President Bola Tinubu approves the creation of a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) preparedness and emerging public health threats, and orders the immediate release of ₦10 billion to strengthen Nigeria’s readiness. Multiple reports say the task force is backed by representatives from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, with state participation included in the membership structure. Premium Times reports that the task force is chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.
The funding is described as an emergency intervention to improve operational preparedness and help prevent the spread of Ebola in Nigeria in response to the outbreak affecting parts of Africa. Punch also reports that UPTH’s management commends the funding decision as a proactive measure.
Separate coverage from Vanguard highlights calls from the Health Writers Association of Nigeria (HEWAN) for health journalists to be included in the task force. HEWAN argues that involving health media is important to reduce misinformation and avoid public panic that could undermine outbreak response efforts. Overall, the reports align on the task force’s establishment and the ₦10 billion allocation while adding details on leadership, membership, and media engagement.
