EBOLA: Atiku Fires Back at Tinubu, Demands Accountability for ₦10bn Ebola Fund Amid Abuja Case
Former Vice-President Demands Public Audit as Abuja Confirms Ebola Case, 44 Contacts Identified for Tracing.
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has challenged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to account for the ₦10 billion approved in June 2026 to strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness against Ebola and other emerging public health threats.
Atiku, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, made the demand in a statement issued on Wednesday by Phrank Shaibu, his Director of Strategic Communication.
His call followed the Federal Government’s confirmation of an Ebola case in Abuja, with health authorities identifying 44 close contacts for tracing as part of efforts to prevent further transmission.
The former vice-president said the reported case had raised serious questions about Nigeria’s preparedness, disease surveillance and the protection of frontline health workers.
Atiku urged the Tinubu administration to publicly disclose how the ₦10 billion emergency intervention fund had been utilised, including the amounts disbursed, dates of payment, contracts awarded, beneficiaries and items delivered.
He also demanded an explanation if the funds had not been released to the agencies responsible for implementing the country’s Ebola preparedness measures.
According to Atiku, Nigerians deserve transparency and accountability over public funds earmarked to protect lives, particularly during a public health emergency.
He further questioned the handling of the confirmed case, pointing to the timeline between the patient’s reported arrival in Nigeria, the development of symptoms, the search for medical attention and the public announcement of the infection.
He also argued that medical professionals, epidemiologists, doctors and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) should take the lead in managing the outbreak, with the necessary authority and resources.
In June, Tinubu approved the establishment of a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats and ordered the immediate release of ₦10 billion to strengthen the country's emergency response capacity.
The approval followed Ebola outbreaks in parts of Africa and was intended to support the NCDC and other critical public health response activities.
Atiku's demand has intensified calls for transparency over the emergency allocation as Nigeria's health authorities work to trace contacts and contain the confirmed case.
He urged the Federal Government to account for the funds, protect frontline health workers, provide clear information to Nigerians and ensure that all necessary public health measures are implemented.
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