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Nigerians across the country have been assured the Federal Government's readiness to strengthen surveillance at five international airports in Nigeria to prevent the spread of novel Coronavirus.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the minister of health Osagie Ehanire, in Abuja on Tuesday, January 28, said the FG will set up an inter-multisectoral committee to scale up surveillance and vigilance in these airports. The five international airports are in Enugu, Lagos, Rivers, Kano and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Ehanire said the new committee which would be set up will scale up the surveillance process at the airports to detect any suspicious cases of the deadly disease. He also said the responsibility of the committee will also include ensuring that the disease is contained should there be an occurrence. Ehanire said: “The committee shall comprise of critical stakeholders in the health, security, aviation and transport sectors and also include development partners, bearing in mind that air travelers are more likely carriers of the virus." According to the minister, attention is being given to the five international airports to ensure that the point of entries is monitored. He also assured that the ministry of health is working effortlessly to forestall the importation of coronavirus to the country. “The risk of importation is possible in all countries. However, the ministry wishes to assure all Nigerians that the capacity to detect, access and respond to this and other public health challenges are put in place," Ehanire said. Further urging passengers to comply with protocol, Ehanire advised the public to report anyone took ill or looked ill on board to be reported by authorities. The minister also called on passenger airlines and the public to call designated lines at the airports’ entries to share any information on the virus. He also made public the telephone numbers to call as 09092996283; 08095553232.