Authorities in Lagos are exploring measures to reduce interaction between passengers arriving from Ebola-affected countries and other travellers passing through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, as authorities strengthen safeguards against the possible importation of the virus into Nigeria.
The proposal formed part of deliberations during a high-level inspection and preparedness exercise at the airport on Sunday, where state health officials, aviation regulators and airport authorities reviewed surveillance systems, emergency response plans and passenger screening protocols amid renewed Ebola outbreaks in parts of Central and East Africa.
The Lagos delegation was led by the Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi, and included the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr Kemi Ogunyemi; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Dayo Lajide; Director of Epidemiology, Biosecurity and Global Health, Dr Ismail Abdus-Salam; and senior officials of the Lagos State Public Health Emergency Operations Centre.
They were received by the Airport Manager and Regional General Manager, South-West MMIA, Olatokunbo Arewa, alongside representatives of Port Health Services, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority and other airport agencies.
