Ebola: ‘We’re on top of the situation’ — Tinubu Govt urges Nigerians not to panic

The Presidential Task Force on Ebola Preparedness, Viral Disease Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats has assured Nigerians of the country’s capacity to respond to the reported Ebola case, saying relevant agencies have activated measures to contain the disease.

The chairman of the task force and Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, gave the assurance on Wednesday after an emergency meeting at the State House in Abuja.

Gbajabiamila said the task force had been working behind the scenes since its inauguration in June, adding that the surveillance and identification procedures put in place had helped authorities detect the reported index case.

He disclosed that Nigeria had recorded approximately 44,000 flights into and out of the country since concerns about Ebola emerged in June, crediting the Ministry of Health, the task force and other relevant agencies for maintaining surveillance.

“It’s very important to note this. Since the issue of Ebola came up in June, there have been about 44,000 flights in and out of Nigeria. So, it’s because of what the Ministry of Health, the task force and all the agencies have been doing. All hands have been on deck,” he said.

According to Gbajabiamila, the passenger identified as having the disease initially showed no symptoms, which reportedly developed four days after the woman arrived in Abuja.

He said the identification process and established protocols enabled authorities to detect the case, describing the development as evidence of Nigeria’s preparedness to respond to the public health threat.

Gbajabiamila added that the task force would strengthen existing protocols where necessary and ensure stricter enforcement of public health measures.

“The Task Force is on top of it. NCDC is on top of it; everyone is on deck. We must build community trust and avoid panic, but it’s also important to state clearly that this is a collaborative effort between the government and the people,” he said.

He urged Nigerians to cooperate with health authorities and comply with public health directives to support efforts to contain the disease.

Federal Government Intensifies Contact Tracing

Also speaking after the meeting, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, said Nigeria had competent health authorities and relevant agencies working together to respond to the reported case.

He listed health institutions, private healthcare operators, immigration and aviation authorities, the Ministry of Interior and subnational actors among those supporting surveillance and response efforts.

Pate said authorities had commenced contact tracing and were isolating people identified as contacts of the reported imported case.

“We have been conducting contact tracing diligently and isolating those contacts of the index imported case in this country. We will continue to do that, and we want to reassure Nigerians that the federal government, alongside its technical partners, the World Health Organisation, the Africa Centre for Disease Control, and our own Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, have activated the incident management system across the various pillars,” he said.

The minister added that response teams were working continuously and that hospital capabilities had been activated to support containment efforts.

He said the federal government was working with the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).

Pate also stated that most states had response plans in place and that the government was mobilising the resources and capabilities required to address the situation.

While expressing confidence in the response measures, he said authorities would continue their efforts to contain the outbreak and urged Nigerians to observe public health instructions.

The minister further warned against spreading misinformation and unverified claims, saying baseless rumours could trigger unnecessary panic.

He reiterated that the task force leadership had met and that international health partners were working closely with Nigerian authorities.

The government’s assurances come amid heightened attention to the reported Ebola case, with authorities urging public cooperation and continued vigilance as surveillance and contact-tracing activities proceed.

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