The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council mentioned the ₦10 billion President Bola Tinubu permitted in June for Ebola emergency preparedness stays untouched, dismissing former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s questions concerning the cash.
The council made the declare in a press release dated Thursday, 22 October, signed by its spokesperson, Dele Alake, and shared on X by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga.
“On accountability, the Atiku camp should note that the N10 billion the President approved for the Ebola emergency in June remains untouched, while the NCDC, FAAN, and other surveillance agencies have spent other available resources,” the assertion mentioned.
The council didn’t present monetary information establishing that the cash stays unspent or clarify why the funds had not been utilised 4 months after the president directed their fast launch.
On 9 June, Mr Tinubu approved the establishment of a Presidential Task Force on Ebola. He ordered the fast launch of ₦10 billion to strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness in opposition to the illness and different rising public well being threats.
The activity pressure, chaired by the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, was established following Ebola outbreaks in different African nations.
The campaign council’s assertion adopted Mr Atiku’s demand for an account of the funds after well being authorities confirmed an Ebola case in Abuja.
In a press release issued on Wednesday by his Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate requested the federal government to publish the quantities disbursed, fee dates, contracts awarded, beneficiaries and objects delivered.
Mr Atiku additionally questioned how the confirmed case was dealt with, alleging shortcomings in surveillance, contact tracing, and the safety of well being staff.
He cited the affected person’s arrival in Nigeria on 5 October, the reported onset of signs two days later and the general public affirmation of the an infection on 20 October.
The former vp additional warned in opposition to utilizing the general public well being emergency to limit political campaigns or discourage voter participation.
APC disputes allegations
Responding, the APC campaign council accused Mr Atiku of politicising the Ebola emergency and rejected his suggestion that the federal government’s response could possibly be used to intrude with political actions.
“In this vein, we consider his allegation that a ministerial briefing is intended to discourage attendance at campaign rallies or voting speculative,” Mr Alake mentioned.
He maintained that the ministerial briefing was meant to encourage compliance with public well being protocols fairly than prohibit political participation.
The council additionally criticised Mr Atiku’s use of wordplay linking the President’s first title to Ebola, describing it as disrespectful to the workplace of the president.
It argued that the virus’s incubation interval may clarify why an contaminated traveller may not be recognized by means of screening instantly upon arrival in Nigeria.
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According to the assertion, Ebola has an incubation interval of between two and 21 days, and contaminated individuals don’t transmit the illness earlier than growing signs.
The council defended the response of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and different surveillance businesses.
It mentioned the surveillance system helped alert the authorities to the confirmed case and supported contact tracing involving 44 individuals.
However, the assertion didn’t specify when the affected person was first recognized as a suspected Ebola case or when monitoring of the contacts started, points raised in Mr Atiku’s criticism.
The council urged political actors to assist well being professionals and keep away from spreading unverified details about the outbreak.
“A time like this demands that all Nigerians, including the opposition, rally around the health authorities and professionals, communicate responsibly, avoid rumour-mongering, and follow the protocols advised by the Task Force to ensure Ebola does not become a national epidemic,” it mentioned.
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