The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has heightened health surveillance at airports nationwide following confirmation of an imported case of Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as authorities intensify efforts to prevent further transmission.
FAAN said it was coordinating with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Port Health Services, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and other agencies to support the national containment response and protect passengers, airport workers and the wider public.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, October 21, FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, said the authority was maintaining heightened vigilance across airport operations and would implement additional measures in line with guidance from public health authorities.
The agency urged passengers, airline operators and airport personnel to cooperate with health officials, follow screening procedures and rely on verified information rather than circulate unconfirmed reports.
The heightened surveillance follows the Federal Government’s confirmation on October 20 of an Ebola case involving a woman who had recently arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda. She was admitted to a private hospital in the FCT, where she received treatment for several days before laboratory tests confirmed the infection. She was subsequently placed in isolation for medical care.
The NCDC said contact tracing had begun, with 44 close contacts initially identified. The response includes monitoring people who may have been exposed, including healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and travel contacts. Health authorities have also intensified surveillance and strengthened infection prevention and control measures at the hospital.
The Senate has separately called for mandatory health screening of passengers arriving through international airports, seaports and designated land borders. Its proposed measures include health declaration forms, temperature checks, symptom assessments and enhanced screening for travellers who have visited or transited through affected areas within the previous 21 days.
Lawmakers also urged the government to provide trained Port Health officers, protective equipment, thermal scanners and isolation facilities at entry points, alongside emergency funding to strengthen surveillance and response capacity. These are legislative recommendations calling for stronger measures, rather than confirmation that every proposed measure has already been implemented.
Nigeria’s response is being closely watched because of the potential for infected travellers to cross borders before symptoms are recognised. The government has urged healthcare facilities to maintain a high level of suspicion, promptly isolate suspected cases and immediately notify public health authorities.
FAAN said it would continue working with relevant agencies as the response evolves. Authorities have urged Nigerians to remain vigilant without panicking, observe recommended hygiene precautions and seek prompt medical guidance if they develop symptoms after a possible exposure.
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