The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Jide Idris, has mentioned 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 issues and claims that the Ebola outbreak could possibly be exploited by the government to affect political actions forward of the 2027 normal elections.
“We in the health sector will not use disease issues as a political weapon,” Mr Idris mentioned.
PREMIUM TIMES had earlier reported how some Nigerians linked the Ebola case to the government’s 2027 election plans, with some alleging that restrictions could possibly be imposed underneath the guise of containing the illness.
Responding to a query on whether or not the Ebola state of affairs might result in the postponement of the 2027 elections, Mr Idris mentioned the choice is past his authority.
He mentioned there’s presently no purpose to postpone the elections, however acknowledged {that a} widespread outbreak might increase public well being issues.
“We hope not, because if the thing gets wide enough, there might be concern. As of now, there is no need for that,” he mentioned.
He mentioned 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 mentioned.
Political issues
The feedback come in opposition to the backdrop of rising political exercise forward of the 2027 elections, with President Bola Tinubu looking for re-election and opposition candidates, together with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, already campaigning.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has mounted 16 January 2027 for the presidential and National Assembly elections.
The Ebola response has additionally develop into 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 permitted 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 permitted N10 billion in emergency intervention funding to strengthen NCDC preparedness and assist public well being emergency response actions.
Nigeria just isn’t Ebola free
Mr Idris emphasised that the Ebola response just isn’t being pushed by electoral issues.
He mentioned Nigeria had been getting ready for the potential for an imported case due to the outbreak within the DRC and the motion of individuals between nations.
The NCDC boss additionally cautioned that Nigeria just isn’t but Ebola free, regardless of the evacuation of the index affected person to Switzerland.
“We don’t have an active positive case,” he mentioned. “But the contacts, we have contacts. We need to follow up.”
He mentioned well being authorities will proceed to watch contacts and examine further suspected exposures.
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