Following confirmation of the resurgence of the deadly Ebola virus in Congo DR and subsequent red flag by the Federal Government, the Apapa Port Health Services said yesterday that it has started screening of foreigners at the various terminals in the port.
The Officer in Charge of Apapa Port Health Services, Mr. Olokodana Abisola, who disclosed this in a chat with Shipping Position Daily in Lagos yesterday, also said that the agency has been able to limit the number of trucks that are coming into the terminals.
He also said that it has been able to educate the people that are coming into the ports on the ways to prevent the virus.
He also hinted that the Port Health Services has limited its screening to terminals, adding that the services has ensured that before you leave the terminals, you must be screened.
"You know information came few weeks ago that there is an outbreak of Ebola virus in Congo DR and the country is part of African nation. We have been able to limit the number of trucks that are coming in here so the people that are coming in we have been able to educate them. When you are coming in, you don't have anything to do at the ports, if not to go to the terminals. So that is why we have restricted our screening to entry points of terminals. If you don't have any business doing here, you can’t come in before you get out of the terminal you must be screened.
It will curtail the reoccurrence of Ebola virus in the country", he assured.
Mr. Olokodana also said that the necessary structures have been put in place to prevent the virus, adding that it has intimated the ports manager about the programme.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) also yesterday called for a high level vigilance by the airlines, especially those operating international and regional flights into the country.
Mr Sam Adurogboye, the General Manager, Public Affairs, NCAA, made the call in a statement issued in Lagos.
Adurogboye said that a circular with Ref. No. NCAA/DG/AMS/Vol.1/196, dated May 11, 2018 and signed by the agency’s Director General, Captain Muhtar Usman, had been dispatched to all the airlines.
He explained that the airlines were informed of the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo, on May 8.
He however said that the outbreak in DRC, had yet to be declared by the World Health Organisation, as a Public Health Event of International Concern.
“Notwithstanding, the NCAA, Federal Ministry of Health and all other relevant agencies have been taking concerted steps to ensure the virus does not creep into Nigeria.
“Therefore to forestall the EVD infiltration, the regulatory authority has therefore directed all airlines to carry out these measures in the interim.
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