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The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, in collaboration with the Lagos state government and Port Health Services, has intensified surveillance and emergency response measures at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, to guard against the importation of Ebola Virus Disease.
The heightened alert follows a joint inspection of the airport’s preparedness infrastructure by key health and aviation stakeholders, amid renewed concerns over Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The high-level delegation was led by the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Emmanuel Akinola Abayomi, and included the Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Health, Dayo Lajide; Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Kemi Ogunyemi; State Epidemiologist, Ismail Adeshina Abdus-Salam; MMIA Airport Manager, Olatokunbo Arewa; and FAAN’s General Manager, Aviation Medical, Ibrahim Bilikisu, among others.
Speaking during the inspection, Abayomi commended FAAN and Port Health officials for their swift and proactive response to the evolving Ebola situation, noting that preparedness at points of entry remains critical to national health security.
He stressed the need for heightened vigilance, particularly in monitoring passengers arriving from high-risk countries, adding that strict protocols must be maintained to promptly identify, isolate and track suspected cases. “Safeguarding public health requires constant coordination and strict adherence to established procedures. Our airports must remain on high alert,” he said. In his remarks, Arewa assured that FAAN has sustained all required preventive measures, including surveillance, passenger screening and rapid response systems, in line with national and international health guidelines.
He emphasised the importance of seamless collaboration among all agencies operating at the airport, noting that early detection and immediate reporting are crucial to containing any potential outbreak.
Officials disclosed that MMIA’s emergency preparedness and response plan has been reviewed and strengthened, with comprehensive risk assessments carried out across critical airport touchpoints. Airlines operating from high-risk destinations have been identified, while health screening protocols including passenger declaration forms have been reinforced. The Officer-in-Charge of Port Health Services at MMIA, Abdullahi Lawal, said all relevant stakeholders have been assigned defined roles under a coordinated emergency response framework to ensure swift containment of any suspected case. Bilikisu added that FAAN is working closely with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority to ensure compliance with international health regulations, noting that airport personnel and frontline workers have been trained and sensitised to detect and respond effectively to infectious disease threats.
As part of the exercise, the Lagos State delegation toured isolation areas, screening points and other critical facilities to verify compliance with Ebola prevention protocols.
The inspection, officials said, reflects a unified effort by health and aviation authorities to maintain a high level of preparedness and ensure that Nigeria’s busiest airport remains capable of responding swiftly to any public health emergency.
