The Senate has urged the Federal Government to release emergency funds from the service-wide vote to strengthen disease surveillance and make health screening compulsory at all international airports, seaports and designated land borders to prevent the spread of Ebola and other epidemic-prone diseases. 

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance sponsored by Senator Francis Faduyile during today’s plenary. Faduyile expressed concern over the spread of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus and the potential threat it poses to Nigeria’s public health system. 

 He noted that the outbreak, which originated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, had reportedly spread to other African countries, including Uganda and Kenya, raising concerns about infected travellers entering Nigeria through third countries. 

The senator also referenced the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention’s assessment of the risk of Ebola importation, citing the 2014 outbreak in Nigeria, when an infected traveller arrived in Lagos. 

While acknowledging the Federal Government’s measures, including health declaration forms and increased screening at entry points, the Senate expressed concern that existing protocols focused on travellers from selected countries. 

Lawmakers warned that the limited coverage could create gaps in the country’s disease surveillance system, particularly as international travellers could enter Nigeria through transit countries. Consequently, the upper chamber urged the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the NCDC and Port Health Services to introduce mandatory health screening for all international arrivals, irrespective of their nationality or country of departure.