Nigeria Govt Inaugurates Presidential Task Force Communication Sub-Committee on Ebola
By Sarah Kitka
Abuja (Core Reporters) The Federal Government of Nigeria has reassured Nigerians that there is no confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the country, while unveiling a coordinated communication strategy to strengthen national preparedness against any potential outbreak.
The Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, gave the assurance on Thursday in Abuja while chairing the inaugural meeting of the Communication Sub-Committee of the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats.
The Minister urged Nigerians to remain calm, vigilant, and rely only on verified information from official government channels.
“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,” he said.
Idris commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for establishing the Presidential Task Force, describing the initiative as a proactive measure aimed at safeguarding the health and well-being of Nigerians through effective preparedness, coordination, and rapid response.
He stressed that effective communication would remain central to the country’s public health response, noting that accurate, timely, and science-based information saves lives, while misinformation and rumours could erode public confidence and undermine response efforts.
The Minister recalled Nigeria’s successful containment of the Ebola outbreak in 2014, attributing the achievement to strong leadership, coordinated action, robust surveillance, and sustained public enlightenment.
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,” Idris stated.
He urged Nigerians to maintain good personal hygiene, promptly report any suspected symptoms to health authorities, and avoid spreading unverified information.
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 Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC); the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu; the National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Alhassan Yahaya; the President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr. Ike Neliaku, fnipr; the Vice President (North) of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Hamza Idris; and other key stakeholders.
