KEY POINTS

• NCDC says Nigeria is only 59% prepared for a potential Ebola outbreak despite ongoing efforts to strengthen surveillance.
• International airports and porous land borders remain major vulnerabilities for disease importation.
• Authorities are assessing states, improving isolation facilities, laboratories, and emergency response systems to boost preparedness.

The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Jide Idris, has disclosed that Nigeria is currently only 59 per cent prepared to respond to a possible Ebola outbreak.

His remarks come amid growing concerns over recent Ebola outbreaks in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which health authorities say increase the risk of the disease being imported into Nigeria through international travel and cross-border movement.

Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Monday, Idris explained that a recent national risk assessment revealed significant gaps in the country’s preparedness, although efforts are underway to strengthen response mechanisms.

Risk Assessment Reveals Critical Gaps

According to the NCDC boss, the agency conducted a comprehensive evaluation of Nigeria’s readiness to detect and respond to Ebola cases.

He noted that while complete preparedness is difficult to achieve, the goal is to continuously improve the country’s response capacity as public health threats evolve.

Idris stated that the assessment placed Nigeria’s preparedness level at 59 per cent, indicating that more work is needed to strengthen disease surveillance, emergency response systems, and healthcare infrastructure across the country.

He stressed that preparedness must extend to all parts of Nigeria rather than being concentrated in a few states.

Idris explained that one of the key findings from the assessment was the need for stronger monitoring at Nigeria’s points of entry, especially international airports.

He said the Federal Ministry of Health has already issued protocols for government agencies involved in managing international arrivals.

The measures are aimed at tightening controls on incoming passengers, particularly from countries experiencing Ebola outbreaks.