Former Vice-President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has renewed his demand for accountability over the ₦10 billion approved by President Bola Tinubu for Ebola emergency preparedness, questioning whether the money was released and why it has reportedly remained unused.
Atiku's renewed demand came on Friday, October 23, 2026, through Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, following claims by the All Progressives Congress (APC) that the allocation remained untouched despite the confirmation of an Ebola case in Abuja.
“Was the money released or was it not?” Shaibu asked, challenging the Federal Government to disclose the location of the funds, the authority responsible for managing them and the reasons they had not been utilised.
The controversy dates to June 9, when President Tinubu approved the establishment of a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats. The President also directed the immediate release of ₦10 billion to strengthen disease surveillance and emergency response capabilities.
The task force, chaired by the President's Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, was established to coordinate preparations against Ebola and other emerging public health threats.
Atiku questioned the implementation of the presidential directive following the confirmation of an Ebola infection in Abuja, arguing that the development raised concerns about the country's preparedness, surveillance systems and protection of healthcare workers.
He demanded the publication of financial records showing the amount disbursed, payment dates, contracts awarded, beneficiaries and equipment or services delivered under the emergency programme.
Responding on Thursday, APC Presidential Campaign Council spokesperson Dele Alake maintained that the ₦10 billion remained untouched.
Alake explained that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and other agencies involved in surveillance had relied on existing resources to support the government's response.
The APC also accused Atiku of politicising a public health emergency and criticised his campaign's language towards President Tinubu.
However, Atiku's campaign rejected the explanation, maintaining that the assertion that the money remained unspent did not establish whether the funds had actually been released.
Shaibu challenged the government to publish the relevant release documents, account records and expenditure reports rather than respond through political exchanges.
The dispute has brought attention to the distinction between approving public expenditure, releasing funds to implementing agencies and actually spending the money.
Although the APC maintains that the allocation remains untouched, publicly available statements have not independently established whether the ₦10 billion was transferred to the designated agencies or retained elsewhere within government accounts.
Atiku also called for greater transparency in the management of the confirmed Ebola case, including the timeline of detection, contact tracing and measures taken to protect frontline health workers.
Health authorities have identified 44 contacts associated with the confirmed case, while the Federal Government has defended its surveillance and containment measures.
The APC maintains that health agencies have been responding with available resources and that the outbreak should not become an instrument of political confrontation.
No evidence has been established that the ₦10 billion was diverted or misappropriated.
The central question remains whether the Federal Government will publish the financial documentation necessary to clarify the status of the allocation and how Nigeria's Ebola preparedness programme has been funded.
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