Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has cautioned the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) against possible abuse of its proposed N100,000 weekly allowance for people placed under monitoring following exposure to Ebola.
Sani warned that the financial incentive could encourage some people to falsely claim they had contact with the virus to benefit from the support.
The NCDC Director-General, Dr Jide Idris, had announced that the agency was considering a weekly payment of N100,000 to each of the 53 contacts linked to Nigeria’s confirmed Ebola case in Abuja.
The proposed assistance is intended to cover feeding, accommodation and family support during the 21-day monitoring period, particularly for people whose livelihoods could be affected by isolation-related restrictions.
Reacting to the development on his verified X handle on Monday, Sani urged the agency to establish effective verification mechanisms to ensure that only genuine contacts benefit from the proposed intervention.
He wrote: “The NCDC reportedly said they will give 100k weekly to anyone they keep in isolation over the Ebola virus.
“They should be careful because some people can come forward and claim they have the virus because of the 100k.”
Sani’s warning comes amid intensified efforts by health authorities to trace and monitor people who may have been exposed to the virus, as part of measures to prevent further transmission.
The NCDC has confirmed one Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory, while the number of identified contacts has risen to 53, including healthcare workers and household members.
The agency said the contacts were being monitored for 21 days, with health officials conducting follow-up assessments to identify anyone who develops symptoms.
The proposed financial assistance is aimed at easing the burden of monitoring on affected individuals and their families. However, Sani’s intervention has drawn attention to the need for transparency, accountability and proper screening in the administration of emergency public health funds.
