The Lagos State Government has reassured residents that there is no confirmed case of Ebola in the state despite the evolving outbreak in parts of Central and East Africa.
The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, gave the assurance on Monday in a statement posted on his verified social media handle, stressing that Lagos remains fully prepared to detect, contain and manage any potential outbreak of high-consequence infectious diseases.
According to Abayomi, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recently declared the Ebola outbreak in Congo and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), following reports of about 700 suspected cases and 177 deaths in the affected countries.
He, however, assured Lagos residents that the state has activated a robust biosecurity and emergency response framework designed to prevent any spread into the state.
“Lagos State maintains a resilient, outbreak-tested biosecurity framework for year-round preparedness, ready to detect, contain, and subdue outbreaks caused by pathogens of high consequence such as Lassa, Ebola and Flu,” he stated.
The commissioner explained that the state’s preparedness structure, strengthened during the 2015 Ebola outbreak and further refined during the COVID-19 pandemic, includes the Lagos State Incident Command System led by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, a permanent Emergency Operations Centre, and the Infectious Disease Hospital in Yaba equipped with isolation wards, ICU facilities and advanced diagnostic laboratories.
He added that Lagos authorities are working closely with the Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Port Health Services and other relevant agencies to intensify surveillance at international entry points, particularly for passengers arriving from East and Central Africa.
Abayomi also disclosed that community health workers, Community Development Associations and civil society organisations have been integrated into the state’s grassroots disease surveillance network to ensure rapid reporting and response.
He further revealed that strategic stockpiles of personal protective equipment, sanitisers and emergency medical supplies have been positioned across the state, while ambulance services remain on standby for immediate deployment.
The commissioner urged residents to remain calm but vigilant, noting that preparedness remains a permanent culture within the Lagos health system.
“There is currently no cause for alarm. Lagos remains vigilant, organised and safe,” he said.
He advised anyone who recently travelled to affected areas in Congo or Uganda, or had close contact with persons from the affected regions and developed health concerns, to contact emergency lines 767, 112, or the State Epidemiologist on 08023169485.
