Ebola alert: Agencies directed to scale up public education

From Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja

The Federal Government has directed agencies under the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation to urgently scale up public education and enlightenment on the Ebola Virus Disease.

The directive comes on the heels of confirmation of a case in Abuja, FCT.

The agencies mandated by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, to carry out the education and enlightenment were the National Orientation Agency (NOA), the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), the Voice of Nigeria (VON) and the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Idris, in a statement issued in Abuja by his Special Assistant on Media, Rabiu Ibrahim, said: “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.”

The minister further directed the agencies to work closely with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the NCDC to ensure that all public messaging is verified and evidence-based.

He also tasked the NOA to deploy its offices nationwide for grassroots sensitisation, working with traditional and religious leaders, community groups and the media.

Idris added that the ministry will also strengthen engagement with broadcast media organisations, including the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), to expand public sensitisation on Ebola prevention and containment.

The collaboration, according to the minister, will 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 to reach communities across the country.

He urged Nigerians to remain calm, rely only on information from official sources and avoid spreading unverified claims on social media.

“Members of the public are advised to report any suspected case immediately by calling the NCDC’s toll-free 24-hour emergency line, 6232,” Idris further said.

Meanwhile, the minister has said that President Bola Tinubu’s bold economic reforms are laying a solid foundation for a stronger, more prosperous and economically resilient Nigeria.

The Minister stated this in Abuja when the National Convener of Women of Influence for Tinubu 2027, Hauwa Farouk Ibrahim, led a delegation of the organisation on a courtesy visit to the Ministry.

Idris commended the group for its commitment to grassroots mobilisation and public enlightenment, describing women as indispensable partners in advancing national development and deepening public understanding of government policies.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reform agenda is designed to take Nigeria to greater prosperity. The removal of the fuel subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange rate were major decisions necessary to stabilise the country’s economy and reposition it for growth,” Idris said.

He explained that the reforms were deliberate and courageous decisions taken to address longstanding structural weaknesses in the economy, restore fiscal stability and create greater opportunities for sustainable development.

According to the minister, the reforms have increased resources available to the Federal Government, states and local governments to invest in critical infrastructure, essential services and other development priorities that directly affect the lives of Nigerians.

He emphasised that while the reforms required difficult adjustments, their long-term benefits would strengthen the country’s economic foundations and secure a better future for succeeding generations.

“It is very, very easy and convenient to forget where we are coming from. These were difficult decisions, but they were taken in the interest of our country and the prosperity of future generations,” Idris also said.

He urged members of the organisation to intensify their engagement with Nigerians, particularly at the grassroots, by explaining the objectives of the administration’s policies, the circumstances that necessitated the reforms and the opportunities they are creating for national progress.

“We want you to please influence other Nigerians so that they can understand the policies of this administration and support government as it continues its drive towards repositioning our country,” he stated.

Idris reaffirmed the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation’s commitment to sustained public enlightenment and constructive engagement with organisations working to deepen citizens’ understanding of government programmes and policies.

He welcomed the group’s interest in collaborating with the Ministry, accepted its request to serve as patron and pledged to designate a focal person to facilitate continued engagement with the organisation.

Earlier, the National Convener of Women of Influence for Tinubu 2027, Hauwa Farouk Ibrahim, said the organisation was established to harness the influence, leadership and mobilisation capacity of Nigerian women in promoting national development and building grassroots support for President Tinubu’s administration.

She disclosed that the group had commenced its activities in Kano State and was expanding its structures and outreach through digital platforms and community-based initiatives aimed at engaging women and other citizens across the country.

“We have the influence, we have the capacity to influence our homes and our communities, so we believe that with our influence, we can mobilise people to support Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Ibrahim stated.

She expressed appreciation to the Minister for receiving the delegation and sought the Ministry’s collaboration in strengthening the organisation’s public engagement and enlightenment programmes.

In a separate development, the minister applauded Media Trust Group’s unveiling of its converged newsroom as a significant investment in Nigerian journalism.

The minister, while speaking during the unveiling, urged media organisations to embrace artificial intelligence and digital innovation without compromising professional ethics and editorial independence.

Idris congratulated the organisation’s Board, Management and workforce on its growth from newspaper publishing into a diversified multimedia enterprise.

He said the integration of print, broadcast and digital platforms reflected the need for innovation in meeting changing audience expectations.

“Technology is fundamentally transforming journalism, creating exciting opportunities through artificial intelligence, data journalism and multimedia storytelling. However, innovation must strengthen, rather than diminish, the professional judgement, ethical standards and human responsibility upon which credible journalism rests,” Idris said.

The minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to press freedom, constructive engagement and journalists’ right to scrutinise public institutions.

He also stressed the importance of sustainable media business models in supporting employment, investment and national development.

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Minister urged media organisations to prioritise accuracy, fairness and fact-checking while resisting sensationalism and disinformation.

He warned that AI-generated content, manipulated images and deepfakes posed growing threats to public trust.

“The credibility of our democratic process depends, in no small measure, on the integrity of the information available to citizens,” he also said.

The Minister encouraged Media Trust Group to make its converged newsroom a centre of innovation, investigative excellence and responsible storytelling, noting that journalism could inspire the public while retaining its independence and critical role.

“The idea that journalism has to be exclusively adversarial is a myth that needs to be jettisoned,” he declared.

In his remarks, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, commended Media Trust Group for its entrepreneurial vision, professionalism and contribution to national development through investment and job creation.

He urged the organisation to sustain its ethical standards and promote national unity.

“What you are doing should always aim at uniting this country,” Jibrin said.

Also speaking, the Governor of Jigawa State, Malam Umar Namadi, described Media Trust Group’s adoption of artificial intelligence as a major technological achievement, noting the growing difficulty of distinguishing authentic content from fabricated images, videos and voices.

He urged the media to prioritise verification and responsible innovation.

“I want to congratulate Media Trust, which is the first in West Africa to establish an AI newsroom,” the Jigawa State Governor said.

On his part, the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, said the agency’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy supports AI adoption across sectors, including the media, while emphasising that technology should enhance rather than replace human capacity. He urged journalists to use AI to strengthen verification and public confidence.

“Today, in the era of AI, we want to see you using AI to verify everything,” he said.

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