The Federal Government has ruled out immediate restrictions on political campaigns, conferences and other large public gatherings following the confirmation of an imported Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) case in Nigeria.
Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja during a briefing on the country’s response to the outbreak.
Pate said the government would review the situation and consider restrictions if the outbreak escalates. He stressed that any decision would rely on scientific evidence and advice from public health experts.
“At this moment, there is no indication that requires us to alter the course of large gatherings that have been planned,” the minister said.
He added that the government would consult relevant experts if the situation changed.
Ebola Patient Shows Signs Of Recovery
Pate said the confirmed patient was receiving treatment and showing signs of recovery.
According to him, laboratory results indicated significant improvement, raising hopes that the patient could recover.
He explained that the patient showed no symptoms upon arriving in Nigeria but developed symptoms days later, prompting authorities to begin contact tracing.
The government has categorised identified contacts according to their level of exposure. Pate said high-risk contacts had been placed in a quarantine facility, while other contacts were isolated under public health guidelines.
He also disclosed that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) had activated its incident management system and was coordinating the response with the Federal Capital Territory Administration.
FG Mobilises Resources, International Support
The minister said the Presidential Task Force, Nigeria Governors’ Forum and National Economic Council had been briefed, while state governments had received notifications about the outbreak.
He added that President Bola Tinubu had released additional funds to the NCDC through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, with the government mobilising further domestic resources.
Nigeria is also working with the World Health Organisation (WHO), Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and other technical partners. Pate said experts from Kenya had been deployed to support the response.
He further disclosed that arrangements were underway to sequence the virus’s genome with support from Prof. Christian Happi of Redeemer’s University, Ede, and the Africa Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases.
According to the minister, Nigeria diagnosed the case and notified the WHO within 24 hours of receiving the alert, demonstrating the country’s capacity to respond to public health emergencies.
Pate Warns Against Misinformation
Pate urged Nigerians to remain vigilant, practise good hand hygiene and avoid contact with infected body fluids.
He explained that Ebola is not transmitted through the air but spreads through contact with infected bodily fluids.
The minister advised people who develop symptoms such as fever, headache and muscle aches, particularly those with relevant travel histories, to isolate themselves and notify public health authorities.
He also directed federal hospitals to prepare isolation beds and strengthen infection prevention and control measures for frontline health workers. Private hospitals were urged to report suspected cases promptly.
Pate said surveillance at Nigeria’s points of entry was being strengthened, including checks on thermal scanners and traveller risk assessments in line with International Health Regulations.
He confirmed that the case had tested positive three times and urged the public to rely on verified information rather than unsubstantiated reports.
The minister also warned political leaders against politicising the outbreak, describing public health as an issue that cuts across political, ethnic and religious differences.
He said the government would continue providing updates, with the NCDC maintaining daily briefings.
Pate urged Nigerians to remain calm while observing public health guidance, adding that the government was working to prevent further spread of the virus.
