FAAN, Lagos Strengthen Ebola Surveillance At MMIA
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), in collaboration with the Lagos State Government and Port Health Services, has intensified Ebola surveillance and preventive measures at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, following concerns over the recent Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The enhanced measures followed a joint inspection of the airport’s preparedness facilities by health and aviation officials to assess its capacity to detect, monitor and respond to any potential Ebola threat.
The inspection team included Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi; MMIA Airport Manager, Olatokunbo Arewa; FAAN General Manager, Aviation Medical Services, Dr. Ibrahim Bilikisu; Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Dayo Lajide; Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi; and the State Epidemiologist, Dr. Ismail Abdus-Salam.
Speaking during the exercise, Abayomi commended FAAN and other stakeholders for their proactive response to developments surrounding the Ebola outbreak in the DRC. He stressed the need for heightened vigilance, particularly in monitoring passengers arriving from countries considered high-risk.
According to him, effective procedures must remain in place to identify, isolate and closely monitor travellers from affected regions while ensuring strict adherence to public health protocols.
The commissioner noted that sustained collaboration among relevant agencies was critical to preventing the importation and spread of infectious diseases through Nigeria’s busiest airport.
In his remarks, MMIA Airport Manager Olatokunbo Arewa reaffirmed FAAN’s commitment to maintaining all necessary preventive measures and complying with established health regulations.
He called for stronger cooperation among stakeholders and emphasised the importance of swift action whenever Ebola-related symptoms are detected in travellers.
“Prompt detection, reporting and response are essential to preventing the spread of any infectious disease within the airport environment and beyond,” Arewa said.
Also addressing the delegation, the Officer-in-Charge of Port Health Services and Head of the Point of Entry Team at MMIA, Abdullahi Lawal, disclosed that the airport’s emergency preparedness and response plan had been reviewed and comprehensive risk assessments conducted.
Lawal said airlines operating from high-risk destinations had been identified, while screening forms were being administered to arriving passengers from such routes. He added that responsibilities had been clearly assigned to stakeholders under the airport’s emergency response framework.
FAAN’s General Manager of Aviation Medical Services, Ibrahim Bilikisu, said the authority and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) were maintaining close coordination and information-sharing in line with international health regulations and global best practices.
She further disclosed that airport personnel and other stakeholders had received training and sensitisation on how to identify, report and respond appropriately to potential public health threats.
As part of the inspection, members of the Lagos State Government delegation toured critical airport facilities to verify compliance with Ebola surveillance, screening and prevention protocols.
The exercise underscored the commitment of health and aviation authorities to maintaining a high level of preparedness and ensuring that MMIA remains capable of responding effectively to any public health emergency.
