Ebola: Atiku demands details of FG’s N10bn emergency fund

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has demanded details of the federal government’s utilisation of the N10 billion approved for Ebola emergency preparedness.

Atiku made the demand in a statement posted on his X account on Friday, in reaction to a statement by the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council that the fund approved by President Bola Tinubu in June remains untouched.

Atiku, in the statement signed by Phrank Shaibu, director of strategic communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, asked the government to provide specific details on the status of the fund.

“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?” the statement asked.

Atiku also demanded records showing the amount disbursed, payment dates, contracts awarded, beneficiaries and items delivered, saying the government should account for the fund rather than rely on a press statement.

The APC campaign council said the N10 billion remained untouched, while the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and other surveillance agencies used other available resources for the Ebola response.

The council also accused Atiku of politicising the public health situation and criticised his comments on the government’s handling of the confirmed Ebola case in Abuja.

Beyond the fund, Atiku questioned the timeline of the government’s response to the Ebola case.

He asked when Ebola was first suspected, when public health authorities were alerted, when testing was ordered and when contact tracing began.

Atiku also questioned whether the 44 contacts identified by health authorities were sufficient, given information that the patient had visited another hospital and her home before being isolated.

He called for adequate protection and equipment for health workers involved in treating the patient and tracing contacts.

“Health workers treating the patient and tracing contacts deserve protection, equipment and every resource needed to act quickly. Questioning the government’s preparedness is no insult to them. Demanding applause for President Tinubu while refusing to explain an untouched emergency fund is an insult to Nigerians,” he said.

“The APC also objects to our warning that a health emergency must never be used to interfere with campaigning or voting. President Tinubu’s government can address that concern directly: publish any proposed restrictions, their medical justification and the advice of the health authorities. Public health guidance must protect people. It must never become a political tool.”

The APC Presidential Campaign Council, in its 22 October statement signed by its spokesperson, Dele Alake, said the N10 billion approved by Mr Tinubu had not been disbursed.

It said agencies involved in surveillance had continued to operate with other available resources and credited their surveillance efforts with helping authorities detect the imported Ebola case and identify 44 contacts.

The council also accused Atiku of seeking to politicise the health emergency, urging opposition figures to support health authorities and comply with public health protocols.

It rejected the suggestion that the ministerial briefing on the Ebola response was meant to discourage Nigerians from attending campaign rallies or voting, calling the claim speculative and asking Atiku to provide verifiable evidence.

The demand for details of the Ebola preparedness fund comes amid separate concerns by lawmakers over funding for Nigeria’s response to the disease.

On 21 October, the House of Representatives urged the federal government to immediately release outstanding appropriated funds to relevant health agencies to strengthen surveillance, contact tracing and emergency response measures.

The House also asked the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) to assess the additional resources Nigeria needs to strengthen its preparedness and response capacity, based on current epidemiological evidence and public health guidance.

In a separate resolution the same day, the Senate also urged the federal government to release emergency funds from the Service Wide Vote to strengthen measures against the spread of Ebola and called for stronger health screening at the country’s entry points.