Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has called on President Bola Tinubu to account for the N10 billion approved in June to strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness for Ebola.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate made the demand in a statement issued on Wednesday by Phrank Shaibu, his director of strategic communication.
His call followed an announcement by Ali Pate, the coordinating minister of health and social welfare, that the Federal Government had confirmed an Ebola case in Abuja and identified 44 close contacts for monitoring to prevent further transmission.
Atiku said the confirmed case had raised concerns about the government’s level of preparedness and its response to the outbreak.
“Ebola is a grave public health threat. Nigerians deserve urgent action, competent leadership and the truth,” he said.
“Instead, the first confirmed case in Abuja has exposed unanswered questions about preparedness, surveillance and the protection of health workers. Tinubu must account for the N10 billion he said would be released immediately in June.”
The former vice-president urged the president to disclose how much of the approved funding had been disbursed, when payments were made, the contracts awarded, the recipients and the items delivered.
He also demanded an explanation if the money had not been released.
“Tinubu must explain why he announced emergency funding that never reached the people responsible for protecting Nigerians. A press statement cannot replace an audit,” he said.
Atiku also raised concerns about the timeline of the reported case. According to him, the patient arrived in Nigeria on October 5, developed symptoms on October 7 and sought treatment at a private hospital on October 11.
He noted that the government did not publicly confirm the case until October 20, nine days after the patient reportedly sought medical attention.
Atiku alleged that the 44 close contacts were not monitored during that period and that private health workers who handled the case lacked adequate protective equipment.
“This is a failure of preparedness with potentially grave consequences,” he said.
He called on the government to provide a detailed account of its response at every stage, including travel history and exposure screening, follow-up after the patient developed symptoms, and when the 44 contacts were first reached and placed under monitoring.
The former vice-president also questioned reports that frontline health workers had been left without adequate protection.
“Nigerians deserve answers, and those responsible for these failures must be held accountable,” he said.
Atiku further criticised the involvement of political appointees in the response, pointing out that Tinubu had announced a presidential task force chaired by his chief of staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, in June.
He argued that medical professionals should lead the response and have the necessary authority and resources to act.
“The NCDC, epidemiologists, doctors and public health professionals must be in charge, with the authority and resources to act. Political titles cannot trace contacts, equip hospitals or save lives,” he said.
Atiku warned that the government’s handling of the outbreak could heighten public anxiety and disrupt movement, livelihoods and economic activity.
He also linked the country’s economic difficulties to Tinubu’s policies, arguing that Nigerians should not have to endure both financial hardship and an inadequate emergency response.
“The people must not pay twice for the same failure: first through hardship, then through a bungled emergency response. Both caused by Bola,” he said.
Background
On June 9, Tinubu directed the immediate release of N10 billion in emergency funding to strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness for Ebola and other emerging public health threats.
The directive followed Ebola outbreaks reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda at the time.
In a statement, Bayo Onanuga, the president’s special adviser on information and strategy, said Tinubu had also approved the establishment of a presidential task force on Ebola virus disease preparedness and emerging public health threats.
Onanuga said the funding was intended to strengthen the operational readiness of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and support essential national public health emergency response activities.