The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has directed all public information agencies under the ministry to immediately scale up public education and enlightenment on Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) following confirmation of a case in the Federal Capital Territory.
The agencies are the National Orientation Agency (NOA), the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), the Voice of Nigeria (VON) and the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Mr Idris gave the directive on Thursday in a statement by his Special Assistant (Media), Rabiu Ibrahim on Thursday.
On Tuesday, the federal government confirmed a case of Ebola Virus Disease in the FCT, involving a woman who recently arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, who disclosed this, said the patient was admitted to a private hospital in the FCT, where she received treatment for several days before the diagnosis was confirmed.
He added that the woman has been isolated and is currently receiving medical care, while public health authorities have activated emergency response measures to contain the virus, noting that 44 close contacts have been identified.
On Thursday, Mr Idris said the federal government is taking every necessary step to contain this case and protect Nigerians.
“Accurate and timely information is one of our strongest defences. Our agencies must reach every community, in every language, with clear facts on how Ebola spreads, how to protect ourselves and where to report suspected cases,” he said.
He directed the agencies to work closely with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) to ensure that all public messaging is verified and evidence-based.
Mr Idris also tasked the NOA with deploying its offices nationwide for grassroots sensitisation, working with traditional and religious leaders, community groups, and the media.
He said the ministry will also strengthen engagement with the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) to expand sensitisation on prevention and containment.
According to him, the collaboration will support the dissemination of verified health information, the production and airing of public enlightenment jingles, and the development of information, education and communication materials in Nigerian languages.
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The minister urged Nigerians to remain calm, rely only on information from official sources and avoid spreading unverified claims on social media.
He advised members of the public to report any suspected case immediately by calling the NCDC’s toll-free 24-hour emergency line, 6232.
Nigeria recorded an Ebola outbreak in 2014 after an infected traveller from Liberia arrived in Lagos. The World Health Organisation (WHO) later declared Nigeria free of Ebola transmission on 20 October 2014, after 42 days without a new case.
WHO records show the 2014 response involved rapid case detection, isolation, and extensive contact tracing, with 19 confirmed cases, one probable case, and eight deaths.
The latest case in Abuja comes amid an ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where the disease has spread across several provinces.
