Ebola Threat: Reps Call for Stronger Disease Response

By Ifeyinwa Ike

House of Representatives has urged the federal government to release funds to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control to boost preparedness against Ebola and other epidemic‑prone diseases.

Hon. Amobi Ogah moved the motion at Tuesday’s plenary.

The lawmakers raised concerns over Nigeria’s preparedness for a potential Ebola outbreak, following an alert issued by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention on a new outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

They noted that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, had earlier warned that the country faces a high risk of importing the disease due to cross-border movement and regional travel.

Members expressed concern that the new strain responsible for the outbreak currently has no licensed vaccine, increasing the need for heightened surveillance and preparedness measures, and also highlighted funding challenges facing the NCDC.

They say NCDC received no operational funding in 2025, has had no capital releases for 2026, and faces erratic overheads.

Critical gaps cited include unpaid vendors, stalled zonal labs and isolation centres, shortages of reagents, weak biosafety and ICU capacity, and limited funds for rapid‑response training.

The House wants the Executive to release appropriated funds immediately and ordered the committees on Infectious Disease and Legislative Compliance to monitor use and report back. Port health checks were also urged to be intensified.