Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has asked President Bola Tinubu to account for the N10 billion approved for Ebola preparedness in June.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate made the demand in a statement issued on Wednesday by Phrank Shaibu, his director of strategic communication.
Atiku’s remarks followed an announcement by Ali Pate, coordinating minister of health and social welfare, that the federal government had confirmed an Ebola case in Abuja and identified 44 close contacts for tracing to prevent further transmission.
Atiku said the confirmed Ebola case in Abuja had raised questions about the government’s preparedness and response.
“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.”
Atiku asked the president to publish the amount disbursed, the dates of payment, details of contract awarded, the recipients and items delivered.
The former vice-president said Tinubu must explain 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 questioned the timeline of the reported case, saying the patient arrived in Nigeria on October 5, developed symptoms on October 7 and sought treatment at a private hospital on October 11.
He said the government did not publicly confirm the case until October 20, nine days after the patient sought treatment.
Atiku alleged that 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.
Atiku called on the government to disclose the steps taken at every stage of the response, including travel history and exposure screening, follow-up after the patient developed symptoms, and when the 44 contacts were first reached and monitored.
He also questioned why frontline health workers were allegedly left without adequate protection.
“Nigerians deserve answers, and those responsible for these failures must be held accountable,” he said.
Atiku further faulted the role of political appointees in the response, noting that Tinubu had announced a presidential task force chaired by Femi Gbajabiamila, his chief of staff, in June.
He said medical experts should lead the response, with the 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.
The former vice-president warned that the government’s handling of the outbreak could deepen public anxiety and disrupt movement, livelihoods and economic activity.
He attributed the country’s economic hardship to Tinubu’s policies, saying Nigerians should not bear the cost of both economic difficulties 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.
BACK STORY
On June 9, Tinubu ordered the immediate release of N10 billion as emergency intervention funding to strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness against Ebola and other emerging public health threats.
The president’s directive followed the discovery of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda, both of which were affected by outbreaks at the time.
In a statement, Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, said Tinubu also approved the establishment of a presidential task force (PTF) on Ebola virus disease preparedness and emerging public health threats.
Onanuga said the fund would strengthen the operational preparedness of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and support critical national public health emergency response activities.
