By Aliyu Lawal
The Niger State Ministry of Health has placed its Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) on heightened alert following the confirmation of an Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) case in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Murtala Muhammad Bagana, disclosed this in a statement issued in Minna, explaining that the measures were precautionary and aimed at strengthening surveillance, early detection and rapid response to any suspected case.
Dr Bagana reassured residents that no case of Ebola has been detected in Niger State.
The development follows the Federal Government’s announcement on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, confirming an Ebola case involving a traveller who recently arrived in Nigeria from Uganda. The patient is receiving treatment in isolation, while health authorities monitor 44 identified close contacts.
The commissioner said the state’s heightened vigilance was necessary because of the frequent movement of people and volume of trade between Niger State and the neighbouring FCT.
He added that the ministry was working with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and other international partners to strengthen preparedness across the state.
Dr Bagana said all public and private health facilities in Niger State had been directed to report suspected Ebola cases immediately to facilitate prompt investigation and response.
The ministry provided the following emergency contact numbers for reporting suspected cases: Director of Public Health, 0703 458 3079; State Epidemiologist, 0807 721 3070; State Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer (DSNO), 0807 529 1989; and NCDC national toll-free helpline, 6232.
Editing By Safiyah Abdulkadir
