The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has raised concern over the country’s readiness to handle a potential Ebola outbreak, stating that Nigeria is only about 59 per cent prepared for a major public health emergency involving the virus.
The NCDC Director-General, Dr. Jide Idris, disclosed this during an interview, warning that while significant progress has been made in strengthening surveillance and response systems, critical gaps still remain—particularly at Nigeria’s porous land borders.
According to him, international airports remain relatively well-monitored entry points for disease detection, but uncontrolled cross-border movement through land routes continues to pose a serious risk for the importation and spread of infectious diseases.
Dr. Idris noted that the 59 per cent readiness assessment reflects improvements in laboratory capacity, disease surveillance, contact tracing systems, and emergency response coordination across the country. However, he stressed that Nigeria is not yet fully prepared for a large-scale Ebola emergency.
He recalled Nigeria’s successful containment of the 2014 Ebola outbreak, describing it as a major public health achievement that significantly strengthened the country’s ability to detect, isolate, and manage infectious diseases.
Despite these gains, the NCDC says Nigeria is currently responding to multiple disease outbreaks, including cholera and Lassa fever, some of which continue to record fatalities in different parts of the country. The agency also linked the persistence of such diseases to environmental and behavioural factors, including certain cultural practices that increase exposure to infection risks.
Dr. Idris further urged state governments to take greater responsibility in preparedness and response efforts, rather than relying solely on federal intervention, warning that coordinated action at all levels of government is essential to prevent and manage future epidemics.
