Fears over Nigeria’s preparedness for Ebola have intensified, with concerns over a reported N10 billion response fund, delayed diagnosis and inconsistent contact figures threatening public confidence as health experts warn that early detection is critical to containing the outbreak.
Co-Chair, G7 Investment Initiative on Global Health, Dr. Ayoade Olatunbosun-Alakija, raised the alarm over the delay in diagnosing Nigeria’s imported Ebola case, warning that the next two weeks would be critical to preventing further transmission.
Olatunbosun-Alakija, while speaking on a national TV station, urged hospitals, particularly private facilities, to strengthen surveillance, promptly report suspected cases and ensure adequate supplies of personal protective equipment, warning that poor preparedness could expose more people to infection.
Alakija also called for intensified public education and regular handwashing, urging Nigerians to remain vigilant without panicking. She said decisions on restricting large gatherings and political rallies should be guided by scientific evidence, contact tracing and testing.
The warning comes as a Nigeria Health Watch report reveals that questions about funding, political mistrust and hospital readiness are increasingly overshadowing public health advice following confirmation of an imported Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory. The report, which monitored online conversations from October 20, to 22, 2026, recorded 927 Ebola-related mentions out of 2,442 conversations. Discussions about money, politics and mistrust rose from 10 per cent of Ebola-related conversations on Tuesday to 26 per cent by Thursday morning.
It also highlighted discrepancies in official contact figures, noting that authorities initially identified 44 close contacts, while a subsequent directive placed 46 contacts on a 21-day no-fly list.
The report further found that mentions sharing the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and Prevention’s emergency hotline, 6232, fell from 15 per cent of Ebola-related conversations on Tuesday to just one per cent by Thursday morning, raising concerns about the visibility of official health guidance.
Meanwhile, in Uganda, authorities have recorded 131 Ebola cases and 48 deaths, according to officials at a World Health Organisation (WHO) Africa briefing on Friday.
