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ABUJA – The Federal Government has intensified efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness against Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), assuring citizens that there is no confirmed case of the disease in the country despite heightened regional risks.
The assurance was given during the inaugural meeting of the Communication, Diplomacy and International Engagement Sub-committee of the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease, held n Abuja, the Spokesperson Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, said in a statement on Friday.
The sub-committee is chaired by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, while the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, serves as Deputy Chairman.
Speaking at the meeting, Idris said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu established the Presidential Task Force, headed by the Chief of Staff to the President, to coordinate Nigeria’s preparedness against Ebola and other emerging public health threats.
He stressed that although Nigeria remains Ebola-free, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has classified the risk of importing the disease as high due to increased cross-border movement and international travel.
According to him, surveillance has been strengthened at airports and other points of entry, health facilities nationwide have been placed on heightened alert, and additional preparedness measures have been activated to prevent any outbreak.
The minister added that all public communication on Ebola would be guided by scientific evidence and validated by the NCDC to prevent misinformation and unnecessary public anxiety.
In his remarks, Ambassador Enikanolaiye commended President Tinubu for establishing the task force before any confirmed Ebola case had been reported in Nigeria, describing the move as a demonstration of proactive leadership and preventive diplomacy.
He said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would support the country’s response through sustained engagement with neighbouring countries, international organisations and Nigeria’s diplomatic missions abroad to facilitate information sharing and strengthen regional cooperation.
The minister noted that effective diplomacy would complement domestic preparedness by promoting international collaboration, protecting Nigeria’s global reputation and ensuring accurate information on the country’s public health status reaches the international community.
He emphasised that diseases such as Ebola transcend national borders and require coordinated international action alongside robust domestic response mechanisms.
The meeting brought together representatives of key ministries, departments and agencies, including the NCDC, National Orientation Agency, Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Nigerian Guild of Editors, the World Health Organization and other stakeholders.
Participants identified priority areas including the development of a harmonised national risk communication strategy, coordinated public messaging across government institutions, production of standard public information materials, translation of health messages into major Nigerian languages, stronger media engagement and rapid countering of misinformation.
The committee also agreed to adopt a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach by involving traditional and religious leaders, media organisations, educational institutions, transport unions, market associations, women and youth groups, civil society organisations and community leaders in nationwide awareness campaigns.
At the end of the meeting, members reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s preparedness through coordinated communication, public enlightenment and stakeholder engagement, while urging Nigerians to remain calm, observe good hygiene practices, promptly report suspected symptoms to health authorities and rely only on verified information from official government sources.
