Reps call for immediate funding for NCDC amid rising Ebola threat

By Gift ChapiOdekina, Abuja

The House of Representatives has urged the federal government to promptly allocate sufficient funds to the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) so that the country can better prepare for the escalating risk of Ebola Virus Disease, following a recent outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The motion, sponsored by Hon. Amobi Ogah, was adopted after he highlighted concerns about a rare strain of Ebola that emerged in the Turi Province of the DRC, as reported by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention on May 15, 2026.

During his presentation, Ogah warned that the outbreak poses a significant public health threat to Nigeria because of the country’s porous borders and high levels of cross‑border movement.

He recalled that on May 25, 2026, the NCDC declared Nigeria at high risk of Ebola importation and activated emergency preparedness measures, including placing the National Emergency Operations Centre on alert.

Despite the heightened risk, Ogah expressed alarm that the NCDC has been struggling with severe funding shortages.

He noted that the agency received no operational funding in 2025, and that no capital releases have been made against its approved 2026 budget allocation. He also described overhead releases as irregular and grossly inadequate.

Ogah warned that the prolonged funding gap has weakened the NCDC’s ability to perform critical health‑security functions, such as outbreak response operations, laboratory services, disease surveillance, logistics coordination, and emergency preparedness activities.

“The preparedness of the Centre cannot be guaranteed under the current circumstances,” he said.

He outlined several operational challenges facing the agency, including unpaid vendors for essential goods and services, stalled construction of zonal laboratories, treatment centres and isolation facilities, shortages of laboratory reagents and consumables, inadequate biosecurity infrastructure, limited intensive care and oxygen support systems, and insufficient funding for training and deployment of rapid‑response teams nationwide.

Ogah cautioned that without urgent funding, Nigeria’s capacity to respond effectively to the resurging Ebola threat and other epidemic‑prone diseases could be severely compromised.

Hon. Billy Osawaru also contributed to the debate, commending the motion’s sponsor and reminding Nigerians of the country’s successful containment of the 2014 Ebola outbreak, which was introduced by an infected traveller from Liberia.

He noted that Nigeria limited the outbreak to 20 cases and eight deaths through coordinated efforts by healthcare workers, emergency response agencies, the Federal Ministry of Health, the NCDC, and international partners.

Osawaru praised the courage and professionalism displayed by frontline health workers during the crisis, particularly the late Dr. Stella Adadevoh and other medical personnel whose actions helped prevent a wider outbreak.

However, the lawmaker warned that Nigeria remains vulnerable due to its extensive land borders, heavy international travel and trade activities, and increasing regional mobility.

He expressed particular concern that the current outbreak is linked to the Bombali virus, a rare strain of Ebola for which there are currently no approved vaccines or specific treatments.

“The risk of importation remains real if proactive preventive measures are not strengthened and sustained,” he said while seconding the motion.

Following the motion’s adoption, the House directed the Executive Arm of Government to immediately release funds appropriated for the NCDC so that the agency can settle outstanding liabilities and carry out its statutory responsibilities effectively.

The lawmakers also tasked the House Committee on Infectious Diseases with monitoring the utilisation of the released funds and reporting back to the House for further legislative action.

In addition, the House called on relevant border and port authorities to intensify surveillance and screening activities at entry points across the country to prevent the importation of the disease, while the Committee on Legislative Compliance was assigned to ensure full implementation of the resolutions.

The resolution comes amid growing concerns across Africa about the spread of infectious diseases and renewed calls for stronger investment in public health infrastructure and emergency preparedness systems.

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