Health
Reps demand urgent funding for NCDC over Ebola threat, epidemic preparedness
The House of Representatives on Tuesday called on the federal government to immediately provide adequate funding to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to strengthen the country’s preparedness and response capacity against Ebola and other epidemic-prone diseases.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance sponsored by Amobi Ogah (LP, Abia), who warned that Nigeria’s disease surveillance and emergency response systems were under severe strain due to prolonged funding shortfalls at the NCDC.
The motion, titled “Seeking the Federal Government to Immediately Provide Adequate Funding Requirements to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to Strengthen Nigeria’s Preparedness and Response Capacity for Ebola and Other Epidemic-Prone Diseases,” was adopted by the House without debate.
Presenting the motion, Mr Ogah reminded lawmakers that the NCDC is Nigeria’s national public health institute, charged with responding to infectious disease outbreaks and public health emergencies.
He drew attention to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where authorities and international health agencies confirmed the emergence of the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus in May.
According to him, the outbreak poses a significant threat to Nigeria due to its porous borders and the ease of cross-border movement across Africa.
“On 15 May 2026, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention reported an outbreak of Ebola disease in the Ituri Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“This rare and distinct strain of Ebola virus, the Bundibugyo strain, is causing a major public health emergency in Central Africa and may spread to other parts of Africa soon because of the porous nature of our borders and lack of strict cross-border checks,” he said.
The lawmaker expressed concern that, unlike some previous Ebola outbreaks, there are currently no licensed vaccines or targeted therapies specifically approved for the Bundibugyo strain.
He also recalled that on 25 May, the NCDC issued a public health advisory placing Nigeria at high risk of Ebola importation and activated emergency preparedness measures across the country.
Mr Ogah, however, questioned how the agency could effectively prepare for potential outbreaks amid what he described as severe financial constraints.
He told the House that the NCDC received no operational funding in 2025 and that no capital releases had been made so far against its approved 2026 budget allocation.
According to him, overhead releases to the agency have also been irregular and grossly inadequate.
“How then can the preparedness of the Centre for emergencies be guaranteed?” he asked.
The lawmaker warned that the funding gap had significantly weakened Nigeria’s ability to fulfil critical health security obligations at a time when external donor support for outbreak preparedness and response activities had also declined.
He outlined several challenges currently confronting the NCDC, including unpaid contractors and service providers, stalled strategic projects, inadequate laboratory supplies, weak biosafety infrastructure, insufficient intensive care support systems and limited resources for emergency simulation exercises and preparedness drills.
According to him, vendors supplying critical goods and services to the agency have not been paid for more than one year, leading to delays in the completion of zonal laboratories, treatment centres and isolation facilities across the country.
He further disclosed that laboratory reagents, consumables and other materials essential for outbreak screening and diagnosis were nearly exhausted.
Mr Ogah also highlighted inadequate funding for the training and retraining of Rapid Response Teams, as well as limited resources for emergency workforce deployment during disease outbreaks.
He warned that the situation had critically constrained the NCDC’s ability to carry out outbreak response operations, surveillance activities, laboratory services, logistics coordination and frontline emergency preparedness functions.
“If urgent and appropriate funding for the Centre is not immediately met, the strength and capacity of the NCDC to adequately respond to the resurfacing Ebola threat and other epidemic-prone diseases cannot be assured, which is extremely disastrous to Nigeria as a nation,” he said.
Following the adoption of the motion, the House urged the Executive Arm of Government to immediately release funds appropriated for the NCDC to enable the agency to settle outstanding liabilities and carry out its statutory responsibilities without disruption.
The lawmakers also mandated the House Committee on Infectious Diseases to facilitate and monitor the utilisation of released funds and report back to the chamber for further legislative action.
In addition, the House called on port health authorities to intensify surveillance activities and strengthen cross-border health checks to prevent the entry of infected persons into the country.
The House Committee on Legislative Compliance was equally directed to ensure the implementation of the resolutions.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, who presided over the session, subsequently referred the matter to the relevant committees for compliance and oversight.
