Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has demanded that President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) explain how the ₦10 billion approved for Ebola preparedness was handled, raising concerns over Nigeria’s response to the reported case of the disease in Abuja.
Atiku, through his Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, called for a public audit of the funds, insisting that Nigerians deserve transparency regarding the money announced by the Federal Government in June 2026.
He urged the government to disclose the amount disbursed, dates of payments, contracts awarded, beneficiaries and items supplied as part of the emergency response.
The former vice-president’s demand followed the confirmation of an Ebola case involving a Nigerian woman who had travelled from Uganda. The development raised questions about the country’s surveillance system, emergency preparedness and the protection of frontline health workers.
Atiku alleged that the patient arrived in Nigeria on October 5, developed symptoms on October 7 and sought medical attention on October 11, while the government publicly confirmed the case on October 20.
He also questioned the circumstances surrounding contact tracing and the availability of protective equipment for healthcare workers who attended to the patient.
The ADC presidential candidate further warned against the possibility of public health measures being used to restrict political campaigns or discourage voter participation ahead of the 2027 general election.
Atiku maintained that the government should provide clear explanations about the emergency responses he and ensure that health professionals have the necessary resources to contain the disease.
However, the APC Presidential Campaign Council, in a response issued by its spokesperson, Dele Alake, said the ₦10 billion approved by Tinubu remained untouched, adding that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and other agencies had relied on existing resources to conduct surveillance.
The council accused Atiku of politicising the Ebola situation and criticised his remarks linking Tinubu’s name to the outbreak while questioning the whereabouts of the funds.
It also defended the government’s response, stating that surveillance measures at Nigeria’s entry points helped alert authorities to the case and facilitated the identification of 44 contacts for monitoring.
The APC campaign council further rejected Atiku’s suggestion that a ministerial briefing on the outbreak was intended to discourage political activities, describing the allegation as speculative.
The disagreement has intensified political exchanges between the ruling party and the opposition, with questions surrounding the management of the Ebola emergency fund and the government’s preparedness remaining central to the debate.
