Nigeria Senate urges emergency funds and mandatory screening to curb Ebola spread

Senate Resolution In a motion of urgent national importance, the Nigerian Senate has requested that the Federal Government release emergency funds from the service‑wide vote. The aim is to strengthen disease surveillance and to introduce compulsory health screening for all international travellers entering the country. The resolution was sponsored by Senator Francis Faduyile and was adopted on 21 October 2026.

Health Threats and Past Outbreaks Senator Faduyile highlighted the spread of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which began in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and has reached Uganda and Kenya. He warned that infected individuals could enter Nigeria through transit countries. The senator also recalled the 2014 Ebola outbreak in Lagos, when a traveller carried the virus into the city, underscoring the need for tighter controls at points of entry.

Current Measures and Gaps While the Senate acknowledged existing interventions—such as health declaration forms and increased surveillance at airports, seaports and land borders—it expressed concern that screening has been limited to travellers from selected countries. Lawmakers noted shortages of personnel and essential equipment at several entry points and pointed out that Port Health Services still operate under the Quarantine Act of 1926, a law that predates modern public‑health regulations. The Senate warned that these limitations could create loopholes in Nigeria’s disease‑monitoring system.

Call for Funding and Modern Law The resolution urges the Ministry of Health, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and Port Health Services to ensure that every international passenger, regardless of nationality or country of departure, undergoes mandatory health screening. In addition, lawmakers called for the replacement of the 1926 Quarantine Act with a contemporary public‑health law that aligns with the International Health Regulations of 2005. They also stressed the importance of bolstering preparedness for other epidemic‑prone diseases such as Lassa fever, cholera and diphtheria.

Conclusion By demanding emergency funds and comprehensive screening, the Senate seeks to close gaps in Nigeria’s current public‑health safeguards and to prevent the re‑introduction of Ebola and other infectious diseases. The resolution reflects a broader push to modernise the country’s disease‑control framework and to protect the health of its citizens.