By Peter Omopo
LAGOS — The Lagos State Government has reiterated its readiness to respond to infectious disease outbreaks, with Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, disclosing that the state remains on high alert due to its large population and status as a major gateway for human and commercial traffic in Africa.
Abayomi made the disclosure on Tuesday while speaking at the Invest Lagos 3.0 Summit themed “Lagos: The Business Gateway to Africa,” where he highlighted the state’s public health preparedness and disease surveillance measures.
According to the commissioner, Lagos faces constant vulnerability to infectious diseases because of the enormous volume of people, goods, and animals entering the state daily through its airports, seaports, and land borders.
He noted that with a population estimated at over 30 million people, the state must continuously monitor potential health threats to prevent outbreaks from spreading.
Abayomi explained that Lagos receives thousands of livestock and food supplies daily to meet the needs of residents, adding that the movement of people and animals increases the risk of disease transmission.
Drawing lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, the health commissioner warned that diseases such as Ebola pose a significantly greater threat because of their higher fatality rates.
He stated that the state government has intensified efforts to strengthen its disease prevention and response mechanisms through a comprehensive initiative known as the “Lagos Bio-Shield.”
The programme, he said, focuses on preventing dangerous pathogens from entering the state while ensuring rapid detection and containment of any outbreak.
Abayomi identified the Murtala Muhammed International Airport as one of the key points of entry being closely monitored by health authorities. He explained that surveillance systems have been deployed to track travellers arriving from high-risk regions, particularly parts of Eastern and Central Africa.
According to him, Lagos maintains an extensive network of epidemiologists and public health officials who monitor potential threats and coordinate emergency responses across the state.
He added that the Bio-Shield framework also incorporates contact-tracing mechanisms, isolation facilities, and advanced biosafety laboratories designed to support swift intervention whenever infectious diseases are detected.
The commissioner stressed that the integrated approach is aimed at ensuring that any public health threat is identified and contained before it can spread widely within the state.
Abayomi reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting residents and sustaining Lagos’ position as a leading commercial and investment destination through strong public health systems and emergency preparedness measures.
