Ebola: FG Rolls Out New Airport Screening Measures, Places 10 States on High Alert

Murtala Muhammed International Airport

Ebola: FG Rolls Out New Airport Screening Measures, Places 10 States on High Alert

The Federal Government has stepped up surveillance at airports and other entry points across the country following the resurgence of Ebola virus disease in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. As part of efforts to prevent the disease from entering Nigeria, authorities have introduced mandatory health screening for incoming passengers, including thousands of pilgrims expected to return from the 2026 Hajj exercise in Saudi Arabia. The measures include the deployment of a dedicated Ebola screening platform for travellers heading to Nigeria, enhanced monitoring at international airports and closer coordination among health and aviation agencies. The latest response follows the declaration by the World Health Organisation on May 17, 2026, that the outbreak linked to the Bundibugyo strain of the virus constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) .

Speaking on the development, the Director of Operations, Licensing and Training Standards at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) , Don Spiff, said travellers bound for Nigeria would be required to complete a health questionnaire before departure. “All passengers flying to Nigeria will have to fill out the Ebola questionnaire before they board the flight,” he said. Spiff explained that the process was being coordinated by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) alongside relevant aviation and health authorities. He noted that the precautionary measure had become even more important as the first batch of Nigerian pilgrims is expected back from Saudi Arabia from June 4 through designated international airports in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu and Kano. According to him, support would be provided for pilgrims who may experience difficulties completing the online form due to literacy challenges. He said tour operators, NCDC officials and medical personnel of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) would assist affected passengers.

Spiff disclosed that additional screening measures had been introduced for Ugandan Airlines, which operates three flights weekly into Lagos. He stated that flights arriving on Sundays and Mondays would be routed through the Hajj terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport for enhanced health checks and clearance procedures. The NCAA official further revealed that directives had been issued to major international carriers, including Ethiopian Airlines, while staggered arrival schedules were being considered to ease pressure on screening facilities. He added that government agencies would assess the effectiveness of the current measures before deciding on additional interventions.

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The NCAA has also instructed all international airlines operating into Nigeria to ensure passengers complete the NCDC Health Declaration Form through the designated portal before arrival. In an advisory dated May 30, 2026, the regulator said surveillance and preparedness activities had been intensified to guard against the importation of Ebola into Nigeria. “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 national preparedness. Airlines were also directed to notify passengers about the health declaration requirement and provide assistance where necessary. Pilots have been instructed to immediately notify Air Traffic Control of any suspected communicable disease case onboard aircraft, while flight crew members must complete Aircraft General Declaration forms for suspected cases. Passengers unable to complete the online process before arrival would be allowed to fill paper forms at the airport, the advisory added. The latest outbreak has rekindled memories of the 2014 Ebola crisis in Nigeria, which was eventually contained after the virus was introduced into the country by Liberian-American diplomat Patrick Sawyer.

Investigations showed that health screening procedures have already commenced at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. Officials were seen conducting temperature checks, verifying vaccination records and gathering passenger information to support contact-tracing efforts. Similar measures have reportedly been implemented at other international airports nationwide. A security official at the Port Harcourt International Airport, who requested anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly on the matter, said monitoring activities by Port Health Services had been strengthened. A traveller arriving from the United Kingdom, identified simply as Adela, observed that screening procedures appeared more stringent than usual, especially for passengers arriving from African countries. The Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) , Olubunmi Kuku, confirmed that airports across the country had been placed on high 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. FAAN had earlier announced that enhanced Ebola response protocols had been activated at all international airports nationwide, with passengers from high-risk regions undergoing enhanced screening. The authority stated that any suspected case will be promptly isolated and subjected to secondary health checks in line with established national and international health protocols.

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The NCDC has activated nationwide preparedness measures and called on healthcare workers and institutions to maintain a high level of vigilance. In a significant development, the agency has placed Lagos, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Kano, Rivers, Enugu, Borno, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Taraba and Adamawa on high alert over the possible importation of the deadly virus. The NCDC disclosed that a joint Dynamic Risk Assessment conducted with partners showed that “the overall risk of importation of the disease into Nigeria has been assessed as HIGH due to increasing ongoing regional transmission, international travel, regional population movement, major airports, seaports, porous land borders, informal crossings and trade routes.” The agency revealed that more than 1,000 suspected cases and 247 deaths linked to the outbreak have already been recorded in Congo and Uganda, with a fatality rate estimated at 24.6 percent. Its Director-General, Jide Idris, warned that Nigeria remains vulnerable because of international travel and the similarity between Ebola symptoms and those of diseases such as malaria and Lassa fever. He emphasised the importance of promptly identifying suspected cases and adhering strictly to infection prevention and control measures. The NCDC also clarified that the Bundibugyo Ebola strain currently has no approved vaccine or targeted treatment, making early detection and strict public health measures critical to preventing an outbreak. Existing Ebola vaccines and monoclonal antibody therapies are mainly designed for the Zaire strain and may not provide protection against the current outbreak.

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.

As of the time of this report, Nigeria has not recorded any confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease. The NCDC continues to monitor the situation closely and has assured citizens that all necessary protocols are in place to prevent the importation and spread of the virus. The agency urged Nigerians to remain calm but vigilant, report any suspected cases to the nearest health facility, and adhere to all public health advisories.