Atiku Demands Audit Of ₦10bn Ebola Fund, Accuses Tinubu Govt Of Weaponizing Outbreak To Stop Campaigns

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has slammed the Bola Tinubu administration over its handling of the confirmed Ebola case in Abuja, demanding full accountability for the ₦10 billion approved for Ebola preparedness in June.

In a statement signed by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku said the outbreak has exposed a dangerous breakdown in surveillance, preparedness and protection of health workers.

“Ebola is a grave public health threat. Nigerians deserve urgent action, competent leadership and the truth. Instead, the first confirmed case in Abuja has exposed unanswered questions about preparedness, surveillance and the protection of health workers. Tinubu must account for the ₦10 billion he said would be released immediately in June,” Atiku said.

He challenged the government to publish details of the fund.

“Where is the money? Publish the amount actually disbursed, the dates of payment, every contract awarded, every recipient and every item delivered. If the money was not released, Tinubu must explain why he announced emergency funding that never reached the people responsible for protecting Nigerians. A press statement cannot replace an audit,” he said.

Atiku described the official timeline as damning, pointing out that there was a nine-day delay between when the patient sought care and when government made the case public.

“The timeline is damning. The patient arrived in Nigeria on October 5, developed symptoms on October 7 and sought care at a private hospital on October 11. The government did not confirm the case publicly until October 20, nine days after she sought care. During that critical period, 44 close contacts were left unmonitored, while private health workers faced the case without adequate protective equipment. This is a failure of preparedness with potentially grave consequences,” he stated.

He demanded full disclosure on the response process.

“The government must disclose what happened at every stage. What travel history and exposure screening were conducted? What follow-up began when the patient developed symptoms? When were the 44 contacts first reached and monitored? Why were frontline staff left without the protection they needed? Nigerians deserve answers, and those responsible for these failures must be held accountable,” Atiku said.

The former Vice President also faulted the composition of the Presidential Task Force announced by Tinubu in June and chaired by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.

“In June, Tinubu announced a Presidential Task Force chaired by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila. Today, Nigerians must ask whether political appointees have been allowed to overshadow the medical experts who should lead this response. The NCDC, epidemiologists, doctors and public health professionals must be in charge, with the authority and resources to act. Political titles cannot trace contacts, equip hospitals or save lives,” he said.

Atiku linked the health emergency to the current economic hardship in the country.

“Nigerians are already battling the economic hardship created by Tinubu’s policies. Now the government’s failure to prepare and respond threatens to deepen public anxiety and disrupt movement, livelihoods and economic activity. The people must not pay twice for the same failure: first through hardship, then through a bungled emergency response. Both caused by Bola,” he added.

He raised alarm over what he described as a plan to use the outbreak to suppress political activities ahead of the 2027 elections.

“I am also alarmed by confirmed information that the Minister of Health’s press conference tomorrow is intended to discourage Nigerians from attending campaign rallies and, ultimately, from voting. It is ridiculous that the same Minister of Health, whose entire ministry was funded with N35 million disbursement in 2025 appropriation and was not involved in the Ebola prevention programme is now being promoted to make health emergency announcements.

“The Tinubu administration must not weaponise Ebola to frighten the public, silence its opponents or suppress voter participation. Any public health measure must be backed by clear medical evidence, applied equally and never used as a pretext to interfere with Nigerians’ democratic rights,” he said.

“The ‘Bola-Ebola’ strategy will not fool Nigerians. You cannot fail to protect the people, conceal what happened to emergency funds, then use the crisis to restrict their freedom. Account for the ₦10 billion. Protect every health worker. Trace every contact. Tell Nigerians the truth. Fight Ebola, and keep your hands off their right to assemble and choose their leaders,” Atiku concluded.