By Chimezie Godfrey
A Professor of Political Science and governance expert, Sylvester Odion Akhaine, has called on the Federal Government to urgently strengthen health surveillance and tighten monitoring at Nigeria’s borders following the resurgence of Ebola cases in parts of Central and East Africa.
Akhaine, in a statement issued on Tuesday, warned that Nigeria must not treat the growing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighbouring Uganda with complacency, stressing that failure to act proactively could expose the country to another major public health emergency.
The professor expressed concern over reports indicating that the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has already claimed more than 131 lives and spread into Uganda, raising fears of wider regional transmission.
According to him, the situation has become more worrisome because the emerging strain reportedly lacks a clearly specified vaccine response, thereby increasing the danger of rapid spread if not quickly contained.
Akhaine noted that while countries in Eastern Africa have intensified border surveillance and emergency response mechanisms, there appears to be insufficient urgency within Nigeria despite the country’s vulnerability as a major regional transit hub.
“I am concerned with the recent outbreak of Ebola in Congo DRC where over 131 lives have been lost and the disease has aggressively moved into Uganda. Frightfully, the strain that has emerged has no vaccine specifications,” he stated.
The don warned that any failure by relevant authorities to strengthen preventive measures at airports, land borders and other entry points could have devastating consequences for public health and national stability.
“While countries in Eastern Africa are manning their borders, there is a prevalent air of unperturbedness in our country where, if transmitted by error of commission or omission, it would be catastrophic,” he added.
Akhaine recalled Nigeria’s response during the 2014 Ebola outbreak, paying tribute to late physician Ameyo Stella Adadevoh for her role in preventing what could have become a nationwide disaster after Liberian-American traveller Patrick Sawyer arrived in Lagos carrying the virus.
According to him, Adadevoh’s courage and sacrifice helped Nigeria avert a wider outbreak despite pressure mounted at the time to allow Sawyer unrestricted movement.
“Last time, it was Dr Ameyo Stella Adadevoh, God bless her soul, that paid the supreme price by restraining the Liberian carrier of Ebola virus, Patrick Sawyer, in quarantine despite attempts to let him loose,” he stated.
The professor further urged political leaders and public office holders to prioritise public safety over partisan interests and respond decisively to the emerging health threat.
He said governance must ultimately serve the wellbeing and protection of citizens, especially during periods of global health uncertainty.
“Politics is about the affairs of the people, the repository of popular sovereignty. Incumbent state actors should rise to the occasion and put politics aside for a while and address this emerging global health emergency,” Akhaine said.
He stressed that Nigeria must adopt a proactive rather than reactive approach to epidemic preparedness by strengthening disease surveillance systems, improving emergency response coordination and intensifying public health awareness across the country.
“It is time to be proactive,” he added.
Ebola Threat: Don Urges FG to Tighten Border Surveillance, Avoid Repeat of 2014 Crisis
