By Isiaka Mustapha, Editor-in-Chief, People’s Security Monitor

The Federal Government has ordered security agencies, health institutions and other relevant authorities to strengthen Ebola surveillance and enforce screening protocols at Nigeria’s entry points following reports of breaches and the confirmation of an imported case in Abuja. The directive, issued by the Office of the National Security Adviser, seeks to prevent the spread of the deadly virus and improve coordination among agencies responsible for public health and national security.

The directive was conveyed in a circular dated October 22, 2026, signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollum, on behalf of the Coordinating Minister, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate. The ministry instructed relevant institutions to comply strictly with screening procedures, health declarations and surveillance measures. Agencies were also directed to document and report actual or attempted violations, strengthen information sharing and ensure that personnel enforcing the protocols are not obstructed.

The fresh alert followed the confirmation of an imported case of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola in Abuja. The infected woman, a 42 year old Ugandan born traveller, reportedly arrived in Nigeria from Uganda and was admitted to a private hospital in the Federal Capital Territory before laboratory tests confirmed the infection. She was subsequently placed in isolation and received medical care, while health authorities commenced contact tracing involving 44 identified contacts, including healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and travel contacts.

The patient’s movements before arriving in Nigeria have also raised concerns about possible exposure. Reports indicated that she had travelled through Uganda after a visit to the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, although health authorities had yet to establish the precise source of her infection. Her husband, a Swiss diplomat who travelled with her, was also reportedly placed in isolation but had not developed symptoms. The World Health Organisation and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention were involved in efforts to establish the circumstances surrounding the infection.

Investigations across several states, however, revealed gaps in public awareness and emergency preparedness. In Lagos, an infectious disease isolation facility in Yaba, previously used for COVID 19 and other serious infections, was reportedly converted into a nursing school facility. Checks also indicated that some states were still arranging to procure protective equipment, while handwashing facilities were lacking in several markets, motor parks and other public places. The Federal Government had earlier disclosed that 15 states had yet to update their Ebola preparedness and response plans.

Across Lagos, Ogun and Osun states, residents expressed concerns about the outbreak, particularly the risks associated with crowded buses, markets and workplaces. Some said they had begun observing stricter hand hygiene and limiting physical contact, while others complained about inadequate public enlightenment and uncertainty over preventive measures. Health facilities in Plateau State reportedly reactivated screening and infection prevention procedures, while Nasarawa, Kano, Yobe, Kaduna and other states announced measures to strengthen surveillance, procure protective equipment, activate emergency response structures and sensitise residents.

In Benue, Kwara, Jigawa and other states, however, checks revealed varying levels of preparedness, with some public facilities lacking visible handwashing stations and residents expressing limited knowledge of how to report suspected cases. Health authorities in several states said surveillance teams had been activated and emergency response plans reviewed. The findings underscored the need for consistent public education, adequate protective equipment, functional isolation facilities and coordinated surveillance, particularly in communities and transport hubs where large numbers of people interact daily.

Ebola Virus Disease is a severe infection transmitted through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of infected people or animals, or contaminated materials. Symptoms may include fever, headache, muscle pain, vomiting and diarrhoea, with an incubation period of two to 21 days. Nigeria recorded 20 cases, including eight deaths, during the 2014 outbreak, which was contained through surveillance, contact tracing, isolation and coordinated public health interventions. The latest imported case has renewed concerns about Nigeria’s preparedness, with the Federal Government insisting that strict enforcement of screening protocols, early detection and effective inter agency cooperation are critical to preventing further transmission.