Authorities in Lagos State are strengthening surveillance and reviewing passenger management systems at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) as part of efforts to prevent the possible importation of Ebola into Nigeria.
The move is coming amid renewed Ebola outbreaks in parts of Central and East Africa, prompting heightened alert among health authorities across the continent.
As part of the measures being considered, Lagos officials are exploring ways to reduce direct interaction between passengers arriving from Ebola-affected countries and other travellers within the airport environment. The aim, according to officials, is to improve early detection while maintaining smooth airport operations.
The proposal was discussed during a high-level inspection and preparedness exercise held at MMIA on Sunday, involving state health authorities, aviation regulators and airport management.
The Lagos delegation was led by the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, alongside senior officials from the Ministry of Health and the state’s Public Health Emergency Operations Centre. They were received by airport authorities and representatives of key aviation and health agencies, including Port Health Services, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
Officials reviewed existing surveillance systems, emergency response plans and passenger screening procedures in light of ongoing Ebola outbreaks reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.
Speaking during the visit, Abayomi stressed the importance of balancing public health safety with efficient airport operations.
“Our objective is to create a bottleneck for the virus, not for passengers,” he said, adding that Lagos must remain vigilant due to its status as Nigeria’s busiest international gateway.
He recalled Nigeria’s 2014 Ebola outbreak, which entered through a traveller from Liberia, noting that the experience underscored the importance of early detection and strict monitoring at points of entry.
Abayomi also paid tribute to the late Dr. Ameyo Adadevoh, whose actions were instrumental in preventing a wider spread of the virus in Nigeria.
The Commissioner for Health, Special Adviser on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, emphasized that airport workers play a critical role in disease surveillance as the first point of contact for arriving passengers.
Officials also highlighted the need for coordinated efforts between federal and state agencies to strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness against infectious diseases.
Responding on behalf of airport authorities, MMIA management said additional screening infrastructure, including touchless sanitisation systems and temperature monitoring equipment, had already been deployed. Discussions are also ongoing about establishing dedicated processing channels for travellers from high-risk countries.
Port Health Services officials disclosed that the airport’s Public Health Emergency Contingency Plan had been updated earlier in March 2026, with emergency response teams already activated.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that airlines have been directed to ensure strict compliance with health protocols before passengers are cleared for entry into the country.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) has reported ongoing Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, with hundreds of suspected and confirmed cases recorded in recent weeks.
Although the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) says no case has been recorded in the country, authorities insist that continued vigilance is essential given Nigeria’s history and high international travel traffic.
Officials concluded the inspection with a tour of screening facilities at MMIA, reaffirming their commitment to coordinated preparedness, rapid response, and stronger border health security.