Jide Idris, the director-general of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, says N10 billion approved by President Bola Tinubu to tackle Ebola would also be used to tackle other viruses plaguing the country.

Speaking on Channels TV, Mr Idris said the approved fund was meant not only for Ebola but also to address other diseases.

“No, on the money, it’s good for people to understand why. This money was requested not only for Ebola but to address issues of control of other endemic diseases,” he said.

He added that Lassa fever could also emerge, noting that the disease and Ebola belong to the same family of viruses.

“Right now, Lassa fever season is coming. Lassa fever and Ebola are the same class of viruses, just like yellow fever and dengue fever. We have all diseases ongoing in this country,” Mr Idris said.

He said control measures, surveillance, diagnostic testing and screening had been activated at all points of entry. According to him, the request for the measures was made and approved by Mr Tinubu.

“I don’t want to use the wrong word again. That is totally false. We in the health sector will not use disease issues as a political weapon,” Mr Idris said.

When asked whether the outbreak could prompt the government to postpone the general election, he said the decision was not his to make.  

Forty-six people who had contact with the Ebola index case are currently on a three-week no-fly list.