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Posted By Admin On May 29th, 2026

The Federal Government has moved to restrict inbound flights from Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and South Sudan as part of urgent preventive measures to curb the potential spread of Ebola into Nigeria.

The decision was reached on Thursday following a high-level strategic meeting held in Victoria Island, Lagos, aimed at reviewing and strengthening the country’s Ebola preparedness and emergency response framework amid renewed global health concerns.

Authorities are considering additional border health measures, including enhanced screening protocols and possible restrictions on travellers from the affected countries, where Ebola outbreaks have been reported.

Present at the meeting were the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Jide Idris; the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; and the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi.

Speaking after the meeting, Gbajabiamila said President Bola Tinubu had been briefed on the situation in the affected countries and assured that the Federal Government would take all necessary steps to prevent any outbreak in Nigeria.

He explained that discussions covered multiple preventive measures, including the possibility of restricting flights from high-risk countries, isolating passengers showing symptoms, and strengthening surveillance at entry points.

“We also considered the use of dedicated isolation protocols at terminals for passengers arriving from affected regions, as well as reinforcing existing health procedures. Prevention is better than cure, and we must be prepared for any eventuality,” he added.

Minister of Interior, Tunji-Ojo, stated that all points of entry into the country would be placed under strict monitoring, with closer coordination between the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the NCDC to enhance early detection and rapid response.

The NCDC Director-General confirmed that preparedness plans have been activated across all 36 states, with intensified public awareness campaigns to educate citizens on prevention measures and response protocols.

Source: https://guardian.ng/featured/ebola-fg-to-restrict-flights-from-uganda-drc-south-sudan/