By Oluwakemi Kindness
The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to immediately provide adequate funding to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to strengthen the country’s preparedness against Ebola and other infectious disease outbreaks.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Rep. Amobi Godwin-Ogah, who raised concerns over a renewed Ebola outbreak in parts of Africa and Nigeria’s classification as a high-risk country for possible virus importation.
Lawmakers urged intensified surveillance at the nation’s borders and stricter screening measures at entry points to prevent the spread of the deadly disease.
The House also directed its Committee on Infectious Diseases to monitor the utilisation of released funds, while the Committee on Legislative Compliance was mandated to ensure implementation of all resolutions.
Ogah warned that persistent funding shortfalls, delayed capital releases, inadequate operational support, and unpaid service providers have weakened the NCDC’s capacity to respond effectively to health emergencies.
The lawmakers noted that a recent Ebola outbreak involving the rare Bundibugyo strain in the Democratic Republic of Congo has heightened concerns across the continent, with Nigeria’s porous borders increasing vulnerability to cross-border transmission.
They stressed that urgent financial intervention is needed to boost disease surveillance, laboratory testing, emergency response coordination, and overall public health preparedness.
The House cautioned that failure to act swiftly could expose Nigeria to significant health risks, reinforcing calls for stronger investment in the country’s disease control and prevention systems.
