Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has questioned the whereabouts of the ₦10 billion reportedly approved by President Bola Tinubu for Ebola preparedness, accusing the Federal Government of failing to adequately prepare for and respond to the outbreak following the reported confirmation of a case in Abuja.
Atiku also raised concerns over the timeline of the patient’s treatment, the monitoring of close contacts, the protection of frontline health workers and the role of political appointees in the government’s response.
The former vice-president further alleged that the Tinubu administration could use the Ebola outbreak to discourage Nigerians from attending political campaign rallies and participating in elections.
Atiku’s position was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council.
Titled “Bola and Ebola: Where Did the ₦10 Billion Go?”, the statement called on the Federal Government to account for the funds allegedly approved for emergency preparedness and disclose how the money was spent.
Atiku
“Ebola is a grave public health threat. Nigerians deserve urgent action, competent leadership and the truth. Instead, the first confirmed case in Abuja has exposed unanswered questions about preparedness, surveillance and the protection of health workers. Tinubu must account for the ₦10 billion he said would be released immediately in June,” Atiku said.
He demanded that the government publish details of the funds, including the amount actually disbursed, payment dates, contracts awarded, beneficiaries and items supplied.
“Where is the money? Publish the amount actually disbursed, the dates of payment, every contract awarded, every recipient and every item delivered. If the money was not released, Tinubu must explain why he announced emergency funding that never reached the people responsible for protecting Nigerians. A press statement cannot replace an audit,” he added.
Atiku Questions Ebola Case Timeline, Says 44 Contacts Were Left Unmonitored
Atiku also questioned the government’s handling of the reported Ebola case, citing a timeline which he said raised concerns about surveillance, contact tracing and the response of health authorities.
According to the statement, the patient arrived in Nigeria on October 5, developed symptoms on October 7 and sought medical attention at a private hospital on October 11. The government, however, did not publicly confirm the case until October 20, according to Atiku.
He argued that the period between the patient’s visit to the hospital and the public announcement raised questions about the speed of the government’s response.
“The timeline is damning. The patient arrived in Nigeria on October 5, developed symptoms on October 7 and sought care at a private hospital on October 11. The government did not confirm the case publicly until October 20, nine days after she sought care. During that critical period, 44 close contacts were left unmonitored, while private health workers faced the case without adequate protective equipment. This is a failure of preparedness with potentially grave consequences,” he said.
The former vice-president called on the government to provide a detailed account of the events surrounding the case and explain when relevant surveillance and monitoring measures were activated.
Read also: Breaking: FG Confirms Ebola Case in Abuja, Begins Contact Trac1ng
“The government must disclose what happened at every stage. What travel history and exposure screening were conducted? What follow-up began when the patient developed symptoms? When were the 44 contacts first reached and monitored? Why were frontline staff left without the protection they needed? Nigerians deserve answers, and those responsible for these failures must be held accountable,” Atiku stated.
His allegations and the figures cited in the statement were not independently verified for this report.
‘Medical Experts Must Lead Ebola Response’
Atiku also questioned the structure of the Presidential Task Force announced by Tinubu in June, which he said was chaired by the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.
He argued that the response to a public health emergency should be led by medical professionals and epidemiologists rather than political officeholders.
“In June, Tinubu announced a Presidential Task Force chaired by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila. Today, Nigerians must ask whether political appointees have been allowed to overshadow the medical experts who should lead this response. The NCDC, epidemiologists, doctors and public health professionals must be in charge, with the authority and resources to act. Political titles cannot trace contacts, equip hospitals or save lives,” he said.
The former vice-president also linked the alleged shortcomings in Ebola preparedness to the economic difficulties Nigerians are experiencing, warning that a poorly managed public health emergency could further disrupt livelihoods and economic activity.
“Nigerians are already battling the economic hardship created by Tinubu’s policies. Now the government’s failure to prepare and respond threatens to deepen public anxiety and disrupt movement, livelihoods and economic activity. The people must not pay twice for the same failure: first through hardship, then through a bungled emergency response. Both caused by Bola,” Atiku said.
The ADC campaign council’s statement also raised concerns about a planned press conference by the Minister of Health, alleging that the briefing was intended to discourage Nigerians from attending campaign rallies and, ultimately, from voting.
Atiku described the alleged intention as troubling and questioned the minister’s role in the Ebola prevention programme.
“I am also alarmed by confirmed information that the Minister of Health’s press conference tomorrow is intended to discourage Nigerians from attending campaign rallies and, ultimately, from voting. It is ridiculous that the same Minister of Health, whose entire ministry was funded with N35 million disbursement in 2025 appropriation and was not involved in the Ebola prevention programme is now being promoted to make health emergency announcements,” he said.
Atiku further warned the Federal Government against using public health measures to restrict political activities or undermine Nigerians’ democratic rights.
“The Tinubu administration must not weaponise Ebola to frighten the public, silence its opponents or suppress voter participation. Any public health measure must be backed by clear medical evidence, applied equally and never used as a pretext to interfere with Nigerians’ democratic rights,” he stated.
‘The Bola-Ebola Strategy Will Not Fool Nigerians’
In his concluding remarks, Atiku accused the administration of failing to provide adequate answers about emergency funding while warning against any attempt to use the outbreak to restrict civil liberties.
“The ‘Bola-Ebola’ strategy will not fool Nigerians. You cannot fail to protect the people, conceal what happened to emergency funds, then use the crisis to restrict their freedom. Account for the ₦10 billion. Protect every health worker. Trace every contact. Tell Nigerians the truth. Fight Ebola, and keep your hands off their right to assemble and choose their leaders,” he said.
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