Tinubu Approves ₦45bn for Disease Surveillance at Five International Airports

President Bola Tinubu has approved ₦45 billion for the deployment of an integrated biosecurity and disease surveillance system at five international airports in Nigeria to strengthen the country’s capacity to detect and respond to emerging infectious disease threats.

The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate, disclosed this on Wednesday while briefing journalists after the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by Tinubu.

Pate listed the five airports as Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos; Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja; Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano; Port Harcourt International Airport; and Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.

According to the minister, the project will be implemented through a 20-year public-private partnership with the BioHealth Consortium.

He explained that the system would deploy advanced technologies, including aircraft wastewater surveillance, air and surface sampling, and specialised pathogen detection systems, to identify potential public health threats.

Pate added that the initiative would monitor a broad range of dangerous pathogens, enabling health authorities to detect emerging infectious diseases more effectively and respond promptly to possible outbreaks.

He said the system would also improve coordination among relevant government agencies and strengthen Nigeria’s health security at its international borders.

The initiative is expected to enhance disease surveillance at the country’s major international gateways by providing additional tools for identifying infectious disease threats before they spread more widely.