Abuja Ebola Case: ATIKU Questions FG N10b Emergency Intervention
Nigeria's former Vice President and Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Atiku Abubakar has criticused the Federal Government over its Ebola intervention preparedness. This follows the confirmation of an Ebola case in Abuja, involving a woman who arrived in the country from Uganda.
In a statement titled: "Bola and Ebola - Tinubu Where Did The N10b Go?", Atiku alleged that the Tinubu Administration failed to account for ₦10 billion approved for Ebola preparedness. He said the confirmed Ebola case in Abuja has exposed a dangerous breakdown in the government’s response.
According to the statement released by the Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu, the former Vice President warned against using the outbreak to suppress political activity and discourage Nigerians from voting.
It noted that “Ebola is a grave public health threat" and that Nigerians deserve urgent action, competent leadership and the truth.
He said "the first confirmed case in Abuja has exposed unanswered questions about preparedness, surveillance and the protection of health workers" and demanded that Presidents Tinubu account for the ₦10 billion he said would be released immediately in June.
“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.
“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 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.
“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.
“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.
The ADC Presidential candidate warned the Tinubu administration against weaponising 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 stated.
“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.”