FEC approves N45.8bn disease surveillance system for five airports
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved N45.8 billion for a biosecurity and disease surveillance system at five international airports to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to detect Ebola and other dangerous pathogens at its borders.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, disclosed this on Wednesday while briefing State House correspondents on the outcome of the FEC meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Pate said the project was designed to address public health vulnerabilities at Nigeria’s points of entry through technology-driven systems capable of detecting emerging infectious diseases and supporting rapid responses to potential outbreaks.
“Over the last two weeks, I think you realise the significance of enhancing biosecurity at our points of entry,” the minister said.
“Since COVID, we have known that there are significant vulnerabilities in terms of public health threats crossing borders and the need for coordinated, technology-driven systems for early warning, detection and response to emerging infectious disease threats,” he added.
The surveillance infrastructure will be installed at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos; Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja; Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano; Port Harcourt International Airport; and Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.
According to Pate, more than 18 million passengers travel through Nigeria’s airports annually, making effective disease surveillance at the facilities essential to protecting public health and national security.
He explained that the project would be executed under a concession arrangement in which a private-sector partner would design, finance, build, operate and maintain the facilities throughout the concession period.
