Following recent global health alerts over Ebola virus outbreaks in parts of Central and East Africa, the Director-General of the Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola, has issued a precautionary advisory to owners, operators and managers of hospitality and social establishments across the state.
Mojola stressed that there is currently no confirmed case of Ebola in Lagos State or anywhere in Nigeria, noting that the state as a major international travel hub and commercial centre, must adopt proactive measures to safeguard residents and visitors.
He said high-density social venues such as hotels, nightclubs, lounges, event centres and restaurants should take the lead in implementing preventive measures due to the high volume of close-contact interactions associated with their operations.
He said “The Lagos State Safety Commission, in line with its mandate to ensure public safety, is directing all public and private operators to immediately reinstate mandatory hand hygiene stations equipped with running water and liquid soap or alcohol-based hand sanitizers at facility entrances and other strategic locations”.
Mojola also urged establishments to increase the frequency of cleaning and disinfection exercises using hospital-grade disinfectants on high-touch surfaces, including door handles, handrails, countertops, menus and payment terminals.
He further advised management teams to train front-line, housekeeping and security personnel to identify early signs of illness, conduct daily health checks for staff and enforce a strict stay-at-home policy for employees showing symptoms such as fever or other signs of infection.
The Director-General said hospitality establishments should designate temporary, well-ventilated holding areas to safely isolate any guest or staff member who develops sudden severe illness while awaiting medical attention or evacuation.
In addition to sanitation measures, operators were advised to manage crowd sizes to prevent excessive overcrowding and ensure adequate ventilation in enclosed spaces. Mojola urged stakeholders to remain calm, vigilant and cooperative, noting that safety inspectors would intensify monitoring and support visits across the state to ensure compliance.
He added that any suspected medical emergency involving severe fever or illness should be immediately isolated and reported through the official Lagos State health emergency lines: 08023169485, 08033565529, or 07000SAFETY.
