86% of Nigerian States Are Now Prepared for Health Emergencies - NCDC Reports

By: Israel Adeleke

OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports as gathered that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has disclosed that Nigeria has made major progress in health emergency preparedness, with 32 out of 37 states, about 86 per cent, now operating functional Public Health Emergency Operations Centres (PHEOCs) that meet minimum national standards.

OTN News further reports as gathered that the NCDC Director-General, Jide Idris, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of a health sector forum held in Abuja.

According to the agency, the milestone represents a significant boost to the country’s health security architecture and its capacity to detect, respond to, and contain disease outbreaks before they escalate into nationwide emergencies.

Idris attributed the progress to sustained federal investments driven by the National Health Reform Agenda, which prioritises disease prevention and control through improved surveillance systems, stronger laboratory networks, and coordinated emergency response mechanisms.

He noted that Nigeria’s experience with multiple disease outbreaks over the past 24 years, including Ebola, polio, cholera, Lassa fever, measles, and emergencies linked to antimicrobial resistance has underscored the importance of preparedness.

“In resource-constrained environments, prevention is better than treatment,” Idris said, adding that “Our focus is to detect outbreaks early, respond rapidly, and contain them before they escalate.”

Furthermore, according to him, the NCDC now relies heavily on digital disease surveillance platforms that aggregate data from hospitals, laboratories, communities, and media monitoring systems.

He explained that these platforms allow the agency to identify unusual disease patterns in real time, triggering rapid deployment of field teams to collect samples for laboratory confirmation.

He explained that laboratory analysis now includes advanced techniques such as genomic sequencing, which help detect new variants and guide targeted public health interventions.

Idris also revealed that the agency has significantly expanded laboratory capacity nationwide.

A coordinated laboratory 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 about 700 local government areas.

“We have high-security laboratories in Abuja and Lagos capable of handling dangerous pathogens such as Ebola and Marburg viruses,” he said, adding that two additional biosecurity level-three laboratories have been established to further strengthen detection and response capabilities.

Emphasising the need for cross-sector collaboration, Idris said the NCDC has institutionalised a One Health approach that integrates human, animal, and environmental health, in partnership 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.

Community engagement, he stressed, remains central to outbreak prevention and control. 

The NCDC, he said, works closely with state governments, traditional institutions, non-governmental organisations, and international partners such as the World Health Organisation to deploy trained personnel, medical supplies, and vaccines during emergencies.

Idris also highlighted the importance of sustained public awareness campaigns to counter misinformation and promote early testing, vaccination uptake, and treatment adherence.

“The fight against unusual ailments, antimicrobial resistance, and emerging infections requires a coordinated effort,” he said, adding that “Together with communities, we can protect lives and prevent the spread of diseases in Nigeria.”