Ebola: Senate seeks emergency funds, mandatory border screening

The Senate has called on the Federal Government to provide emergency funding from the service-wide vote to strengthen the country’s disease surveillance system and enforce mandatory health screening at all international airports, seaports and designated land borders to prevent the spread of Ebola and other epidemic-prone diseases.

The resolution followed a motion of urgent national importance sponsored by Senator Francis Faduyile, who raised concerns over the spread of the Bundibugyo Ebola virus and the risk it poses to Nigeria’s public health system.

Faduyile noted that the outbreak, which began in the DRC, had spread to other African countries, including Uganda and Kenya, highlighting the risk of infected travellers entering Nigeria through third countries.

He also cited the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention’s assessment of a high risk of Ebola importation, recalling that a single traveller brought the disease into Nigeria through Lagos in July 2014.

The Senate acknowledged the Federal Government’s existing measures, including the introduction of health declaration forms and enhanced screening at entry points.

However, it expressed concern that screening requirements had been restricted to travellers from selected countries, potentially leaving gaps in the country’s surveillance system.

Lawmakers also raised concerns over inadequate staffing and equipment at several entry points, as well as the continued reliance of Port Health Services on the Quarantine Act of 1926.

The upper chamber warned that Nigeria’s existing disease burden, including Lassa fever, cholera and diphtheria, makes it imperative for the country to strengthen its preparedness against another major public health emergency.

Consequently, the Senate asked the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the NCDC and Port Health Services to make health screening compulsory for all arriving international passengers, irrespective of nationality or country of departure.

The proposed screening 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 Senate also called for exit screening for 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 Federal Government was also urged to ensure that isolation and treatment centres are adequately prepared across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

On the legal framework, the Senate called for the replacement of the Quarantine Act of 1926 with a modern public health law aligned with the International Health Regulations of 2005.

It also urged the ministries of finance, budget, and economic planning to provide adequate funding for the NCDC and Port Health Services in the 2027 budget and release outstanding funds.