4 hours ago
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By Kazeem Ugbodaga
The Senate and the House of Representatives have called on the Federal Government to urgently strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness and response to Ebola Virus Disease, demanding emergency funding, compulsory health screening at international entry points and improved capacity for detecting and containing infectious diseases.
The lawmakers’ interventions followed the confirmation of an imported Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), raising concerns about the country’s ability to prevent further transmission amid reports of the virus in other African countries.
While the Senate called for emergency funding from the service-wide vote and mandatory screening of all international passengers, the House of Representatives urged the immediate release of outstanding appropriated funds to relevant health agencies to strengthen surveillance, laboratory testing, contact tracing and emergency medical response.
The Senate’s resolutions followed a motion of urgent national importance on Wednesday, sponsored by Senator Francis Faduyile, who warned that the spread of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus across parts of Africa posed a serious threat to Nigeria’s public health system.
Similarly, the House adopted a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Amobi Ogah, representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency of Abia State, calling for stronger preventive and emergency medical measures following the confirmation of the Abuja case.
The Senate urged the Federal Government to mobilise emergency resources to strengthen disease surveillance and enforce mandatory health screening at all international airports, seaports and designated land borders.
Faduyile noted that the outbreak, which began in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), had spread to other African countries, including Uganda and Kenya, increasing the possibility of infected travellers entering Nigeria through third countries.
He also cited the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention’s (NCDC) assessment of the risk of Ebola importation, recalling the 2014 outbreak in Nigeria, when an infected traveller introduced the virus through Lagos.
Although the Senate acknowledged existing government measures, including health declaration forms and enhanced screening at entry points, it expressed concern that screening requirements had been restricted to travellers from selected countries, potentially leaving gaps in the surveillance system.
The lawmakers also raised concerns about inadequate staffing and equipment at some entry points and the continued reliance of Port Health Services on the Quarantine Act of 1926.
Consequently, the Senate urged the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the NCDC and Port Health Services to make health screening compulsory for all arriving international passengers, regardless of nationality or country of departure.
The proposed measures include health declaration forms, temperature checks and symptom assessments, with enhanced screening for travellers who have visited or transited through affected areas within the preceding 21 days.
The upper chamber also called for exit screening of departing passengers during declared public health emergencies.
It further urged the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and the Nigeria Immigration Service to provide adequate numbers of trained Port Health officers, thermal scanners, protective equipment and isolation facilities at all entry points.
The Senate also asked the Federal Government to ensure that isolation and treatment centres across the 36 states and the FCT were adequately prepared to manage suspected and confirmed cases.
The House of Representatives, meanwhile, called on the Federal Government to immediately release outstanding appropriated funds to relevant health agencies, warning that funding gaps could undermine the country’s efforts to prevent and contain the disease.
Presenting his motion, Ogah described Ebola as a severe and potentially fatal infectious disease that requires early detection, effective infection prevention and control, and coordinated public health intervention.
He told lawmakers that a case had been confirmed in a woman who arrived in Abuja from Uganda and that health authorities had identified 44 contacts for monitoring and further assessment.
Ogah warned that delays in detecting suspected cases, conducting laboratory investigations, isolating infected persons, tracing contacts and providing timely medical care could increase the risk of transmission and place additional pressure on Nigeria’s healthcare system.
He also expressed concern that inadequate public awareness, shortages of infection prevention and control supplies, gaps in healthcare workers’ preparedness and limited emergency response capacity could weaken containment efforts.
The House unanimously adopted the motion during plenary presided over by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu.
The lawmakers urged the Federal Government to mobilise public and private health institutions at federal and state levels and place them on high alert.
They specifically called on the government, through the Ministry of Finance, to release outstanding appropriated funds without delay to enable relevant agencies to discharge their responsibilities effectively.
The House further urged the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the NCDC to assess the additional funding required to strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness and response capacity in line with current epidemiological evidence and public health guidance.
As part of its oversight responsibilities, the House mandated its Committee on Infectious Diseases to engage relevant ministries, departments, agencies and public health institutions for updates on the Ebola situation and the measures being taken to prevent further transmission. The committee is expected to report back for further legislative action.
Beyond emergency funding and screening, the Senate called for the replacement of the Quarantine Act of 1926 with modern public health legislation aligned with the International Health Regulations of 2005.
The lawmakers also urged the ministries responsible for finance, budget and economic planning to provide adequate funding for the NCDC and Port Health Services in the 2027 budget and ensure the release of outstanding funds.
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