The Federal Government has reassured Nigerians that there is currently no confirmed case of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the country, while urging citizens to remain vigilant and rely only on verified information from official sources.
The assurance was given on Thursday in Abuja by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, during the inaugural meeting of the Communication Sub-Committee of the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats.
Idris said that although Nigeria remains free of confirmed Ebola cases, recent developments in other parts of Africa underscore the need for heightened vigilance and preparedness.
“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 said.
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for establishing the Presidential Task Force, describing it as a proactive measure aimed at safeguarding the health and well-being of Nigerians through effective preparedness, coordination and timely response.
According to the minister, effective communication will be central to the country’s response to any public health emergency, stressing that accurate and science-based information is critical to saving lives.
“Accurate, timely and science-based information saves lives, while misinformation and rumours can undermine public confidence and hinder effective response,” Idris said.
He recalled Nigeria’s successful containment of the Ebola outbreak in 2014, attributing the achievement to strong leadership, coordinated action, effective disease surveillance and sustained public communication.
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).
“Our message to Nigerians must remain clear: there is no confirmed Ebola case in Nigeria; there is no cause for panic; the government is fully prepared and vigilant,” he stated.
The minister urged Nigerians to maintain good hygiene, promptly report suspected symptoms to health authorities and rely solely on verified information released by government agencies.
The Presidential Task Force was established to strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness against Ebola and other emerging public health threats through coordinated government action and effective risk communication.