Concerns Grow Over Ebola Surveillance at Nigerian Airports
Despite assurances from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), there are visible gaps in health checks at the Abuja International Airport’s arrival terminal. Experts warn that Nigeria could face a second wave of the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) if robust surveillance, mandatory testing, and quarantine protocols are not reinforced at all entry and exit points throughout the country.
Insufficient Pre-Flight Testing Raises Alarms
While FAAN has offered several reassurances regarding health measures, operations at departure terminals reflect business as usual. Observations reveal significant shortcomings in pre-flight testing, an alarming situation given the continent’s heightened infectious disease threat, particularly from the spreading Ebola virus and hantavirus being monitored in South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Contrasting Experiences at Major Airports
Investigations by BusinessDay at both Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) and Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Terminal 2 highlight a disturbing divergence between public health policies and actual enforcement. International passengers arriving face a functional containment bottleneck, whereas departing travelers move through standard security without any visible health surveillance or Ebola-related testing.
NCDC Assesses Risk Level Amidst Growing Public Health Threat
This concerning environment arises after the Nigeria Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) evaluated the risk of Ebola importation as “high.” The public health crisis is exacerbated by the swift spread of the Bundibugyo strain in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda, where recent reports indicate over 220 fatalities out of nearly 1,000 suspected cases.
Lack of Health Checks at Major Airports
A physical inspection at MMIA Terminal 2 uncovered an absence of Port Health Services and NCDC personnel. Passengers passed through the check-in counter without temperature screenings or mandatory health declarations. A traveling passenger expressed astonishment at the lack of basic health protocols. “I was surprised that Nigeria still does not have any such system in place for departure,” she remarked.
Improved Protocols for Arrivals but Gaps Remain for Departures
In contrast, arrival procedures at MMIA reportedly included proactive contactless temperature checks for incoming passengers. Travelers arriving on Kenya Airways were required to fill out comprehensive health forms detailing recent travel history, indicating a more robust protocol for incoming flights. Such discrepancies between departure and arrival measures raise serious concerns about the overall efficacy of Nigeria’s health security framework.
Public Health Experts Sound the Alarm
Public health analysts emphasize that Nigeria’s historical vulnerability to imported diseases must galvanize action. In 2014, the country recorded its first Ebola case, leading to widespread panic and public health emergencies. Experts warn that the lack of proper exit checks and local oversight could leave Nigeria dangerously exposed, especially considering the absence of licensed vaccines or treatments for the Bundibugyo strain. Nigeria’s epidemic preparedness remains primarily reactive, demanding a proactive and systematic approach to prevent future outbreaks.
