The Lagos State Government has reassured residents of its strong preparedness and rapid response capacity against any potential outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), following the evolving health situation in parts of Central and East Africa.
The Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi while addressing concerns over the recent Ebola outbreak in Congo and Uganda, disclosed that Lagos remains on high alert with an established and resilient biosecurity framework designed to detect, contain, and suppress infectious disease outbreaks before they escalate.
According to the Commissioner, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has already declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), following reports of over 700 suspected cases and 177 deaths recorded within the affected regions.
He, however, assured Lagosians that no suspected or confirmed Ebola case has been detected in Lagos State.
The Commissioner stated that the State Government, under the leadership of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has continued to strengthen its outbreak preparedness architecture, drawing from experiences gathered during the 2014/2015 Ebola outbreak and the COVID-19 pandemic.
He explained that Lagos possesses a permanent readiness structure capable of responding swiftly to biological threats such as Ebola, Lassa Fever, Cholera, Diphtheria, and Influenza outbreaks.
Part of the State’s preparedness structure includes the Lagos State Incident Command System (ICS), personally led by Governor Sanwo-Olu as Incident Commander, which allows seamless coordination of emergency interventions and rapid deployment of resources whenever necessary.
The Commissioner further disclosed that the Lagos State Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) remains active round-the-clock, with trained epidemiologists and disease surveillance experts continuously monitoring public health intelligence across communities to ensure early detection and interruption of possible transmission chains.
Speaking on treatment and laboratory infrastructure, he noted that the Lagos State Infectious Disease Hospital in Yaba remains fully prepared with dedicated isolation wards, triage units, intensive care support systems, and highly experienced infectious disease specialists capable of handling confirmed cases across varying severity levels.
He added that the Lagos Biosafety Level-3 Laboratory and Biobank Facility, also located within the Infectious Disease Hospital in Yaba, is operating on enhanced surveillance mode to provide real-time diagnosis and monitoring of high-risk pathogens in collaboration with local and international public health laboratories.
The Commissioner also revealed that the State Government is working closely with Port Health Services and relevant federal agencies including the Federal Ministry of Health, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), and aviation authorities to strengthen surveillance at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, as well as sea and land entry points.
He stated that all passengers arriving from East and Central African countries are currently subjected to strict public health screening and monitoring procedures.
At the grassroots level, the Commissioner said Community Health Workers (CHWs), Community Development Associations (CDAs), and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have been fully integrated into the State’s disease surveillance network to support awareness creation, community reporting, and rapid information dissemination.
He further disclosed that Lagos has maintained strategic stockpiles of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), sanitisers, gloves, and other emergency medical supplies, alongside strategically positioned ambulance services to guarantee rapid emergency response when required.
Reaffirming government’s commitment to public safety, the Commissioner stressed that Lagos remains focused on prevention, early detection, rapid reporting, and coordinated multi-sectoral response strategies.
He described preparedness as a permanent culture of the Lagos State Government, assuring residents that the State remains vigilant, organised, and fully prepared to respond to any biological threat.
While urging residents not to panic, the Commissioner advised citizens to remain vigilant and continue adhering to public health advisories as authorities closely monitor developments in Congo and Uganda.
He also urged anyone who recently travelled to affected areas or had close contact with travellers from the affected regions and is experiencing health concerns to immediately contact the State emergency numbers 767 or 112, or reach the State Epidemiologist through 08023169485 for prompt medical support and guidance.
