Beyond the Ebola scare

Nigerians heaved a sigh of relief after Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, announced during the week that the recent Ebola scare had eased following the medical evacuation of the index patient to Switzerland for further treatment. On October 20, 2026, the government announced that a woman who had arrived from Uganda had been diagnosed with Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease in Abuja. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has also stated that Nigeria has no active Ebola case within its borders but cautioned that the country cannot yet be officially declared Ebola-free. According to WHO protocols, Nigeria must successfully complete a 42-day monitoring period without recording any new confirmed or probable case before it can attain Ebola-free status.

Before the discovery of the recent index case in Abuja, there was widespread concern that Nigerian authorities had become complacent, even as the virus continued to pose a major public health threat in Africa. Reports from East and Central Africa had consistently highlighted the spread of Ebola, particularly the Bundibugyo strain. Yet, preventive measures at Nigeria’s points of entry appeared weak and poorly enforced. An investigation by Daily Trust found that travellers arriving at major airports were required to complete health declaration forms, but the documents were often not properly scrutinised by officials.

Passengers reported that their QR codes were not scanned, their temperatures were not checked, and no meaningful health screening was conducted to identify Ebola symptoms or other signs of infectious diseases. In some cases, travellers said there were no visible health officials actively monitoring arrivals, raising questions about the effectiveness of the surveillance process. The situation was compounded by concerns about porous land borders, where monitoring was believed to be even less effective. These lapses fuelled public scepticism about Nigeria’s readiness to prevent, detect and contain an Ebola outbreak, prompting many Nigerians to question whether the country could respond effectively if the virus gained a foothold within its borders.

Ebola, one of the deadliest infectious diseases known to humanity, should never be treated with levity or complacency. The situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) demonstrates the devastating consequences of uncontrolled transmission. As of late October 2026, the DRC had recorded more than 10,000 confirmed cases and nearly 4,900 deaths, making it one of the largest Ebola outbreaks on record. During the devastating West African Ebola epidemic of 2014–2016, which affected countries such as Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, thousands of lives were lost and health systems were overwhelmed.

There are reports that the Federal Government had set aside N10 billion for Ebola preparedness and emergency response, but the recent experience has shown that funding alone cannot guarantee protection against a dangerous disease. The fight against Ebola is not won through budgetary allocations on paper but through the effective and transparent deployment of resources to strengthen border screening, equip isolation facilities, train health personnel, provide protective equipment and sustain public awareness campaigns. The Daily Trust report noted that there was no clear breakdown of how the N10 billion allocated for Ebola preparedness had been spent, even as concerns about the country’s readiness persisted. The successful containment of the imported case should not obscure the need for accountability. If any part of the fund was deployed during the outbreak response, Nigerians deserve a full explanation of how it was utilised.

Also, Nigeria must not wait for another Ebola outbreak before taking decisive, long-term action against a disease that has repeatedly threatened lives and overwhelmed health systems across Africa. As the continent’s most populous nation, with extensive internal and international travel networks, Nigeria could suffer enormous human and economic losses if Ebola gains a foothold within its borders.

Rather than focusing solely on emergency responses after cases emerge, Nigeria should invest heavily in prevention, scientific innovation and medical research. The government must adequately fund the nation’s research institutes, universities and public health agencies to accelerate efforts to develop improved treatments, vaccines and other solutions against Ebola and related viral diseases. Where local capacity is insufficient, Nigerian institutions should establish strategic partnerships with research centres across Africa and collaborate with institutions in Europe, North America and Asia. Given that Ebola has disproportionately affected African populations, the continent itself must play a leading role in finding lasting solutions. Nigeria, with its resources, expertise and influence, should lead this continental effort and champion a coordinated scientific response to one of Africa’s most persistent public health challenges.

While Nigerians may be relieved that the immediate Ebola scare has subsided following the evacuation of the infected patient to Switzerland, it is not yet uhuru. Ebola remains a threat as long as the virus continues to circulate in parts of Africa, and vigilance must not be relaxed. Nigeria already battles other deadly infectious diseases, such as Lassa fever and diphtheria, which recur almost every year, causing deaths, straining healthcare resources and creating public anxiety. These diseases have become recurring public health emergencies that demand deliberate, coordinated and sustained action at all levels of government.

Health authorities, border officials and disease surveillance agencies must remain on constant alert at airports, seaports, land borders and in communities across the country to ensure that dangerous pathogens are detected and contained before they spread. Public enlightenment is equally important, as Nigerians need regular information on prevention, early symptoms and the importance of seeking prompt medical attention. The evacuation of the Ebola patient should not create a false sense of security. Rather, it should serve as a reminder that preparedness, surveillance, and public health education must remain national priorities if these infectious diseases are to be brought under control.