Handling the changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic scourge on the society requires a concerted effort through effective communication, with appropriate language for educating the masses and unraveling some teething issues. The novel pandemic disease demands new skills, abilities, attitudes, values and other forms of behavioral patterns for a healthy society and healthy living; in fact, a new sense of responsibility. Information/messages for educating the populace on the novel disease and vocabulary items introduced into the linguistic ecosystem must be packaged in an appropriate language and communicated appropriately in order to elicit the right responses/feedbacks. The paper, through a qualitative methodology (personal observations, etc.), aided with some purposive library materials, elucidates the uses of functional language and communication in handling the pandemic issues in Nigeria, with the view that when effectively deployed, will keep the public adequately enlightened on effective safety measures and personal hygiene practices. The communicative values of language and the roles of communication in managing the scourge of the pandemic through appropriate communication channels and language, form the major thrust of the paper. The information therein serves for awakening a sense of responsibility in all and sundry on health protocols, helping people to keep abreast of challenging issues of the moment.