The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Jide Idris, has stated no government would use the Ebola outbreak as a political weapon.
Mr Idris made the assertion on Monday throughout an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, amid considerations and claims that the Ebola outbreak might be exploited by the government to affect political actions forward of the 2027 common elections.
“We in the health sector will not use disease issues as a political weapon,” Mr Idris stated.
PREMIUM TIMES had earlier reported how some Nigerians linked the Ebola case to the government’s 2027 election plans, with some alleging that restrictions might be imposed underneath the guise of containing the illness.
Responding to a query on whether or not the Ebola scenario might result in the postponement of the 2027 elections, Mr Idris stated the choice is past his authority.
He stated there’s presently no purpose to postpone the elections, however acknowledged {that a} widespread outbreak might increase public well being considerations.
“We hope not, because if the thing gets wide enough, there might be concern. As of now, there is no need for that,” he stated.
He stated well being authorities had been monitoring the Ebola outbreak within the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for months and had anticipated that inhabitants motion and worldwide flights might result in an imported case in Nigeria.
“So no government will use Ebola as a political weapon,” he stated.
Political considerations
The feedback come towards the backdrop of rising political exercise forward of the 2027 elections, with President Bola Tinubu searching for re-election and opposition candidates, together with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, already campaigning.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has fastened 16 January 2027 for the presidential and National Assembly elections.
The Ebola response has additionally turn out to be a part of the political debate.
Mr Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), had questioned the government’s dealing with of the outbreak and demanded an account of the N10 billion accepted for Ebola preparedness.
His feedback prompted the APC Presidential Campaign Council to accuse him of politicising the well being emergency and to say the fund remained untouched.
The State House had announced in June that President Tinubu accepted N10 billion in emergency intervention funding to strengthen NCDC preparedness and assist public well being emergency response actions.
Nigeria will not be Ebola free
Mr Idris emphasised that the Ebola response will not be being pushed by electoral concerns.
He stated Nigeria had been making ready for the opportunity of an imported case due to the outbreak within the DRC and the motion of individuals between nations.
The NCDC boss additionally cautioned that Nigeria will not be but Ebola free, regardless of the evacuation of the index affected person to Switzerland.
“We don’t have an active positive case,” he stated. “But the contacts, we have contacts. We need to follow up.”
He stated well being authorities will proceed to watch contacts and examine extra suspected exposures.
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