Ebola: Keyamo Orders 21-Day No-Fly Restriction for 46 Contacts in Nigeria

Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has directed aviation authorities to place 46 people identified as contacts of the country’s confirmed Ebola patient on a no-fly list for at least 21 days as part of efforts to prevent further transmission.

Keyamo announced the directive on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, following a virtual meeting with the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, to discuss measures against the outbreak.

According to Keyamo, health authorities provided a list of 44 people who came into contact with the affected woman at a hospital after she developed Ebola symptoms, alongside two members of her domestic staff. The aviation minister said the individuals would be restricted from air travel during the monitoring period.

“Whilst efforts are ongoing to isolate them for now until there is certainty they had not been infected with the virus, the Aviation authorities are required to put them on a no-fly list for at least 21 days,” Keyamo said.

He also directed the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to notify domestic and international airlines of the restriction. The minister said the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) had been instructed to strengthen Ebola surveillance and response measures across international airports nationwide.

The measures reportedly include enhanced health screening, temperature checks, travel history monitoring, digital health declarations and closer coordination with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC). FAAN said it was working with public health authorities and other relevant agencies to support the national response.

The directives came as the Federal Government intensified its response following confirmation of an Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory. Officials have urged the public to remain calm, follow health guidance and avoid circulating unverified information. The government has also said that contact tracing and monitoring are ongoing.

Speaking after an emergency meeting of the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats, its chairman, Femi Gbajabiamila, said the country’s surveillance and preparedness measures had helped identify the case. Health Minister Pate said federal agencies and international partners, including the World Health Organization and Africa CDC, were working to contain the infection.

The no-fly restriction is a precautionary measure and does not mean the 46 people have tested positive for Ebola. The ministry’s statement, as reported, did not indicate that any of the identified contacts had been diagnosed with the virus. Health authorities continue to investigate possible exposure and monitor those identified.