Reps Push for Quick Funding for NCDC Over Ebola Concerns

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

The call came after a motion of urgent national importance was adopted. Amobi Ogah (LP, Abia) sponsored the motion. He warned that Nigeria’s system for tracking diseases and responding to emergencies is under serious pressure due to lack of funds for the NCDC.

The motion is 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.” It was accepted by the House without any debate.

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

He pointed out the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Authorities and health agencies confirmed that the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus appeared in May.

Mr Ogah said this outbreak is a serious risk to Nigeria because of its open borders and easy movement 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 said.

He expressed worry that, unlike earlier Ebola outbreaks, there are currently no licensed vaccines or specific treatments approved for the Bundibugyo strain. He also reminded everyone that on 25 May, the NCDC warned the public that Nigeria is at high risk for Ebola and activated emergency preparedness measures across the country.

Mr Ogah questioned how the NCDC could prepare for outbreaks when it is facing serious financial issues. He told the House that the NCDC did not get operational funding in 2025 and that there have been no capital releases against its approved budget for 2026.

He stated that the funds released to the agency have been irregular and not enough. “How then can the preparedness of the Centre for emergencies be guaranteed?” he asked.

The lawmaker warned that this funding gap has greatly weakened Nigeria’s ability to meet important health security needs. This is happening at a time when support from outside donors for outbreak preparedness and response is also declining.

He highlighted many problems the NCDC is facing. These include unpaid contractors, stalled projects, lack of lab supplies, weak safety infrastructure, not enough intensive care support, and limited resources for emergency drills.

According to him, vendors providing critical goods and services to the agency have not been paid for over a year. This delay is affecting the completion of laboratories, treatment centres, and isolation facilities across the country.

He also said that lab reagents and other materials needed for screening and diagnosis of outbreaks are almost finished. Mr Ogah highlighted the lack of funds for training Rapid Response Teams and limited resources for deploying emergency workers during disease outbreaks.

He warned that this situation is seriously affecting the NCDC’s ability to respond to outbreaks, conduct surveillance, provide lab services, 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 urged the Executive Arm of Government to quickly release funds meant for the NCDC. This will help the agency settle outstanding debts and perform its duties without any disruptions.

The lawmakers also asked the House Committee on Infectious Diseases to oversee how the released funds are used and report back for further legislative action. They urged port health authorities to step up surveillance and improve health checks at borders to stop infected people from entering the country.

The House Committee on Legislative Compliance was tasked to ensure these resolutions are put into action. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, who led the session, then sent the matter to the relevant committees for oversight.