Nigerian authorities have intensified health surveillance and emergency screening measures at international airports following a fresh outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease in parts of Central Africa.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) announced the activation of enhanced preventive protocols after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the recent Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on May 17, 2026.
The outbreak, linked to the Bundibugyo ebolavirus strain, has reportedly recorded hundreds of suspected infections and multiple deaths, particularly in the DRC’s Ituri Province, raising concerns among regional health authorities due to the limited availability of licensed vaccines and specific treatments for the strain.
In a statement issued by FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, the agency said it is working closely with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Port Health Services, and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to strengthen border health security and prevent any possible importation of the virus into Nigeria.
According to the authority, surveillance efforts are currently focused on travelers arriving from countries considered high-risk areas.
FAAN stated that passengers are undergoing symptom screening at entry points, while any suspected case would be isolated immediately and subjected to further medical evaluation in line with national and international public health guidelines.
The aviation sector has also been placed on heightened alert as part of the emergency response framework.
Under the new measures, flight crews have been instructed to promptly report any suspected communicable disease cases onboard aircraft to Air Traffic Control before landing. Airlines are also required to ensure the full completion of Passenger Locator Forms and Aircraft General Declarations for arriving passengers.
Authorities further directed airlines to maintain universal precaution kits and appropriate onboard medical supplies to manage any suspected health emergency during flights.
Despite the intensified precautions, officials emphasized that Nigeria has not recorded any confirmed Ebola case linked to the current outbreak.
FAAN described the measures as proactive steps aimed at strengthening national preparedness and preventing a repeat of past regional health emergencies.
Airport frontline workers have also begun receiving additional sensitization and emergency response training as part of broader efforts to improve rapid detection and containment capacity.
Health authorities advised travelers to remain calm, cooperate fully with screening procedures, and immediately report symptoms such as sudden fever, severe weakness, vomiting, or unexplained bleeding to medical officials at airports.
Nigeria previously gained international recognition for successfully containing an Ebola outbreak in 2014 after the virus entered the country through an infected traveler from Liberia.
