Nigeria’s ₦10 billion Ebola fund also earmarked for Lassa fever and other endemic diseases, says NCDC Director-General

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) announced that the ₦10 billion emergency fund approved by President Bola Tinubu for Ebola preparedness will also be used to strengthen the country’s response to Lassa fever and other endemic diseases. Director‑General Jide Idris made the clarification during an interview on Channels Television’s *Politics Today* on Monday night, emphasizing that the fund was intended for broader public‑health preparedness as the Lassa fever season approaches.

Idris explained that many of the control measures required for Ebola—such as diagnostics, screening, surveillance and point‑of‑entry monitoring—are identical to those needed for Lassa fever, dengue and other viral infections. He stressed that the allocation was not exclusive to Ebola, but designed to address a range of health threats that share similar transmission pathways and response strategies.

Background

In May 2026, President Tinubu established a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats and ordered the immediate release of ₦10 billion as an emergency intervention. The fund was initially presented as a dedicated resource for Ebola, but Idris clarified that the original request encompassed a wider set of diseases. The announcement came amid political controversy; opposition figures, including former Vice‑President Atiku Abubakar, demanded transparency over the fund’s utilisation, alleging that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had not disclosed its status. The APC Presidential Campaign Council, however, maintained that the money remained untouched.

Earlier in the year, NCDC confirmed an imported Ebola case from Uganda, placing 53 contacts under monitoring in Abuja. The World Health Organization (WHO) later reported that Nigeria had no active Ebola cases after the patient was evacuated to Switzerland, while continuing to monitor 52 contacts.

Why it matters

The dual‑purpose use of the ₦10 billion fund is significant for several reasons. First, it provides resources for the upcoming Lassa fever season, a recurring public‑health challenge that demands rapid diagnostics and robust surveillance. Second, by consolidating funding for multiple diseases, the government can streamline procurement of equipment, training of health workers and strengthening of border health checks, potentially improving overall epidemic readiness.

Idris also addressed rumours circulating on social media that the government might exploit Ebola to create fear ahead of the 2027 elections. He categorically denied such claims, stating that no government would use a disease as a political weapon and urging Nigerians to follow official NCDC guidelines. This response aims to maintain public trust in health communications and prevent misinformation from undermining disease control efforts.

What happens next

The NCDC plans to deploy the allocated funds across its existing Ebola preparedness structures, extending them to Lassa fever surveillance and response activities. Specific allocations will include enhanced laboratory capacity, expanded point‑of‑entry screening, and community awareness campaigns targeting both Ebola and Lassa fever. The Presidential Task Force will continue to oversee the disbursement and monitor the impact of the interventions, with the expectation of publishing detailed accounts in response to calls for transparency.

The WHO will maintain its monitoring of contacts linked to the imported Ebola case, while Nigeria’s health authorities prepare for the Lassa fever season using the newly clarified resources. Stakeholders, including opposition politicians and civil‑society groups, are likely to watch the fund’s utilisation closely, seeking evidence that the money is indeed reaching the intended public‑health programmes.