The Senate on Tuesday called on the federal government to heighten surveillance, testing, and contact tracing nationwide following a newly confirmed COVID‑19 case, warning of gaps in Nigeria’s public health emergency response system.
The resolution followed a motion by Senator Ipalibo Banigo, (APC Rivers West), who raised concerns about weaknesses in the country’s preparedness and response mechanisms.
Leading debate, Banigo cited constitutional provisions that mandate all levels of government to prioritize citizens’ welfare, including public health.
She noted that Section 14 of the Constitution, as amended, places a duty on all tiers of government to ensure the security and welfare of the people, including the protection of public health.
Banigo disclosed that the confirmed case involved a 53‑year‑old foreign national who entered Nigeria on March 17, 2026. He later developed symptoms and tested positive on April 16 after PCR confirmation at the National Reference Laboratory.
She warned that the infection timeline appeared to exceed the expected incubation period, raising fears of possible local transmission.
“The epidemiological investigation of the confirmed case indicates a timeline beyond the expected incubation period, thereby raising public health concerns of possible local transmission within the Federation,” she said.
According to her, additional suspected cases have been identified and are under investigation, while contact tracing is ongoing.
The Senate expressed concern over persistent challenges facing the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, including procurement bottlenecks and inadequate funding since 2025, which lawmakers said have weakened response capacity.
Lawmakers noted that effective outbreak control depends on the steady availability of critical supplies such as testing kits, reagents, and personal protective equipment. Shortages, they warned, could endanger frontline health workers and undermine containment efforts.
Following deliberations, the Senate urged the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the NCDC to scale up surveillance, testing, and contact tracing in line with national outbreak response protocols.
It also called on the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning to fast‑track funding and activate emergency financing mechanisms to support response efforts.
In addition, the Senate mandated the NCDC to submit a detailed report on the country’s preparedness status, including stock levels, laboratory capacity, and surveillance gaps.
Lawmakers further stressed the need for intensified nationwide risk communication to curb misinformation, reduce public anxiety, and promote adherence to preventive measures. They urged state governments to strengthen their outbreak preparedness systems.
Last Thursday, the Senate directed its Committee on Health, chaired by Senator Banigo, to investigate reports of a suspected COVID‑19 outbreak following a confirmed case in Cross River State.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio tasked the committee to verify the development and report back to the chamber, stressing the need for swift action to prevent any potential spread.
The Cross River State Ministry of Health had confirmed that the case involved a Chinese national who tested positive and was admitted for treatment, prompting contact tracing efforts.
