By Divine Sam

The National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) has urged Nigerians to remain calm but vigilant following reports of an imported case of Ebola Virus Disease in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The agency’s Director-General, Dr. Fatima Suleiman-Zuntu, said in a statement issued on Thursday that the NBMA was prepared to support the country’s response through its expertise in biosafety and biosecurity.

She commended the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the FCT Health Services Secretariat and other partners for their prompt response to the reported case.

Suleiman-Zuntu noted that Nigeria’s successful containment of Ebola in 2014 demonstrated the importance of preparedness, coordinated action, science-based decisions and public cooperation in managing disease outbreaks.

“The Agency’s biosafety experts are on standby to support the NCDC and other response teams in containment and infection prevention efforts,” she said.

The NBMA chief advised Nigerians to follow official health advisories, maintain proper hand hygiene and avoid contact with the body fluids of sick persons.

She also warned the public against handling the bodies of individuals suspected to have died from Ebola, stressing the importance of observing appropriate health precautions.

Suleiman-Zuntu further urged anyone experiencing symptoms consistent with Ebola, particularly after contact with a suspected or confirmed case or travel to an affected area, to seek immediate medical guidance and cooperate with contact-tracing teams.

She encouraged Nigerians to rely on verified information from relevant health authorities rather than unconfirmed reports circulating on social media.

“We advised the public to seek verified information through the NCDC toll-free line 6232 or NBMA on 0808 225 4683,” she said.

The agency reiterated the importance of public vigilance, timely reporting of suspected symptoms and cooperation with health officials in efforts to prevent the possible spread of the disease.