The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has assured travellers and other airport users that enhanced health surveillance measures have been activated across the country’s international airports following renewed Ebola concerns in parts of Central Africa.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, FAAN said the measures were introduced in collaboration with Port Health Services, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention(NCDC) and other relevant agencies to strengthen preparedness and prevent possible health risks.
According to the authority, surveillance and passenger monitoring have been intensified, particularly for travellers arriving from high-risk regions.
“Passengers are being screened for symptoms associated with Ebola, and any suspected case will be promptly isolated and subjected to secondary health checks in line with established national and international health protocols,” the statement said.
FAAN noted that additional emergency response procedures have also been reinforced while airport personnel have undergone increased sensitisation as part of precautionary efforts.
The authority stressed that there is currently no confirmed Ebola case in Nigeria but said it remains vigilant in safeguarding public health and ensuring safe airport operations.
“FAAN remains vigilant and fully committed to safeguarding public health and maintaining safe airport operations,” the agency stated.
Passengers were also advised to remain calm, cooperate with health screening procedures and report any symptoms to health officials at the airports.
The development comes as health authorities across parts of Africa continue to monitor Ebola-related concerns and strengthen border surveillance to prevent cross-border transmission.
Nigeria’s aviation and health authorities have previously activated similar emergency screening measures during periods of global and regional disease outbreaks, including the COVID-19 pandemic and earlier Ebola scares.
BY NKECHI NAECHE-ESEZOBOR—More than 700 employees of AXA Mansard have participated in a nationwide awareness campaign aimed at combating child abuse and gender-based violence, reinforcing the company’s commitment to protecting vulnerable members of society.
The initiative, held across Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, formed part of the 2026 AXA Week for Good, the company’s global employee volunteering programme under AXA Hearts in Action, which encourages staff to support social causes through community service.
This year’s campaign, themed “Being a Child Shouldn’t Be a Risk,” focused on raising awareness about the prevention, identification and reporting of domestic and sexual violence affecting children and women.
As part of the outreach, employee volunteers carried out door-to-door sensitisation, community engagement and educational activities designed to help residents recognise signs of abuse, encourage reporting and promote collective responsibility for protecting vulnerable groups.
Chief Executive Officer of AXA Mansard Health, Tope Adeniyi, said the campaign reflects the company’s belief that businesses have a responsibility to contribute to safer and more inclusive communities beyond providing insurance services.
According to him, the large turnout of employees demonstrates AXA Mansard’s culture of compassion and commitment to making a meaningful social impact, particularly in addressing issues that affect children and families.
Chief Marketing Officer of AXA Mansard, Adebola Surakat, said the initiative aligns with the company’s broader mission of promoting safety, dignity and wellbeing, adding that sustained advocacy is essential to tackling abuse and violence in society.
The week-long programme concluded with a commemorative walk across participating cities, while the company reaffirmed its commitment to supporting initiatives that address critical social challenges and create lasting value for communities across Nigeria.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, has confirmed that Nigeria has accessed the first $1.5 billion from its $5 billion financing arrangement with First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB).
Mr Oyedele disclosed this while speaking to journalists after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja on Monday.
He said the financing facility, which had earlier received approval from the National Assembly, is intended to refinance expensive debt, fund infrastructure projects and support budget implementation.
“The approval for that loan went to the National Assembly, so everybody is aware of it. It’s for refinancing of expensive debts, financing of infrastructure, as well as budgets,” he said.
He added that, “So, we don’t want to start making press releases each time we do a drawdown. It is not different from any other loan.”
The minister’s comments provide the first official confirmation that the government has begun drawing on the financing package.
Last week, Bloomberg reported that Nigeria had accessed about $1.5 billion through a Total Return Swap with First Abu Dhabi Bank, marking the first utilisation of the broader $5 billion facility.
Mr Oyedele said the government deliberately structured the financing arrangement to allow funds to be accessed in tranches rather than all at once.
According to him, the approach is intended to reduce borrowing costs by ensuring Nigeria only pays interest on funds that have been drawn.
“The loan is meant to be a drawdown in tranches, and one of the advantages of that is, if you need $5 billion and you take everything at once, you start paying interest, even though you’re not spending all of it now. So, this has been structured in a way that makes us even more efficient in the cost of borrowing by taking what we need part time,” he explained.
Mr Oyedele said the phased approach forms part of the government’s broader debt management strategy aimed at lowering financing costs while meeting critical funding needs.