FG Tracks 53 Ebola Contacts, Approves ₦100,000 Weekly Support for Those in Isolation

The Federal Government has identified 53 people who had contact with Nigeria’s confirmed Ebola patient in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), while approving a weekly financial support of ₦100,000 for individuals placed in isolation or quarantine.

The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Dr Jide Idris, disclosed this during a briefing in Abuja on Sunday, October 25, 2026. He explained that the number of identified contacts had increased from the initial 44 as health officials continued tracing people who might have been exposed to the virus.

According to Idris, the contacts include healthcare workers, the patient’s spouse, domestic staff and other individuals who may have come into contact with the confirmed case. He stressed that being identified as a contact does not mean a person has contracted Ebola, adding that those identified are being monitored for possible symptoms.

The NCDC chief confirmed that Nigeria had recorded one confirmed Ebola case, while two additional suspected cases were being investigated. He said a suspected case in Rivers State had tested negative, while investigations into another suspected case in the FCT were ongoing. No contacts had tested positive as of the briefing.

Idris said the government approved the ₦100,000 weekly support after some individuals under isolation or quarantine raised concerns about the cost of feeding, accommodation and providing for their families during the monitoring period. The intervention is intended to ease their financial burden and encourage cooperation with public health officials.

He added that the NCDC had strengthened laboratory capacity, contact tracing and isolation arrangements, while additional testing supplies had been distributed across the country. Authorities are also working with their Ugandan counterparts to share information on the virus and coordinate response measures.

Meanwhile, Lagos State has intensified Ebola surveillance at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, working with airport management, Port Health Services and other agencies to strengthen passenger screening and emergency preparedness. The state government said no suspected case had been reported in Lagos as of its latest update.

In Zamfara State, health authorities also activated surveillance measures after a passenger arriving from Saudi Arabia was found with a body temperature of 38 degrees Celsius at Gusau airport. The passenger was referred for further medical assessment, while screening was extended to major motor parks and other entry points. A raised temperature alone does not confirm Ebola infection.

The NCDC has urged Nigerians to remain calm, practise regular hand hygiene, avoid direct contact with the bodily fluids of suspected cases and cooperate with health officials conducting contact tracing. Anyone who develops symptoms after a possible exposure is advised to contact public health authorities promptly and follow their instructions before visiting a healthcare facility.