ABUJA — The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has asked the Federal Government to explain what became of the N10 billion approved for Ebola preparedness in June.

In a statement by his campaign's Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku asked whether the money was released and how it had been spent. Citing a World Health Organization timeline, he said the Abuja patient developed symptoms on 7 October, visited a private hospital on 11 October and was confirmed on 20 October, and asked when Ebola was first suspected. He also asked the government to publish the medical basis for any restrictions on gatherings so they could not be used to interfere with campaigns or voting.

The APC Presidential Campaign Council's spokesperson, Dele Alake, said the N10 billion fund remains untouched and that agencies had used other resources. He said surveillance by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and other agencies made it possible to trace 44 contacts, and described Atiku's claims as speculative and an attempt to politicise a health emergency.