Lagos tightens surveillance at MMIA as Ebola threat resurfaces in Africa

The Lagos State Government has intensified health surveillance and emergency preparedness measures at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in response to renewed Ebola outbreaks in parts of East and Central Africa.

The move is aimed at preventing the importation of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) into Nigeria, with authorities strengthening screening, monitoring and rapid response systems at the country’s busiest international gateway.

Leading an inspection and facility assessment at MMIA, Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said the airport remains Nigeria’s most vulnerable entry point for imported infectious diseases, handling about 70 per cent of international arrivals into the country.

Abayomi explained that the state was enhancing early detection systems, isolation capacity and digital surveillance for passengers arriving from high-risk countries, while also working closely with federal agencies operating at the airport.

He said the objective was to ensure that suspected cases could be quickly identified and contained without disrupting passenger flow, stressing that preparedness remains critical given global travel patterns.

Recalling Nigeria’s 2014 Ebola outbreak, which was successfully contained in Lagos after being imported from Liberia, Abayomi said the experience remains a key public health lesson, especially the sacrifices made by frontline health workers.

He added that lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic further reinforced the importance of coordinated surveillance between state and federal agencies at all ports of entry.

Also speaking during the visit, the Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, described airport personnel as the first line of defence against imported diseases, urging sustained vigilance and strict adherence to infection prevention protocols.

The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Dayo Lajide, commended ongoing inter-agency collaboration and urged frontline workers to maintain high safety standards while carrying out screening duties.

Airport authorities disclosed that additional equipment, including touchless sanitiser systems and temperature monitoring devices, had already been deployed across MMIA to strengthen preparedness.

The Head of Port Health Services at MMIA, Dr. Lawal Abdullahi, said the airport had reviewed and updated its public health emergency contingency plan in March 2026 and activated its emergency response team in line with emerging risks.

He added that passenger screening systems had been reinforced, while travel data is regularly shared with epidemiology teams for monitoring and follow-up.

Officials from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and aviation medical services also confirmed the deployment of additional protective equipment, staff training and enhanced health advisories for airport workers.

All agencies involved reaffirmed their commitment to coordinated surveillance, rapid response and information sharing to prevent the importation and spread of Ebola and other infectious diseases into Nigeria.

The inspection visit included a tour of key screening points and emergency response facilities at MMIA.