TheCable

President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed displeasure over the stigmatisation of Nigerians by some countries over the Ebola virus disease.

In a statement issued by Reuben Abati, his special adviser on media and publicity, Jonathan said there was no justifiable basis for the discrimination since Ebola has been rapidly contained in the country and never attained epidemic level.

Jonathan was quoted as making the comment when Laurent Fabius, the French foreign minister and Frank-Walter Steinmeier, his German counterpart visited him at the presidential villa on Monday

He said Nigeria would remain fully vigilant to prevent the re-entry of the virus.

“Jonathan assured the visiting ministers that Nigeria would cooperate fully with other concerned nations to stop the current outbreak of Ebola in West Africa as quickly as possible,” the statement read.

“The ministers told the president that they were in Nigeria to seek further cooperation with the federal government in the growing global effort to contain the outbreak and continued spread of the virus.

“They praised Nigeria’s successful containment of the virus and expressed the desire of France, Germany and the European Union to help other West African countries where the virus still remains active.”

Nigeria was certified Ebola-free by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on October 20, three months after the virus entered the country through Patrick Sawyer, a Liberian-American.

The country has won global acclaim for its successful control and containment of the virus, making it a global reference point in the management of the disease.