NCDC: FG’s N10bn Emergency Fund Not for Ebola Alone, Targets Epidemic Preparedness
By Ojoma Akor
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has clarified that the Federal Government’s ₦10 billion emergency intervention fund approved in June 2026 is meant to strengthen preparedness against all epidemic-prone diseases, not exclusively the Ebola outbreak.
The Director-General of NCDC Dr Jide Idris said the funding, approved by President Bola Tinubu as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) grappled with an Ebola outbreak that became a global emergency, was intended to reinforce Nigeria’s broader national health security infrastructure.
In a statement issued on Monday, the NCDC boss said the intervention would support ongoing efforts to strengthen the country’s capacity to prevent, detect and respond to public health emergencies.
He explained that the funding came amid growing concerns about inadequate investment in epidemic preparedness, despite Nigeria’s vulnerability to infectious disease outbreaks.
The clarification comes amid public concerns over Nigeria’s response to its first imported case of Ebola (Bundibugyo) virus disease, which was confirmed on October 20, 2026, following laboratory testing in Abuja.
According to the NCDC, the case was confirmed within 24 hours of receiving the alert, while identified contacts have been placed under daily monitoring.
The agency said Nigeria currently has no active Ebola case but would continue surveillance until the last identified contact completes the 21-day monitoring period without developing symptoms or any new case emerging.
The Director-General urged Nigerians to remain vigilant without panic, warning against the spread of misinformation and the politicisation of public health emergencies.
NCDC allocation rises to N22bn
Providing details of the government’s investment in health security, the NCDC chief said the agency’s allocation increased from ₦4 billion in 2024 to ₦7 billion in 2025.
This was followed by a ₦5 billion intervention fund in 2025, while the 2026 Appropriation provides ₦22 billion for the agency.
He said the additional ₦10 billion emergency intervention approved in June 2026 represented a further commitment to strengthening epidemic preparedness.
However, he warned that despite the increased allocations, Nigeria still faces a significant funding gap in building a resilient health security system.
With a population exceeding 240 million, the NCDC chief said the country requires sustained financial commitments from federal and state governments, as well as development partners, to adequately prepare for public health emergencies.
Citing estimates by the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board, he said countries require between US$1 and US$2 per person annually to achieve an acceptable level of epidemic preparedness.
Based on Nigeria’s estimated population of 240 million, this translates to between US$240 million and US$480 million annually.
He said the funding gap underscores the need for increased investment in disease surveillance, laboratory capacity, emergency response systems and other critical public health infrastructure.
Health security funding remains inadequate
The NCDC Director-General noted that health security is one of the four pillars of the Federal Government’s Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), which provides a framework for strengthening the country’s health system.
He said he had consistently advocated increased funding for national health security even before the recent Ebola case in Nigeria.
According to him, securing adequate resources for epidemic preparedness remains difficult globally because governments often prioritise interventions with immediate and visible outcomes over preventive investments whose benefits may only become apparent when outbreaks are successfully contained.
He explained that preventing disease outbreaks, averting deaths and avoiding economic losses are difficult to measure, making it challenging to demonstrate the returns on investments in preparedness.
The NCDC chief therefore called for sustained advocacy to ensure that epidemic preparedness receives the financial attention it deserves.
He also highlighted the need for deliberate and sustained funding commitments to support the health sector reforms being implemented under the current administration.
No need to suspend public gatherings, NCDC says
Addressing concerns about public events and travel following the imported Ebola case, the NCDC said the current situation does not warrant postponing elections, banning mass gatherings or restricting travel.
The agency said it had not recommended any of these measures, noting that it had instead developed technical guidelines for organisers of mass gatherings to ensure compliance with infection prevention and control measures.
The Director-General said public events could proceed safely if organisers strictly adhered to the recommended health and safety protocols.
He stressed that the agency’s recommendations would be guided by scientific evidence and reviewed if the epidemiological situation changed.
“NCDC is a technical agency. Our advice follows the evidence alone. We will not be drawn into politics, and we ask everyone to keep public health out of it,” he said.
He urged Nigerians to verify information through the agency’s official communication channels before sharing reports about the Ebola situation.
The NCDC chief maintained that the country’s response would remain guided by science, surveillance and evidence-based public health measures, adding that the agency would continue to inform Nigerians about developments in the outbreak response.
