Senate calls for readiness to combat COVID-19
The Senate has raised concerns about gaps in the country’s public health emergency preparedness and response system. This followed the confirmation of a COVID-19 case in Cross River State. The
- Cross River records fresh case
The Senate has raised concerns about gaps in the country’s public health emergency preparedness and response system.
This followed the confirmation of a COVID-19 case in Cross River State.
The Red Chamber urged immediate and coordinated action to avert a potential outbreak.
The Senate’s resolution followed the consideration and approval of a motion sponsored by Ipalibo Harry Banigo (APC, Rivers West).
In her lead debate, Banigo drew attention to what she called systemic weaknesses in surveillance, funding, and rapid response capacity.
She noted that if left unaddressed, the lapses could further exacerbate the nation’s healthcare system.
Citing Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), she emphasised the responsibility of government at all levels to safeguard the health and welfare of citizens.
The Rivers West senator announced that the confirmed case involved a 53-year-old foreigner who arrived in Nigeria through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on March 17, traveled to Calabar the same day, developed symptoms on April 12, and tested positive on April 16 after PCR confirmation at the national reference laboratory.
She expressed concern over epidemiological findings suggesting a timeline beyond the expected incubation period, raising fears of possible local transmission.
Banigo stated that additional suspected cases had been identified, with contact tracing and laboratory investigations ongoing.
The lawmaker warned that Nigeria’s outbreak response capacity was being hampered by critical shortages of essential commodities such as Viral Transport Media, PCR reagents, rapid test kits, and personal protective equipment.
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According to her, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is currently constrained by delayed budget releases, procurement bottlenecks, and inadequate capital funding since 2025.
According to the motion, Nigeria’s federal–state cooperative framework for public health response requires stronger coordination and sustained financing.
She noted that past experiences with COVID-19, Lassa fever, and Ebola preparedness exercises have shown that delays in detection and fragmented responses can significantly worsen outbreak outcomes.
She observed that existing gaps could lead to delayed containment, increased spread across states, and heightened risks to frontline health workers, who remain vulnerable due to insufficient protective equipment.
She also warned that persistent shortages of response materials could erode public confidence and weaken the country’s epidemic intelligence system.
Adopting the motion, the Senate called on the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the NCDC to intensify surveillance, testing, and contact tracing nationwide.
It also urged the Federal Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Budget and National Planning to expedite the release of funds and consider activating emergency financing mechanisms.
The Red Chamber also 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 sub-national 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.
