The House of Representatives has called on the federal government to immediately release outstanding funds appropriated for health agencies following the confirmation of an Ebola virus disease case in Abuja.
Key Highlights
- Reps urge FG to immediately release outstanding funds appropriated for health agencies.
- Motion moved by Rep. Amobi Ogah after confirmation of an Ebola case in Abuja.
- 44 contacts identified and traced for isolation and testing.
- Health agencies to be placed on high alert; NCDC to assess funding needs.
- House Committee on Infectious Diseases mandated to engage MDAs and report back.
The lawmakers warned that inadequate funding, shortages of infection prevention supplies and gaps in emergency preparedness could undermine efforts to contain the potentially deadly disease and expose more Nigerians to the risk of infection.
The House made the demands on Wednesday, after adopting a motion of urgent public importance moved by Rep. Amobi Ogah, the lawmaker representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency of Abia State.
The intervention follows the confirmation on October 20, 2026, of an Ebola case in a woman who had arrived in Abuja from Uganda.
Rep. Ogah said health authorities have identified and traced 44 contacts for isolation and further testing following the confirmation.
He warned that delays in detecting suspected infections, conducting laboratory investigations, isolating infected persons and tracing their contacts could increase the risk of transmission and place additional pressure on Nigeria’s already strained healthcare system.
Moving the motion, Rep. Ogah stressed the need for prompt detection, effective infection prevention and control measures, and coordinated public health interventions to prevent further transmission.
The lawmakers expressed concern that inadequate public awareness, insufficient infection prevention supplies, gaps in healthcare workers’ preparedness and limited emergency response capacity could weaken the country’s ability to contain the outbreak.
House Resolutions
Following the adoption of the motion, the House urged the federal government to immediately mobilise private, state and federal health agencies and place them on high alert.
The lawmakers also called on the Federal Ministry of Finance to release all outstanding appropriated funds to relevant health agencies without further delay.
They said the money is urgently needed to strengthen disease surveillance, contact tracing, laboratory testing and other emergency response operations.
The House further urged the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) to assess the funding required to improve the country’s preparedness and response capacity in line with current epidemiological evidence and public health guidance.
The lawmakers also highlighted the need for coordination among federal and state health authorities, port health officials, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and other relevant agencies.
They called for collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other international and regional public health institutions to ensure that Nigeria’s response measures align with current scientific evidence and international health regulations.
The House subsequently mandated its Committee on Infectious Diseases to engage relevant ministries, departments, agencies and public health institutions to obtain updates on the Ebola situation and measures being taken to prevent further transmission.
The committee is expected to report back to the House for further legislative action.
Read also:
- BREAKING: Ebola Case Confirmed in Abuja as Health Authorities Begin Contact Tracing
- Ebola In Nigeria: Things You Should Know About Symptoms, Spread, Prevention
- Ogun Strengthens Disease Surveillance Measures, Confirms No Recorded Case Of Ebola
The development comes as Nigeria faces the challenge of containing the reported case while strengthening surveillance and emergency response systems to prevent further infections.
The immediate release of funds, adequate supplies for frontline health workers, effective contact tracing and timely public communication are critical to preventing the outbreak from escalating.
The House’s demand places renewed attention on the availability of emergency funding and the preparedness of Nigeria’s public health institutions as authorities respond to the reported Ebola case in Abuja.
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