Atiku Demands Account of ₦10bn Ebola Fund, Questions Tinubu Government’s Response
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly criticized the Bola Tinubu administration over its failure to account for ₦10 billion allocated for Ebola preparedness, linking it to a confirmed case in Abuja that exposed a critical breakdown in government response. He also warned against the alleged weaponization of the Ebola crisis to suppress political activities and voter participation. Atiku demands transparency, accountability, and proper public health management.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to account for the ₦10 billion approved for Ebola preparedness, arguing that Nigeria’s confirmed case in Abuja has raised questions about the country’s public health readiness. In a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku demanded a public disclosure of the amount disbursed, payment dates, contracts awarded, recipients, and supplies delivered under the emergency intervention.
President Tinubu announced the approval of the ₦10 billion on June 9, 2026, alongside the establishment of a Presidential Task Force on Ebola preparedness chaired by Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila. However, Atiku argued that the government must demonstrate how the funds were used, insisting that the announcement alone does not establish whether the money reached the agencies and personnel responsible for preparedness.
Atiku also questioned the handling of the confirmed case, citing a timeline in which the patient reportedly arrived in Nigeria on October 5, developed symptoms on October 7 and sought treatment at a private hospital on October 11, while laboratory confirmation was announced on October 20.
He described the interval between the patient seeking care and the public confirmation as a cause for concern, and alleged that contacts were not monitored promptly and that frontline health workers lacked adequate protective equipment. According to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the World Health Organisation, the patient’s symptoms began on October 7, she sought care on October 11, and the infection was confirmed on October 20; authorities subsequently identified 44 contacts and began monitoring them.
Atiku called for a detailed account of the response at each stage, including the patient’s travel and exposure history, screening procedures, contact tracing, and the protection provided to healthcare workers, while arguing that medical experts—including the NCDC, epidemiologists, and clinicians—should lead the response.
The former vice president further questioned the effectiveness of the Presidential Task Force and called for transparency over its operations, arguing that political appointees should not overshadow public health professionals. He also warned against using the outbreak to discourage campaign rallies or restrict citizens’ participation in the 2027 elections, alleging that a planned health briefing could be used to influence political activity; no evidence was provided in the statement to establish that this was the briefing’s purpose.
Atiku additionally questioned the Health Ministry’s reported ₦35 million allocation in the 2025 budget and its role in the initial preparedness programme, while arguing that any public health restrictions should be supported by medical evidence and applied impartially. He concluded by demanding an account of the ₦10 billion, adequate protection for health workers, effective contact tracing, and public disclosure of relevant information, while insisting that efforts to contain Ebola must respect Nigerians’ rights to assemble and participate in elections.