ABUJA, Nigeria — The Federal Government has warned 15 states to accelerate preparations against the spread of Ebola, directing hospitals nationwide to provide isolation beds, strengthen infection prevention measures and ensure frontline health workers are adequately protected.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, disclosed this during a briefing on the government’s response to the outbreak in Abuja, warning that although 21 states had updated their Ebola response plans, the remaining 15 were yet to complete the necessary preparations.
Pate also briefed the National Economic Council (NEC), urging the affected states to establish the necessary preparedness and response mechanisms as health authorities intensify surveillance following the confirmation of an imported Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory.
The minister said the government was coordinating the national response through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), with support from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), reports The PUNCH.
“We have notified all our hospitals to make room for bed capacity, isolation, and prepare their health workers in terms of infection prevention in these cases, because health workers are on the front lines,” Pate said.
He explained that the government had also engaged the FCT authorities and would continue to work with state governments to ensure that hospitals under their jurisdictions were prepared to identify, isolate and manage suspected cases.
The directive comes amid intensified contact tracing, surveillance and emergency preparedness following the confirmation of an imported Ebola case involving a woman who sought treatment at a private health facility in the FCT.
The government is working to prevent the infection from spreading beyond the index patient and developing into community transmission.
“We don’t want it to go beyond it, and there is no need to panic, but we have to be vigilant,” the minister said.
He stressed that the national response required early detection, prompt reporting, adequate isolation facilities and strict compliance with infection prevention and control protocols, particularly in hospitals where health workers could be exposed to the virus.
According to Pate, the government has activated its incident management system, with the NCDC coordinating operational activities alongside the FCT authorities and other relevant agencies.
He said most states already had Ebola response plans developed with the guidance of the NCDC, but some had yet to complete the process.
“Most of the states have already response plans, which were developed with the guidance of the NCDC. Those that have not finished their response plans, we’ve asked them to quickly finish their response plans,” he said.
The minister said the Federal Government would meet with state commissioners of health on Friday and invite commissioners of information to strengthen coordination between emergency response teams and public communication agencies.
He also urged private healthcare providers to strengthen their surveillance systems and promptly notify public health authorities of suspected Ebola cases.
Pate said private hospitals were particularly important to the response because patients could initially seek treatment outside government-owned facilities.
“The private sector is important because, as you saw, this case went to a private facility. In 2014, it was a private facility,” he said.
He urged private practitioners to remain alert to symptoms that could indicate Ebola, particularly among patients with relevant travel histories or possible exposure, and to contact public health authorities rather than manage suspected cases without notifying the appropriate agencies.
The minister disclosed that additional funding had been provided to the NCDC to strengthen the response, while international health agencies were supporting Nigeria’s efforts.
The government had also invited Prof. Christian Happi, a genomics expert based at Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, to complement the NCDC’s work and support further investigation into the virus.
Pate said genomic sequencing would help authorities improve their understanding of the virus and strengthen the evidence guiding the national response.
The outbreak is linked to the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, which differs from the Zaire strain responsible for the major West African Ebola epidemic of 2014–2016.
The distinction is important because Ebola comprises different virus species, and the availability of vaccines and specific treatments depends on the strain involved.
Pate urged Nigerians experiencing symptoms such as fever, headaches and muscle aches, particularly those with relevant travel histories or possible exposure, to isolate themselves and promptly contact public health authorities.
FG intensifies public enlightenment
Meanwhile, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has directed agencies under his ministry to intensify public enlightenment on Ebola following the confirmation of a case in the FCT.
Idris gave the directive to the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Voice of Nigeria (VON) and News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
In a statement issued on Thursday by his Special Assistant on Media, Rabiu Ibrahim, the minister said accurate and timely information was essential to containing the outbreak and preventing unnecessary public panic.
“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,” Idris said.
He directed the agencies to work closely with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the NCDC to ensure that public information on the outbreak was verified and evidence-based.
The minister also tasked the NOA with using its nationwide offices to conduct grassroots sensitisation in collaboration with traditional and religious leaders, community groups and the media.
