Nigeria's FEC Allocates N45.8bn for Airport Biosecurity

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved N45.8 billion for a biosecurity and disease surveillance system at five international airports in Nigeria to bolster the country's capacity to detect Ebola and other dangerous pathogens. Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, announced this on October 28, 2026, during a briefing after a Council meeting led by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The project will be executed under a 20-year public-private partnership concession awarded to the BioHealth Consortium. The initiative aims to enhance disease surveillance at entry points, improve early detection of infectious diseases, and safeguard public health and economic activities.

The system will be implemented at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Port Harcourt International Airport, and Akanu Ibiam International Airport. Prof. Pate noted that over 18 million passengers use Nigeria's airports annually, making effective surveillance critical.

He also mentioned the recent Ebola case in Nigeria and the ongoing threat posed by the disease.