The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, alongside Lagos State health authorities and Port Health Services, has intensified efforts to prevent the entry and spread of Ebola Virus Disease through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, following a joint assessment of the airport’s emergency preparedness infrastructure.

According to a statement by FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, the inspection evaluated the airport’s capacity to identify, monitor, and respond effectively to any potential Ebola cases.

The exercise was conducted amid renewed concerns over the disease following recent developments in the ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The inspection brought together key stakeholders from the aviation and health sectors, including Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Emmanuel Abayomi; MMIA Airport Manager, Mr. Olatokunbo Arewa; FAAN’s General Manager, Aviation Medical, Dr. Bilikisu Ibrahim; Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Dayo Lajide; the Governor’s Special Adviser on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi; and the State Epidemiologist, Dr. Ismail Abdus-Salam.

Addressing participants during the exercise, Abayomi stressed the importance of heightened alertness and enhanced surveillance measures, particularly for travellers arriving from countries classified as high-risk for Ebola transmission.

He stated that strict procedures must be consistently upheld to identify, isolate, and closely monitor travellers arriving from high-risk destinations, while ensuring full compliance with established public health protocols.

The commissioner also emphasised that sustained collaboration among relevant agencies is crucial to preventing the importation and spread of infectious diseases through the airport. In his remarks, Arewa assured that FAAN would continue to enforce preventive measures and adhere strictly to all relevant health regulations.

“Prompt detection, reporting, and response are essential to preventing the spread of any infectious disease within the airport environment and beyond,” he said.

Also briefing the delegation, the Officer-in-Charge of Port Health Services and Head of the Point of Entry team at MMIA, Dr. Abdullahi Lawal, said the airport’s emergency preparedness and response plan had been reviewed, with comprehensive risk assessments already carried out.

He explained that airlines operating from high-risk countries had been identified, while screening forms were being administered to passengers arriving on such flights.

He added that clear roles and responsibilities had also been assigned to relevant stakeholders under the airport’s emergency response framework.

Bilikisu said FAAN and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority had continued to share information and coordinate response efforts in line with international health regulations and global best practices.

She added that airport personnel and relevant stakeholders had been sensitised on their respective roles and trained to detect, report, and respond promptly to potential public health threats.

As part of the exercise, members of the Lagos State Government delegation toured key airport facilities to assess compliance with Ebola surveillance, screening, and prevention protocols. The inspection also reviewed the airport’s overall preparedness and response arrangements for managing potential public health emergencies.