FG Releases ₦21.2m Ebola Preparedness Fund to States, Orders Strict Accountability Within Six Months

The Federal Government has approved the release of outbreak preparedness funds to all states as part of renewed efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s readiness against Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and other emerging public health threats, while directing state governments to render full accounts of previously disbursed intervention funds within six months.
The approval was granted by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, and covers the release of 50 per cent of the State Outbreak Investigation and Response Fund (S-OIRF), amounting to ₦21.2 million per state. The funds will be disbursed through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) gateway under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) framework.
According to the Federal Government, the intervention is part of broader national efforts to strengthen disease surveillance, emergency preparedness, and rapid response capacity across all states, especially in anticipation of potential Ebola outbreaks and other infectious disease threats.
Although Nigeria has not recorded any confirmed case of Ebola in recent times, health authorities said the funding is a proactive step to ensure states are adequately equipped to respond swiftly to any public health emergency.
The government described the release as a one-time special intervention designed to provide immediate access to critical preparedness resources while maintaining strict financial oversight and transparency in the management of public health funds.
Professor Pate, who also chairs the BHCPF Ministerial Oversight Committee, further directed all beneficiary states to retire both current and previously released outbreak response funds within a six-month period, stressing full compliance with financial regulations, reporting standards, and accountability frameworks.
He emphasized that preparedness remains a key pillar in safeguarding public health, noting that timely access to resources must be matched with transparency and responsible financial management.
The Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s disease prevention, detection, and emergency response systems in order to protect public health security nationwide.