The Federal Government has inaugurated a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) Preparedness as part of efforts to sustain Nigeria’s zero-case status and strengthen the country’s capacity to respond to potential outbreaks.

Chairman of the task force and Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, inaugurated the committee at the State House on Thursday, stressing that there are currently no reported cases of Ebola in Nigeria.

Gbajabiamila said the government’s approach is focused on prevention rather than cure, noting that lessons from the 2014 Ebola outbreak have informed the development of stronger surveillance, monitoring and response mechanisms.

According to him, the task force has established sub-committees to address key areas of concern and position Nigeria as a leader in epidemic preparedness and response across Africa.

He said collaboration has been strengthened between the Federal Government and states with international airports, including Lagos, Kano, Rivers, Enugu and the Federal Capital Territory, to ensure effective monitoring and rapid response to any potential threat.

Gbajabiamila added that special attention is also being given to Nigeria’s land borders due to the high volume of cross-border movement, with agencies such as the Border Management Agency and the Nigeria Immigration Service working alongside border communities to improve surveillance.

He explained that the task force comprises committees on border management, immigration control and disease surveillance, while the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) will provide overall technical leadership and coordination.

The Chief of Staff said the government is working to establish permanent structures and response mechanisms that will enable the country to effectively manage future outbreaks without delays.

Those present at the inauguration included the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; Director-General of the NCDC, Dr Jide Idris; Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Olubunmi Kuku; and the World Health Organization’s Representative in Nigeria, Dr Pavel Ursu.

Other attendees were health officials from Lagos, Rivers and Enugu states, representatives of the Federal Ministry of Health, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and public health stakeholders, including the Ameyo Stella Adadevoh (DRASA) Health Trust.