By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate release of N10 billion as emergency intervention funding to strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness against Ebola and other emerging public health threats.

Ebola has recently resurfaced in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda, both neighbouring countries.

Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, said in a statement on Tuesday that Tinubu also approved the establishment of a presidential task force (PTF) on Ebola virus disease preparedness and emerging public health threats.

Onanuga said the fund will strengthen the operational preparedness of the National Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and support critical national public health emergency response activities.

The presidential spokesperson said the PTF on Ebola will be chaired by Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff to the president with membership drawn from relevant ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) and state representatives.

“The President’s approval followed a stakeholder meeting convened under the chairmanship of the Chief of Staff to review Nigeria’s preparedness and develop strategies against the possible importation of Ebola into Nigeria,” the statement reads.

“Other critical stakeholders at the meeting included representatives from the Ministry of Interior, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Lagos state government, and others.”

He said Tinubu also directed all states hosting international airports and international border corridors, as well as relevant MDAs, to submit their plans, funding requirements and intervention needs for consideration and coordinated implementation.

Onanuga said the task force is expected to intensify passenger screening at all international airports, including enhanced temperature checks and crowd-control protocols.

“The task force is also expected to enhance monitoring of passengers arriving through high-risk airline routes, notably Air Uganda, Rwanda Air, Air Tanzania, Air Angola, Kenya Airways, and Ethiopian Airlines; and immediately activate referral and isolation centres at Lagos and Abuja international airports, with other airports to follow,” he added.

“Others include mandatory activation of QR code-based pre-arrival health declaration systems for passengers originating from or transiting through designated high-risk countries, and disinfection of departure halls, cargoes, baggage areas, and airport facilities as precautionary environmental measures.

“The President mandated that the advisory group consult with security, diplomatic, and aviation bodies with a view to regulating flights from affected and designated high-risk countries.

“The task force is further directed to designate specific airports or terminals for high-risk flights to enable controlled screening and isolation procedures, and to consider adjusting flight timings to minimise interaction between high-risk passengers and others.”

On Sunday, the NCDC said Nigeria has not recorded any confirmed cases of Ebola, but the country is 59 percent prepared for any eventual outbreak of the virus.

On June 3, Tedros Ghebreyesus, director-general (DG) of the World Health Organisation (WHO), said DR Congo has recorded 344 confirmed cases, including 60 deaths, across 24 health zones in the Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu provinces.

He said Uganda has recorded one confirmed death and 15 cases linked to the outbreak, including a Congolese resident who travelled through the United Arab Emirates (UAE) before entering the country.

According to the WHO, the Ebola virus refers to a group of viruses in the Ebolavirus genus that cause Ebola disease, a severe and often fatal viral haemorrhagic fever.

Common symptoms include fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhoea, and, in some cases, internal and external bleeding.

Ebola is a zoonotic disease that can spread from animals to humans and is transmitted between people through direct contact with the blood, urine, saliva, sweat, and semen of infected persons, particularly when they are symptomatic or have died from the disease.

The first major global outbreak occurred between 2014 and 2016.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Tunji Disu, has directed all Commissioners of Police (CPs) and tactical commanders to intensify enforcement operations against vehicles operating without proper number plates.

Disu issued the directive on Tuesday during a strategic conference with senior police officers in Abuja. He expressed concern over what he described as a “growing and disturbing trend” of individuals driving vehicles with missing, concealed, or defaced registration plates on Nigerian roads.

Describing the practice as “unlawful, irresponsible, and unacceptable,” the IGP warned that the police would no longer tolerate such impunity, citing its serious implications for public safety and national security.

“Across our country, we have an increasing number of vehicles being driven without registration numbers, as well as vehicles whose number plates are deliberately concealed, defaced, covered, or altered in an attempt to evade identification,” Disu said.

“This practice is unlawful, irresponsible, and unacceptable. I wish to state unequivocally that from today, the Nigeria Police Force will no longer tolerate this impunity. Every vehicle operating on our roads must be properly registered and must display its approved registration number in accordance with the law.”

The IGP ordered that any vehicle found without a number plate or with a tampered registration number be stopped and made to face appropriate legal action. He instructed all CPs, tactical commanders, and heads of formations to immediately step up enforcement against unregistered vehicles and those with concealed plates.

