According to a State House statement issued by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the funding is intended to boost the operational capacity of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and improve the country’s ability to detect and contain potential disease outbreaks.
“The fund will strengthen the operational preparedness of the National Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and support critical national public health emergency response activities,” the statement said.
The intervention follows concerns over Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, prompting the Federal Government to intensify measures to prevent the disease from spreading into Nigeria.
Following a high-level meeting chaired by Gbajabiamila, Tinubu directed states with international airports and border corridors, alongside relevant government agencies, to submit detailed response plans, budgets and operational requirements.
The President also ordered the immediate activation of isolation and referral centres at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, with similar arrangements planned for other airports.
Additional measures include introducing a QR code-based pre-arrival health declaration system for passengers travelling from or transiting through designated high-risk countries.
Airport facilities, including departure halls, cargo areas and baggage-handling sections, are also to be disinfected as part of efforts to strengthen disease prevention and control.
“The Task Force is further directed to designate specific airports or terminals for high-risk flights to enable controlled screening and isolation procedures,” the statement added.
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