The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, has approved a weekly payment of ₦100,000 for individuals placed in isolation or quarantine as authorities intensify efforts to contain an Ebola virus disease case in Nigeria.

NCDC Director-General, Dr Jide Idris, announced the emergency financial support during a press briefing in Abuja on Sunday, October 25, 2026.

He said the decision followed complaints from people under monitoring about the cost of food, accommodation and supporting their families while complying with public health restrictions.

According to Idris, the payments are intended to ease these financial pressures and encourage individuals to cooperate with health officials.

He acknowledged that the stipend was not part of the original response plan but said it had become necessary because of the circumstances.

The agency will continue to review the arrangement as the public health response develops.

The financial support comes as health authorities monitor 53 primary contacts linked to a confirmed Ebola infection involving a woman who travelled to Nigeria from Uganda.

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

Idris said public health teams were monitoring the contacts according to their levels of exposure and were prepared to assess and test anyone who develops symptoms.

Monitoring is expected to continue throughout the 21-day incubation period following each contact’s last possible exposure.

The NCDC also confirmed that one person who reported feeling unwell had tested negative for Ebola. Surveillance and follow-up activities remain ongoing.

The agency said isolation and quarantine facilities had been established for people requiring them.

Government Warns States to Prepare for Emergencies

Idris stressed that responding to public health emergencies should not be the responsibility of the Federal Capital Territory alone.

He called on state governments to prepare the financial resources, facilities and logistics needed to manage similar situations.

He said arrangements made for the FCT should be replicable in other states if required.

The warning highlights the importance of having emergency response plans in place before outbreaks occur, including adequate isolation facilities, trained personnel, testing capacity and funding for affected individuals.

The NCDC’s emergency stipend also illustrates how financial pressures can affect compliance with quarantine measures, particularly for people who depend on daily earnings or must continue supporting their households.

The NCDC said approximately 12 public and private laboratories were available to test for Ebola, with the agency strengthening its laboratory capacity to support prompt investigations.

Idris urged healthcare facilities across Nigeria to improve screening and triage procedures and strengthen infection prevention and control measures.

He also emphasised the need to provide healthcare workers with adequate personal protective equipment to reduce the risk of infection while treating suspected cases.

Hospitals and clinics are expected to remain alert to possible symptoms and follow established procedures when identifying and managing suspected infections.

The NCDC has also called on people contacted by public health officials to cooperate with contact-tracing teams and provide accurate information about their movements, contacts and symptoms.

The agency’s immediate priorities include monitoring the 53 primary contacts, investigating any suspected infections and ensuring that people who develop symptoms receive prompt assessment.

Contact tracing helps health officials identify people who may have been exposed to an infected person and monitor them during the incubation period.

The weekly ₦100,000 support is intended to make it easier for those required to isolate or quarantine to meet essential needs while following public health instructions.

Although one monitored contact has tested negative, the NCDC says surveillance activities are continuing. The agency has not confirmed additional infections among the contacts described in the report.

The coming days will be important as officials continue monitoring exposed individuals and investigating suspected cases.