Elder statesman Umar Ajiya has raised fresh concerns over Nigeria’s worsening security situation, warning that the country’s persistent insecurity could escalate into a national crisis if citizens fail to actively support government efforts in tackling the menace.

Speaking in a statement issued to journalists, Ajiya noted that Nigeria has been grappling with multiple security challenges for more than two decades, ranging from insurgency by Boko Haram to widespread kidnapping, banditry, cattle rustling, and other violent crimes that have continued to threaten national stability and economic growth.

According to him, while the Federal Government and several state governments have made considerable efforts to address the situation, it has become increasingly evident that government intervention alone cannot solve the problem. He stressed that every responsible citizen has a role to play by providing credible intelligence, contributing resources where possible, and offering constructive ideas and advice to support security agencies.

Ajiya emphasized that history has repeatedly shown that when the majority of law-abiding citizens remain silent in the face of growing societal challenges, such problems often worsen and become more difficult to resolve.

“Throughout history, the failure of the good majority to speak up has allowed systemic issues to thrive, whether in civic life or spiritual matters. If this trend continues, Nigeria stands the risk of a national meltdown that Africa cannot swallow,” he warned.

The elder statesman said the gravity of the current security challenges compelled him, as a concerned private citizen, to propose a number of policy options and practical solutions that government authorities may consider in their efforts to restore peace and security across the country.

Among his recommendations was the need for adequate and timely funding of security agencies, backed by measurable Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and accountability mechanisms to ensure efficient utilization of resources.

He also called for improved intelligence gathering and the effective deployment of technology, particularly drones, to enhance surveillance operations. According to him, security agencies should be held accountable for failure to act on intelligence provided by relevant agencies, including the Department of State Services (DSS).

On community policing, Ajiya advocated the establishment of state police or, alternatively, the deployment of police officers below the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police to their respective states of origin under the existing federal policing structure. He further recommended the compulsory registration of all citizens under the National Identification Number (NIN) scheme, with links to phone numbers and bank accounts to improve traceability and intelligence gathering.

To address the growing trend of kidnappings, he proposed a nationwide ban on ransom payments and encouraged a gradual transition to a cashless economy, supported by strict enforcement measures against violators.

The elder statesman also expressed concern over alleged political interference in security matters, urging authorities to closely monitor political actors suspected of maintaining links with criminal elements. He called for the prosecution of anyone found aiding or collaborating with bandits and other criminal groups.

Ajiya highlighted the need for stronger coordination among security agencies, recommending the establishment of centralized Command and Control Centres (CCC) in every state. Such centres, he said, should be supported by Rapid Response Squads in all local government areas and vulnerable zones to facilitate swift and coordinated responses to security threats.

He further advocated improved welfare packages for frontline security personnel, insisting that benefits and allowances should be paid directly into the accounts of officers rather than through administrative channels that could delay or distort payments.

On border security, Ajiya urged Nigeria to strengthen collaboration with neighbouring countries through the creation of a regional joint task force equipped with drone technology and air power to monitor and secure porous border regions.

In a recommendation likely to generate public debate, he suggested that responsible citizens should be permitted to own firearms under a carefully regulated licensing framework. He also proposed empowering state forest guards and retired military personnel willing to serve in protecting their local communities.

Addressing infrastructure-related security concerns, Ajiya called for the urgent rehabilitation of major roads by both federal and state governments. He proposed the installation of scanners and security checkpoints at key entry and exit points into towns and cities to improve monitoring and crime detection.

On the issue of cattle rustling, he recommended that the Federal Government establish a comprehensive animal transaction registry requiring detailed records of buyers and sellers, including photographs and contact information, while also taking steps to prevent the sale of stolen livestock in markets across the country.

Ajiya further urged both government authorities and citizens to work collectively to confront the country’s security challenges, stressing that national security should be regarded as a shared responsibility requiring commitment from all stakeholders.

He expressed optimism that with stronger collaboration, accountability, technology-driven solutions, and active citizen participation, Nigeria can overcome its current security challenges and build a safer future for all.