THE Federal Government has activated emergency surveillance measures at airports and other points of entry across the country, including mandatory screening for inbound passengers and returning Hajj pilgrims, following a fresh outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
News Point Nigeria reports that the measures include the deployment of a dedicated Ebola screening portal for all passengers travelling to Nigeria, heightened monitoring at international airports, and enhanced collaboration among health and aviation authorities aimed at preventing the importation of the disease.
The move follows the declaration by the World Health Organization of the latest Ebola outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus strain, as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on May 17, 2026.
Speaking on the development, the Director of Operations, Licensing and Training Standards at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Don Spiff, disclosed that all passengers travelling to Nigeria would be required to complete an Ebola health questionnaire before boarding their flights.
“All passengers flying to Nigeria will have to fill out the Ebola questionnaire before they board the flight,” he said.
According to him, the initiative is being coordinated by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in collaboration with aviation and health authorities.
Spiff noted that the measure has become even more critical as thousands of Nigerian pilgrims are expected to begin returning from Saudi Arabia from June 4 through designated international airports in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu, and Kano.
He acknowledged that some pilgrims might experience challenges completing the online form due to literacy limitations but assured that tour operators, NCDC officials, and medical personnel of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria would provide the necessary assistance.
Spiff further revealed that special arrangements had been put in place for Uganda Airlines, which currently operates three weekly flights into Lagos.
According to him, the airline’s Sunday and Monday flights would be processed through the Hajj terminal at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport to enable enhanced screening and clearance procedures.
The NCAA official added that guidelines had also been issued to major international carriers, including Ethiopian Airlines, while authorities were considering staggered arrival schedules to reduce pressure on screening facilities.
He explained that the government would assess the effectiveness of the initial screening measures before determining whether additional actions would be required.
Meanwhile, the NCAA has directed all international airlines operating into Nigeria to ensure that arriving passengers complete the NCDC Health Declaration Form through the designated online portal before arrival.
In an advisory dated May 30, 2026, obtained by Sunday PUNCH, the aviation regulator stated that surveillance and preparedness measures had been significantly intensified to prevent the importation and spread of Ebola into the country.
“The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has intensified its surveillance and preparedness measures to prevent the potential importation and spread of the disease into Nigeria,” the advisory stated.
The authority said it was working closely with the Federal Ministry of Health, NCDC, Port Health Services, state ministries of health, and international health organisations to strengthen preparedness and response mechanisms.
It added that airlines had been directed to notify passengers of the health declaration requirement and assist them in completing the process where necessary.
According to the NCAA, passengers unable to complete the form online would be allowed to fill out paper versions upon arrival.
The latest outbreak has revived memories of the 2014 Ebola epidemic, which claimed lives in Nigeria before it was successfully contained following the arrival of Patrick Sawyer.
Findings by this newspaper indicate that screening of inbound passengers has already commenced at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
Health officials were observed conducting temperature checks, verifying vaccination documents, and collecting passenger information for contact-tracing purposes.
Similar surveillance measures have also been introduced at other international airports across the country.
A security operative at the Port Harcourt International Airport, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly, confirmed that Port Health Services had intensified monitoring activities.
A passenger arriving from the United Kingdom, identified simply as Adela, noted that screening procedures appeared stricter than usual, particularly for travellers arriving from African countries.
The Managing Director of FAAN, Olubunmi Kuku, also confirmed that all international airports across Nigeria had been placed on heightened alert.
“At present, there has been no reported case linked to Ebola at Nigerian airports. However, surveillance and monitoring have been significantly intensified,” she said.
The NCDC has equally activated nationwide preparedness measures and urged healthcare facilities and workers to remain vigilant.
Its Director-General, Jide Idris, warned that Nigeria remains vulnerable because of international travel and the similarity between Ebola symptoms and those associated with diseases such as Malaria and Lassa Fever.
He stressed the need for healthcare workers across the country to remain alert to suspected cases and adhere strictly to infection prevention and control protocols.
The latest measures underscore the Federal Government’s determination to prevent a repeat of previous Ebola outbreaks and ensure that Nigeria remains prepared against any potential public health threat arising from international travel and cross-border disease transmission.