By Paul Joseph
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has challenged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to account for the ₦10 billion reportedly approved for Ebola preparedness, following the confirmation of a case in Abuja.
Atiku called for the disclosure of how the funds were released and spent, while raising concerns about disease surveillance, contact tracing and the protection of frontline health workers.
In a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council on Wednesday, Atiku said the reported case had raised questions about Nigeria’s preparedness and response to the public health threat.
He urged the Federal Government to publish details of the funds disbursed, payment dates, contracts awarded, beneficiaries and supplies delivered under the preparedness programme.
“Tinubu must account for the ₦10 billion he said would be released immediately in June,” Atiku said, according to the statement.
He argued that Nigerians deserved a transparent account of the emergency funding, insisting that public announcements should be backed by verifiable records of expenditure.
Atiku also questioned the timeline of the reported case, stating 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 government publicly confirmed the case on October 20.
He expressed concern over the reported handling of the patient’s contacts, alleging that 44 close contacts had initially been left without adequate monitoring.
The former vice president called on the authorities to explain the screening procedures conducted on the patient’s arrival, the follow-up measures taken after symptoms emerged and the steps implemented to identify and monitor exposed individuals.
He further demanded clarification on whether frontline health workers had received adequate protective equipment and called for accountability over any lapses in the response.
Atiku also questioned the coordination of the government’s preparedness efforts, citing the Presidential Task Force chaired by the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.
He maintained that medical experts, including epidemiologists, doctors and public health professionals, should take the lead in managing the outbreak, with the necessary authority and resources to coordinate the response.
According to him, political appointments should not overshadow the role of health professionals in disease surveillance, contact tracing and hospital preparedness.
Atiku said the outbreak could compound the economic difficulties facing Nigerians if the government failed to respond effectively, potentially disrupting movement, livelihoods and economic activities.
He also raised concerns about the possibility of public health measures being used to restrict political activities ahead of elections.
The ADC presidential campaign council’s statement alleged that a planned press conference by the Minister of Health was intended to discourage Nigerians from attending campaign rallies and participating in voting. However, the statement did not provide independent evidence to substantiate the allegation.
Atiku insisted that any restrictions introduced in response to the outbreak should be based on clear medical evidence and applied equally, warning against measures that could undermine citizens’ democratic rights.
He called on the Federal Government to account for the preparedness funds, protect health workers, strengthen contact tracing and provide Nigerians with timely and accurate information about the outbreak.
The controversy comes amid growing public concern over Nigeria’s readiness to respond to infectious disease threats and the transparency of emergency health spending.
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