The Federal Government of Nigeria has ramped up surveillance and screening procedures for passengers arriving from the Democratic Republic of Congo, following the outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease in the Central African country.
The Director of Port Health Services at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Akpan Nse, confirmed this in an interview with PUNCH.
Nse said Nigeria faced a “risk of importing the virus due to high levels of international travel with the DRC,” but assured that “Port Health Services was on alert and had strengthened surveillance to prevent this.”
He explained that passengers from Congo, including those transiting through the country before arriving in Nigeria, would undergo mandatory checks at all entry points.
“We have intensified surveillance at all points of entry across the country—airports, land borders, and seaports. Every inbound traveller coming from Congo to Nigeria is thoroughly screened, and we collect their medical history through mandatory forms,” he stated.
“We have also reactivated our portals. Every passenger on every flight coming to Nigeria from Congo is screened upon arrival. This applies to airports, seaports, and land borders. Even if passengers transit through Congo on their way to Nigeria, they must undergo screening.”
He added that more health officers had been deployed to strengthen monitoring nationwide.
“In addition, with support from WHO, we have recruited more staff to enhance surveillance. Increasing the workforce allows us to effectively prevent the importation of the virus and ensure thorough screening at all borders.”
Previously, SaharaReporters reported that Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has declared a fresh outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus disease in Kasai Province, with at least 28 suspected cases and 15 deaths, including four health workers, recorded as of September 4, 2025.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that the outbreak has struck Bulape and Mweka health zones, where patients presented with “symptoms including fever, vomiting, diarrhoea and haemorrhage.”
Laboratory samples tested on September 3 at the country’s National Institute of Biomedical Research in Kinshasa confirmed the cause of the outbreak as Ebola Zaire, the most lethal strain of the virus.
