The Senate has urged the Federal Government to strengthen health screening at Nigeria’s international airports and borders to guard against the potential spread of the Ebola virus into the country.
The resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance moved on Wednesday by Senator Francis Faduyile, representing Ondo South Senatorial District.
Faduyile called for the repeal and replacement of the Quarantine Act of 1926, describing the legislation as outdated and inadequate to address modern public health emergencies.
Contributing to the debate, Senate President Godswill Akpabio raised concerns over what he described as weaknesses in health screening procedures at Nigeria’s international airports.
Akpabio emphasised the need for stricter screening protocols to prevent the entry and spread of infectious diseases, urging relevant authorities to strengthen preventive measures against potential cross-border health threats.
The Senate also called on the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Finance, to release emergency funds to enhance screening operations and support measures to contain the potential spread of the virus.
To ensure compliance with its resolutions, the red chamber referred the motion to its Committee on Health and Communicable Diseases.
The committee was mandated to monitor the implementation of screening measures at international airports and report its findings to the Senate.
