• Mobilises states, hospitals, experts; urges public cooperation as campaigns progress
• Nigerians express concern as govt rolls out guidelines to prevent spread
Nigeria is intensifying efforts to prevent the confirmed Ebola case in the country from developing into a wider outbreak, with the Federal Government mobilising health agencies, state governments, hospitals and international partners, backed by a Presidential Task Force established months before the infection was detected.
At the centre of the response is a delicate race against time: identifying everyone who may have been exposed, contain the infection, strengthen surveillance and reassure a public increasingly concerned about the disease and the government’s preparedness.
The challenge, perhaps, extends beyond medical facilities. With political campaigns and other large gatherings approaching, the authorities must balance public health precautions with the continuation of public activities, while ensuring that misinformation and distrust do not undermine containment efforts.
At a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, October 22, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate, confirmed that the Ebola patient’s condition was improving, with laboratory results showing significant progress and raising the possibility of recovery.
“Thankfully, that individual has been taken care of and, in fact, is recovering. Today (on Thursday), I spoke to the clinicians handling the case, and I was informed that her laboratory results are showing great improvement, and there is a possibility that she would recover from this,” Pate said.
He cautioned, however, that the situation required continued vigilance, explaining that the government’s immediate priority was to prevent the infection from spreading into communities.
“We have one important case. We are trying to contain it so that it does not go out to the communities or become generalised. Hopefully, it will not get to that,” he said.
The minister disclosed that the patient was asymptomatic when she arrived in Nigeria but developed symptoms a few days later. “After confirmation of the infection, health authorities began tracing people who might have been exposed through her hospital attendance, domestic interactions and visit to a private medical facility. “
The contacts were categorised according to their exposure levels. High-risk contacts were quarantined in a designated facility, while others were isolated and monitored under public health guidelines,” he said.
Pate further stated that there was no evidence of community transmission at the time of the briefing, but stressed that the government would not relent in its efforts to prevent further spread.
Presidential taskforce activated
Nigeria’s response is not beginning from scratch. On June 9, President Bola Tinubu approved the establishment of the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats and directed the immediate release of N10 billion for emergency preparedness and response activities.
The Task Force is chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, with membership drawn from relevant ministries, departments and agencies, as well as state representatives. The initiative followed outbreaks in other African countries and was intended to strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness against the possible importation of Ebola (which eventually happened) and other emerging public health threats.
Among the measures announced at its establishment were intensified passenger screening at international airports, enhanced temperature checks, stronger monitoring of passengers arriving through designated high-risk routes, and activation of referral and isolation centres at the Lagos and Abuja international airports.
The President also directed states hosting international airports and international border corridors, alongside relevant federal agencies, to submit their preparedness plans, funding requirements and intervention needs for coordinated implementation.
Eventually, the taskforce’s work gained renewed urgency following confirmation of the case of Ebola virus a few days ago in Abuja. After an emergency meeting at the State House on Wednesday, October 21, Gbajabiamila said the committee had been working behind the scenes since June and that the systems put in place had helped authorities identify the infected traveller.
He explained that the patient did not initially show symptoms, which developed four days after she arrived in Abuja, and credited the identification process and established protocols with helping authorities detect the infection. “The Task Force is on top of it. NCDC is on top of it; everyone is on deck,” Gbajabiamila said, while urging Nigerians to cooperate with health officials and avoid panic.
It was gathered that the Presidential Task Force has brought together health authorities and other agencies whose responsibilities are essential to disease surveillance, including immigration, aviation, port health and state health institutions. Its task is to strengthen coordination, close gaps in preparedness and ensure that the government can respond quickly if additional infections are detected.
NCDC coordinate states, hospitals and experts
Pate identified the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) as the focal point for coordinating the operational response. He confirmed that the agency has activated the incident management system, bringing together surveillance, contact tracing, laboratory investigations, clinical management and other response activities.
The minister told journalists that himself alongside relevant individuals have briefed the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and the National Economic Council. State governments have also been informed, with those yet to complete their response plans urged to do so with guidance from the NCDC. Pate said most states already had response plans and that the government was working to strengthen coordination between federal and subnational authorities.
