Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced the immediate intensification of surveillance and preventive measures across all international airports in the country, in response to the recent outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in parts of Central Africa. In a statement issued on Thursday, May 21, 2026, by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, FAAN reassured the travelling public and stakeholders that robust health protocols have been activated to prevent the importation of the deadly virus into Nigeria. The measures, which are being implemented in close collaboration with Port Health Services, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), and other relevant agencies, include enhanced passenger screening, isolation protocols for suspected cases, and intensified staff sensitisation across all international airport terminals.
According to the statement, FAAN has placed its emergency response procedures on heightened alert, with particular focus on passengers arriving from high-risk regions of Central Africa where Ebola cases have recently been confirmed. The outbreak, which was declared by health authorities in the affected countries earlier this month, has raised concerns across the West African subregion, given the devastating impact of the 2014-2016 Ebola epidemic that claimed thousands of lives in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, and which briefly touched Nigeria, where 20 confirmed cases and eight deaths were recorded in Lagos and Port Harcourt. Although the current outbreak is geographically distant from Nigeria, the country's status as a major travel hub and the volume of air traffic between West and Central Africa have prompted health authorities to act preemptively.
FAAN disclosed that passengers arriving at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, and other international airports in Kano, Port Harcourt, and Enugu are now being screened for symptoms associated with Ebola, which include fever, severe headache, muscle pain, weakness, fatigue, diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and unexplained bleeding or bruising. Any passenger presenting such symptoms will be promptly isolated and subjected to secondary health checks in line with established national and international health protocols. The agency emphasised that these measures are not intended to cause panic or disrupt travel but are routine public health precautions designed to safeguard the well-being of all airport users and the Nigerian population at large.
The statement further noted that FAAN has strengthened coordination with relevant stakeholders, including the NCDC, the Federal Ministry of Health, and the World Health Organization (WHO), to ensure seamless information sharing and rapid response capabilities. Airport health workers and other frontline personnel have undergone refresher training on case identification, infection prevention and control, and the safe handling of potentially contaminated materials. In addition, isolation areas have been designated at all international airports, and protocols for the safe transfer of suspected cases to designated treatment centres have been reviewed and updated.
While FAAN acknowledged that there is currently no confirmed case of Ebola in Nigeria, the authority said it remains vigilant and fully committed to safeguarding public health and maintaining safe airport operations. The agency urged passengers to remain calm, comply with all health screening procedures, and report any symptoms to health officials without delay. Passengers are also advised to declare their travel history honestly and to cooperate with port health staff during temperature checks and questionnaire administration. FAAN reassured travellers that all measures are being carried out with minimal disruption to flight schedules and passenger convenience.
The NCDC, in a separate update on Wednesday, May 20, confirmed that it had activated its national Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) to coordinate surveillance and response activities across all points of entry. The agency has also issued a public health advisory urging Nigerians to avoid non-essential travel to affected regions in Central Africa and to observe strict hand hygiene and avoid contact with bodily fluids of persons showing symptoms of viral haemorrhagic fevers. The NCDC has also stockpiled personal protective equipment (PPE) and diagnostic reagents in strategic locations across the country to enable rapid testing and containment in the event of an imported case.
The current Ebola outbreak in Central Africa, which was first reported in late April 2026, has so far resulted in at least 30 confirmed cases and 12 deaths, according to WHO situation reports. The affected areas are located in remote forested regions, but health officials have expressed concern about the potential spread to urban centres and across borders. Nigerian authorities have responded with heightened vigilance at airports, seaports, and land borders, though air travel remains the most likely route for an imported case.
FAAN's announcement has been welcomed by aviation stakeholders and public health experts, who have long called for sustained investment in port health infrastructure. Dr. Oyewale Tomori, a virologist and former WHO regional adviser, commended the agency for taking proactive steps but cautioned that surveillance must be maintained even after the current outbreak subsides. "Ebola is not the only threat. We must have a permanent, well-funded system for screening and responding to any infectious disease at our borders," he said.
As of the time of this report, flight operations continue normally across all Nigerian international airports, and passengers have largely complied with the enhanced screening measures. FAAN reiterated its commitment to transparency, stating that it would provide regular updates to the public as the situation evolves. The agency also reminded travellers that false information or deliberate concealment of symptoms is an offence and urged everyone to act responsibly. With Nigeria still bearing the scars of the 2014 Ebola scare, the country is taking no chances. The message from FAAN is clear: the airports are on guard, and the nation's health security comes first.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments