FG Assures Nigerians of Ebola Preparedness, Urges Calm

The Federal Government has reassured Nigerians that there is currently no confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the country, while affirming that proactive measures have been activated to strengthen national preparedness and response systems.
This follows recent Ebola outbreaks reported in parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, said the ministry, through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Port Health Services, and other relevant agencies, is closely monitoring developments in collaboration with the World Health Organization and regional health authorities.
According to the minister, Nigeria has activated enhanced preparedness measures aimed at strengthening surveillance, early detection, and rapid response systems to protect public health.
Prof. Pate stated that although no Ebola case has been confirmed in Nigeria, the government is taking proactive steps to safeguard the health and wellbeing of citizens.
He listed ongoing response measures to include enhanced nationwide surveillance and monitoring, strengthened screening and health declaration protocols at points of entry, improved coordination with state ministries of health, increased laboratory preparedness and diagnostic capacity, reinforcement of infection prevention and control measures in health facilities, as well as intensified public awareness and community engagement campaigns.
The minister urged Nigerians to remain calm, avoid spreading misinformation, and continue observing preventive measures such as regular hand hygiene and avoiding contact with bodily fluids of persons showing symptoms of illness.
He also advised members of the public to promptly report any unusual illness to the nearest health facility.
Healthcare workers across the country were further advised to maintain a high level of vigilance, strictly observe infection prevention and control protocols, isolate suspected cases promptly, and report through established public health channels.
Prof. Pate reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting public health and maintaining national health security through coordinated preparedness and rapid response efforts.
The statement was signed by Ado Bako, Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.