“The authorities are also engaging state Commissioners of Health and Information to ensure that public health guidance is communicated consistently and accurately across the country.
“The World Health Organisation (WHO), Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), development partners and experts with experience managing Ebola outbreaks are supporting the response.
“Professor Christian Happi, a genomics expert at Redeemer’s University, has also been invited to complement the work of local health authorities, including efforts to obtain further information about the virus through genomic sequencing,” the minister said.
He also stated that the government has mobilised additional resources for the NCDC, and is seeking to strengthen the capacity of health facilities to manage suspected cases safely. Pate said hospitals have been notified to prepare bed spaces and isolation arrangements, and reinforce infection prevention and control measures to protect patients and healthcare workers.
“Private hospitals are also important to the response. The patient’s visit to a private facility before the infection was confirmed has highlighted the need for private practitioners to promptly report suspected cases and maintain close contact with public health authorities.
“The private sector is important, because as you saw, this case went to a private facility. In 2014, it was a private facility. So private practitioners of all kinds should also be sensitised and connect to the public health authorities,” the minister said. He said government is also strengthening surveillance at airports and other points of entry, including ensuring that thermal imaging equipment is functional and that travellers are assessed according to relevant public health risks. These measures are intended to improve early detection, but screening at entry points cannot replace monitoring after arrival, particularly when an infected traveller has not yet developed symptoms.
The N10bn question
The approval of N10 billion for emergency preparedness has also brought attention to the resources available to support the response. The funding was announced in June, 2026, as part of the establishment of the Presidential Task Force, with the stated purpose of strengthening the NCDC’s operational preparedness and supporting critical national public health emergency activities. However, the status of the money has become a subject of public debate following the confirmation of the Ebola case.
In a statement reported on October 22, the APC Presidential Campaign Council claimed that the N10 billion approved for the emergency remained untouched, arguing that the NCDC, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and other surveillance agencies had been using other available resources. However, the council did not provide financial records to independently establish the fund’s status or explain why it had not been utilised, according to the report.
As the government intensifies its response, transparent information about funding, procurement and the resources deployed would help demonstrate how the preparedness plan is being implemented. For now, Pate has said additional resources have been made available to support the NCDC, while the government continues to mobilise domestic capacity and technical assistance.
Political campaigns: No restrictions for now
The government’s position on political rallies and other large public gatherings is another major concern as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general election. The Minister of Health said there was no indication at the time of the briefing on Thursday that required the government to alter planned gatherings. He, however, made it clear that the position could change if the public health situation deteriorated.
“The government has therefore not announced a general ban on political rallies, conferences or other major events. Its position remains subject to review as health authorities assess the risk.
“Ebola is not transmitted through the air in the same way as measles or influenza. It spreads primarily through direct contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person who is showing symptoms, or with contaminated materials.
“This means that the size of a crowd alone does not determine whether Ebola will spread. Nevertheless, gatherings require vigilance, and the absence of a ban should not be interpreted as a declaration that all events are risk-free.
“Attendees should practise good hand hygiene, avoid direct contact with anyone who is ill and comply with official public health advice. Organisers should remain alert to any change in government guidance,” he said.
Pate also urged political leaders not to politicise the outbreak, stressing that public health should unite rather than divide Nigerians. “Health has no political party, has no citizenship, has no nationality, has no tribe, no religion. It is a great unifier,” he said.
Public trust, the final line of defence
Even with surveillance systems, laboratory capacity and emergency response plans in place, the government’s efforts could be weakened if Nigerians distrust health warnings or refuse to cooperate. Pate expressed concern about claims that the case was fabricated or exaggerated for financial or political reasons. He said the patient had tested positive three times, although he explained that individual test results could not be publicly released because of medical confidentiality.
He warned that misinformation could discourage people from reporting symptoms, cooperating with contact tracers or complying with quarantine instructions.
“The alternative to trusting the experts is tragedy. It’s really tragedy,” the minister said, urging Nigerians to rely on qualified health professionals and credible official sources.”
