ABUJA, Nigeria — Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has formally challenged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to publish a complete audit of the ₦10 billion emergency fund previously approved for Ebola preparedness, citing severe health surveillance lapses in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
In a statement issued on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku criticized the administration’s handling of the country’s first confirmed Ebola case in Abuja.
He asserted that a routine press briefing cannot substitute for a comprehensive financial audit of emergency health procurements.
Atiku pointed to a nine-day reporting gap between when the patient—who arrived in Nigeria on October 5 and developed symptoms on October 7—sought medical care at a private clinic on October 11, and the federal government’s public confirmation of the case on October 20.
He argued that this delay left 44 close contacts unmonitored and exposed private healthcare workers to infection without adequate personal protective equipment (PPE).
Beyond financial accountability, the opposition leader cautioned the federal government against leveraging the public health emergency to restrict opposition political activities or suppress voter participation ahead of the 2027 general elections, urging that health protocols be governed strictly by verified medical evidence.
You Might Also Like
