The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has approved an emergency payment of N100,000 per person weekly for individuals placed in isolation or quarantine as part of efforts to contain the Ebola outbreak in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The Director-General of the NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, disclosed this during a press briefing on Sunday, explaining that the financial support was introduced after some contacts raised concerns about the cost of feeding, accommodation and maintaining their families while undergoing public health monitoring.
Idris said the intervention was intended to ease the financial burden on affected individuals and encourage them to comply with the monitoring and isolation arrangements put in place by health authorities.
According to him, the agency is providing accommodation and feeding support, alongside the weekly allowance, to ensure that people identified as contacts can adhere to public health requirements without facing additional economic difficulties.
He explained that the payment was not part of the initial response plan but became necessary as the agency addressed the practical challenges associated with managing the outbreak.
The NCDC chief added that the arrangement would be reviewed as the situation develops and the agency assesses the needs of people affected by the response measures.
Idris also stressed that the responsibility for providing financial and logistical support during public health emergencies should not rest solely on the FCT administration.
He said state governments across the country must be prepared to mobilise the necessary resources to support contact tracing, isolation, surveillance and other emergency response activities if similar situations arise within their jurisdictions.
The development comes as health authorities intensify surveillance and containment measures following the confirmation of an imported Ebola case in Abuja on October 20.
As of Sunday’s briefing, Nigeria had recorded one confirmed case, while 53 primary contacts had been identified for monitoring. Those being followed up include healthcare workers, household members, domestic staff and personnel involved in collecting samples from the patient.
The contacts have been classified according to their level of exposure, with public health teams conducting regular follow-ups to identify symptoms and ensure that anyone who becomes unwell receives prompt medical assessment and testing.
The NCDC has also established isolation arrangements for contacts who require them, while monitoring continues throughout the 21-day incubation period after their last possible exposure to the virus.
Idris disclosed that one contact who reported feeling unwell had tested negative for Ebola. He, however, noted that surveillance and follow-up activities were continuing as part of efforts to prevent further transmission.
Beyond contact tracing and isolation, the agency is strengthening infection prevention and control measures in healthcare facilities. These efforts include training health workers and supporting the availability of personal protective equipment and laboratory supplies needed to detect and manage suspected cases.
The confirmed case involves a woman who travelled to Nigeria from Uganda and tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus. She reportedly developed symptoms on October 7, sought medical attention in Abuja on October 11 and received confirmation of the infection on October 20.
The World Health Organisation has classified the infection as an imported case, while investigations continue to determine the likely source of exposure.
The wider regional situation has also raised concerns about cross-border transmission, with outbreaks affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Kenya. Health authorities have consequently emphasised the importance of coordinated surveillance, rapid identification of contacts and timely intervention to prevent the virus from spreading.
Nigeria has previous experience managing Ebola, having successfully contained an outbreak in 2014 through coordinated case detection, contact tracing, isolation and public health interventions.
Idris said the agency was applying lessons from the 2014 response while strengthening preparedness and coordination across states to address the current situation.
He emphasised that effective containment would depend on cooperation among government agencies, healthcare workers, affected contacts and members of the public.
The NCDC has also urged Nigerians to obtain information from credible sources, avoid spreading unverified reports and cooperate with public health officials carrying out contact tracing and monitoring.
The agency's latest intervention is aimed at ensuring that individuals under public health supervision can meet their basic needs while complying with measures designed to limit the risk of further Ebola transmission.