… 32 States Meet Operational Standards For PHEOCs
… High-Security Labs Ready To Handle Ebola, Marburg Viruses
Daud Olatunji
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has announced that 32 out of the country’s 37 states, representing 86 per cent, now have functional Public Health Emergency Operations Centres (PHEOCs) that meet minimum operational standards.
The development, the NCDC said, marks a significant step in strengthening Nigeria’s health security and emergency response capacity.
NCDC Director-General, Jide Idris, disclosed this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of a health sector forum in Abuja. He attributed the progress to sustained federal investment under the National Health Reform Agenda.
“The agenda prioritises disease prevention and control through strengthened surveillance systems, laboratory networks, and coordinated emergency response mechanisms,” Idris said.
He highlighted Nigeria’s long history of outbreaks over the past 24 years, including Ebola, polio, cholera, Lassa fever, measles, and emergencies linked to antimicrobial resistance.
“In resource-constrained environments, prevention is better than treatment. Our focus is to detect outbreaks early, respond rapidly, and contain them before they escalate,” he said.
Idris said the NCDC now uses digital surveillance platforms to track disease trends, leveraging data from hospitals, laboratories, communities, and media monitoring systems.
Unusual patterns trigger field teams to collect samples for laboratory confirmation, including genomic sequencing to detect variants and guide interventions.
The NCDC boss also revealed that the agency has significantly expanded laboratory capacity nationwide.
A coordinated network now links National Reference Laboratories in Abuja and Lagos with zonal and state public health laboratories, covering approximately 84 per cent of Nigeria’s geography, including 700 local government areas.
“We have high-security laboratories in Abuja and Lagos capable of handling dangerous pathogens such as Ebola and Marburg viruses,” Idris said.
“Two additional biosecurity level-three laboratories have also been established to strengthen detection and response capabilities.”
One Health Approach and Community Engagement
Highlighting the importance of integrating human, animal, and environmental health, Idris said the NCDC has institutionalised a One Health approach, working closely with the Ministries of Agriculture, Environment, and Water Resources.
“So far, we have responded to 23 public health events across 15 states, improving real-time disease monitoring and operational support,” he said.
Idris emphasised that community engagement remains central to outbreak prevention, with the NCDC partnering with state governments, traditional institutions, NGOs, and international agencies such as the World Health Organisation to deploy trained personnel, medical supplies, and vaccines during emergencies.
He also stressed the role of sustained public awareness campaigns in combating misinformation and encouraging early testing, vaccination uptake, and treatment adherence.
“The fight against unusual ailments, antimicrobial resistance, and emerging infections requires a coordinated effort. Together with communities, we can protect lives and prevent the spread of diseases in Nigeria,” Idris said.
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