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Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to explain how the 10 billion naira approved for Ebola preparedness was utilised, following the confirmation of an Ebola case in Abuja. Atiku said the development had raised serious questions about Nigeria’s readiness to handle public health emergencies and the protection of frontline medical workers.
In a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication for the African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku demanded that the Federal Government publish a detailed account of the funds. He requested information on the amount actually disbursed, payment dates, contracts awarded, beneficiaries and supplies delivered, insisting that Nigerians deserve transparency over the emergency allocation.
Atiku also questioned the timeline of the response to the reported case. He cited information indicating that the patient arrived in Nigeria on October 5, developed symptoms on October 7 and sought treatment at a private hospital on October 11, while the case was publicly confirmed on October 20. He further alleged that 44 close contacts had not been adequately monitored during the period and raised concerns about protective equipment available to healthcare workers. These claims formed part of his criticism and were not independently established in the reports reviewed.
The former vice president called for medical experts, including epidemiologists, doctors and officials of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, to lead the response, with adequate resources and authority. He also questioned the effectiveness of the presidential task force established in June to coordinate preparedness against Ebola and other emerging public health threats.
Beyond the health emergency, Atiku warned the administration against using Ebola-related measures to discourage political rallies or restrict citizens’ participation in the 2027 elections. He argued that any public health restrictions must be supported by medical evidence and applied fairly. Meanwhile, the Federal Government has said it is working with Uganda and carrying out contact tracing and containment measures to prevent further spread of the virus.
