Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, has endorsed President Bola Tinubu’s creation of a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Preparedness, calling the move a necessary step for national security. Following the committee’s inauguration on June 17 at the State House in Abuja, Abayomi shared his support on social media, noting that the initiative addresses rising anxiety over Ebola outbreaks in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Led by Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila and coordinated by NCDC Director-General Dr. Jide Idris, the task force aims to boost surveillance, stop the potential entry of the virus, and improve rapid response capabilities. Abayomi highlighted the importance of Lagos, which manages over 70 percent of Nigeria’s international air travel through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport. Because of this high volume of traffic, the state serves as a primary hub for health security measures.
The state is actively maintaining its own safety protocols under Operation Lagos BioShield, which involves monitoring travelers and running public health education programs. Relying on insights gained from managing past outbreaks like the 2014 Ebola crisis, COVID-19, and Lassa fever, Lagos continues to refine its public health response. Abayomi emphasized that although Nigeria currently has no reported Ebola cases, proactive measures and constant monitoring are essential for protecting the population.
