The case was confirmed on Tuesday in the Federal Capital Territory after a woman who recently arrived on an international flight from Uganda tested positive for the virus.

The patient is receiving treatment in isolation at a private hospital in Abuja, while authorities have identified 44 close contacts for monitoring.

The contacts include healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and people who may have been exposed during travel.

The confirmation has generated mixed reactions among residents, with some expressing fears about the country's ability to manage another health emergency.

"Concerning the Ebola outbreak and as the present situation of the country isn't friendly, we pray to almighty God to help us clear off the disease and all those things that are coming up," said Abuja resident Haruna Zakaria.

Another resident, Nuhu Suleman, said he only became aware of the reported case after arriving in the city.

"I am not on social media since yesterday. I am not on my phone. So reaching inside town this morning, I heard that there is Ebola everywhere," he added.

However, not everyone is convinced about the reported infection.

Chinedu Ojulwu, another Abuja resident, questioned the information provided about the patient and the location of her treatment.

"We didn't see the person, we didn't see where the person is hospitalised. We didn't even know the hospital where we can trace the Ebola patient," he said.

Before the diagnosis, Nigerian health officials had already strengthened surveillance measures to identify imported infections and prevent further transmission.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and other health authorities are now monitoring the patient's contacts for symptoms while investigating whether additional infections have occurred.

Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of an infected person. It does not spread through ordinary airborne transmission.

Nigeria's Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, has assured the public that the country has the necessary capacity to contain the infection.

He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and follow public health guidance without panicking.