Keyamo Orders 46 Ebola Contacts Off Nigeria Flights for 21 Days

Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo has instructed the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority to place 46 individuals identified as contacts of Nigeria's confirmed Ebola patient on a restricted travel list, preventing them from boarding domestic or international flights for the next 21 days. The directive was issued following a virtual meeting between Keyamo and Health Minister Professor Muhammad Ali Pate on Wednesday, as federal authorities move to contain the virus within Nigeria's borders.

The restricted-travel order represents part of a broader containment strategy by the federal government in response to Nigeria's first documented Ebola case since 2014. The patient, who contracted the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, had recently travelled from Uganda before receiving a diagnosis and entering isolation.

Keyamo instructed the NCAA to notify both domestic carriers and international airlines operating in Nigeria of the travel restrictions and ensure compliance with the measure. Beyond the no-fly restrictions, Keyamo ordered enhanced health screening protocols to be activated at Nigeria's airports.

These measures include increased monitoring and health checks for arriving and departing passengers. The coordinated effort between the aviation and health sectors reflects the government's attempt to use transport infrastructure as a barrier against further transmission of the virus within the country.

Sources report a minor discrepancy regarding the exact number of contacts: most outlets cite 46 individuals, though one source mentions 44 persons. The 21-day isolation period aligns with the virus's known incubation window.

Airlines have been directed to maintain updated records of the individuals under travel restriction throughout the duration of the ban.