FAAN beefs up facilities at Lagos airport to prevent Ebola

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, (FAAN) has provided more facilities and equipment at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, (MMIA) in fight against Ebola.

Speaking during a tour of the facilities at Lagos airport with Abullaziz Abdulai, the Permanent Secretary of Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health, Olatayo Oginni, International Terminal Manager, FAAN, said the authority had been collaborating with Port Health in the provision of infrastructure, facilities and all other things needed to prevent Ebola case through Nigerian airports.

Ogini told journalists that FAAN holds sensitization meetings with Port Health to ensure all the stakeholders in the airport were involved.

“We have facilities at arrival and facilities at two points of entry at the terminal. From the arrival bridge to the screening point, we have equipment on ground,’’ he said.

Everyone that passes through the airport must be screened. The Port Health will need to also upgrade the equipment. However, we collaborate with them on the issue of provision of clinic, space and all other things they require.

“We have two facilities for them at the arrival hall. They have a permanent clinic at the terminal. We have also provided all the equipment they need to do their job. We also have an isolated clinic at the air side. If they suspect any case of Ebola, the patient can be taken to the isolated clinic. We have standby ambulances and clinic at the terminal and standby ambulance at the cargo side. There is another standby ambulance at the FAAN head office,” he added.

During the tour, Moranike Alex-Okoh, director, Port Health Services complained about inadequate manpower, especially as regards doctors and nurses, adding that the Lagos airport had only one doctor and the nurses are retiring without any replacement.

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In response, Abdullahi Mashi said he had taken note of some the challenges he observed and would address them.

“Since I resumed duty I have never been to any of the Port Health facilities. So it is an opportunity for me to be in Lagos and assess some of the facilities and the level of response to the ebola re-appearance. The few challenges we have seen, we have taken note of them and when we get back, we will address them,” he said.

On the alleged case of Ebola, he said the report was false as the laboratory test conducted revealed that it was negative.

IFEOMA OKEKE

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.