Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on President Bola Tinubu to account for the N10 billion announced for Ebola preparedness, questioning the government’s handling of the confirmed case in Abuja and the protection provided to frontline health workers.
Atiku said the incident raised concerns about Nigeria’s disease surveillance system and the adequacy of measures put in place to prevent the spread of the virus.
He also warned the Federal Government against exploiting the public health emergency to restrict political activities or discourage voter participation.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential hopeful made the demands in a statement issued on Wednesday by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the party’s Presidential Campaign Council.
He called for a comprehensive public audit of the N10 billion, insisting that the government should disclose the amount actually released, the dates of disbursement, contracts awarded, beneficiaries and items supplied.
“Where is the money? Publish the amount actually disbursed, the dates of payment, every contract awarded, every recipient and every item delivered. A press statement cannot replace an audit,” Atiku said.
He expressed concern over the timeline of events surrounding the confirmed case, stating that the patient arrived in Nigeria on October 5, developed symptoms two days later and sought treatment at a private hospital on October 11.
According to him, the Federal Government did not publicly confirm the case until October 20, raising questions about the speed of the response and the effectiveness of the country’s surveillance arrangements.
Atiku further alleged that 44 close contacts remained unmonitored during the critical period, while private healthcare workers who attended to the patient were not adequately equipped with protective materials.
“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,” he said.
The former vice president also criticised the composition of the Presidential Task Force announced by Tinubu in June and chaired by the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.
He questioned whether the arrangement gave sufficient priority to medical expertise in managing the outbreak, arguing that disease control required technical competence and effective coordination.
“Political titles cannot trace contacts, equip hospitals or save lives,” he said.
Atiku also expressed concern over the planned press conference by the Minister of Health on Thursday, alleging that the outbreak could be used to discourage political rallies and limit citizens’ participation in the electoral process.
He maintained that measures introduced to contain the disease must be based on clear medical evidence and applied uniformly, warning against any attempt to use public health concerns to suppress political opposition.
“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,” Atiku said.
He urged the government to account for the preparedness funds, provide healthcare workers with adequate protective equipment and ensure that all contacts linked to the confirmed case were traced and monitored.
Atiku stressed that transparency and an effective public health response were essential to protecting Nigerians, warning that the Ebola situation should not become an instrument of political suppression.
His comments add to the scrutiny of the Federal Government’s response to the confirmed case, particularly regarding the management of emergency funds and the preparedness of healthcare facilities.
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