On September 9, the state’s Public Health Emergency Operations Centre convened in Yaba to review readiness across surveillance, case management, laboratory capacity, and risk communication. Officials confirmed that an isolation centre is already in place, while training for frontline health workers will commence immediately.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, said Lagos is “largely ready” to respond if needed, but urged residents to remain vigilant. He stressed the importance of strict hygiene, environmental sanitation, and early reporting of symptoms, especially among travellers arriving from regions experiencing outbreaks.
At Murtala Muhammed International Airport, port health services have intensified screening procedures, with enhanced checks for high-risk passengers. Immigration, customs, and airport staff are also being sensitised to detect possible warning signs of Ebola infection.
Nigeria last recorded Ebola in 2014, when coordinated emergency measures successfully contained the outbreak in Lagos, preventing widespread transmission. Health officials say that experience has shaped current protocols, giving the state confidence in its ability to prevent the virus from re-entering.
The Ministry of Health assured that surveillance systems will remain on high alert while it works with federal and international partners to safeguard public health.