NCDC's Dr Jide Idris clarifies N10bn fund's purpose

Dr Jide Idris, the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, clarified that the N10bn emergency intervention fund approved by President Bola Tinubu is not solely for Ebola Virus Disease but is intended to strengthen Nigeria's preparedness against multiple epidemic-prone diseases. The fund aims to enhance prevention, preparedness, early detection, and rapid response to public health threats, including Lassa fever, cholera, and monkeypox.

Idris noted that the fund was released directly to the NCDC and emphasized that the allocation is insufficient given Nigeria's health security needs, which require approximately N522bn over five years. He stated that the N10bn represents only about two percent of the average annual cost of the National Action Plan for Health Security.

The additional funding was approved in June 2026 following an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Idris highlighted the need for sustained investments from the government and partners to adequately protect Nigeria's population against epidemic threats.