•Ebola outbreak
Lagos State government, in conjunction with the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), have adopted a stronger approach in ensuring that Nigeria and Nigerians are well protected against the raging Ebola that is rising rapidly in some parts of Africa, especially in Congo, where it has already claimed so many lives.
The Muritala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos is already on red alert with health officials and that of FAAN strictly profiling passengers to prevent the importation of the disease to the country, reports Daily Independent.
According to a statement signed by the Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, FAAN, Henry Agbabire, a team comprising officials from the agency, the Lagos State Government and Port Health inspected facilities at the airport yesterday.
The inspection was conducted to assess the airport’s readiness to detect, monitor, and respond to any potential Ebola threat, particularly in light of recent developments surrounding the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The exercise brought together key stakeholders from the health and aviation sectors, including the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Emmanuel Akinola Abayomi; MMIA Airport Manager, Mr. Olatokunbo Arewa; General Manager, Aviation Medical, FAAN, Dr. Ibrahim Bilikisu; the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Dayo Lajide; the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi; and the State Epidemiologist, Dr. Ismail Adeshina Abdus-Salam, among others.
Speaking during the inspection, Prof. Abayomi commended FAAN and other stakeholders for their swift response to developments relating to the Ebola outbreak in the DRC and the proactive preventive measures already in place at the airport.
He stressed the need for heightened vigilance and stricter surveillance, particularly in monitoring passengers arriving from countries considered high-risk.
According to him, effective procedures must be maintained to identify, separate, and closely monitor travelers from such destinations while ensuring full compliance with established public health protocols.
The commissioner noted that continuous collaboration among all relevant agencies remains crucial to preventing the importation and spread of infectious diseases through Nigeria’s busiest airport, adding that safeguarding public health must remain a priority.
