NCDC Opposes New Health Institute Over Duty Duplication

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has expressed opposition to a proposed bill aimed at establishing a national institute for public health, which would focus on infectious diseases and upgrade the national tuberculosis and leprosy training center in Zaria. During a public hearing organized by the House of Representatives Committee on Infectious Diseases, Dr.

Jide Idris, the Director General of NCDC, stated that creating a parallel institution would duplicate responsibilities and potentially weaken Nigeria's public health emergency response architecture. He urged the National Assembly to strengthen existing public health structures rather than create new ones.

Amobi Ogah, the chairman of the committee, noted that the panel had previously discovered underutilization of human and infrastructural capacity at the Zaria center during a visit.