The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) in collaboration with the Lagos State Government and Port Health Services, has strengthened surveillance and response measures at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, to prevent the importation and spread of Ebola Virus Disease.
This follows a joint inspection of the airport’s preparedness facilities aimed at evaluating its capacity to detect, monitor, and respond to potential Ebola threats, particularly in light of recent developments in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The high-level exercise brought together key stakeholders from the health and aviation sectors, including the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Emmanuel Abayomi; MMIA Airport Manager, Mr. Olatokunbo Arewa; General Manager, Aviation Medical, FAAN, Dr. Ibrahim Bilikisu; Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Dayo Lajide; 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, Abayomi commended FAAN and partner agencies for their prompt response and proactive measures following reports of the Ebola outbreak in the DRC. He emphasised the need for heightened vigilance, particularly in monitoring passengers arriving from high-risk countries.
He stressed that robust procedures must remain in place to identify, isolate, and closely monitor travellers from affected regions, in strict adherence to established public health protocols.
The Commissioner further underscored the importance of sustained inter-agency collaboration in safeguarding public health at Nigeria’s busiest airport.
In his remarks, the Airport Manager, Mr. Olatokunbo Arewa, reaffirmed FAAN’s commitment to maintaining stringent preventive measures and complying fully with health regulations. He called for stronger synergy among all stakeholders and stressed the importance of immediate response to suspected cases.
“Prompt detection, reporting, and response are critical to preventing the spread of infectious diseases within and beyond the airport environment”, he said.
Also briefing the delegation, , Officer-in-Charge of Port Health Services and Head of the Point of Entry (PoE) team at MMIA, Dr. Lawal Abdullahi, disclosed that the airport’s emergency preparedness and response plan has been reviewed, alongside comprehensive risk assessments.
He noted that airlines operating from high-risk destinations have been identified, while health screening forms are being administered to arriving passengers, with clearly defined roles assigned to all stakeholders under the emergency response framework.
Bilikisu added that FAAN and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) continue to coordinate efforts and share information in line with international health regulations and global best practices.
She further disclosed that airport personnel and relevant stakeholders have undergone sensitisation and training to effectively identify, report, and respond to potential public health threats.
As part of the exercise, members of the Lagos State delegation toured critical airport facilities to verify compliance with Ebola surveillance, screening, and prevention protocols.
The inspection reaffirmed the commitment of both health and aviation authorities to maintaining a high state of readiness and ensuring that MMIA remains equipped to respond effectively to any public health emergency.
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