The Federal Government has stepped up monitoring and screening at all points of entry in response to the ongoing Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Director of Port Health Services at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Akpan Nse, confirmed that additional staff had been deployed to strengthen border surveillance.
Health authorities in the DRC declared an outbreak in Kasai Province, where 28 suspected cases and 16 deaths, including four health workers, have been reported as of September 5, 2025. The outbreak is the country’s 16th since Ebola was first identified in 1976.
Dr Nse explained that Nigeria was at risk due to significant travel between both countries but assured that stringent measures had been put in place.
“We have intensified surveillance at all points of entry across the country airports, land borders, and seaports. Every inbound traveller coming from Congo to Nigeria is thoroughly screened, and we collect their medical history through mandatory forms,” he said.
“We have also reactivated our portals. Every passenger on every flight coming to Nigeria from Congo is screened upon arrival. This applies to airports, seaports, and land borders. Even if passengers transit through Congo on their way to Nigeria, they must undergo screening.
“In addition, with support from WHO, we have recruited more staff to enhance surveillance. Increasing the workforce allows us to effectively prevent the importation of the virus and ensure thorough screening at all borders,” he added.
According to Nse, private organisations have also partnered with the government to keep thermal scanners at airports fully functional.
The current outbreak comes amid overlapping health crises across Central and West Africa, including cholera, malnutrition, and displacement. Previous outbreaks in Kasai occurred in 2007 and 2008, while the DRC’s last outbreak in Equateur Province was controlled in 2022.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has released $500,000 from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies to support the response.
WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, confirmed that rapid response teams were already in Kasai.
“We’re joining rapid response teams to trace contacts and find cases; we’re collecting and testing samples, and we’re providing technical expertise in surveillance, infection prevention and control, treatment, risk communication, and more. WHO has also delivered personal protective equipment, laboratory equipment, medical supplies, and a mobile laboratory,” he said.
He added that 2,000 prepositioned doses of Ebola vaccine stored in Kinshasa were being deployed to vaccinate contacts and health workers.
“This is the 16th outbreak of Ebola in the DRC, and the government has rich experience from those previous outbreaks,” the WHO chief noted.
