Nigeria's N45.8 Billion Biosecurity Project for Airports

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved a N45.8 billion biosecurity and disease surveillance project aimed at strengthening Nigeria's defenses against Ebola and other infectious diseases at five international airports. Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate, announced this on Wednesday after a FEC meeting led by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The project will establish early warning, detection, and response systems at major entry points, along with a National Surveillance Operations Centre for real-time monitoring of suspected outbreaks. Facilities will be set up at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Port Harcourt International Airport, and Akanu Ibiam International Airport.

The project includes a 20-year public-private partnership concession to BioHealth Consortium, which will design, finance, build, operate, and maintain the facilities. The federal government will retain oversight, with assets reverting to the government after the concession period.

The initiative aims to address vulnerabilities in public health and economic security, particularly in light of lessons learned from recent Ebola cases.