Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has challenged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to account for the ₦10 billion reportedly approved for Ebola Virus Disease preparedness, demanding full disclosure of how the funds were disbursed and utilized.
Atiku’s position was conveyed in a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, following reports of a confirmed Ebola case in Abuja.
The former vice president expressed concern over the government’s preparedness, disease surveillance and response mechanisms, arguing that the reported case had raised serious questions about the effectiveness of measures put in place to protect Nigerians and frontline health workers.
He called on the Federal Government to publish a comprehensive account of the Ebola preparedness funding, including the amount actually released, payment dates, beneficiaries, contracts awarded and items supplied.
“Where is the money? Publish the amount actually disbursed, the dates of payment, every contract awarded, every recipient and every item delivered,” Atiku said, according to the statement.
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He added that if the funds had not been released as announced, the government should explain why emergency funding was publicly promised without the necessary resources reaching those responsible for disease prevention and response.
According to Atiku, a public statement by the government would not be sufficient to address the concerns, insisting that a transparent audit was necessary to establish how the money was handled.
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Atiku Questions Ebola Response Timeline
The ADC presidential candidate also raised concerns about the timeline surrounding the reported case, citing information that the patient arrived in Nigeria on October 5, developed symptoms on October 7 and sought treatment at a private hospital on October 11.
He alleged that the government did not publicly confirm the case until October 20, nine days after the patient sought medical attention.
Atiku further claimed that 44 close contacts had remained unmonitored during a critical period and that private healthcare workers had faced the case without adequate protective equipment.
He called on the authorities to provide a detailed account of the actions taken at each stage, including travel-history screening, exposure assessments, follow-up procedures and contact tracing.
The former vice president also demanded clarification on when the 44 contacts were first reached and monitored, as well as why frontline health workers allegedly lacked the protective equipment required to manage a suspected or confirmed Ebola case safely.
He maintained that any shortcomings in preparedness or response must be investigated and that those found responsible should be held accountable.
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The specific claims about the response timeline, contact tracing and availability of protective equipment require independent confirmation from the relevant public health authorities.
Concerns Over Political Oversight of Health Emergency
Atiku also questioned the structure of the government’s Ebola preparedness programme, referring to the Presidential Task Force announced in June and chaired by the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.
He argued that medical professionals and public health specialists should take the lead in managing the outbreak, with political officeholders providing the necessary administrative support and resources.
According to him, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), epidemiologists, doctors and other public health professionals should have the authority and resources required to coordinate surveillance, contact tracing, hospital preparedness and emergency response.
“Political titles cannot trace contacts, equip hospitals or save lives,” he said.
Atiku’s remarks reflect broader concerns about the coordination of emergency public health responses and the need for clear accountability between political leadership and technical health agencies.
Atiku Raises Questions Over Health Ministry’s Funding
The ADC candidate also criticized the role of the Minister of Health in communicating the government’s response, questioning the ministry’s involvement in the Ebola prevention programme.
He claimed that the ministry received only ₦35 million in disbursements under the 2025 appropriation and alleged that it had not been involved in the Ebola prevention initiative.
Atiku further alleged that a planned press conference by the Minister of Health was intended to discourage Nigerians from attending political campaign rallies and, ultimately, from voting ahead of the 2027 general election.
He described the alleged intention as unacceptable, warning against the use of a public health emergency to influence political participation.
However, the allegation concerning the purpose of the planned press conference has not been independently established in the statement and would require verification from the ministry and other relevant sources.
Warning Against Politicizing Ebola Outbreak
Atiku said Nigerians were already facing significant economic pressures and warned that an inadequately managed public health emergency could deepen public anxiety, disrupt movement and affect livelihoods and economic activities.
He urged the Federal Government to prioritize transparency, competent leadership and evidence-based public health measures rather than allow the situation to become a source of political confrontation.
The former vice president also warned against what he described as the potential weaponization of Ebola-related concerns to intimidate the public, silence political opponents or discourage voter participation ahead of the 2027 elections.
He insisted that Nigerians deserved clear information about the government’s preparedness, the management of emergency funds and the steps being taken to protect public health.
The Federal Government and relevant health authorities would need to clarify the funding arrangements, the reported case timeline and the measures taken to monitor contacts and protect healthcare workers.
