The Federal Government has assured Nigerians that there is currently no confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the country, while urging the public to remain vigilant and rely only on verified information from official sources.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, gave the assurance on Thursday in Abuja during the inaugural meeting of the Communication Sub-Committee of the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats.
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“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.
Idris commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for establishing the Presidential Task Force, describing the initiative as a proactive measure to strengthen the country’s preparedness and protect the health and well-being of Nigerians through coordinated action and effective response.
He emphasised that strategic communication remains a critical component of managing public health emergencies, noting that accurate, timely and science-based information is essential in preventing panic and combating misinformation.
“Accurate, timely and science-based information saves lives, while misinformation and rumours can undermine public confidence and hinder effective response,” he said.
The minister recalled Nigeria’s successful containment of the Ebola outbreak in 2014, attributing the achievement to strong leadership, coordinated intervention, effective disease surveillance and sustained public awareness campaigns.
He disclosed that the National Orientation Agency (NOA) had already commenced nationwide sensitisation campaigns using approved health messages developed in collaboration with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
“Our message to Nigerians is clear: there is no confirmed Ebola case in Nigeria, there is no cause for panic, and the government remains fully prepared and vigilant,” Idris stated.
He urged Nigerians to maintain good hygiene practices, promptly report suspected symptoms to health authorities and obtain health information only from verified government channels.
The meeting was attended by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Deputy Chairman of the Task Force, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye; representatives of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development; officials of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC); the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu; President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Alhassan Yahya; President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr. Ike Neliaku; Vice President (North) of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Hamza Idris; and other stakeholders.
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The Federal Government reiterated its commitment to safeguarding public health through preparedness, effective communication and coordinated response to emerging public health threats.