The ministry said it would strengthen engagement with broadcast media organisations, including the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria, to expand public awareness of Ebola prevention and containment.
The collaboration would 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.
Idris urged Nigerians to remain calm, rely on official information and avoid spreading unverified claims on social media.
He also advised members of the public to report suspected cases through the NCDC’s toll-free, 24-hour emergency line, 6232.
NEC receives Ebola briefing, endorses 90-day economic plan
The National Economic Council has received an update on the Ebola situation and endorsed a 90-day economic action plan proposed by the Federal Ministry of Finance to consolidate the gains of President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms.
The decisions were taken at the council’s 161st meeting, held virtually and chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, Pate briefed the council on the reported Ebola case in the FCT and reassured members about the country’s capacity to contain the outbreak.
The minister identified coordination and governance, screening at points of entry, laboratory testing capacity, logistics for essential kits and personal protective equipment, and effective public communication as critical components of the response.
He commended the 21 states that had updated their Ebola response plans and urged the remaining 15 to expedite the establishment of appropriate preparedness and response mechanisms.
Pate said Nigeria had previously managed an Ebola outbreak and possessed the public health institutions required to respond to the current situation.
“The Federal Government has competent authorities to deal with this. We have done it in 2014, and we have good public health institutions. Nigerians should be reassured.
“We must be vigilant, but not panic. People should respect public health information from trusted sources and not spread misinformation and false rumours,” he said.
He promised regular updates and said he would soon receive a report on the case.
On the economy, the council endorsed a 90-day action plan focusing on reducing the cost of living, improving food affordability, attracting investment and accelerating the delivery of projects with direct benefits to Nigerians.
The plan, presented by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, identifies five priority areas: food affordability, tax harmonisation, completion of high-impact projects, resolution of investment bottlenecks and regulated household support.
NEC also approved a national dashboard to track ongoing projects across the federation, with emphasis on transparency, accountability and accurate reporting on the utilisation of proceeds from fuel subsidy removal.
Presenting the economic outlook, Oyedele expressed optimism about the progress recorded under the Tinubu administration and the prospects for further recovery.
He identified reducing headline inflation and interest rates to single digits by 2027 as key policy objectives, adding that the next phase of reforms would require coordinated implementation across federal and state institutions.
Shettima charged state governors and relevant institutions to ensure that the gains of the reforms translated into affordable transport, improved healthcare, jobs and greater financial security for Nigerians.
He said the success of economic policy should be measured by its impact on people’s daily lives rather than announcements of reforms alone.
“The first dividend of prosperity should be the confidence to plan a life. Our task is to make such confidence less dependent on fortune,” he said.
On the National Compressed Natural Gas Bus initiative, the vice president urged state governments to support affordable transport systems that would ease the financial burden on commuters.
He said the programme’s success should be assessed by affordability and accessibility rather than the number of vehicles deployed.
“The cost of reaching a livelihood should never consume the livelihood itself. The passenger’s experience must guide our ambition, because the value of public transport resides in the journeys it makes possible. We should assess success through affordability and access, rather than fleet size alone,” he added.
NEC demands stronger push for polio eradication
The council also received the report of its ad hoc committee on polio eradication, chaired by Gombe State Governor Inuwa Yahaya.
It directed states to conduct post-campaign reviews, particularly in areas where children were missed during immunisation exercises and communities affected by insecurity.
The council stressed the need for timely release of counterpart funds, stronger routine immunisation, improved coordination with security agencies and closer cooperation among states.
It added that sustained commitment from governors, traditional rulers and security agencies remained critical to eradicating polio.
States pledge support for livestock development
NEC also received the report of its ad hoc committee on livestock development, chaired by Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris.
The council noted the sector’s potential to stimulate economic growth, create jobs and improve livelihoods, adding that all states had expressed interest in supporting the Federal Government’s livestock initiatives.
It resolved to strengthen collaboration between the federal and state governments to unlock the sector’s potential.
