Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has ordered a 21-day no-fly restriction for 46 people identified as contacts of a confirmed Ebola patient.
According to Channels Television, Keyamo announced the directive following a virtual meeting with the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, on Wednesday, October 21, 2026.
The restriction forms part of the Federal Government’s emergency response to prevent the potential spread of Ebola in Nigeria.
Why 46 Ebola Contacts Face Flight Restrictions
Keyamo explained that health authorities identified 44 people who came into contact with the infected woman at a hospital after she developed symptoms.
Two members of her domestic staff were also identified, bringing the total to 46.
The minister directed the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to immediately notify domestic and international airlines about the restriction.
Health authorities are working to isolate and monitor the identified individuals to determine whether they have contracted the virus.
However, there has been no official confirmation that any of the 46 contacts has tested positive for Ebola.
Nigeria Tightens Ebola Screening at Airports
Keyamo also instructed the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to strengthen surveillance and public health measures at international airports nationwide.
The measures include enhanced passenger screening, temperature checks, travel history monitoring and digital health declarations.
Airport authorities are also coordinating with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) to improve outbreak detection and response.
Nigeria’s Confirmed Ebola Case
The latest development follows the confirmation of an imported Ebola case in Abuja on October 20.
According to the World Health Organization, the patient recently travelled from Uganda and developed symptoms after arriving in Nigeria.
Laboratory tests confirmed that she had contracted the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola. She remains in isolation and is receiving medical care.
The 21-day restriction reflects the virus’s incubation period, which ranges from two to 21 days.
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