices, and isolation remain the most effective tools for prevention.
The NCDC further confirmed that preparedness plans have been activated nationwide, including state-level response systems and renewed training for frontline health workers.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has reported multiple deaths and hundreds of suspected cases linked to the latest outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, raising global concern over the spread of the disease amid ongoing insecurity in affected regions.
