Reps ask government for urgent funding to fight Ebola and other diseases

The House of Representatives on Tuesday urged the federal government to quickly provide enough funding to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). This funding is needed to improve Nigeria’s ability to prepare for and respond to Ebola and other diseases that can cause outbreaks.

This call came after the House adopted a motion of urgent national importance, sponsored by Amobi Ogah (LP, Abia). He warned that Nigeria's systems for monitoring diseases and responding to emergencies are struggling because of a lack of funds for the NCDC.

The motion, named “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,” was accepted by the House without any debate.

While presenting the motion, Mr. Ogah reminded everyone that the NCDC is Nigeria’s main public health body. It is responsible for handling outbreaks of infectious diseases and public health emergencies.

He pointed out the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Authorities and international health agencies reported the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus appeared there in May.

He said this outbreak is a serious threat to Nigeria because of the country's weak borders and the ease of people moving across Africa.

“On 15 May 2026, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention reported an outbreak of Ebola disease in the Ituri Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“This rare and distinct strain of Ebola virus, the Bundibugyo strain, is causing a major public health emergency in Central Africa and may spread to other parts of Africa soon because of the porous nature of our borders and lack of strict cross-border checks,” he explained.

Mr. Ogah expressed concern that, unlike previous Ebola outbreaks, there are currently no approved vaccines or treatments specifically for the Bundibugyo strain.

He also reminded the House that on 25 May, the NCDC warned the public about the high risk of Ebola coming to Nigeria. The agency activated emergency preparedness measures nationwide.

However, Mr. Ogah questioned how the NCDC can prepare for these possible outbreaks when it is facing serious financial issues.

He told the House that the NCDC did not receive any operational funding in 2025. He said there have been no capital releases for its approved budget for 2026 so far.

He pointed out that funding for the agency has been irregular and not enough.

“How then can the preparedness of the Centre for emergencies be guaranteed?” he asked.

The lawmaker warned that the lack of funds has greatly weakened Nigeria's ability to meet important health security needs. He noted that external support for outbreak preparedness has also dropped.

He listed many problems the NCDC is facing. These include unpaid contractors, stalled projects, not enough lab supplies, poor safety standards, and limited resources for emergency drills.

He mentioned that suppliers of essential goods and services to the NCDC have not been paid for over a year. This has delayed the completion of laboratories, treatment centers, and isolation facilities in Nigeria.

He also shared that lab reagents and other materials necessary for screening and diagnosing outbreaks are almost finished.

Mr. Ogah pointed out the lack of funds for training Rapid Response Teams and insufficient resources for deploying workers during disease outbreaks.

He warned that this situation has critically limited the NCDC’s ability to respond to outbreaks, monitor diseases, provide lab services, coordinate logistics, and prepare for emergencies.

“If urgent and appropriate funding for the Centre is not immediately met, the strength and capacity of the NCDC to adequately respond to the resurfacing Ebola threat and other epidemic-prone diseases cannot be assured, which is extremely disastrous to Nigeria as a nation,” he said.

After adopting the motion, the House asked the government to quickly release funds meant for the NCDC. This will help the agency settle its debts and perform its duties without interruptions.

The lawmakers also instructed the House Committee on Infectious Diseases to help monitor how the released funds are used and report back to the House for further actions.

Additionally, the House called on port health authorities to step up surveillance and improve cross-border health checks to stop sick people from entering Nigeria.

The House Committee on Legislative Compliance was also directed to ensure these resolutions are carried out.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, who led the session, referred the matter to the relevant committees for compliance and oversight.