FG moves to sustain zero ebola cases, inaugurates presidential task force

From L-R: Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; Director General NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris; Honourable Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; during the Inaugural Meeting of the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness at the State House Abuja. Thursday, 18th June, 2026

By Adebola Isimijola, Lagos

The Federal Government has inaugurated the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) Preparedness as part of efforts to sustain Nigeria’s zero-case status and strengthen the country’s capacity to prevent and respond to any outbreak.

Chairman of the Task Force and Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, inaugurated the committee on Thursday at the State House, Abuja, saying the administration is determined to ensure the country remains free of the deadly virus through proactive measures rather than emergency response.

Gbajabiamila disclosed that Nigeria has no reported case of Ebola, stressing that the government is building on lessons from the successful containment of the 2014 outbreak to reinforce surveillance, border control and rapid response mechanisms.

“There are presently no reported cases in the country, which is good news. That is why all hands must be on deck to ensure that preventive measures are prioritised rather than curative measures,” he said.

The Chief of Staff said the task force has established specialised sub-committees on border management, immigration control and disease surveillance, with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) providing overall technical leadership and coordination.

From Right: Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC), State House Medical Centre, Dr Victoria Ogala; Mandate Secretary, Health Services & Environment Secretariat FCT, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe; Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Health, Dr Vincent Wachukwu; Senior Special Assistant to the President on Administration and Operations, Mrs Oyinade Nathan-Marsh; Director General NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris; Honourable Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; Repr

He added that the Federal Government is collaborating with Lagos, Kano, Rivers and Enugu states, as well as the Federal Capital Territory, to strengthen monitoring at international airports, while surveillance has also been intensified across the nation’s land borders through the Border Management Agency, the Nigeria Immigration Service and border communities.

Gbajabiamila said the measures are aimed at putting in place permanent response structures that would enable Nigeria to effectively tackle future outbreaks without having to establish emergency mechanisms whenever a public health threat emerges.

Expressing confidence in the country’s preparedness, he said Nigeria is positioning itself to lead Africa in epidemic preparedness and response.

“We have set up sub-committees to address key areas of concern, and hopefully Nigeria will take the lead among African nations. We will not follow; we will lead,” he said.

The inauguration was attended by the Ministers of Information and National Orientation and Interior, Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Dr. Jide Idris, Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Olubunmi Kuku, representatives of the World Health Organisation (WHO), state health commissioners and other public health stakeholders.