Nigeria Establishes Task Force to Combat Ebola Virus

The Federal Government of Nigeria has set up a Presidential Task Force against Ebola virus disease to prepare for and prevent potential outbreaks, avoiding a repeat of the 2014 Ebola crisis. The task force was inaugurated by Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, in Abuja on Thursday.

Gbajabiamila emphasized the importance of proactive measures rather than reactive responses to outbreaks, stating that the government aims to ensure that Nigeria does not experience a situation where it must scramble to contain an outbreak. The task force will include a special team to handle various areas such as disease tracking, border control, and emergency response coordination.

Dr. Jide Idri, the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), confirmed that health checkpoints at major entry points have already been strengthened. The task force will collaborate with several government ministries and state authorities to maintain a zero-case status for Ebola in Nigeria.