The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s preparedness against the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and other emerging public health threats through improved coordination, surveillance and public communication.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made the commitment at the inaugural meeting of the Communications Sub-Committee of the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats held in Abuja.
Idris said effective communication remains one of the country’s most important tools for preventing disease outbreaks and protecting public health, stressing that timely and credible information is essential to combat misinformation.
“Communication is one of the most powerful tools in managing public health emergencies. Accurate, timely and science-based information saves lives, while misinformation and rumours can undermine public confidence and hinder effective response,” he said.
According to the minister, the Federal Government is committed to ensuring that all official information relating to Ebola and other infectious diseases is coordinated and based on scientific evidence provided by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
“Our responsibility is to ensure that government speaks with one clear and coordinated voice, guided by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the country’s technical authority on disease prevention and control,” Idris stated.
He explained that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to establish the Presidential Task Force reflects the administration’s determination to strengthen the country’s capacity to respond swiftly to potential public health emergencies.
“It is always better to prepare before a crisis than to respond after one has emerged,” he added.
The minister disclosed that the Communications Sub-Committee would immediately begin developing a harmonised national risk communication strategy aimed at providing Nigerians with consistent, transparent and accessible public health information.
He said the strategy would include standard health messages, frequently asked questions, rapid response mechanisms to counter misinformation, translation of communication materials into major Nigerian languages and sustained engagement with the media, communities and other stakeholders.
“Our assignment goes beyond issuing press statements. We must develop a comprehensive national risk communication strategy that is proactive, transparent and accessible to all Nigerians, regardless of language or location,” Idris said.
He commended the National Orientation Agency (NOA) for launching nationwide public awareness campaigns using health messages approved by the NCDC, describing the agency as a key partner in promoting grassroots awareness.
The minister also called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, the media, digital platforms, traditional and religious leaders, schools, transport unions, market associations, youth and women’s groups, as well as civil society organisations to ensure effective dissemination of accurate health information.
Idris reassured Nigerians that there is currently no confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease in the country and urged the public to remain calm while observing preventive health measures.
“There is no confirmed Ebola case in Nigeria; there is no cause for panic. Government is fully prepared and vigilant, and Nigerians should rely only on verified information from official government sources,” he said.
He noted that the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo underscores the importance of maintaining high levels of preparedness, adding that Nigeria has strengthened surveillance at its borders and placed health facilities on alert to prevent possible importation of the virus.
The minister recalled Nigeria’s successful containment of the Ebola outbreak in 2014, saying the achievement demonstrated the value of strong leadership, coordinated response, effective surveillance and sustained public communication during health emergencies.
Idris expressed confidence that the Presidential Task Force, working closely with the NCDC and other relevant stakeholders, would further strengthen the country’s preparedness and reinforce public confidence in Nigeria’s ability to respond effectively to future disease outbreaks.
The Communications, Diplomacy and International Engagement Sub-Committee of the Presidential Task Force 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.
The Director of Press Relations and Protocol at the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Dr. Suleiman Haruna, is also a member of the committee.
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