The Niger State Government has confirmed receipt of ₦21.6 million from the Federal Government to strengthen its preparedness against Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) following the confirmation of an imported case in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Murtala Muhammad Bagana, disclosed this while outlining measures being implemented to prevent the spread of the disease into Niger State.
Bagana said the government would inaugurate a Multisectoral Emergency Response Committee to coordinate preparedness activities, strengthen disease surveillance and improve emergency response capacity across the state.
He explained that the measures would focus on surveillance, isolation facilities, infection prevention and control, as well as cross-border monitoring, particularly because Niger shares boundaries with the FCT.
The commissioner stressed that the heightened alert was a precautionary measure, noting that no confirmed Ebola case had been reported in the state.
He added that Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago had directed the release of funds to support preparations for a modern isolation centre as part of efforts to strengthen the state’s capacity to respond to potential cases.
According to Bagana, the Federal Government has allocated ₦21.6 million to each state to support Ebola preparedness and related public health interventions.
He said Niger State was also strengthening disease surveillance through local government health teams, notifying public and private health facilities, reviewing patient referral arrangements and reinforcing infection prevention measures to protect healthcare workers and patients.
The commissioner further disclosed that the state was working with the Federal Ministry of Health to improve surveillance at Minna Airport and the international border at Babana in Borgu Local Government Area.
He said these measures were intended to enhance early detection and ensure a coordinated response to any suspected case.
Bagana also pointed to the wider international Ebola situation as a reason for increased vigilance, citing a World Health Organisation update dated October 23, which reported 9,704 confirmed cases and 4,687 deaths in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as of October 20. The reported cases spanned 66 health zones across eight provinces.
The Niger State Government said its preparedness efforts were aimed at strengthening public health protection and preventing the disease from spreading into the state.
