The House of Representatives has called on the federal government to urgently fund the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to bolster the country's readiness for potential Ebola and other epidemic threats. The demand followed the adoption of a motion titled "Seeking the Federal Government to Immediately Provide Adequate Funding Requirements to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to Strengthen Nigeria's Preparedness and Response Capacity for Ebola and Other Epidemic-Prone Diseases." The motion was presented by Mr Ogah and passed without debate on Tuesday.
Mr Ogah noted that the NCDC, Nigeria's national public health institute, faces severe financial constraints, with no operational funding received in 2025 and no capital releases made so far in 2026 against its approved budget. He said overhead releases have been irregular and insufficient. The lawmaker cited the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the Bundibugyo strain was confirmed on 15 May 2026 in Ituri Province. As of the latest reports, the outbreak has led to over 300 confirmed cases and nearly 50 deaths in the DRC, with Uganda also recording imported cases.
He warned that Nigeria is at high risk of Ebola importation due to porous borders and limited cross-border checks. On 25 May, the NCDC issued a public health advisory placing the country at high risk and activated emergency preparedness measures. However, Mr Ogah questioned the agency's capacity to respond effectively given its financial challenges. He listed issues including unpaid contractors, stalled zonal laboratories and treatment centres, exhausted laboratory supplies, weak biosafety infrastructure, and inadequate resources for emergency drills and Rapid Response Team training. Vendors have not been paid for over a year, affecting critical projects. The House Committee on Legislative Compliance was directed to ensure implementation of the resolution.
Mr Ogah highlighted that the NCDC received no operational funding in 2025 and no capital releases in 2026, yet expects the agency to defend Nigeria against Ebola. The same lawmaker cited the NCDC's activation of emergency measures on 25 May, creating a gap between declared action and financial reality. Nigerians are being asked to trust a system that lacks basic supplies and unpaid contractors. If the agency cannot pay for reagents or finish isolation facilities, its emergency alerts carry little weight.
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