Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has asked President Bola Tinubu to account for the ₦10 billion approved for Ebola preparedness in June, following the confirmation of a case in Abuja.
Gatekeepers News reports that Atiku made the demand in a statement issued on Wednesday by Phrank Shaibu, his Director of Strategic Communication.
“Ebola is a grave public health threat. Nigerians deserve urgent action, competent leadership and the truth,” he said.
He added that the confirmed case in Abuja had raised questions about the government’s preparedness, disease surveillance and the protection of health workers.
“Tinubu must account for the N10 billion he said would be released immediately in June,” Atiku said.
The former vice-president asked the President to publish details of the amount disbursed, payment dates, contracts awarded, recipients and items delivered.
“Tinubu must explain why he announced emergency funding that never reached the people responsible for protecting Nigerians. A press statement cannot replace an audit,” he said.
Atiku also questioned the timeline of the case, saying the patient arrived in Nigeria on October 5, developed symptoms on October 7 and sought treatment at a private hospital on October 11.
He noted that the Federal Government did not publicly confirm the case until October 20, nine days after the patient sought medical attention.
Atiku alleged that 44 close contacts were not monitored during the period and that private healthcare workers who attended to the patient lacked adequate protective equipment.
“This is a failure of preparedness with potentially grave consequences,” he said.
He called on the government to disclose the steps taken throughout the response, including the screening of the patient’s travel history, follow-up after symptoms developed and the time the 44 contacts were first reached and monitored.
Atiku also questioned the role of political appointees in managing the outbreak, insisting that medical professionals and public health experts should lead the response.
“The NCDC, epidemiologists, doctors and public health professionals must be in charge, with the authority and resources to act. Political titles cannot trace contacts, equip hospitals or save lives,” he said.
He further warned that Nigerians should not bear the burden of economic hardship and what he described as an inadequate emergency response.
“The people must not pay twice for the same failure: first through hardship, then through a bungled emergency response. Both caused by Bola,” Atiku said.
He urged the Tinubu administration to account for the funds, protect health workers, trace all contacts and provide Nigerians with accurate information about the outbreak.
