— defends surveillance measures
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has accused former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of politicising Nigeria’s Ebola response, saying the ₦10 billion approved by President Bola Tinubu for the emergency in June 2026 remains untouched.
The council, in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by its spokesperson, Dele Alake, also defended the government’s handling of the public health concern, saying the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and other agencies had been using existing resources for surveillance activities.
The statement followed comments attributed to Atiku questioning the utilisation of the ₦10 billion Ebola emergency fund and criticising the government’s response to the reported case involving a Nigerian who travelled from Uganda.
The APC council faulted the framing of Atiku’s statement, arguing that linking President Tinubu’s name to Ebola risked turning a serious public health concern into a political attack.
It also said the incubation period for Ebola ranges from two to 21 days, with symptoms typically appearing eight to 10 days after exposure, adding that infected persons generally become capable of transmitting the virus after symptoms develop.
According to the council, the infected Nigerian reported to a hospital days after the initial exposure, where several tests confirmed the infection.
On the emergency fund, the council said the ₦10 billion approved by Tinubu in June had not been utilised, as the agencies involved were drawing on other available resources to conduct surveillance and related activities.
It praised the agencies for what it described as a robust surveillance network at Nigeria’s entry points, saying the system helped alert authorities to the reported case and facilitated contact tracing involving 44 contacts of the patient.
The council argued that the opposition should support public health authorities rather than criticise the government over the response.
It also rejected an allegation attributed to Atiku’s camp that a ministerial briefing on Ebola was intended to discourage attendance at campaign rallies or voting, describing the claim as speculative and demanding verifiable evidence.
According to the statement, the briefing did not raise such an issue but appealed to Nigerians to comply with protocols announced by the Presidential Task Force.
The council urged Atiku and his supporters to avoid politicising public health issues, calling on Nigerians across party lines to support health authorities, communicate responsibly and comply with preventive measures.
“A time like this demands that all Nigerians, including the opposition, rally around the health authorities and professionals, communicate responsibly, avoid rumour-mongering, and follow the protocols advised by the Task Force to ensure Ebola does not become a national epidemic,” the statement said. It added that protecting Nigerians from the disease should be the immediate priority.
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