Nigeria Only 59% Prepared for Possible Ebola Outbreak — NCDC
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has revealed that the country is only 59% prepared for a potential Ebola outbreak, citing gaps in readiness across key areas.
The agency’s Director-General, Jide Idris, said the figure emerged from a recent national risk assessment evaluating Nigeria’s capacity to detect and respond to the deadly virus.
He noted that while preparedness is improving, critical vulnerabilities remain, particularly at points of entry such as airports and land borders, which pose a high risk for disease importation.
Health authorities say the concern is driven by ongoing Ebola outbreaks in countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, combined with increased cross-border movement and international travel.
The NCDC has intensified surveillance and deployed teams nationwide to assess infrastructure, isolation centres, and emergency response systems, while urging stronger coordination across states.
Despite the warning, officials emphasize that Nigeria currently has no confirmed Ebola cases, but stress the need for urgent improvements to prevent any potential outbreak.
