Nigeria Still Unprepared to Fully Handle Ebola Outbreak, but Equipped to Keep it Under Control, Says NCDC

Dr Jide Idris, the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), has acknowledged that Nigeria is not fully prepared to handle a potential Ebola outbreak, but remains confident in the country's ability to contain the virus if it enters the country.

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Idris made this admission on Friday during a press briefing in Lagos, where he noted that while Nigeria's preparedness level is not at 100 percent, existing mechanisms are strong enough to stop transmission of the deadly virus.

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According to Idris, it is impossible for any country, including the United States, to be 100 percent prepared for an Ebola outbreak, saying "We cannot be 100 percent prepared, it is not possible, not even America can claim that."

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He, however, expressed optimism that with the current knowledge and systems in place, Nigeria can stop the spread of Ebola if it enters the country, stating "But let me be frank with you: if Ebola comes into Nigeria, we will stop it with the current knowledge and systems we have now."

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The NCDC boss revealed that Nigeria has classified the risk of Ebola importation as high due to increasing international travel, population movement, and the country's porous borders, prompting the Federal Government to intensify surveillance and emergency preparedness measures nationwide.

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Idris stated that the main focus of the government is on points of entry, where surveillance has been strengthened, particularly at international airports and border entry points, saying "For Nigeria, our main focus is on points of entry, what we have done is strengthen surveillance at these points."

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Surveillance systems are currently active at the country's five international airports in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Enugu, and Port Harcourt, with Port Health officials, aviation agencies, immigration officers, and state governments working together to monitor travelers arriving from affected countries.

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Passengers from high-risk countries are subjected to screening procedures and mandatory health declaration forms before boarding flights into Nigeria, as part of efforts to prevent the disease from entering the country, with Idris saying "The idea is not to allow the disease to enter the country in the first place."

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Idris acknowledged that major challenges confronting the country's preparedness efforts include the shortage of health workers and limited laboratory capacity, admitting "Yes, we have a shortage of health workers, the shortage is affecting NCDC."

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He also revealed that only a few laboratories in Nigeria currently have the capacity to test for Ebola due to the high cost of setting up and maintaining such facilities, explaining "The laboratories are expensive, maintaining them is expensive, and training the right personnel is also expensive, that is why the system has been tiered."

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Designated laboratories capable of testing for Ebola include the National Reference Laboratory in Abuja, the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), and some private laboratories with genomic testing capabilities.

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Idris said that suspected cases identified in states would be isolated immediately and samples referred to designated laboratories for confirmation, stressing that infection prevention and control remain one of the strongest weapons against Ebola transmission.

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He emphasized the importance of individual behavior and hygiene practices in preventing the spread of Ebola, which spreads through direct contact with infected body fluids such as blood, sweat, and saliva, saying "If all of us adopt proper hygiene practices, hospitals become safer for everyone."

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Idris appealed to the media and members of the public not to spread fear or panic through unverified information and negative narratives about the country's preparedness, cautioning "But I beg of you, do not stampede people with all these negative thoughts."

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He assured Nigerians that the NCDC would remain transparent and would not conceal any confirmed Ebola case from the public, saying "We will not deny anything, we will not hide anything from Nigerians, if Ebola comes and it is Ebola, we will say it openly."

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The NCDC boss noted that the country has learned valuable lessons from the successful containment of Ebola in 2014 and is building on those experiences to strengthen response systems nationwide, saying "We are not denying our weaknesses, we know there are gaps, but preparedness is a continuous process."

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Idris disclosed that the agency had already conducted readiness assessments in hundreds of health facilities nationwide and activated emergency coordination systems to strengthen response capacity, and that discussions were ongoing regarding hazard allowances, insurance, and welfare support for frontline health workers.

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He stressed that preparedness is everybody's responsibility, saying "Preparedness is everybody's responsibility, the problem is not only with the NCDC, it concerns everybody, including the public."

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While assuring Nigerians that there is currently no confirmed Ebola case in the country, Idris warned that vigilance must remain high because preparedness begins before the first case is detected, saying "We are hopeful that Ebola will not come into Nigeria, but if it does, we are ready to respond and contain it."