Senate Raises Alarm Over Nigeria's COVID-19 Response Gaps

The Nigerian Senate expressed serious concerns regarding the nation's public health emergency preparedness after a confirmed COVID-19 case in Cross River State. Senator Ipalibo Harry Banigo, representing the APC from Rivers West, sponsored a motion highlighting deficiencies in disease surveillance and rapid response capacity.

The confirmed case involved a 53-year-old foreign national who arrived in Nigeria at Murtala Muhammed International Airport on March 17, 2026, developed symptoms by April 12, and tested positive on April 16. Banigo noted that the epidemiological findings indicated a timeline beyond the expected incubation period, raising concerns about possible local transmission.

She warned of existing gaps in Nigeria's outbreak response capabilities, including shortages of critical supplies and delays in budget releases for the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). The Senate called for intensified nationwide surveillance, testing, and contact tracing, urging the federal Ministry of Health and the NCDC to submit a comprehensive report on national preparedness.