Following reports of an imported Ebola case in Abuja, the Senate has called for the urgent repeal and re-enactment of the country’s 1926 Quarantine Act to modernize disease control protocols and strengthen national health security.
The resolution was passed following a motion of urgent national importance sponsored by Senator Francis Faduyile, highlighting critical gaps in Nigeria’s readiness to manage infectious disease outbreaks.
To prevent further transmission, lawmakers passed key directives aimed at bolstering the nation’s frontline defenses:
- Implementation of compulsory health checks for all international arrivals across airports, seaports and land borders, backed by deployed trained personnel and modern diagnostic equipment.
- Urgent release of emergency funds from the Service-Wide Votes by the Federal Government to support the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and Port Health Services.
- Establishment of dedicated sanitary stations at all national entry points alongside nationwide upgrades to isolation and treatment facilities.
Expressing concern over current border screening standards, Senate President Godswill Akpabio described the situation as a critical wake-up call for the nation, emphasizing that immediate legislative and operational reform is essential to safeguard public health.
