The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has urged imams and Islamic scholars across the country to intensify public education on Ebola following the confirmation of a case in Abuja.
The council made the call in a public health advisory dated October 21, 2026, signed by its Secretary-General, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, on behalf of the council, under the leadership of its President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar.
It urged imams to use Friday sermons, Islamic gatherings and community engagements to educate Muslims and the wider public on the disease, its symptoms, preventive measures and the importance of seeking medical attention promptly.
The council also called on state councils for Islamic affairs to mobilise their networks to support public health education, encourage early reporting of suspected infections and discourage the circulation of unverified information about the outbreak.
It advised people suspected of having the disease to avoid attending congregational prayers until they have undergone medical assessment.
The NSCIA further urged Nigerians experiencing symptoms associated with serious infectious diseases to seek prompt medical attention and avoid exposing others to possible infection.
It advised Nigerians to practise regular handwashing, avoid direct contact with suspected cases and their bodily fluids, and report suspected infections to the appropriate health authorities through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention’s (NCDC) toll-free number, 6232.
The appeal comes as Nigeria responds to its first confirmed Ebola case in more than a decade. Health authorities have intensified surveillance, contact tracing and other response measures following the confirmation of the infection in Abuja.
The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a strain for which no approved vaccine or specific treatment is currently available.
The NSCIA urged Muslims to view disease prevention as part of their religious responsibility, citing the preservation of life, known in Islamic jurisprudence as Hifz al-Nafs, as one of the fundamental objectives of Islamic law.