HEALTH Diseases

Nigeria Intensifies Efforts Against Ebola Disease

by admin on | 2026-07-10 18:29:26

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Nigeria Intensifies Efforts Against Ebola Disease

By Ahmad Sirajo Makama, Abuja

The Nigerian Government has pledged to intensify efforts to strengthen the country’s preparedness against Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and other emerging public health threats.

The government said it is also working to combat misinformation and ensure Nigerians receive accurate, science-based information as part of preparedness measures to prevent any possible outbreak.

Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this at the inaugural meeting of the Communication Sub-Committee of the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats in Abuja.

According to him, effective communication remains one of the country’s strongest weapons in preventing and managing public health emergencies.

“Communication is one of the most powerful tools in managing public health emergencies. Accurate, timely and science-based information saves lives, while misinformation and rumours can undermine public confidence and hinder effective response,” the minister said.

Idris said the Nigerian Government is determined to ensure that all official information on Ebola and other disease outbreaks is coordinated and driven by scientific evidence.

“Our responsibility is to ensure that government speaks with one clear and coordinated voice, guided by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the country’s technical authority on disease prevention and control,” he stated.

The minister noted that the establishment of the Presidential Task Force by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu demonstrates the administration’s commitment to safeguarding the health of Nigerians through proactive planning and coordinated action.

“It is always better to prepare before a crisis than to respond after one has emerged,” Idris said.

He explained that the Communication Sub-Committee would immediately begin work on a harmonised national risk communication strategy designed to provide Nigerians with consistent, transparent, and accessible information.

“ The committee would develop a comprehensive national risk communication strategy aimed at providing timely, transparent and accessible information to Nigerians across the country”, he said.

The minister said the strategy will include the production of standard public health messages, frequently asked questions, rapid response mechanisms to counter fake news, translation of communication materials into major Nigerian languages, and sustained engagement with the media and communities.

“Our assignment goes beyond issuing press statements. We must develop a comprehensive national risk communication strategy that is proactive, transparent and accessible to all Nigerians, regardless of language or location,” Idris said.

He further commended the National Orientation Agency (NOA) for commencing nationwide public sensitisation campaigns using health messages approved by the NCDC, describing the agency as a critical partner in grassroots public enlightenment.

He called for a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach involving broadcast and print media, digital platforms, traditional and religious leaders, schools, transport unions, market associations, women and youth groups, and civil society organisations.

The minister stressed that Nigeria has no confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease, urging Nigerians not to panic but to remain vigilant and rely only on verified information from official government channels.

“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 and citizens should observe good hygiene, promptly report suspected symptoms to health authorities, and rely only on verified information from official government sources,” he said.

Speaking on the regional situation, Idris described the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as a reminder of the need for heightened preparedness, noting that Nigeria has strengthened surveillance at its borders and placed health facilities on alert to prevent the importation of the disease.

He outlined the committee’s immediate priorities to include developing a harmonised communication strategy, producing standard public information materials, countering misinformation, translating messages into major Nigerian languages, and sustaining regular engagement with the media and local communities.

Idris added that Nigeria’s successful containment of the Ebola outbreak in 2014 demonstrates the importance of strong leadership, coordinated action, effective surveillance, and sustained public communication in responding to health emergencies.

The Committee expressed optimism that the Presidential Task Force, in collaboration with the NCDC and other relevant stakeholders, will strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness and preserve public confidence in the country’s capacity to respond effectively to emerging public health threats.

The Communications, Diplomacy and International Engagement Sub-Committee of the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease is chaired by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, with the Minister of State, Foreign Affairs - Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, as Deputy Chairman, and the Ministry of Information’s Director, Press Relations and Protocol Department - Dr Suleiman Haruna, as a member.