Atiku to Tinubu: Account for ₦10bn Ebola fund as Abuja records first confirmed case’

Former VP Atiku Abubakar and President Bola Tinubu

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has demanded a full account of the ₦10 billion Ebola preparedness fund approved by President Bola Tinubu, arguing that the outbreak has exposed serious questions about the country’s readiness to respond to the deadly virus.

The Federal Government on Tuesday confirmed that a woman who travelled into Nigeria from Uganda tested positive for Ebola after receiving treatment for several days at a private hospital in the Federal Capital Territory before laboratory tests confirmed the infection.

Health authorities immediately activated emergency response measures, placing the patient in isolation and identifying 44 close contacts, including healthcare workers, caregivers, patients and travel-related contacts, for monitoring.

However, Atiku, through a statement issued by the Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu, questioned how prepared the government was despite announcing emergency funding months earlier.

“Ebola is a grave public health threat. Nigerians deserve urgent action, competent leadership and the truth. 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 ₦10 billion he said would be released immediately in June.”

The former Vice President challenged the Federal Government to publish full details of the intervention, including how much was released, when it was disbursed, who received the funds and what equipment or services were provided.

“Where is the money? Publish the amount actually disbursed, the dates of payment, every contract awarded, every recipient and every item delivered. If the money was not 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.”

Atiku also questioned the timeline of events leading to the confirmation of the case, noting that the patient reportedly arrived in Nigeria on October 5, developed symptoms on October 7, sought treatment at a private hospital on October 11, but was not publicly confirmed as an Ebola patient until October 20.

According to him, the delay may have increased the risk of exposure.

“The timeline is damning. The patient arrived in Nigeria on October 5, developed symptoms on October 7 and sought care at a private hospital on October 11. The government did not confirm the case publicly until October 20, nine days after she sought care. During that critical period, 44 close contacts were left unmonitored, while private health workers faced the case without adequate protective equipment. This is a failure of preparedness with potentially grave consequences.”

The ADC presidential candidate further demanded explanations on every stage of the government’s response.

“The government must disclose what happened at every stage. What travel history and exposure screening were conducted? What follow-up began when the patient developed symptoms? When were the 44 contacts first reached and monitored? Why were frontline staff left without the protection they needed? Nigerians deserve answers, and those responsible for these failures must be held accountable.”

He also questioned whether political officials had taken over responsibilities that should be led by medical professionals.

“In June, Tinubu announced a Presidential Task Force chaired by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila. Today, Nigerians must ask whether political appointees have been allowed to overshadow the medical experts who should lead this response. 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.”

Linking the outbreak to the country’s economic challenges, Atiku argued that Nigerians should not bear the consequences of what he described as government failures.

“Nigerians are already battling the economic hardship created by Tinubu’s policies. Now the government’s failure to prepare and respond threatens to deepen public anxiety and disrupt movement, livelihoods and economic activity. The people must not pay twice for the same failure: first through hardship, then through a bungled emergency response. Both caused by Bola.”

He further alleged that the outbreak could be used to discourage political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“I am also alarmed by confirmed information that the Minister of Health’s press conference tomorrow is intended to discourage Nigerians from attending campaign rallies and, ultimately, from voting.”

Warning against any attempt to politicise the health emergency, Atiku said: “The Tinubu administration must not weaponise Ebola to frighten the public, silence its opponents or suppress voter participation. Any public health measure must be backed by clear medical evidence, applied equally and never used as a pretext to interfere with Nigerians’ democratic rights.”

He concluded by insisting that the government must account for the Ebola intervention fund.

“The ‘Bola-Ebola’ strategy will not fool Nigerians. You cannot fail to protect the people, conceal what happened to emergency funds, then use the crisis to restrict their freedom. Account for the ₦10 billion. Protect every health worker. Trace every contact. Tell Nigerians the truth. Fight Ebola, and keep your hands off their right to assemble and choose their leaders.”

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