The Federal Government has ruled out the possibility of closing the nation’s borders as a way of checking the spread of the deadly Ebola virus.
Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, on Friday suggested the closure of Nigeria borders as a preventive measure to curb ?the spread of the deadly virus in the country but while speaking to journalists at the weekend, Minister of Interior, Abba Moro said closure of borders is an extreme action that has its own wide range consequences.
Moro stressed that, “Isolated incidence of the death of Patrick Sawyer on account of Ebola is not sufficient for this country to close its borders”.
“Closure of borders is an extreme situation that has its own wide range consequences and so unless it becomes absolutely necessary, we don’t intend to close our borders as long as information coming to us indicates that Nigerian medical workers and Nigeria Immigration Service and all other health officials are striving to contend the situation, no need to close our borders.
“Since the death of Patrick Sawyer from Liberia on the account of Ebola virus, no other reported case has occurred and we are praying very fervently that by the expiration of the period of incubation which has been put between one week and three weeks; no such cases will be heard,” Moro stated.
He noted that already, there was a presidential committee, in which he is a member, working round the clock to ensure that the disease does not spread in Nigeria.
“We have been having meetings frequently to update ourselves on decisions that have been taken and one of the decisions that was taken in the committee is that screening centres (be created) at our various ports of entry including our land entry ports.
“The whole attitude is to have a multi-sectoral approach to the issue of Ebola in Nigeria and so the Nigerian Immigration Service is working in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and officials of the World Health Organisation, which we believe hopefully, that our efforts should be able to prevent further spread of this disease,” he said.
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