Ebola: FG to Restrict Flights from Uganda, DRC, South Sudan — Gbajabiamila

The Federal Government is set to impose flight restrictions on Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and South Sudan as part of emergency measures to prevent the spread of Ebola into Nigeria, the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, has announced.

“We have a health scare, which is Ebola, and we all know what happened the last time. The situation is worsening globally, and we don’t want to take any chances,” Gbajabiamila said after a high-level meeting convened in Victoria Island, Lagos on Thursday.

The meeting brought together key officials including NCDC Director General Dr. Jide Idris, Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and Lagos State Health Commissioner Akin Abayomi to assess Nigeria’s preparedness against the escalating outbreak.

Gbajabiamila outlined three measures being considered: restricting flights from affected countries, isolating passengers who exhibit symptoms of Ebola, and potentially using cargo terminals to handle travellers arriving from high-risk regions.

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

NCDC on high alert

Dr. Idris confirmed that the NCDC has activated its national preparedness plan across all 36 states and at all ports of entry.

“We have our preparedness plan; it’s covering all state governments, all ports of entry. This particular virus has no treatment, no vaccines. So it’s the public health measures that need to be done — isolation, quick detection, public enlightenment, infection prevention, and control,” Idris said.

According to the World Health Organization, over 1,000 suspected cases have been reported in the DRC since mid-May, with 10 confirmed deaths and 223 suspected fatalities. The outbreak has raised alarms across Africa, with neighbouring countries scrambling to shore up border surveillance.

Nigeria had previously issued alerts following the DRC outbreak, but this latest move signals a significant escalation in the government’s response — shifting from advisory warnings to concrete operational measures including potential travel bans and mandatory isolation protocols for inbound travellers.

Sources: The Guardian, Channels TV, Leadership, The Sun, Pulse