Firdaus Obiremi
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has challenged President Bola Tinubu to account for the reported ₦10bn approved for Ebola preparedness, demanding full disclosure of expenditure following the confirmation of a case in Abuja.
Atiku also questioned the Federal Government’s handling of the reported case, alleging delays in public disclosure, inadequate protection for healthcare workers and lapses in contact tracing.
He further warned the Tinubu administration against using the public health emergency to restrict political campaigns, discourage voter participation or interfere with Nigerians’ constitutional rights ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The African Democratic Congress presidential candidate made the demands in a statement issued on Wednesday by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the party’s Presidential Campaign Council.
Atiku called on the Federal Government to publish a comprehensive breakdown of the reported ₦10bn, including the amount actually disbursed, payment dates, contracts awarded, beneficiaries and items supplied.
He said Nigerians deserved transparency and an effective response to the reported health emergency.
“Ebola is a grave public health threat. Nigerians deserve urgent action, competent leadership and the truth,” he said.
He added, “Where is the money? Publish the amount actually disbursed, the dates of payment, every contract awarded, every recipient and every item delivered.”
The former vice-president also questioned the timeline of the government’s response, citing details which he said showed that the patient arrived in Nigeria on October 5, developed symptoms on October 7 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.
“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,” Atiku said.
He further claimed that 44 identified close contacts were left unmonitored during the period and alleged that healthcare workers at the private hospital lacked adequate protective equipment.
Atiku demanded explanations about the screening procedures the patient underwent upon arrival in Nigeria, when health authorities began follow-up after she developed symptoms and when officials first contacted the identified close contacts.
He insisted that the government should explain the circumstances surrounding the reported lapses and hold anyone found responsible accountable.
“Nigerians deserve answers, and those responsible for these failures must be held accountable,” he said.
However, the allegations contained in Atiku’s statement were not independently established in the material available for this report. The Federal Government’s response to the specific claims was also not included.
Atiku Questions Ebola Response Leadership
The ADC presidential candidate also questioned the leadership structure of the government’s response to the outbreak, recalling that Tinubu announced the establishment of a Presidential Task Force on Ebola in June, with his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, as chairman.
Atiku argued that medical professionals and public health specialists should take the lead in managing the emergency, with the necessary authority and resources to coordinate the 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,” he said.
He called for effective coordination among health authorities, adequate protection for frontline workers and prompt contact tracing to limit the potential spread of the disease.
Beyond the health concerns, Atiku alleged that a planned press conference by the Minister of Health was intended to discourage Nigerians from attending political rallies and, ultimately, participating in 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,” he alleged.
He warned the Tinubu administration against imposing restrictions that could undermine opposition activities or infringe on citizens’ democratic rights under the guise of responding to the health emergency.
According to him, any restrictions introduced for public health reasons must be based on medical evidence, applied fairly and designed to protect citizens rather than limit legitimate political 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 said.
Atiku also warned that a poorly managed health emergency could worsen the economic difficulties facing Nigerians by disrupting movement, livelihoods and commercial activities.
He argued that citizens should not be made to bear additional economic costs arising from failures in the management of the outbreak.
“The people must not pay twice for the same failure: first through hardship, then through a bungled emergency response. Both caused by Bola,” he said.
Atiku concluded by demanding accountability for the reported ₦10bn, improved protection for healthcare workers, effective contact tracing and transparency in the government’s handling of the case.
“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,” he said.
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