APC, Atiku Trade Words Over N10bn Ebola Fund

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar have clashed over the N10 billion President Bola Tinubu approved for emergency preparedness against Ebola and other public health threats.

While the APC insists that the funds remain untouched because health agencies have relied on other available resources, Atiku has demanded a detailed account of the allocation and the government’s preparedness for the outbreak.

The APC council’s spokesperson, Dele Alake, accused Atiku of politicising the health situation in a statement issued on Thursday, October 22.

Alake said the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and other relevant agencies had continued surveillance and response activities with existing resources.

“On accountability, the Atiku camp should note that the N10 billion the President approved for the Ebola emergency in June remains untouched, as the NCDC, FAAN, and other agencies involved in surveillance have been spending other available resources,” he said.

The council also faulted the former vice-president for linking Tinubu to the outbreak, arguing that such criticism risked turning a public health concern into a political dispute.

“We believe linking and rhyming President Bola Tinubu’s name to Ebola only risks turning a serious health concern into a vehicle to ridicule the President of the Federal Republic,” Alake said.

However, Atiku had called on the Federal Government to account for the emergency funds in a statement issued on Wednesday through his Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu.

He demanded disclosure of the amount disbursed, payment dates, contracts awarded, beneficiaries and items delivered under the preparedness programme.

“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.

The former vice-president also questioned the effectiveness of Nigeria’s disease surveillance system, raising concerns about the period between the infected traveller’s arrival in the country, the onset of symptoms, treatment at a private hospital and the public confirmation of the infection.

He further alleged that frontline health workers lacked adequate protective equipment and called for medical professionals to take the lead in coordinating the response.

In defence of the government, Alake cited Ebola’s incubation period of between two and 21 days, arguing that symptom-based screening alone might not immediately detect every infected person.

He also said Nigeria’s surveillance network had helped alert authorities to the infection and identify 44 contacts for tracing.

The APC council urged opposition figures to support the agencies managing the situation rather than use the outbreak to attack the administration. It also challenged Atiku’s camp to provide verifiable evidence for its allegations.

Alake rejected suggestions that public health announcements were intended to discourage political campaigns or prevent Nigerians from participating in the 2027 elections.

The controversy follows Tinubu’s June 9 directive for the immediate release of N10 billion to strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness against Ebola and other emerging public health threats.

While the APC maintains that the approved funds remain untouched, Atiku is seeking a transparent account of the money and the steps taken to prepare the country for the outbreak.