FG Approves ₦45bn Disease Surveillance Systems For 5 Airports

The federal government has approved ₦45.08 billion to install disease detection and surveillance systems at five international airports as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s defences against infectious disease outbreaks.

Health Minister Prof. Ali Pate announced the approval after Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja, chaired by President Bola Tinubu.

The project will operate under a 20-year public-private partnership with the BioHealth Consortium and cover airports in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt and Enugu.

The planned systems will use aircraft wastewater monitoring, air and surface sampling, and specialised technology to identify potentially dangerous pathogens. The initiative is also expected to improve coordination among agencies responsible for public health and border security.

Pate also confirmed that Nigeria’s Ebola patient, diagnosed in October, had recovered. However, contact tracing and other containment measures remain in place to limit the risk of further transmission.