The Senate has raised fresh concerns about deficiencies in Nigeria’s public health emergency preparedness following the confirmation of a COVID-19 case in Cross River State, calling for urgent, coordinated action to prevent a potential outbreak.
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The resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Senator Ipalibo Harry Banigo (APC – Rivers West).
Leading the debate, Banigo highlighted what she described as systemic weaknesses in surveillance, funding, and rapid-response capacity, warning that these gaps could undermine national health security if not urgently addressed.
Citing Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), she underscored the obligation of government at all levels to protect the health and welfare of citizens.
She disclosed that the confirmed case involved a 53-year-old foreign national who arrived in Nigeria via Murtala Muhammed International Airport on March 17, 2026, travelled to Calabar the same day, developed symptoms on April 12, and tested positive on April 16 following PCR testing at the national reference laboratory.
Banigo expressed concern about epidemiological findings indicating a timeline that extends beyond the typical incubation period, raising the possibility of local transmission. She added that additional suspected cases have been identified, and that contact tracing and laboratory investigations are ongoing.
She warned that Nigeria’s response capacity is being constrained by shortages of critical materials, including viral transport media, PCR reagents, rapid test kits, and personal protective equipment.
The lawmaker further noted that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has faced operational challenges since 2025 due to delayed budget releases, procurement bottlenecks, and inadequate capital funding.
According to the motion, Nigeria’s federal-state framework for public health response requires stronger coordination and sustained financing.
Banigo recalled that past experiences with COVID-19, Lassa fever, and Ebola preparedness exercises demonstrated how delayed detection and fragmented responses could worsen outbreak outcomes.
She cautioned that existing gaps may result in delayed containment, wider transmission across states, and increased risks to frontline health workers, particularly in the face of insufficient protective equipment.
The Senate, in adopting the motion, urged the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control to intensify surveillance, testing, and contact tracing nationwide.
It also called on the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning to expedite the release of funds and consider activating emergency financing mechanisms.
Additionally, the upper chamber directed the NCDC to submit a comprehensive report detailing national preparedness levels, including stockpiles, laboratory capacity, and surveillance gaps.
It stressed the need for robust public health communication to counter misinformation and reduce public anxiety.
State governments were also called upon to strengthen subnational preparedness through increased funding, timely procurement of essential supplies, and improved support for surveillance and rapid response systems.
The Senate warned that failure to urgently address funding and supply chain challenges could escalate preventable public health emergencies, putting millions of Nigerians at risk.
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