The Federal Government of Nigeria is considering imposing flight restrictions on travellers from Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan as part of heightened efforts to prevent the spread of Ebola into the country.

The proposal emerged from a high-level strategic meeting in Lagos, where senior government officials reviewed Nigeria’s preparedness and response framework in light of fresh Ebola concerns in East and Central Africa.

Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, who chaired the session, said the government is exploring a mix of tighter border controls, targeted travel measures and strengthened health surveillance at all points of entry.

According to him, the options on the table include restricting flights from countries of interest, isolating passengers who exhibit symptoms consistent with Ebola infection and designating specific terminals to handle high-risk arrivals under strict protocols.

Gbajabiamila noted that President Bola Tinubu has been fully briefed on the evolving situation in Uganda and the DRC and has directed that no effort be spared in keeping Nigeria free of the virus. He stressed that the administration is prioritising prevention, recalling the devastating impact of the previous Ebola scare on public health and the economy.

The meeting brought together key figures in Nigeria’s health and security architecture, including the Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr Jide Idris, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi.

Tunji-Ojo said all land, air and sea borders would come under stricter monitoring, with the Nigeria Immigration Service working closely with the NCDC to ensure early detection of suspected cases and rapid response if any infection is identified.

Dr Idris underscored that Ebola remains a severe and highly contagious viral disease, warning that the absence of specific treatment or widely available vaccines makes robust public health measures essential. He said Nigeria’s preparedness plan has been activated across all 36 states, covering surveillance, isolation capacity and emergency coordination.

He added that public awareness campaigns will be intensified to educate citizens on symptoms, prevention and the need for prompt reporting, while health workers are being reminded of infection prevention and control protocols, given their heightened vulnerability during outbreaks.