Ebola Prevention: Federal Government Distributes ₦21.2m To States
The Federal Government has approved N21.2 million for each state under the State Outbreak Investigation and Response Fund (S-OIRF) to improve preparedness for Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and other emerging public health threats.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, approved the release of 50 percent of the total fund allocation to states. This move is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s disease surveillance, preparedness, and emergency response systems.
According to a statement issued Saturday by Ado Bako, Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the funds will be disbursed through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) gateway under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare emphasized that this intervention is part of a broader national strategy to reinforce Nigeria’s readiness against the Ebola Virus Disease and other potential health emergencies. Although there are currently no confirmed Ebola cases in the country, the proactive funding ensures that states can rapidly deploy surveillance and containment measures should a threat emerge.
According to Assistant Director Ado Bako, this newly approved financial support directly complements the ongoing efforts of the multi-sectoral Presidential Task Force on Ebola Preparedness and Other Health Threats. The strategic committee, which oversees the country's high-level defensive medical response, is chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.
He noted that the fund would enable states to enhance disease surveillance, improve 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 and ensure strict compliance with financial management, reporting and accountability procedures.
“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 the challenges experienced during previous health emergencies.
At the inauguration, Gbajabiamila said the government was 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.
This strategic approval follows a recent milestone where President Bola Tinubu authorized ₦10 billion in emergency intervention funding to fortify Nigeria's defenses against Ebola and other emerging health dangers. Public health experts have highly praised these proactive investments, labeling them as critical safeguards to sustain the country’s disease surveillance architecture and guarantee a rapid response to any future outbreaks.