The Nigeria Customs Service said it has put measures in place and partnering other security agencies at the nation entry points to fight the spread of Ebola virus in Nigeria.
In a press statement issued last weekend and signed by the management of NCS, the customs directs its officers and men to adopt preventive measures in handling cargoes and passengers at the seaports, airports and land borders.
The statement reads in part, “In line with the ongoing concerted efforts of the Federal Government to prevent the spread of the deadly Ebola disease in Nigeria, the Comptroller General of Customs considers the outbreak of Ebola disease as a national emergency and has consequently declared the status of the Service to be at red alert.”
The statement said that the positioning of security agencies at the entry points have been amended with the Port Health Services at the frontline.
The Service therefore called on officers to report cases on corpses to the Port Health Services before clearance even as it advised passengers to adhere to the measures put in place to check the disease at the entry points in the interest of the country.
Meanwhile, the Seme Area command of the Nigeria Customs Service, in collaboration with Port Health Services and other security agencies at the border post on Wednesday carried out a campaign to sensitize the border communities on the deadly virus.
Speaking with SHIPS & PORTS DAILY via the telephone on Wednesday, Customs Area Controller of the command, Comptroller Willy Egbudin said although the borders remained open on the orders of the Federal Government, the border communities have been advised to maintain high standard of personal and environmental hygiene and maintain vigilance.
“The borders are not close but what we did was to sensitize people on what to do, what to avoid and to maintain personal hygiene. That is all we can do for now, the government has to tell us what next to do before we can go forward”, Egbudin said.
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