The Honourable Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, attended the inaugural meeting of the Communication, Diplomacy and International Engagement Sub-committee of the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease
held on Thursday, 9 July 2026, at the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Abuja. The Sub-committee is chaired by the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, while the Honourable Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, serves as Deputy Chairman.
The inaugural meeting brought together representatives of key Ministries, Departments and Agencies, professional bodies and development partners, including the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), National Orientation Agency (NOA), Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), World Health Organization (WHO), Border Communities Development Agency and other relevant stakeholders.
In his opening statement, the Chairman of the Sub-committee and Minister of Information and National Orientation stated that the Presidential Task Force was established by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, under the leadership of the Chief of Staff to the President, to coordinate Nigeria’s preparedness against Ebola Virus Disease and other emerging public health threats. He emphasised that the initiative reflects the Federal Government’s proactive approach to protecting public health and reassured Nigerians that there is currently no confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease in the country.
The Chairman explained that although Nigeria remains Ebola-free, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has assessed the risk of importation as high due to regional population movement and international travel. He disclosed that surveillance has been strengthened at points of entry, health facilities have been placed on heightened alert, and preparedness measures have been intensified nationwide. He further stressed that all public communication on Ebola would be evidence-based, scientifically validated by the NCDC, and aimed at preventing misinformation and unnecessary public anxiety.
In his intervention, the Honourable Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for establishing the Presidential Task Force before any confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease had been recorded in Nigeria. He noted that preventive diplomacy and early preparedness remain indispensable to effective national crisis management, particularly in addressing public health emergencies with transboundary implications.
Ambassador Enikanolaiye reaffirmed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ commitment to supporting the diplomatic dimension of the national response through sustained engagement with neighbouring countries, international organisations, and Nigeria’s diplomatic missions abroad. He stated that the Ministry would continue to facilitate information sharing, strengthen regional cooperation, and support coordinated international responses to emerging public health threats.
The Honourable Minister of State further observed that effective diplomatic engagement would complement domestic preparedness by promoting international collaboration, safeguarding Nigeria’s global image, and ensuring that accurate information regarding the country’s public health status is communicated to the international community. He reiterated that diseases such as Ebola transcend national borders and therefore require strong international cooperation alongside robust domestic response mechanisms.
The meeting identified key priority areas for the Subcommittee, including the development of a harmonised national risk communication strategy, coordination of public messaging across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, production of standard public information materials, translation of approved health messages into major Nigerian languages, strengthened media engagement, and rapid detection and correction of misinformation and fake news.
Members also agreed to adopt a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach by engaging traditional and religious institutions, media organisations, educational institutions, transport unions, market associations, women and youth groups, civil society organisations, and community leaders in nationwide public awareness campaigns.
The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment by all members to strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness through coordinated communication, public enlightenment, and stakeholder engagement. Nigerians were reassured that there is no cause for panic and were encouraged to observe good hygiene practices, promptly report suspected symptoms to health authorities, and rely solely on verified information from official government sources.
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