By: Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja.
The Federal Government has assured Nigerians that there is no confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the country, stressing that there is no cause for panic as the government has put in place measures to prevent and respond to any potential outbreak.
The assurance was given on Thursday by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, during the inauguration of the Communication Sub-Committee of the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats at the ministry’s conference room in Abuja.
Idris said although no Ebola case has been confirmed in Nigeria, recent outbreaks in parts of Africa underscore the need for vigilance and proactive measures.
“Let me reassure Nigerians that there is currently no confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria.
However, recent developments elsewhere in Africa remind us that infectious diseases know no borders,” the minister stated.
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for establishing the Presidential Task Force, describing the initiative as a proactive intervention aimed at safeguarding the health and well-being of Nigerians through preparedness, coordination and timely response.
The minister emphasized that effective communication would be central to managing any public health emergency, noting that the dissemination of accurate, timely and science-based information remains critical to saving lives and preventing misinformation.
According to him, Nigeria’s successful containment of the Ebola outbreak in 2014 was made possible through decisive leadership, coordinated action, effective disease surveillance and sustained public awareness campaigns.
Idris disclosed that the National Orientation Agency (NOA) had already commenced nationwide public sensitisation using approved health messages developed in collaboration with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
He reiterated the government’s position, saying: “Our message to Nigerians must remain clear: there is no confirmed Ebola case in Nigeria; there is no cause for panic; government is fully prepared and vigilant.”
The minister urged Nigerians to maintain good hygiene practices, promptly report suspected symptoms to health authorities and rely only on verified information from official government sources.
The inauguration was attended by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Task Force, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye; representatives of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention; Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Lanre Issa-Onilu; President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Comrade Alhassan Yahya; President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Dr. Ike Neliaku; Vice President (North) of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Hamza Idris, and other key stakeholders.
