Concerns have emerged over Nigeria’s preparedness for Ebola after the Federal Government flagged reported breaches of screening protocols at the country’s entry points.

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has ordered relevant authorities to strengthen surveillance and ensure strict compliance with screening procedures following the confirmation of an imported Ebola case in Abuja.

In a directive dated October 22, 2026, and signed by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollum, on behalf of the Minister of Health, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, the government raised concerns about reported lapses in screening procedures.

The confirmed case involves a woman who arrived from Uganda and was diagnosed with the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus. She has been placed in isolation, while health authorities have identified 44 contacts for monitoring.

Questions have also been raised about the availability of isolation facilities and the readiness of states to respond to a possible spread of the virus.

A facility in Yaba, Lagos, previously used for infectious disease management, has reportedly been converted for use by nursing students at Lagos State University, raising concerns about the availability of suitable isolation infrastructure.

The preparedness of state governments has also come under scrutiny, with 15 states reportedly yet to update their Ebola response plans.

Other concerns include the availability of personal protective equipment, limited access to handwashing facilities in some public spaces and gaps in public awareness about Ebola prevention.

Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person or animal, as well as contaminated materials.

Symptoms can develop between two and 21 days after exposure. People generally do not transmit the virus before symptoms appear.

Health authorities have previously stressed the importance of early detection, isolation, contact tracing and strict infection prevention measures to contain the disease.

Nigeria recorded 20 Ebola cases, including eight deaths, during the 2014 outbreak.

The latest alert has renewed attention on the need for effective screening at entry points, adequate isolation facilities and coordinated preparedness measures across the country.