Nigeria remains Ebola-free, but the Federal Government is leaving nothing to chance. A new Presidential Task Force has been inaugurated to strengthen surveillance, tighten border controls and ensure the country is fully prepared to tackle any potential outbreak.

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its determination to keep Nigeria free from the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) as it unveiled a Presidential Task Force dedicated to strengthening the country’s preparedness and response efforts.

Speaking at the inauguration of the task force at the State House on Thursday, Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Preparedness, Femi Gbajabiamila, revealed that Nigeria has not recorded any Ebola cases and is working hard to maintain that status.

According to him, the government’s focus is firmly on prevention rather than cure, drawing on valuable lessons learnt from the 2014 Ebola outbreak that tested the nation’s public health response.

“We currently have no reported Ebola cases in Nigeria, which is encouraging news,” Gbajabiamila said. “That is why we must prioritise preventive measures and ensure everyone plays their part in keeping the country safe.”

He noted that Nigeria is determined not to repeat the challenges experienced during the previous outbreak when health authorities had to react quickly after an infected traveller entered the country.

To strengthen readiness, the task force has established several sub-committees focused on key areas, including border management, immigration control and disease surveillance.

Gbajabiamila expressed confidence that Nigeria can become a leading force in epidemic preparedness across Africa.

“We want Nigeria to lead the continent in this area. We will not follow; we will lead,” he declared.

He also highlighted the growing collaboration between the Federal Government and states with international airports, including Lagos, Kano, Rivers and Enugu States, as well as the Federal Capital Territory, to ensure effective monitoring and rapid response capabilities.

Attention is also being given to Nigeria’s land borders due to the high volume of cross-border movement. Agencies such as the Border Management Agency, the Nigeria Immigration Service and border communities are all playing active roles in the preparedness strategy.

Gbajabiamila explained that the government is putting permanent structures in place so future outbreaks can be managed swiftly and efficiently without having to build response systems from scratch.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) will provide overall technical leadership and coordination for the task force.

Among those present at the inauguration were the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; Director-General of the NCDC, Dr Jide Idris; Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Olubunmi Kuku; and the World Health Organisation (WHO) Representative in Nigeria, Dr Pavel Ursu.

Source: Cbinewstv

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