The Senate has urged the Federal Government to provide emergency funding from the service-wide vote to strengthen disease surveillance and require health screening at all international airports, seaports and designated land borders.

The resolution followed a motion of urgent national importance sponsored by Senator Francis Faduyile, who raised concerns about the spread of the Bundibugyo Ebola virus and the risk it poses to Nigeria’s public health system.

Faduyile said the outbreak began in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and had spread to other African countries, including Uganda and Kenya. He warned that infected travellers could reach Nigeria through third countries.

He also cited the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention’s assessment of a high risk of Ebola importation, recalling that a single traveller brought the disease into Nigeria through Lagos in July 2014.

The Senate acknowledged that the Federal Government had introduced health declaration forms and enhanced screening at entry points.

However, lawmakers said limiting screening requirements to travellers from selected countries could leave gaps in surveillance.

They also expressed concern about inadequate staffing and equipment at several entry points and Port Health Services’ continued reliance on the Quarantine Act of 1926.

The chamber said Nigeria’s existing disease burden, including Lassa fever, cholera and diphtheria, made stronger preparedness essential.

It called on the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the NCDC and Port Health Services to make screening compulsory for all arriving international passengers, regardless of nationality or country of departure.

Measures should include health declaration forms, temperature checks and symptom assessments, with enhanced screening for travellers who had visited or transited through affected areas within the preceding 21 days.

The Senate also called for exit screening during declared public health emergencies.

The Senate urged the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and the Nigeria Immigration Service to provide enough trained Port Health officers, thermal scanners, protective equipment and isolation facilities at all entry points.

It also asked the Federal Government to ensure isolation and treatment centres are adequately prepared across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

On the legal framework, lawmakers called for the Quarantine Act of 1926 to be replaced with a modern public health law aligned with the International Health Regulations of 2005.

They also urged the ministries responsible for finance, budget and economic planning to provide adequate funding for the NCDC and Port Health Services in the 2027 budget and release outstanding funds.