The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has directed the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to place 46 people identified as contacts of an Ebola patient on a no-fly list for at least 21 days.
The measure is aimed at preventing further transmission of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) following a confirmed case in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Keyamo announced the directive in a statement posted on his verified X account after a virtual meeting with the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate.
He also ordered FAAN to strengthen Ebola surveillance and response measures at international airports nationwide, including enhanced health screening, temperature checks and travel history monitoring.
According to Keyamo, Pate provided a list of 44 people who came into contact with an affected female patient at a hospital after she developed Ebola symptoms, as well as two members of her domestic staff.
“This evening, I held a virtual meeting with the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate over the Ebola scourge,” Keyamo stated.
“He shared with me a list of 44 persons with whom the affected person came in contact at the hospital when she had developed the symptoms and an additional two persons who are her domestic staff.”
The aviation minister said the individuals would be barred from air travel for at least 21 days, the period during which Ebola symptoms are generally expected to emerge following exposure.
“Whilst efforts are ongoing to isolate them for now until there is certainty they had not been infected with the virus, the Aviation authorities are required to put them on a no-fly list for at least 21 days (which is the period that the symptoms are normally expected to manifest),” he said.
Keyamo added that he had instructed the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to notify domestic and international airlines immediately about the restriction.
“I have therefore directed the NCAA to immediately inform all local and international airlines of this development,” he stated.
He also directed FAAN to intensify health surveillance and Ebola response protocols at international airports across the country.
According to the minister, FAAN has already introduced additional screening measures, temperature checks, travel history tracking, digital health declarations and closer coordination among relevant agencies.
“I have also directed the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to heighten Ebola response and surveillance protocols across all international airports,” he said.
“Measures already being implemented by FAAN include enhanced health screenings, temperature checks, travel history tracking, digital health declarations, and strict inter-agency coordination with the NCDC following regional outbreak alerts earlier.”
The statement did not identify the affected patient, disclose the hospital where the contacts occurred or specify whether the infection was contracted in Nigeria.
It also did not indicate that any of the 46 identified contacts had tested positive for Ebola.
FAAN heightens vigilance across airports
The directive followed an announcement by FAAN on Wednesday that it was maintaining heightened vigilance across airport operations.
The agency said it was working with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Port Health Services, the NCAA and other relevant bodies to support ongoing containment efforts.
FAAN noted that the early identification of the case and the commencement of contact tracing highlighted the importance of established public health protocols, effective surveillance and cooperation among agencies.
“FAAN is maintaining heightened vigilance across airport operations and will continue to coordinate with public health authorities, align its response with further guidance and support additional measures considered necessary to safeguard passengers, airport personnel and the wider public,” it said in a statement issued by its Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire.
The authority urged passengers, airport users, airlines and other stakeholders to remain calm, vigilant and cooperative with health officials.
“The public is also advised to rely on verified information and avoid spreading unconfirmed reports,” it added. “FAAN reassures the travelling public of its continued readiness to work with relevant agencies to protect public health and support the safe operation of Nigeria’s airports.”
The Federal Government confirmed an Ebola case in the FCT on Wednesday.
FG assures Nigerians of containment measures
Meanwhile, the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Preparedness, Virus Disease Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats has assured Nigerians that the country has the capacity to respond to the outbreak.
The task force’s chairman and Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, gave the assurance while speaking to journalists after an emergency meeting at the State House on Wednesday.
Gbajabiamila said the task force had been working behind the scenes since its inauguration in June, adding that the existing preparations helped authorities identify the index case.
“It’s very important to note this. Since the issue of Ebola came up in June, there have been about 44, 000 flights in and out of Nigeria. So, it’s because of what the Ministry of Health, the task force and all the agencies have been doing. All hands have been on deck.
“The passenger with the disease showed no symptoms, which came four days after the woman got into Abuja, and it was the identification process and the protocols that were put in place that enabled the quick identification. That also speaks to the country’s capacity and ability to deal with this disease as best as we can,” he said, according to a statement by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga.
He said the task force would strengthen existing protocols where necessary and ensure stricter enforcement.
“The Task Force is on top of it. NCDC is on top of it; everyone is on deck. We must build community trust and avoid panic, but it’s also important to state clearly that this is a collaborative effort between the government and the people.
He urged Nigerians to comply with public health directives for the safety of everyone.
‘Nigeria has competent health authorities’
Ali Pate said Nigeria had competent health authorities and other relevant institutions, including private hospitals, immigration, aviation and interior agencies, as well as subnational actors, with surveillance systems in place to respond to the outbreak.
“We have been conducting contact tracing diligently and isolating those contacts of the index imported case in this country. We will continue to do that, and we want to reassure Nigerians that the federal government, alongside its technical partners, the World Health Organisation, the Africa Centre for Disease Control, and our own Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, have activated the incident management system across the various pillars.
“They are working day and night diligently, and our hospital capabilities are also activated, such that we can aim to contain this case, as has been the case in other countries, but we will not relent. Our population should respect public health directives.”
Pate said most states had response plans and that the government was mobilising available resources to contain the outbreak.
“Most of our states have adequate response plans. We have the resources, and we’re mobilising those capabilities. And we’re also confident that if we continue on this path, we should be able to dent this outbreak.”
He also urged Nigerians to avoid spreading misinformation that could cause unnecessary panic.
“The key also for the population is to avoid spreading misinformation or baseless rumours, which can cause unnecessary panic. The Task Force leadership has met. WHO and Africa CDC are working closely with the team.
“In addition to our exceptional public health physicians who had successfully tamed this virus in 2014 and had contributed to other countries, we are confident that if we continue in this direction, we will emerge out of this crisis in a much stronger place,” Pate assured.
Other officials and representatives at the meeting included Nigeria Immigration Service Comptroller-General Kemi Nandap; FAAN Managing Director Bunmi Kuku; FAAN General Manager Adamu Adamu; World Health Organisation representative Pavel Ursu; and Africa CDC Special Regional Representative to the Director-General, Aliko Ahmed.