The House of Representatives has been urged to compel the Federal Government to urgently release adequate funds to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), amid growing concerns that the agency may be ill-equipped to respond effectively to a potential Ebola outbreak and other public health emergencies.
The call followed a Motion of Urgent National Importance sponsored by Hon. Amobi Godwin Ogah, who warned that Nigeria’s disease surveillance and emergency response systems are under serious strain at a time when the country faces an increased risk of Ebola importation from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Presenting the motion, Ogah drew attention to the recent Ebola outbreak in the Ituri Province of the DRC, caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus, and noted that the development poses a significant threat to Nigeria, particularly given the country’s porous borders and weak cross-border surveillance mechanisms.
According to the lawmaker, the risk is further heightened by the fact that there is currently no licensed vaccine or targeted treatment for the Bundibugyo strain, making prevention and preparedness the most effective safeguards against the disease.
Hon. Ogah recalled that on May 25, 2026, the NCDC officially placed Nigeria at a high risk of Ebola importation and activated emergency preparedness measures across the country, but expressed concern that the agency’s ability to discharge its responsibilities has been severely undermined by persistent funding challenges.
He disclosed that the NCDC reportedly received no operational funding throughout 2025, while capital releases for its 2026 budget allocation are yet to be made, leaving the agency struggling to meet critical public health obligations at a time when donor support is also declining.
The motion highlighted several operational challenges facing the agency, including unpaid contractors and service providers, stalled laboratory and treatment centre projects, shortages of laboratory reagents and diagnostic materials, inadequate biosafety infrastructure, limited intensive care and oxygen support systems, and insufficient resources for training rapid response teams nationwide.
Ogah warned that the funding deficit could significantly weaken Nigeria’s outbreak response operations, disease surveillance networks, laboratory services, logistics coordination and overall emergency preparedness framework, thereby exposing the country to the resurgence of Ebola and other infectious diseases.
As part of the motion’s prayers, the House was urged to call on the Executive Arm of Government to immediately release adequate funds to the NCDC in line with approved budgetary provisions.
The motion also sought to mandate the House Committee on Infectious Diseases to monitor the utilisation of the funds and ensure accountability.
In addition, the lawmaker called on Port Health Authorities to intensify cross-border surveillance and screening activities at all entry points into the country, while the House Committee on Legislative Compliance was tasked with ensuring the implementation of the resolutions.
Hon. Ogah stressed that protecting Nigeria from epidemic outbreaks requires immediate and sustained investment in public health infrastructure, warning that any delay in funding the NCDC could have grave consequences for national health security.