READ ALSO: FAAN, Lagos govt step up Ebola surveillance at airport
Current Ebola outbreak
The House’s concern comes amid growing international efforts to contain an outbreak of Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighbouring Uganda.
The outbreak was officially declared on 15 May after health authorities confirmed cases in Ituri Province in eastern Congo. Two days later, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern due to the risk of regional spread.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the outbreak has spread across multiple health zones in Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, with challenges including insecurity, weak contact-tracing systems, and cross-border population movements complicating response efforts.
The Bundibugyo strain is particularly concerning because there is currently no licensed vaccine or specific treatment approved for it, unlike the Zaire strain of Ebola for which vaccines exist. Health experts say supportive care remains the primary treatment option.
Latest reports indicate that the outbreak has resulted in over 300 confirmed cases and nearly 50 deaths in the DRC, while Uganda has also recorded imported infections linked to cross-border travel.
International health agencies have warned that porous borders and population movements could facilitate further spread if surveillance and preparedness measures are not strengthened.
Nigeria successfully contained an Ebola outbreak in 2014 after recording a limited number of cases, an achievement widely regarded as one of Africa’s most effective epidemic responses.
Public health experts, however, warn that sustained investment in disease surveillance, laboratory capacity and emergency response systems remains essential to preventing a recurrence.
The federal government has launched a free healthcare scheme for pensioners earning below N70,000 monthly, in a move aimed at improving access to medical care for low-income retirees across the country.
The initiative, known as PenCare, targets pensioners under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) who are aged 60 and above and receive monthly pensions of not more than N70,000.
The development was announced in a statement issued by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) on Monday.
According to the agency, the programme is designed to ease healthcare burden on vulnerable pensioners facing rising medical costs and declining purchasing power.
Pilot phase
The NOA said the scheme would begin with a pilot phase covering 30,000 eligible pensioners nationwide on a first-come, first-served basis.
The agency noted that registration has commenced and that interested retirees can enrol through the National Pension Commission (PenCom) website or participating Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs).
To qualify, beneficiaries must be pensioners under the CPS, be at least 60 years old, and earn a monthly pension of no more than N70,000.
The agency said the initiative forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen social protection measures for retired workers and improve their access to healthcare services.
READ ALSO: Ebola: NCDC warns healthcare workers of ‘high’ importation risk despite no confirmed case
Pensioners’ welfare
The introduction of the scheme comes amid growing concerns over the welfare of pensioners, many of whom struggle to meet healthcare expenses due to rising inflation and the increasing cost of medical services.
According to the NOA, the PenCare programme is expected to help protect the dignity, health and wellbeing of beneficiaries by reducing the financial burden associated with accessing healthcare.
The agency described the initiative as a significant step towards improving post-retirement welfare and expanding healthcare access for elderly Nigerians.
The Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA) has raised concerns about the growing tactics of the tobacco industry targeting Nigerian youths through social media, entertainment, and lifestyle marketing.
In a statement on Sunday signed by its communications officer, Emmanuel Onwuka, to mark the 2026 World No Tobacco Day, the alliance warned that despite years of tobacco control campaigns and existing laws, Nigerian adolescents remain vulnerable to nicotine addiction due to weak enforcement of the National Tobacco Control Act.
World No Tobacco Day is observed globally on 31 May to raise awareness about the health risks associated with tobacco use, and the theme for this year is “Unmasking the appeal – countering nicotine and tobacco addiction.”
According to the alliance, the tobacco industry continues to exploit “the aspirations, emotions, and fears of young people” through marketing strategies that make smoking, vaping, and shisha appear attractive.
“Today, Nigerian youths are constantly exposed to images of smoking, shisha, and vaping across music videos, fashion trends, and social media platforms, often featuring appealing flavours and attractive branding,” the statement said.
The Alliance added that behind the “glamorous facade” lies “a harsh reality of addiction, disease, and suffering within our communities.”
Nigeria’s growing tobacco burden
Nigeria’s tobacco control advocates have repeatedly warned that weak enforcement of existing laws, aggressive industry marketing, and the rise of new nicotine products are worsening the country’s tobacco burden, particularly among young people and women.
