The Benefits of Ebola!

The dreaded Ebola disease landed on ours shores unannounced. Before the invasion, Ebola was a reference point to an American movie released in the nineties and further reference made back to its initial discovery in the jungle of the DRC formerly known as Zaire in the mid-seventies.
With its sudden appearance in Nigeria, it caused the panic that it should naturally. Reactions to its outbreak were rather positive at the official level and not panicky. What this meant was that the authorities saw the magnitude of the problem if allowed to get out of hand and did everything possible to nip in the bud what could be termed as ''Armageddon on the horizon''. Seeing that a major emergency had broken out is key, it influenced government’s attitude positively by making the relevant levels of government more responsive.

The invasion of Ebola put to test how effectively the authorities could manage the crisis through the deployment of human and material resources to combat and eventually put the disease under proper check. The federal government through the minister of health decided to put politics aside and make the necessary liaison with his counterpart in Lagos state. A synergy of purpose ensured making it possible managing the crisis most effectively. In the process what eventually evolved was the development of professional expertise in reacting to and managing any major outbreak in the future.

The depolitisation of the emergency meant greater efficiency in the dissemination of vital information to the general public on how to prevent the possible escalation of the outbreak. There was also the need to educate the public on Ebola. At this juncture both the federal and Lagos state government saw the importance of singing from the same hymn sheet.

At the state level a robust campaign was launched and played out simultaneously through all forms media platforms namely, the press, electronic and also through social media in Lagos State.

On the part of the citizenry, individual hygiene habits seem to have changed for the better. Constant washing of hands when necessary is now observed rather than told. Moreover a more disciplined eating habit has now become part of daily living.

What makes the outbreak of Ebola to the nation beneficial is the fact that it brought to bear Nigeria’s capacity to face up to a challenge and deal with it on its own terms. The myth that the nation is incapable of managing a crisis was punctured. What the nation learnt is that patriotism has been and still is the missing link in the country’s quest of attaining its desired results. The twist of the crisis is making us more disciplined, focused and result oriented.


By Olugbenga Adebanjo (Columnist of The Unknown Nigeria)
Olugbenga Adebanjo is the Lead Consultant of Beacon 6619 Media Solutions.