The African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council has called on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to explain the status of the ₦10 billion reportedly earmarked for Ebola preparedness amid the confirmation of a case in Abuja.
Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication for the ADC campaign council, said the controversy surrounding the fund raised concerns about the government’s readiness to respond to the public health emergency.
In a statement released on Friday, Shaibu criticised the All Progressives Congress (APC) for allegedly focusing on political attacks against former Vice President Atiku Abubakar instead of addressing questions about the money and the country’s preparedness.
“These aren’t just rhyming words; the effect of Bola’s policies is as deadly as the dreaded Ebola,” Shaibu said.
The ADC spokesman recalled that the Presidency announced on June 9 that Tinubu had ordered the immediate release of ₦10 billion to strengthen the country’s preparations for an Ebola emergency.
He questioned the reported position that the money had remained unused, asking the government to clarify whether the funds were actually released and, if so, where they were kept and who was responsible for managing them.
“Was the money released or was it not? If it was released, where is it held, who controls it, and why has it not been used for the preparedness President Tinubu announced in June?” Shaibu asked.
He urged the authorities to publish financial records, disbursement documents and expenditure reports relating to the Ebola Task Force to establish how the funds had been handled.
Shaibu also sought greater transparency over the government’s response to the confirmed infection, pointing to the timeline attributed to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The timeline indicated that the patient began experiencing symptoms on October 7, visited a private medical facility on October 11 and received a positive laboratory confirmation on October 20.
“The APC claims surveillance ‘tipped off’ the government. Then publish the timeline. Name the agency that raised the alert, give the date and explain the action taken,” he said.
He demanded information on when officials first suspected the infection, when the relevant health agencies were informed, when diagnostic tests were initiated and when efforts to trace people who might have been exposed began.
On the 44 contacts identified in connection with the case, Shaibu insisted that public safety should remain the priority.
“44 identified contacts are people whose health must be protected. They are not a trophy for an APC press release,” he said.
He also urged the government to ensure that medical personnel handling the case and monitoring the identified contacts had sufficient protective equipment and other resources to carry out their duties safely.
According to Shaibu, demanding accountability from the government should not undermine the efforts of health workers involved in containing the outbreak.
He further called for the publication of any plans to introduce restrictions on election activities, including campaigning or voting, because of the health emergency. He said such measures should be supported by medical evidence and recommendations from the appropriate health authorities.
“Public health guidance must protect people. It must never become a political tool,” he said.
Shaibu maintained that the government needed to resolve the controversy by providing verifiable financial records, explaining how the Ebola response was managed and demonstrating that adequate safeguards were in place to protect the public.
“President Tinubu and the APC owe the country answers, not ‘Bola-Ebola’ tales,” Shaibu said.
