- FG Urges Self-Care
- NMA-FCT Calls For Vigilance
THE SENATE has urged the Federal Government to release emergency funds from the Service-Wide Vote and introduce mandatory health screening at Nigeria’s international airports, seaports and designated land borders as authorities intensify efforts to contain an imported case of Ebola reported in Abuja.
The Senate also called for enhanced screening of travellers who had visited or transited affected areas within the preceding 21 days, while urging the government to strengthen isolation and treatment centres across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The resolutions followed a motion sponsored by Sen. Francis Ade Faduyile (APC-Ondo South) during Wednesday’s plenary on the urgent need for preventive measures against Ebola.
Faduyile called for compulsory health declaration forms, temperature checks and symptom screening for all arriving international passengers, irrespective of nationality or country of departure. He also proposed exit screening during declared public health emergencies.
He urged the government to equip entry points with trained port health officers, thermal scanners, protective equipment and isolation rooms, while calling for adequate funding for the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and Port Health Services.
The senator also urged the National Assembly to modernise the Quarantine Act of 1926 to strengthen the country’s capacity to respond to infectious disease threats.
Seconding the motion, Sen. Ekong Sampson (APC-Akwa Ibom South) described Ebola as a deadly threat requiring urgent action, warning that a single case could trigger widespread transmission if not contained.
Sen. Adamu Aliero (APC-Kebbi Central) said the response should not wait for the 2027 budget or a supplementary budget, arguing that immediate resources were needed by the NCDC and Port Health Services.
The Senate consequently urged the Federal Government to source emergency funds through the Service-Wide Vote, with the Ministries of Finance and Budget and Economic Planning directed to facilitate the release.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio expressed concern over reports that a traveller entered Nigeria without adequate screening at the point of arrival, saying the incident raised questions about the effectiveness of screening arrangements at the country’s entry points.
Akpabio recalled Nigeria’s experience during the 2014 Ebola outbreak and warned that failure to detect an infected traveller early could expose many people to the disease. He called for comprehensive screening of all arriving international passengers, noting that infected persons could travel through third countries.
The Senate President also urged the Senate Committee on Judiciary to immediately engage relevant health authorities on reviewing the Quarantine Act.
FG Urges Self-Care
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has urged Nigerians to practise self-care measures, including regular hand hygiene and appropriate disinfection, and to cooperate with public health officials to support efforts to contain the reported imported case in Abuja.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, made the call on Tuesday in Abuja at the inaugural National Self-Care Conference 2026, themed, “Self-Care Puts Your Health in Your Hands: Test. Track. Thrive.”
Salako said individual responsibility was critical to preventing and controlling infectious diseases, including Ebola, and urged Nigerians to adopt healthy practices while cooperating fully with public health authorities.
He stressed that self-care complemented rather than replaced professional healthcare, adding that the government would continue investing in health facilities, skilled personnel, essential medicines and functional referral systems.
The Special Adviser to the President on Health, Dr Salma Anas, similarly said self-care should be promoted alongside effective regulation, quality healthcare services and accountability, warning against interpreting it as government withdrawal from its responsibilities.
The World Health Organization’s Coordinator for Strategic Health Policy and Planning, Dr Mary Brantuo, said self-care could extend the reach of health systems by empowering individuals with the knowledge, tools and confidence to make informed health decisions.
NMA-FCT Calls for Vigilance
Also, the Nigerian Medical Association, Federal Capital Territory branch (NMA-FCT), has urged residents to remain calm and vigilant while relying only on verified information from official public health sources.
In a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Dr George Ebong, Secretary, Dr Arome Adejo, and Public Relations Officer, Dr Simon Ogenyi, the association commended the government for its response and continued adherence to guidance from the NCDC and FCT health authorities.
The NMA-FCT urged healthcare workers and health facilities to strictly observe infection prevention and control measures, including proper hand hygiene and appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
It also called for adequate PPE supplies, training in their correct use and disposal, strengthened emergency preparedness and clear pathways for safe referral of suspected cases.
The association advised healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion for Ebola symptoms and relevant epidemiological history, and to promptly isolate and report suspected cases in line with established protocols.
It warned that no healthcare worker should undertake high-risk procedures or attend to suspected Ebola cases without adequate PPE, training and appropriate safety measures.
The NMA-FCT also appealed to the media to avoid sensationalism, unverified information and disclosure of patient-identifying details, saying responsible reporting was necessary to prevent panic and stigmatisation.
The association called on government authorities and hospital managements to urgently provide risk assessments, operational guidelines, adequate PPE and other support needed to protect frontline healthcare workers.The Senate, Federal Government and medical professionals have urged Nigerians and relevant authorities to remain vigilant and support coordinated public health measures to prevent further spread of Ebola.
