This was revealed in a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on June 9, 2026.
According to the statement, the intervention fund is aimed at boosting the operational capacity of the National Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and enhancing the country’s readiness for swift response to public health emergencies.
The newly established Task Force will be headed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, with members drawn from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies as well as representatives from state governments.
The move follows renewed concerns over the resurgence of Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda, both of which share proximity with countries in the region.
A stakeholder meeting convened under the leadership of the Chief of Staff reviewed Nigeria’s preparedness level and developed preventive strategies aimed at blocking possible importation of the virus into the country. Participants included officials from the Ministry of Interior, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Lagos State Government, among other key institutions.
President Tinubu also directed states with international airports and border corridors, alongside relevant federal agencies, to submit detailed preparedness plans, funding requirements, and intervention proposals for coordinated implementation.
Among the immediate measures approved for execution are intensified passenger screening at international airports, strengthened temperature checks, improved crowd management protocols, and enhanced monitoring of travellers arriving via identified high-risk airline routes including Air Uganda, Rwanda Air, Air Tanzania, Air Angola, Kenya Airways, and Ethiopian Airlines.
The directive also includes the activation of isolation and referral centres at Lagos and Abuja international airports, with similar facilities to be deployed in other locations as needed.
In addition, authorities are to enforce QR code-based pre-arrival health declaration systems for travellers from or transiting through high-risk countries, while airport facilities including departure halls, baggage zones, and cargo areas are to undergo routine disinfection as part of preventive safety measures.
The Task Force has also been mandated to engage security, diplomatic, and aviation stakeholders to regulate flight operations from affected countries, while considering the designation of specific terminals or airports for high-risk arrivals to ensure controlled screening and isolation procedures. Adjustments to flight schedules may also be introduced to reduce contact between high-risk passengers and other travellers.