By Mary Onyia
Nigeria has activated its highest level of health surveillance following the worsening Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda, as authorities move swiftly to prevent the deadly virus from crossing into the country.
According to international health authorities, the outbreak has recorded nearly 1,000 suspected cases and at least 216 deaths as of May 23, 2026, triggering fears of wider regional spread and placing countries with strong travel links to Central Africa on high alert.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) confirmed that Nigeria currently has no reported Ebola case linked to the outbreak but warned that the risk of importation remains high due to international travel and cross-border movement.
Director-General of the NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris, said nationwide surveillance and emergency response mechanisms had already been activated.
“The assessment estimated the risk of Ebola importation into Nigeria as high due to ongoing transmission in the DRC and Uganda, international travel, and population movement. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates as necessary,” he said.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed that enhanced screening measures had been deployed at airports, seaports, and land borders across the country, while laboratories and diagnostic centres had also been placed on heightened readiness.
“While Nigeria currently has no confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease, the federal government is taking all necessary proactive measures to strengthen national preparedness, surveillance, and coordination mechanisms to protect the health and well-being of all Nigerians,” Pate stated.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said additional health checks had been introduced for arriving passengers, particularly travelers from affected regions, while emergency response protocols at international airports had been strengthened.
FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs, Henry Agbebire, said: “While there is currently no confirmed case of Ebola in Nigeria, FAAN remains vigilant and fully committed to safeguarding public health and maintaining safe airport operations.”
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has also directed airlines, airport operators, and aviation stakeholders to intensify public health surveillance, emphasizing that early detection and immediate reporting remain critical to containing any possible spread.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) said its personnel had been placed on heightened alert at critical national infrastructure, including airports and seaports, as part of the broader national preparedness effort.
The NCDC further revealed that the National Emergency Operations Centre had been placed on alert mode, while the National Incident Management System had been activated with clear coordination and escalation pathways. Rapid Response Teams and epidemiologists across the country have also been placed on standby for possible deployment.
Health experts say the outbreak presents a serious challenge because it is unfolding amid humanitarian instability, insecurity, and heavy population movement across affected areas. The Bundibugyo strain involved in the outbreak currently has no approved vaccine or specific treatment, although experimental vaccine candidates are being evaluated.
The world’s deadliest Ebola outbreak occurred between 2014 and 2016 in West Africa, killing more than 11,000 people across Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
Nigeria narrowly avoided a major disaster in July 2014 after infected Liberian-American diplomat Patrick Sawyer arrived in Lagos carrying the virus. Swift intervention by Nigerian health authorities successfully contained the outbreak to 20 cases and eight deaths, an effort widely praised by global health agencies.
The current outbreak marks the 17th recorded Ebola outbreak in the DRC since the virus was first identified in 1976. The previous DRC outbreak ended in December 2025.
There have been two previous outbreaks involving the Bundibugyo strain — in Uganda in 2007 and the DRC in 2012 — with fatality rates estimated at 25 percent and 50 percent respectively.
More than a decade after Nigeria’s narrow escape in 2014, authorities are once again racing to ensure history does not repeat itself.