Odita Sunday 
By Odita Sunday
The Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs Zubaida Umar, has urged Nigerians to remain calm and follow official health advice following the confirmation of an Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory.
Umar said the relevant public health authorities were coordinating the response, assuring citizens that the confirmed patient had been isolated and was receiving medical care.
In a public advisory, she said the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), working with the FCT Health Services Secretariat and other relevant agencies, were leading efforts to contain the infection.
She added that contact tracing and disease surveillance were ongoing to identify people who might have been exposed and prevent further transmission.
According to her, NEMA would support the response through appropriate coordination and emergency assistance when required, in line with its responsibilities within Nigeria’s emergency management system.
Umar stressed that public cooperation would be crucial to the success of the containment efforts, warning against panic, misinformation and the stigmatisation of people who might have been exposed to the virus.
She advised Nigerians to observe basic hygiene practices, including regular handwashing with soap and running water or the use of alcohol-based hand sanitiser.
The NEMA chief also warned against direct contact with the blood and other bodily fluids of anyone suspected of having Ebola, as well as the handling of dead wild animals.
She urged members of the public not to touch or prepare the body of anyone suspected of dying from the disease, stressing that such burials should be handled by trained health authorities.
Umar further advised anyone who develops symptoms such as fever, severe weakness, headache, vomiting or diarrhoea after possible exposure to seek medical guidance immediately.
She appealed to Nigerians to cooperate with contact-tracing teams by providing accurate information and following instructions from public health officials.
For official guidance or to report a suspected case, members of the public can contact the NCDC toll-free line on 6232.
Recalling Nigeria’s successful containment of Ebola in 2014, Umar said the experience demonstrated the importance of early detection, effective contact tracing, responsible individual behaviour and coordinated action by relevant institutions.
She assured Nigerians that NEMA would continue to support the national response as required while promoting public awareness and emergency preparedness.
Umar reiterated that staying informed, observing preventive measures and relying on verified information remained essential to protecting individuals and communities from further transmission.
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