The federal government has approved the release of State Outbreak Investigation and Response Funds (S-OIRF) to support outbreak preparedness and response activities nationwide.

The move is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s readiness against Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and other emerging public health threats.

This was made known on Saturday in a statement released by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and signed by the Assistant Director, Information & Public Relations, Ado Bako. 

The approval, granted by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, authorises the disbursement of 50 per cent of the S-OIRF allocation, amounting to N21.2 million for each state, through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) Gateway of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).

According to the government, the intervention complements ongoing efforts to strengthen national preparedness and response capacities, including the work of the multi-sectoral Presidential Task Force on Ebola Preparedness and Other Health Threats, chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.

No confirmed Ebola case

The government said Nigeria currently has no confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease, but noted that the release of the funds is intended to ensure states have the resources needed to strengthen surveillance, preparedness and rapid response systems in the event of any public health emergency.

It explained that the approval represents a one-time special dispensation to enable states to access critical preparedness funding amid growing concerns about emerging public health threats.

The government added that the measure also highlights its commitment to accountability and prudent management of public resources.

‘States must account for funds’

As chairman of the BHCPF Ministerial Oversight Committee, Mr Pate directed all beneficiary states to retire both current and previously disbursed outbreak response funds within six months.

He also instructed states to comply fully with established financial management, reporting and accountability requirements.

“Preparedness remains one of the most effective tools in protecting public health. While it is important that states have timely access to resources needed to strengthen outbreak preparedness and response capacities, it is equally important that public funds are managed responsibly and accounted for in line with established regulations,” Mr Pate said.

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Mr Pate said the approval demonstrates the government’s commitment to strengthening health security while maintaining accountability, adding that efforts would continue to support states in improving their ability to prevent, detect and respond to public health threats in a transparent and responsible manner.

Background

The federal government’s action followed renewed Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, prompting concerns about the risk of cross-border transmission. 

Authorities subsequently announced plans to strengthen surveillance at airports and land borders, activate isolation and referral facilities, and improve coordination among health, aviation and security agencies.

Ten aggrieved aspirants of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who participated in the recent Kwara State governorship primary election, which produced Engr. Yakubu Danladi Salihu, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, as the party’s flag bearer for the 2027 general elections, have petitioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over what they described as his imposition on the party.

The petitioners asked the President to wade into the controversial primary election or be prepared to lose Kwara State in the 2027 general elections.

They warned that if the present trajectory is allowed to continue, the electoral success of the party in future general elections will be severely imperilled, as many stakeholders in the party will be left with no choice but to seek other political platforms to actualise their ambitions.

In a joint letter made available on Saturday and addressed to the President, the aggrieved aspirants drew his attention to what they described as the grave and worsening situation in the state chapter of the party.

The letter read in part: “While we join in celebrating the milestones of your administration, we consider it imperative to draw your urgent attention to the grave and worsening situation within our party in Kwara State.

“We do so with profound respect, but also with a deep sense of responsibility and concern for the future of the APC and the political legacy your leadership helped to shape in our state.

“Your Excellency will recall the historic Otoge movement, which culminated in the landmark victory of the APC in 2019.

“That victory was not the product of any single individual, but of a broad coalition of stakeholders, political tendencies, community leaders, party loyalists and progressive forces united by a shared resolve to end political domination and restore democratic inclusion in Kwara State.

“Regrettably, the gains of that collective sacrifice have not been consolidated in a manner that reflects the magnitude of the effort and expectations of our people.

“The individual who emerged as the principal beneficiary of that historic victory, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has, in our considered view, failed to provide the inclusive, broad-based and unifying leadership required to sustain the coalition that brought our party to power.

“Over the past seven years, key stakeholders who devoted their resources, energy and political capital to building the APC in Kwara State have been alienated, marginalised or deliberately excluded from meaningful participation in both government and party affairs.

“The result has been a steady weakening of the APC’s political strength in the state and a troubling resurgence of opposition elements. The support base of our party has been significantly diminished.

“In our firm assessment, Governor AbdulRazaq has lost the moral and political authority to determine the future of the APC in Kwara State. His popularity has declined markedly, and there is widespread apprehension among party members and stakeholders that any candidate associated with his endorsement may be seriously disadvantaged at the polls,” the aggrieved aspirants noted.

They warned that “in order to avert further damage and forestall a deeper crisis”, the President needs to take a sober and critical look at developments in Kwara State, including the circumstances surrounding the announcement of results for primaries that allegedly did not hold, and intervene in the interest of the party’s survival.

The group further urged President Bola Tinubu to carefully review the records, capacities, loyalty and statewide acceptability of the aspirants, with a view to making a decisive and unifying choice among the governorship aspirants.

“We are confident that among us is a leader capable of providing fresh direction, restoring internal unity, rebuilding stakeholders’ confidence, strengthening the APC’s support base and working closely with Your Excellency as a reliable partner at the sub-national level.”