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Nigeria has confirmed a case of Ebola disease in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), prompting health authorities to activate emergency response measures and begin tracing dozens of people who may have been exposed.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, the Federal Government said the patient is a woman who recently arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda. She was admitted to a private hospital in Abuja, where she received treatment for several days before laboratory tests confirmed the diagnosis.

The patient is currently in isolation and receiving medical care, according to the government.

Authorities said the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) are working with the FCT Health Services Secretariat and other agencies to contain the infection and prevent further transmission.

Public health officials have already identified 44 close contacts and begun contact-tracing operations. Those being monitored include healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and travel-related contacts who may have been exposed to the virus.

The government said disease surveillance has been intensified, while the affected hospital is receiving support to strengthen infection prevention and control procedures.

"The Federal Government calls on all public and private healthcare facilities nationwide to be on high alert," the statement said, urging healthcare workers to promptly identify and isolate suspected cases and immediately report them to public health authorities.

Officials sought to reassure the public, stressing that there is no need for panic. They advised Nigerians to remain vigilant, practise regular hand hygiene and avoid contact with the bodily fluids of anyone suspected of having Ebola.

The government also urged members of the public to monitor for symptoms such as fever, severe weakness, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea, particularly if they may have been exposed to an infected person.

Health authorities emphasised that Ebola spreads through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person or through contaminated materials. They noted that people infected with Ebola cannot transmit the disease before symptoms appear.

Anyone contacted by public health teams, including airline passengers who may be relevant to the investigation, has been asked to cooperate fully with contact-tracing efforts and follow official health guidance.

Officials also warned against spreading misinformation or stigmatising affected individuals, urging Nigerians to rely only on information from verified public health sources.

Nigeria drew international praise for successfully containing an Ebola outbreak in 2014, an experience health authorities say has strengthened the country's preparedness and response capabilities.

"Our experience and public health systems position us to respond effectively to this case," the government said, while cautioning that containing the disease will require cooperation from the public, healthcare providers and other stakeholders.

Investigations into the source and extent of the exposure are continuing, with authorities pledging to provide further updates as more information becomes available.

The government said the NCDC's toll-free emergency line, 6232, remains available around the clock for information and to report suspected cases.