My Speech At Today’s Inaugural Meeting Of The Communication Sub-Committee Of The Presidential Task Force On Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness And Emerging Public Health Threats, At FMINO Nigeria HQ, Abuja

I warmly welcome you to this inaugural meeting of the Communication Sub-Committee of the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats. I thank you for your presence and your commitment to this important national assignment.

First, let me express our profound appreciation to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his foresight in establishing this Presidential Task Force. This proactive decision reflects the administration’s commitment to protecting the health and well-being of Nigerians through preparedness, coordination and timely action. It is always better to prepare before a crisis than to respond after one has emerged.

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. Our responsibility, therefore, is to remain vigilant while providing accurate information that reassures the public without creating fear or panic.

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.

Our responsibility is to ensure that government speaks with one clear and coordinated voice, guided by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the country’s technical authority on disease prevention and control.

Nigeria approaches this task with confidence, having successfully contained the Ebola outbreak in 2014. That achievement was driven not only by effective medical response but also by strong leadership, coordinated action, robust surveillance, and sustained public communication. The lessons remain relevant today.

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.

I commend the National Orientation Agency for already commencing public sensitisation using approved health messages developed with the NCDC. With its nationwide presence across all states, the FCT and the 774 Local Government Areas, the NOA remains one of government’s strongest platforms for grassroots mobilisation and public enlightenment.

Going forward, we must adopt a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach by engaging television, radio, newspapers, digital and social media, community platforms, traditional and religious institutions, schools, markets, transport unions, women and youth groups, and civil society organisations.

The current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo remains a matter of serious concern. Latest reports indicate that the outbreak has resulted in approximately 600 confirmed deaths and over 1,700 confirmed cases, with suspected infections now being investigated beyond the initially affected provinces, underscoring the continuing risk of cross-border transmission.

In Nigeria, however, I wish to reassure all citizens that there is still no confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease. Nonetheless, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has assessed the risk of importation as high, given regional population movement and international travel. Consequently, surveillance has been strengthened at our points of entry, health facilities have been placed on heightened alert, and preparedness measures are being intensified across the country.

Our immediate priorities should include developing a harmonised communication strategy, producing standard public messages and frequently asked questions, strengthening mechanisms to counter misinformation, translating communication materials into major Nigerian languages, and sustaining regular media and community engagement.

Above all, 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; and citizens should observe good hygiene, promptly report suspected symptoms to health authorities, and rely only on verified information from official government sources.

Distinguished colleagues, our work is critical to protecting public confidence and strengthening national preparedness. Working together under the leadership of the Presidential Task Force and in collaboration with the NCDC and other stakeholders, I am confident we will build on Nigeria’s proud record of resilience and preparedness.

I wish us fruitful deliberations.

Thank you, and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.