Tinubu approves N10bn for Ebola emergency response task force
President Bola Tinubu has set up a Presidential Task Force to boost Nigeria’s preparedness against the ongoing Ebola outbreak. The task force, chaired by Femi Gbajabiamila, will coordinate efforts across ministries and agencies. Tinubu approved the immediate release of N10bn to strengthen the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and support public health emergency activities. The outbreak, driven by the Bundibugyo virus, has already caused hundreds of deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
What we know
- Bola Tinubu approved N10bn for emergency intervention and established a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness.
- The task force is chaired by Femi Gbajabiamila and includes members from key ministries, agencies, and state representatives.
- The outbreak was first confirmed in DRC’s Ituri Province on May 15, 2026, and spread to Uganda after a case was confirmed in Kampala.
- As of June 7, there were 515 confirmed cases and 91 confirmed deaths, with 283 people in isolation, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
- By May 29, suspected cases had reached 1,037 with 349 deaths; there is currently no licensed vaccine or specific treatment for the Bundibugyo virus.
