NCDC Approves ₦100,000 Weekly Allowance for Ebola Contacts in Isolation

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has approved a weekly allowance of ₦100,000 for individuals placed in isolation or quarantine as health authorities intensify efforts to contain the reported Ebola outbreak in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The Director-General of the agency, Dr Jide Idris, disclosed this on Sunday during a briefing on Nigeria’s response to the outbreak, saying the financial support was introduced to ease the burden on individuals required to remain under public health monitoring.

According to Idris, some contacts had expressed concerns about the cost of feeding, accommodation and providing for their families while complying with isolation requirements.

“We are paying for their accommodation; we are paying for their feeding. Some of them are asking for a stipend to maintain their families,” he said.

He explained that the NCDC had subsequently approved ₦100,000 per person weekly to support their upkeep and ensure their comfort throughout the monitoring period.

Idris acknowledged that the payment was not part of the agency’s initial response plan but said the emergency circumstances made the intervention necessary.

“This was not planned for, but it is an emergency. We will continue to review it as we go along,” he stated.

The NCDC chief also called on state governments to strengthen their preparedness for public health emergencies, warning that the financial and logistical demands of outbreak management should not be left to the FCT administration alone.

He stressed that other states must be prepared to provide the resources needed for contact tracing, isolation and other containment measures if similar outbreaks occur within their jurisdictions.

“This is not the responsibility of the FCT alone. What we have to do for the FCT, we have to do for any other state, just in case,” Idris said.

The intervention comes amid efforts by health authorities to prevent further transmission following a reported imported Ebola case in Abuja on October 20, 2026.

Idris said Nigeria had recorded one confirmed case as of Sunday’s briefing, while 53 primary contacts had been identified for monitoring.

The contacts reportedly include healthcare workers, household members, domestic staff and personnel involved in collecting samples from the patient.

He explained that public health teams were assessing the contacts based on their levels of exposure, with anyone developing symptoms expected to undergo further medical assessment and testing.

The agency has also established isolation arrangements for contacts who require them, while monitoring continues throughout the 21-day incubation period following their last possible exposure.

Idris further disclosed that one contact who reported feeling unwell had tested negative for Ebola.

He said surveillance, contact tracing and follow-up activities remained ongoing as health authorities continued efforts to prevent further spread of the disease.