Federal Government strengthens national health security system with emergency funding and task force to enhance preparedness against potential Ebola outbreak risks in Nigeria.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the establishment of a Presidential Ebola Preparedness Task Force and authorized the release of ₦10 billion in emergency funding to strengthen Nigeria’s public health response system.
According to official briefings from the Presidency, the move is aimed at improving the country’s preparedness against possible Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreaks and other emerging infectious diseases, following renewed concerns across parts of Africa.
The task force will coordinate national readiness efforts, strengthen disease surveillance, and enhance rapid response capacity across relevant health and border control agencies. It is also expected to work closely with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) to improve monitoring, laboratory testing, and emergency coordination.
The ₦10 billion emergency fund will support key areas including disease surveillance systems, border health security, laboratory upgrades, and rapid response deployment teams across the country.
Health authorities have confirmed that Nigeria currently has no reported Ebola cases, but emphasized that the preventive measures are necessary to reduce risks of importation and improve early detection capacity.
Nigeria previously gained global recognition for effectively containing Ebola during the 2014 outbreak, and officials say the current steps are part of efforts to sustain that level of preparedness amid evolving global health threats.
