The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has assured passengers and stakeholders of enhanced Ebola preparedness measures across the nation’s international airports following recent Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) concerns in parts of Central Africa.

FAAN said it had strengthened surveillance, passenger monitoring, and emergency response systems in collaboration with Port Health Services, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), and other relevant agencies.

In a statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mr. Henry Agbebire, the authority disclosed that passengers arriving from high-risk regions are currently undergoing intensified health screening procedures at airports nationwide.

According to the statement, passengers are being screened for symptoms associated with Ebola, while any suspected case would be immediately isolated and subjected to secondary health checks in line with national and international health protocols.

FAAN stated that additional preventive measures had also been activated to strengthen the country’s preparedness against any possible outbreak.

The authority noted that coordination among aviation, health, and emergency response stakeholders had been reinforced to ensure swift and effective action whenever necessary.

It further disclosed that airport personnel had undergone increased sensitisation programmes, while emergency response procedures had been strengthened across airport facilities to improve readiness and operational safety.

“While there is currently no confirmed case of Ebola in Nigeria, FAAN remains vigilant and fully committed to safeguarding public health and maintaining safe airport operations,” the statement said.

The agency urged passengers to remain calm, cooperate with health officials during screening procedures, and promptly report any symptoms or health concerns to relevant authorities.

FAAN reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining safe, secure, and healthy airport environments while supporting national public health protection measures.

The authority added that continuous monitoring and collaboration with health agencies would remain in place to ensure Nigeria’s airports sustain global health and safety standards.

The National President of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transportation (CILT), Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, and the Dean of the School of Transportation and Logistics, Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. Ogochukwu Ugboma, are set to headline discussions at the 12th edition of the Nigeria Transport Lecture scheduled for June 18, 2026, in Lagos.

The annual lecture, organised by Transport Day Media, will focus on the theme: “Multi-modal Transportation Safety in Nigeria: Prospects, Challenges & Contribution to National Growth.”

The event will hold at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, and is expected to attract key stakeholders from the public and private sectors of the transportation and logistics industry.

Organisers said the lecture would provide a strategic platform for industry players, policymakers, regulators, and academics to examine safety concerns affecting Nigeria’s road, rail, maritime, and aviation transportation systems.

Dr. Oyeyemi, former Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and Prof. Ugboma are expected to deliver keynote presentations on the need for stronger safety frameworks, policy coordination, and sustainable transport systems capable of supporting national economic growth.

Over the years, the Nigeria Transport Lecture has featured prominent industry leaders and policymakers, including former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside; former Federal Permanent Secretary, Dr. Anthonia Ekpa; and the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr. Kayode Opeifa.

Speaking ahead of the event, the Editor of Transport Day Media, Mr. Frank Kintum, described the annual lecture as an important platform for addressing critical challenges facing the transport and logistics sector.

“Every year, we use the lecture as a platform to discuss contemporary issues in the industry. This year, we settled for multi-modal transportation safety because without safety, the various multi-modal transport initiatives by governments at different levels may be undermined,” Kintum said.

He added that the lecture forms part of Transport Day Media’s contribution towards building a sustainable, efficient, and globally competitive transport and logistics sector in Nigeria and across Africa.

Kintum noted that the event would also encourage policy dialogue, knowledge sharing, and stakeholder collaboration aimed at improving transportation safety standards nationwide.

Industry stakeholders expected at the lecture include operators, regulators, government officials, logistics professionals, academics, and representatives of transport agencies across the country.

The organisers expressed optimism that deliberations at the event would generate practical recommendations capable of strengthening Nigeria’s multi-modal transport safety framework and supporting national development.

Nigeria has been removed from the Aviation Working Group (AWG) blacklist following major reforms introduced by the Federal Government to strengthen aviation financing, aircraft leasing, and compliance with the Cape Town Convention (CTC).

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN), disclosed this while addressing global aviation stakeholders at the Aviation Working Group General Meeting held in London.

Speaking before international financiers, aircraft lessors, legal practitioners, and aviation industry leaders, Keyamo said Nigeria’s compliance score under the Cape Town Convention improved significantly due to ongoing regulatory and judicial reforms implemented by the Federal Government.

According to the Minister, Nigeria’s compliance rating rose from 49 per cent to 70.5 per cent after the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court signed a new Practice Direction strengthening legal enforcement in aviation-related matters.

He added that the operationalisation of the Irrevocable Deregistration and Export Request Authorization (IDERA) further raised the country’s compliance score to 75.5 per cent, resulting in Nigeria’s removal from the AWG blacklist.

Keyamo described the development as a major boost for investor confidence and aircraft financing opportunities within Nigeria’s aviation sector.

He explained that the reforms were part of broader efforts to position Nigeria as a safe and competitive destination for aircraft leasing and aviation investments.

The Minister noted that over 80 per cent of aircraft operating within Nigeria’s registry are currently acquired through lease arrangements, adding that most leased aircraft whose contracts expired were deregistered and exported successfully without disputes.

“These milestones did not happen by chance. They were driven by targeted regulatory reforms designed to demonstrate the Federal Government’s commitment to implementing the Cape Town Convention both in substance and in practice,” he said.

Keyamo stated that the reforms were already producing positive outcomes, including successful dry lease transactions involving Nigerian airlines and international financing institutions.

He, however, acknowledged that operational challenges such as customs-related procedures, foreign exchange fluctuations, temporary importation processes, and inter-agency coordination issues still exist within the aviation financing environment.

The Minister assured stakeholders that the Federal Government was actively addressing the issues through coordinated institutional reforms, digitalisation programmes, and enhanced regulatory oversight by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority.

In another major development, Keyamo announced that the Federal Executive Council had approved the establishment of a Nigerian Aircraft Leasing Company projected to unlock over one billion dollars in future aviation financing capacity.

According to him, the initiative would help Nigerian airlines access aircraft on more competitive terms, reduce dependence on foreign lessors, and support fleet expansion and operational stability.

Keyamo stressed that Nigeria’s aviation market requires sustainable financing systems capable of supporting rising passenger traffic and long-term sector growth.

He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to international best practices, legal certainty, and constructive collaboration with global aviation stakeholders.

“The Cape Town Convention is more than a treaty. It is a framework for building trust,” the Minister stated.

He expressed confidence that Nigeria’s ongoing reforms would strengthen aviation financing and support economic growth not only within Nigeria but across the African continent.