The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a N45.08 billion national biosecurity and response system for five international airports in Nigeria. This project, which will be implemented under a 20-year Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement with Biohealth Consortium, aims to strengthen the country's capacity to detect and contain infectious diseases. The five airports to benefit from this project are Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt, and Enugu.
The approval was announced by Coordinating Minister of Health/Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate, after the FEC meeting chaired by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. According to Pate, the project was prompted by heightened concerns over cross-border disease threats and efforts to prevent community transmission of diseases. The minister cited the recent detection of an Ebola case in Nigeria, which was contained and recovered, as a reason for the urgent need for a robust biosecurity system.
The biosecurity system will include advanced technologies such as aircraft wastewater surveillance, air and surface sampling units, and cargo and baggage bio-surveillance technologies. These technologies will enable the early detection of pathogens that might otherwise enter the country unnoticed. The project will also establish a national surveillance operations centre to serve as a central command and control facility for real-time surveillance, data integration, incident monitoring, and response coordination.
The system will be operated by a private partner, Biohealth Consortium, which will design, finance, build, deploy, operate, and maintain the system throughout the concession period. The Federal Government will provide policy, institutional, and regulatory support, as well as oversight to ensure that national objectives are met. The concession agreement, which has been reviewed and endorsed by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), will see the system and its assets revert to federal ownership at the expiration of the concession period.
The project is expected to improve decision-making, inter-agency coordination, and compliance with international health regulations. It will also expand the technologies available to agencies operating at entry points, enhancing the country's ability to respond to public health threats. With over 18 million passengers passing through Nigeria's airports annually, the minister stressed that stronger surveillance at entry points is crucial to both public health and economic stability.
In addition to the biosecurity project, Pate addressed concerns about financial support for individuals quarantined following contact with the Ebola patient. He explained that the support was intended to encourage compliance and prevent community transmission, particularly for contacts who depend on daily earnings and may face pressure to leave quarantine to provide for their families.
The minister confirmed that there was no positive Ebola case within Nigeria's territory at the time of the briefing, following the recovery and departure of the patient. However, he emphasized the need for continued vigilance to prevent fresh cases from entering the country and ensure a swift response to any infection detected among those under observation. The goal, he said, is to contain the disease and prevent community transmission.
Key points
- The Federal Executive Council approves N45.08 billion for a national biosecurity and response system at five international airports.
- The project will be implemented under a 20-year Public-Private Partnership arrangement with Biohealth Consortium.
- The system will include advanced technologies such as aircraft wastewater surveillance and air and surface sampling units.
