‘People may fake ebola contact for N100,000’ – Shehu Sani warns NCDC

Former Kaduna Central senator Shehu Sani has warned the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention NCDC about the possible abuse of its plan to pay N100,000 weekly to people monitored for possible exposure to Ebola.

According to Sani, the allowance could encourage some people to falsely claim contact with the virus just to benefit from the payment.

Meanwhile, NCDC Director-General Dr Jide Idris announced on Sunday that 53 people linked to the confirmed Ebola case in Abuja would receive the weekly allowance during the 21-day monitoring period.

The agency said the money would cover feeding, accommodation and family support for those under monitoring.

Reacting on his verified X account on Monday, Sani urged the NCDC to exercise caution. He also called for proper verification to ensure that only genuine contacts receive the financial support.

“The NCDC reportedly plans to pay N100,000 weekly to anyone placed in isolation over Ebola. However, the agency should be careful because some people may falsely claim contact with the virus just to collect the money,” he wrote.

Furthermore, Sani stressed that the agency must verify all claims to prevent individuals from exploiting the arrangement. This, he suggested, would help protect funds meant to support people under monitoring.

The NCDC confirmed an Ebola case in Abuja and placed 53 primary contacts, including healthcare workers and household members, under monitoring.