…Biosecurity bio-shield remains active, resilient, outbreak-tested…Sanwo-Olu orders surveillance, preparedness, rapid response
By BENJAMIN OMOIKE, LAGOS, Nigeria – Lagos State Government has reassured residents that there is no cause for alarm over the evolving Ebola outbreak in Central and East Africa. Besides, the state’s robust and tested biosecurity architecture remains fully activated and prepared to detect, contain and respond rapidly to any biological threat, Commissioner for Health Prof. Akin Abayomi has said.
Following directives from Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State is closely monitoring developments surrounding the outbreak, which has so far recorded approximately 177 deaths from nearly 700 suspected cases and remains confined to two countries – Congo and Uganda.
Prof Akin Abayomi
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), owing largely to the difficult terrain in the affected areas, which may challenge local and international public health response efforts.
Prof. Abayomi, on behalf of the leadership of the Ministry of Health, wishes to reassure Lagos residents that, as of now, no case suggestive of Ebola Virus Disease has been identified within Lagos State. Lagos has over the years built a resilient and outbreak-tested biosecurity system designed for continuous year-round preparedness and response against high-consequence infectious diseases, including Ebola, Lassa Fever and Influenza.
Said Abayomi: “The Lagos Biosecurity Bio-shield was built to protect and remains ready to respond to biological shocks. Preparedness for us is not a temporary reaction; it is a permanent culture embedded within our health system. The State’s preparedness framework was first rigorously tested during the Ebola outbreak and significantly strengthened during the COVID-19 pandemic. It remains actively engaged in responding to recurrent public health challenges, such as Cholera, Diphtheria and Lassa Fever outbreaks”.
Prof. Abayomi highlighted key components of the State’s permanent readiness architecture, beginning with the Lagos State Incident Command System (ICS), which is led directly by Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu as Incident Commander. The structure enables the rapid deployment of government resources and ensures seamless executive coordination during public health emergencies.
The Lagos State Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) remains operational around the clock, conducting disease surveillance and gathering real-time public health intelligence through a dedicated network of highly trained epidemiologists and disease surveillance specialists who can be rapidly deployed for outbreak investigation and containment.
The Lagos Mainland Hospital, also known as the Lagos State Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH), Yaba, continues to maintain a state of readiness through its infectious disease specialists, dedicated triage systems, intensive care facilities and isolation infrastructure designed to manage cases across varying levels of severity.
The Biosafety Level-3 Laboratory and Biobank Facility located within the hospital remains on enhanced surveillance operations for the real-time diagnosis and monitoring of high-risk pathogens and continues to collaborate with public health laboratories within Nigeria and internationally.
The government is in collaboration with Port Health Authorities at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport as well as land and sea points of entry in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) and other critical agencies.
All flights arriving from East and Central Africa are receiving heightened public health attention and scrutiny as part of precautionary measures to strengthen early detection and risk mitigation.
The State has integrated Community Health Workers (CHWs), Community Development Associations (CDAs) and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) into its early warning and disease surveillance network, thereby ensuring timely information flow from communities to public health command centres.
Additionally, strategic emergency stockpiles, including Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), gloves, sanitizers and other critical commodities have been pre-positioned across key locations. Ambulance services remain strategically deployed to support rapid emergency response.
“Our focus remains firmly on prevention, early detection, prompt reporting and swift multi-sectoral response. Lagos remains vigilant, organized and safe,” Abayomi said.
The State Government will continue working closely with the Federal Government and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control to provide residents with evidence-based updates as developments unfold.
Abayomi advised residents, particularly those who recently travelled to affected areas in Congo or Uganda, or who have had close contact with individuals returning from those countries and have medical concerns, to promptly seek guidance through emergency channels.
Residents are encouraged to contact emergency numbers 767, 112, or the Director Epidemiology, Biosecurity and Global Health, Lagos State Ministry of Health on 08023169485 for necessary assistance and information.
