The Nigerian Senate has called for mandatory health screening of all international passengers arriving in the country to strengthen efforts to prevent the importation and spread of Ebola and other infectious diseases.
The resolution covers international airports, seaports and designated land borders. It followed a motion of urgent national importance sponsored by Senator Francis Faduyile, who raised concerns about the risk of Ebola entering Nigeria.
The lawmakers also urged the Federal Government to release emergency funds to strengthen disease surveillance, improve screening facilities and prepare healthcare centres for possible cases.
The development comes amid concerns over the spread of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and reports of its spread to other African countries. The Senate cited the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention’s (NCDC) assessment that the risk of Ebola importation into Nigeria was high.
Although Nigeria has experience managing an Ebola outbreak, lawmakers warned that gaps in border surveillance, inadequate equipment and limited staffing could weaken the country’s response to another public health emergency.
Senate Wants Screening for All International Arrivals
Under the proposed measures, the Senate urged the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the NCDC and Port Health Services to ensure that every arriving international passenger undergoes health screening.
The screening should include health declaration forms, temperature checks and assessments for symptoms associated with Ebola and other epidemic-prone diseases.
Lawmakers argued that limiting enhanced screening to travellers arriving from selected countries could leave gaps in the surveillance system.
They noted that infected travellers could reach Nigeria through third countries, making it necessary to assess passengers regardless of their nationality or immediate country of departure.
The Senate also called for enhanced monitoring of travellers who had visited or transited through affected areas within the preceding 21 days.
In addition, it recommended exit screening for departing international passengers during declared public health emergencies.
These measures are intended to help authorities identify potentially infected travellers early, assess their risk and arrange appropriate medical evaluation where necessary.
Nigeria’s 2014 Ebola Experience Raises Concern
During the debate, Faduyile recalled Nigeria’s experience with Ebola in July 2014, when an infected traveller arrived in Lagos.
The incident triggered a public health response involving contact tracing, surveillance and isolation measures. Nigeria eventually contained the outbreak, but the experience demonstrated how quickly an imported infection could require coordinated action across multiple agencies.
The senator warned that Nigeria must not overlook weaknesses in its current surveillance arrangements.
Lawmakers identified inadequate staffing, insufficient medical equipment and limited emergency response facilities at some entry points as areas requiring attention.
They also noted that Nigeria continues to manage other infectious diseases, including Lassa fever, cholera and diphtheria.
An additional epidemic could place pressure on public health personnel, laboratories, hospitals and emergency response systems.
The Senate therefore called for stronger coordination among health authorities, immigration officials, aviation agencies and other institutions responsible for monitoring international movement.
Its position is that preventing an outbreak is preferable to responding after infections have spread into communities.
Government Urged to Equip Airports, Seaports and Land Borders
Beyond screening requirements, the Senate called for improved facilities and personnel at Nigeria’s designated international entry points.
It urged the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to ensure that trained Port Health officers are adequately deployed.
The requested equipment and supplies include functional thermal scanners, personal protective equipment (PPE), medical supplies and isolation facilities.
These resources would help frontline personnel identify travellers requiring further assessment while protecting themselves during the management of suspected cases.
The Senate also urged the Federal Government to ensure that isolation and treatment centres across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory are adequately equipped and ready to respond to suspected infections.
Such preparedness would help health authorities manage potential cases without unnecessary delays.
However, effective screening requires more than temperature checks alone. Health officials must also consider symptoms, travel history and other relevant information when assessing a person’s risk.
The proposed measures therefore place emphasis on a coordinated system involving screening, referral, isolation and treatment.
Senate Seeks Emergency Funding for Disease Surveillance
The lawmakers also urged the Federal Government to provide emergency funding from the Service-Wide Vote to support immediate preventive measures.
They called on the relevant ministries to ensure adequate financial provisions for the NCDC and Port Health Services in the 2027 national budget.
The Senate further urged authorities to release outstanding funds required for the agencies’ operations.
The funding requests are intended to support disease surveillance, staff deployment, screening equipment and emergency response capacity.
Without adequate resources, screening requirements could prove difficult to implement consistently across airports, seaports and land borders.
The Senate stressed that early detection and prompt response depend on functional facilities, trained personnel and effective coordination between agencies.
It also called for a review of the legal framework governing disease prevention and control.
Senate Calls for Replacement of Quarantine Act
The Senate expressed concern over the continued reliance of Port Health Services on the Quarantine Act of 1926.
It called for the replacement of the existing legislation with a modern and comprehensive public health law aligned with the International Health Regulations (2005).
The proposed reform is intended to strengthen Nigeria’s legal capacity to manage infectious disease threats, coordinate emergency responses and enforce appropriate public health measures.
Updating the framework could also help clarify the responsibilities of agencies involved in border health management.
The Senate’s call reflects wider concerns that public health laws must keep pace with changing travel patterns, emerging diseases and modern surveillance requirements.
However, replacing the law would require the relevant legislative and legal processes. The Senate’s resolution alone does not constitute the enactment of a new public health law.
Senate Committees to Monitor Preparedness
To support implementation, the Senate mandated relevant committees covering health, primary healthcare and disease control, aviation, interior, and appropriations to engage the responsible agencies.
The committees are also expected to inspect major international entry points and report back to the chamber within four weeks.
The exercise is intended to assess preparedness and identify gaps requiring urgent attention.
Lawmakers also emphasised the importance of monitoring the release and use of funds earmarked for disease prevention.
The outcome of the committee review could inform further legislative action and oversight of the agencies responsible for border screening and public health preparedness.
What the Measures Mean for International Travellers
If fully implemented, the proposed measures would subject all arriving international passengers to routine health screening, with additional assessments for travellers whose recent movements or symptoms indicate elevated risk.
Passengers may be required to complete health declarations, undergo temperature checks and answer questions about their travel history.
Travellers who require further assessment could be referred to health personnel for additional evaluation.
The objective is to identify potential risks early while ensuring that suspected cases receive appropriate attention.
Screening does not mean that every traveller is infected or that every person with a fever has Ebola. Several illnesses can produce similar symptoms, making proper medical assessment essential.
The Senate’s proposals also do not, by themselves, establish a general travel ban or automatic restrictions on all passengers.
The measures focus on screening, surveillance and preparedness rather than treating all international travellers as confirmed or suspected cases.
Implementation Remains the Key Challenge
The Senate’s intervention places renewed attention on Nigeria’s readiness to prevent and respond to imported infectious diseases.
Its proposals cover compulsory screening, emergency funding, better-equipped entry points, functional isolation centres and modernised public health legislation.
However, their effectiveness will depend on implementation by the Federal Government and the relevant health, aviation and border-control agencies.
Adequate funding, trained personnel and reliable coordination will be necessary to turn the recommendations into an effective national response.
For now, the Senate has called for urgent action to strengthen Nigeria’s defences against Ebola and other epidemic-prone diseases. The coming weeks will be important in determining how quickly the proposed measures are implemented and what gaps remain.
