Atiku Abubakar Demands Accountability for Ebola Fund

Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2027 general elections, has called on President Bola Tinubu to provide a full breakdown of the ₦10 billion allocated for Ebola preparedness. This demand follows the confirmation of an Ebola case in Abuja.

Health Minister Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate confirmed that contact tracing was underway. Atiku criticized the government's response, stating that the case revealed significant failures in Nigeria's health system.

He noted that the patient arrived in Nigeria on October 5, developed symptoms on October 7, and sought care at a private hospital on October 11, but the government did not confirm the case until October 20. During this time, 44 close contacts were unmonitored, and health workers lacked adequate protective equipment.

Atiku also questioned the structure of the government's response, suggesting that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control should lead with full authority. He accused the Tinubu administration of potentially using the outbreak to suppress political activity ahead of the elections.