He recalled Nigeria’s experience with misinformation surrounding polio vaccination, warning that distrust could undermine public health interventions and expose communities to preventable harm. “The government has also been engaging traditional and religious leaders, including the Sultan of Sokoto and the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), to help communicate health advice and encourage cooperation. Pate also appealed to journalists to verify information, avoid amplifying unsubstantiated claims and provide the public with accurate updates. “The government has promised continued communication as investigations progress,” he said.
What Nigerians must do to stay safe
Nigerians were urged to remain calm but vigilant, practise regular hand-washing with soap and running water, and avoid unnecessary contact with other people’s body fluids. The government asked that anyone who develops symptoms such as fever, headache and muscle aches, particularly after possible exposure or travel to an affected area, should promptly contact public health authorities for guidance and avoid exposing others. It said those identified as contacts must comply with monitoring, isolation or quarantine instructions. Healthcare workers and private practitioners, it noted, must follow infection prevention and control procedures and promptly report suspected cases.
“Nigerians should also avoid spreading unverified information and seek updates from the NCDC, the Federal Ministry of Health and other credible health authorities,” he said.
He stated that the government’s immediate objective is to contain the confirmed case, monitor potentially exposed people and prevent further transmission. “The Presidential Task Force, NCDC, state governments, hospitals and technical partners are central to that effort,” he said.
The government maintained that as the response continues, its success will depend not only on the capacity of institutions and the availability of funds, but also on timely information, transparent communication and public cooperation.
“Nigeria has experience responding to Ebola, and the relevant authorities say the systems needed to contain the current case are being activated. The task now is to ensure that the response remains coordinated, that gaps are addressed quickly and that the infection does not spread beyond the people already identified by health officials. “The race to stop the virus is therefore not only a test of Nigeria’s health system. It is also a test of preparedness, public trust and the country’s ability to act collectively in the face of a public health threat,” the minister said.
Meanwhile, Nigerians have been reacting to the Ebola scare in Nigeria. Those that spoke with Saturday Sun’s Ngozi Nwoke in Lagos expressed their fear about the deadly disease.
Wilberforce Okili, a trader, noted: “When Ebola came in 2014 we lost customers because people were scared to come to the market. If it is back, it means we will suffer again. We buy and sell food, and people touch money, touch goods. I’m already telling my children to carry hand sanitiser and not to shake hands anyhow. Government should come and talk to us in the market early this time. Don’t wait until people start dying before you bring radio announcements. We need to know the signs and where to report.”
Goodwill Etame, a fitness coach, said his first thought was about the hospitals.
“Last time, people were running from hospital to hospital. I drove people to clinics that year. I feel angry because we keep hearing ‘preparedness’ but when things happen, there’s no ambulance, no information. I hope it’s just rumors, but if it’s real, government should be honest with us from day one.”
A school owner and principal, Mrs Ibim Ene, said she was more worried about children. “Ebola spreads fast and children touch everything. In 2014 we had to close down schools, do temperature checks at the gate, and parents were panicking. It affected learning for almost a term. I feel frustrated because we just recovered from COVID and now this. Ministries of Education and Health must work together this time, send us guidelines, send us thermometers, and tell us exactly what to do. We cannot guess with children’s lives.”
A nurse, Kindness Nwaobilor, said this Ebola case had brought bad memories.
“I was a volunteer during the last outbreak in Lagos. We did contact tracing house to house and people were hiding sick relatives because of the stigma. My feeling now is a mix of fear and determination. Fear because our health centres are still overstretched, and determination because we know what to do. The key is early reporting and no denial. If we act fast and apply the safety measures, we can contain it.”
Abayomi Ogungbekun is a medical doctor in Lagos. He told Saturday Sun: “The resurgence of Ebola is a serious public health threat and we must not treat it lightly. Prevention has to be immediate and layered. Every hospital, clinic, and primary health centre must screen for fever and contact history. Suspected cases must be isolated immediately and reported to NCDC within 24 hours. There should be hand washing stations, chlorine, and no reuse of needles. Burial teams must be trained because unsafe burials drove spread in 2014.
“People need to know the symptoms which are fever, vomiting, bleeding, diarrhoea and most importantly avoid contact with body fluids, avoid bush meat, and do not touch an infected corpse without professionals. The biggest enemy of Ebola is not taking precautionary measures.”
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