Federal Government Disburses N21.2 Million Per State for Ebola Preparedness
The Federal Government has approved the release of N21.2 million to each state under the State Outbreak Investigation and Response Fund (S-OIRF) to strengthen preparedness against Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and other emerging public health threats. The announcement was made on Saturday in a statement by Ado Bako, Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, authorized the disbursement of 50 per cent of the fund allocation to states as part of ongoing efforts to bolster Nigeria’s disease surveillance, preparedness, and emergency response systems. The funds will be channeled through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) gateway under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).
Proactive Measures Despite No Confirmed Cases
The ministry emphasized that this intervention is part of a broader national strategy to enhance readiness against Ebola and other potential outbreaks, even though no confirmed Ebola case has been reported in Nigeria. Bako noted that the approval complements the work of the multi-sectoral Presidential Task Force on Ebola Preparedness and Other Health Threats, chaired by Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President.
According to Bako, the fund will enable states to improve disease surveillance, refine preparedness plans, strengthen rapid response mechanisms, and build resilience against public health emergencies. The minister directed all beneficiary states to account for both current and previously disbursed outbreak response funds within six months, ensuring strict compliance with financial management, reporting, and accountability procedures.
Minister Pate Emphasizes Accountability
“This approval reflects our commitment to both health security and accountability. We will continue to support states to strengthen their capacity to prevent, detect and respond to public health threats while ensuring transparency in the use of public resources,” Pate said. He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting national health security through strategic investments in preparedness, disease prevention, and coordinated emergency response systems.
The latest intervention follows Friday’s inauguration of the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness, established to safeguard the country against a possible outbreak and avoid a repeat of challenges experienced during previous health emergencies.
Presidential Task Force Focuses on Prevention
At the inauguration, Gbajabiamila stressed that the government is focused on preventive action rather than crisis management. “Nigeria must not be caught off guard. Right now, there is no reported case, and that is good news. All hands must be on deck to ensure that the measures we are taking are preventive and not curative,” he said.
The approval also comes weeks after President Bola Tinubu authorized the release of N10 billion in emergency intervention funding to strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness against Ebola and other emerging public health threats. Public health experts have described these proactive measures as critical to sustaining the country’s disease surveillance architecture and ensuring a swift response if any outbreak occurs.
