… Assures Nigerians of Zero Confirmed Cases
The Federal Government has assured Nigerians that there is no confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the country, even as it steps up preparedness measures by inaugurating the Communication Sub-Committee of the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, gave the assurance on Thursday in Abuja during the inaugural meeting of the committee, urging citizens to remain calm, vigilant and rely only on verified information from official government channels.
According to the Minister, recent disease outbreaks in parts of Africa underscore the need for proactive measures, despite the absence of any confirmed Ebola case in Nigeria.
“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,” Idris said.
He praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for establishing the Presidential Task Force, describing the initiative as a strategic move aimed at safeguarding public health through preparedness, coordination and timely response.
The Minister stressed that effective communication would be central to any emergency response effort, noting that accurate and science-based information remains critical in protecting lives and maintaining public confidence.
Idris warned that misinformation and rumours could undermine response efforts, emphasizing the need for consistent public engagement and awareness.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s successful containment of the Ebola outbreak in 2014, Idris attributed the achievement to strong leadership, coordinated action, efficient disease surveillance and sustained public communication.
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 must remain clear: there is no confirmed Ebola case in Nigeria; there is no cause for panic; government is fully prepared and vigilant,” he stated.
The Minister urged Nigerians to maintain good hygiene practices, promptly report any suspected symptoms to health authorities and avoid spreading unverified information.
Spark News reports that the meeting was attended by key government officials and stakeholders, including 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 NCDC; Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Lanre Issa-Onilu; President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Alhassan Yahya; President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Dr. Ike Neliaku; and Vice President (North) of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Hamza Idris.