The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to urgently release adequate funding to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)) to strengthen the country’s preparedness and response capacity following a fresh Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The lawmakers raised the alarm during a motion of urgent national importance moved by Hon. Amobi Godwin Ogah, warning that Nigeria could be at risk of Ebola importation due to porous borders and weak operational readiness.
The motion followed a report by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention) confirming an outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola in Ituri Province of DR Congo on 15 May 2026 a variant noted for having no approved vaccines or specific antiviral treatment.
Lawmakers noted that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control had already placed the country on high alert over the risk of importation, with its Emergency Operations Centre reportedly on standby.
However, concerns were raised over what lawmakers described as “critical underfunding” of the agency, including zero capital releases in 2025, delayed 2026 funding, and irregular overhead disbursements.
They warned that the funding gaps have left the NCDC struggling to sustain key outbreak preparedness systems, including laboratory operations, surveillance networks, emergency logistics, and rapid response capacity.
According to the motion, several core functions have been weakened, including unpaid vendors, stalled laboratory projects, shortage of testing reagents, limited biosafety infrastructure, and inadequate training for rapid response teams across states.
Hon. Ogah stressed that Nigeria’s previous success in containing the 2014 Ebola outbreaknlimited to 20 cases and about eight deaths was achieved through strong coordination, timely funding, and effective emergency response systems, which he warned are now under threat.
He further cautioned that increased cross-border movement, trade, and weak surveillance systems could accelerate the risk of viral importation if urgent action is not taken.
The House therefore resolved to urge the executive to immediately release funds as provided in the Appropriation Acts to the NCDC, mandate the House Committee on Infectious Diseases to monitor fund utilisation, and direct Port Health Authorities to intensify border surveillance and screening measures.
The lawmakers also called for strict legislative oversight to ensure compliance and prevent further weakening of Nigeria’s health security architecture.