Although Nigeria enacted the National Tobacco Control Act in 2015 and later introduced implementing regulations in 2019, there have been several concerns that tobacco companies continue to exploit loopholes in advertising regulations through entertainment, social media promotion, lifestyle branding, and indirect sponsorships.
Experts have also raised concerns over increasing exposure to tobacco imagery in films, music videos, and online content consumed by adolescents.
In July 2025, the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) announced that Nigeria had become the first African country to introduce regulations aimed at limiting the portrayal of tobacco rituals and smoking scenes in movies and entertainment productions. The move followed growing evidence that tobacco depictions in media influence smoking behaviour among young audiences.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) also warned that tobacco companies are shifting attention towards youths through flavoured nicotine products, vaping devices, and nicotine pouches designed to appear fashionable and less harmful.
The global agency raised concerns over the aggressive marketing of nicotine pouches to young people globally, noting that such products are often promoted through colourful packaging, influencer culture, and social media campaigns.
A recent study also found that tobacco companies increasingly use gender-focused advertising strategies that associate smoking with beauty, independence, and social status. Experts warned that such messaging could reverse progress made in reducing tobacco use among women.
Nigeria’s tobacco burden extends beyond public health concerns to economic consequences. According to WHO estimates, tobacco-related diseases kill more than seven million people globally every year, while countries like Nigeria continue to face rising healthcare costs linked to cancer, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and chronic respiratory illnesses caused by smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke.
In 2025, the Nigerian government imposed a N110 million fine on British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN) over multiple breaches of the National Tobacco Control Act, its regulations, and other consumer protection laws.
Despite these measures, experts maintain that industry influence, weak monitoring systems, and poor compliance enforcement continue to undermine tobacco control efforts across the country.
Concerns over adolescent smoking
The alliance cited recent studies showing that nearly one in five Nigerian schoolchildren aged between 13 and 15 years have experimented with at least one tobacco product, while about one in 10 are current smokers.
It described the figures as “deeply concerning,” especially after years of public awareness campaigns on the dangers of tobacco use.
The group stated that the statistics indicate that the tobacco industry influence remains strong among young people, while enforcement gaps continue to allow “subtle forms of promotion and recruitment.”
It specifically called for stricter monitoring of digital platforms and entertainment channels where young people are increasingly exposed to tobacco-related content.
“Such enforcement must extend to digital platforms, social media, and entertainment channels where young people are increasingly targeted,” it stated.
Economic and health burden
Beyond concerns over youth exposure, the alliance also highlighted the economic and health implications of tobacco consumption in Nigeria.
It said tobacco-related illnesses cost the country more than N211 billion annually through healthcare expenses and lost productivity.
According to the statement, these losses divert resources that could otherwise support “food security, improve educational systems, and strengthen healthcare infrastructure.”
The group also referenced data from the Global Burden of Disease study, which estimated that nearly 30,000 deaths recorded in Nigeria in 2021 were linked directly to tobacco-related diseases.
It noted that tobacco use contributes significantly to non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and lung cancer.
“Each of these deaths represents not only a personal tragedy for families but also a major setback for national productivity and development,” the statement said.
It added that many households face financial strain due to treatment costs for cancer, heart disease and lung-related illnesses, while secondhand smoke continues to pose risks to children and pregnant women.
Call for stronger enforcement
The alliance urged the Nigerian government to strengthen implementation of the National Tobacco Control Act and close existing loopholes in the 2015 law and its 2019 regulations.
READ ALSO: World smoking rates decline, but e-cigarette use raises fresh concerns — WHO
It also called for a “complete prohibition on all forms of tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship.”
It noted that Nigeria must demonstrate a stronger political commitment to fully implement its obligations under the World Health Organisation’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
It appealed to parents, lawmakers, stakeholders and young people to work together against nicotine addiction and what it described as “commercial exploitation.”
“World No Tobacco Day 2026 should be a renewed call to urgency for Nigeria. While the tobacco industry continues to promote appealing images to protect its profits, the reality remains clear. Tobacco has no place in a healthy, productive, and prosperous future for the nation,” the statement added.
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