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The Federal Government has activated emergency surveillance measures at airports and other points of entry, including mandatory screening for inbound passengers and returning Hajj pilgrims, following a fresh outbreak of Ebola virus in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The measures include the deployment of a dedicated Ebola screening portal for all passengers travelling to Nigeria, heightened monitoring at international airports, and enhanced collaboration among health and aviation authorities to prevent the importation of the disease.
The move comes after the World Health Organisation declared the latest Ebola outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus strain, a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on May 17, 2026.
The Director of Operations, Licensing and Training Standards at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Don Spiff, told Sunday PUNCH that all passengers bound for Nigeria would be required to complete an Ebola health questionnaire before boarding their flights.
“All passengers flying to Nigeria will have to fill out the Ebola questionnaire before they board the flight,” he said.
According to him, the initiative is being coordinated by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in collaboration with aviation and health authorities.
Spiff noted that the measure had become more critical as thousands of Nigerian pilgrims are expected to begin returning from Saudi Arabia from June 4 through designated international airports in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu and Kano.
He acknowledged that some pilgrims might encounter challenges completing the online form because of literacy limitations but said tour operators, NCDC officials and medical personnel of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria would provide support where necessary.
Special screening for Ugandan flights
Spiff disclosed that special arrangements had been put in place for Ugandan Airlines, which operates three weekly flights into Lagos.
He said the airline’s Sunday and Monday flights would be processed through the Hajj terminal at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport for enhanced screening and clearance.
The NCAA official added that the authority had issued guidelines to major international carriers, including Ethiopian Airlines, and was considering staggered arrival schedules to reduce pressure on screening facilities.
According to him, the government will review the effectiveness of the initial screening measures before determining further actions.
NCAA issues advisory
Meanwhile, NCAA has directed all international airlines operating into Nigeria to ensure that arriving passengers complete the NCDC Health Declaration Form through the designated portal before arrival.
In an advisory dated May 30, 2026 and obtained by Sunday PUNCH, the aviation regulator said it had intensified surveillance and preparedness measures to prevent the importation and spread of Ebola.
“The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has intensified its surveillance and preparedness measures to prevent the potential importation and spread of the disease into Nigeria,” the advisory stated.
The authority said it was working with the Federal Ministry of Health, the NCDC, Port Health Services, state ministries of health and international health organisations to strengthen preparedness.
It added that airlines had been directed to notify passengers of the health declaration requirement and assist them in completing the process.
NCAA noted that passengers unable to complete the form online would be allowed to fill out paper versions on arrival.
The latest outbreak has revived memories of the 2014 Ebola epidemic, which claimed lives in Nigeria before it was successfully contained following the arrival of Liberian-American diplomat Patrick Sawyer.
Passengers undergo checks
Findings by Sunday PUNCH showed that screening of inbound passengers has already commenced at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
Health officials were observed conducting temperature checks, verifying vaccination documents and collecting passenger information for contact tracing purposes.
Similar surveillance measures have been introduced at other international airports across the country.
A security operative at the Port Harcourt International Airport, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said Port Health Services had intensified monitoring activities.
A passenger arriving from the United Kingdom, identified simply as Adela, said screening procedures appeared stricter than usual, particularly for travellers arriving from African countries.
The Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Olubunmi Kuku, confirmed that all international airports had been placed on heightened alert.
“At present, there has been no reported case linked to Ebola at Nigerian airports. However, surveillance and monitoring have been significantly intensified,” she said.
NCDC alerts hospitals
The NCDC has also activated nationwide preparedness measures and urged healthcare facilities and workers to remain vigilant.
The agency’s Director-General, Jide Idris, warned that Nigeria remained vulnerable because of international travel and the similarity between Ebola symptoms and those of diseases such as malaria and Lassa fever.
He stressed the need for healthcare workers to remain alert to suspected cases and adhere strictly to infection prevention and control protocols.
Expert urges vigilance
A public health physician and epidemiologist, Prof Tanimola Akande, urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and support efforts aimed at preventing a possible outbreak.
He warned that the disease could spread from infected animals to humans and subsequently from person to person.
“Citizens can take preventive measures such as proper handling of animals during hunting and while displaying dead animals for sale. Nigerians need to be aware of Ebola and know the common symptoms so they can promptly identify suspected cases,” Akande said.
He advised that suspected cases should be taken to health facilities immediately and urged Nigerians to avoid close contact with individuals showing symptoms of the disease.
The epidemiologist also called for intensified surveillance at airports, seaports and land borders.
“Passengers should be screened to ensure that suspected cases are identified early, isolated and moved to appropriate health facilities,” he said.
Akande noted that the NCDC was already collaborating with relevant stakeholders to strengthen preparedness.
He warned that the Bundibugyo strain currently responsible for the outbreak has a fatality rate of between 30 and 50 per cent and could remain undetected for weeks.
“It is, therefore, very important that precautionary measures are taken by the government, partners and Nigerians to ensure that no outbreak is recorded in Nigeria,” the epidemiologist added.
US commits $112m
Meanwhile, the United States Department of State has pledged more than $112m in bilateral assistance to support Ebola containment efforts in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
According to the department, the funding will support the procurement of personal protective equipment, border screening operations, contact tracing and diagnostic services.
The US also announced an additional $13.5m to strengthen Kenya’s Ebola preparedness and unveiled coordinated travel measures with Canada and Mexico ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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