The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has disclosed that the country is currently managing several infectious disease outbreaks across all six geopolitical zones.
The Director-General of the NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, made this known on Tuesday at a three-day Stakeholder Workshop on Preparedness and Response to Public Health Emergencies held in collaboration with UNICEF and the World Health Organisation (WHO).
According to Idris, the outbreaks include diphtheria, cholera, Lassa fever, and measles, adding that the situation is worsened by climate-related challenges, humanitarian crises, and long-standing structural issues within the health system.
He explained that factors such as increased population movement, rapid urban growth, strain on healthcare facilities, and unequal access to essential services have continued to heighten public health risks nationwide.
Idris stressed that effective preparedness goes beyond preventing outbreaks, noting that it involves the ability to identify risks early, detect threats promptly, coordinate responses across sectors and government levels, and act swiftly using evidence-based strategies.
He reiterated the mandate of the NCDC as Nigeria’s national public health institute, established in 2018, to provide technical leadership in preventing, detecting, and responding to public health emergencies.
The NCDC boss added that the agency works closely with the Federal Ministry of Health, state governments, relevant agencies, and development partners to strengthen the nation’s health security framework.
He outlined several steps already taken to improve emergency preparedness, including the implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005) Monitoring and Evaluation Framework, adoption of the National Action Plan for Health Security 2.0, deployment of the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) 3rd Edition, and the ongoing use of the 7-1-7 outbreak detection and response strategy.
Despite these efforts, Idris admitted that challenges persist, particularly in inter-sectoral coordination, data harmonisation, logistics, workforce preparedness, sustainable funding, and alignment of partner interventions with national priorities.
He explained that the workshop aims to assess Nigeria’s preparedness and response systems, identify existing gaps, and improve coordination across policies, institutions, and investments.
Idris urged participants to engage constructively and rigorously, stating that the success of the meeting would be judged by its ability to deliver a practical, nationally driven roadmap for strengthening early detection, improving response coordination, and building resilience at both national and sub-national levels.
He also commended development partners for their continued support and acknowledged the government’s leadership in advancing health security in Nigeria.