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The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday, April 29, 2026, warned of gaps in Nigeria’s outbreak response system following the confirmation of a new COVID-19 case in Cross River State.
The concern was raised during plenary after a motion sponsored by Senator Ipalibo Banigo (Rivers West), who called for urgent strengthening of the country’s disease surveillance and response framework.
Sen. Banigo said the development shows clearly the need for Nigeria to remain vigilant, warning against complacency in handling infectious disease outbreaks.
In a statement she said, “We cannot afford to go to sleep again after all the lessons learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic. This recent case in Cross River is a wake up call.”
She stressed that weak surveillance systems and inadequate funding remain major challenges affecting the country’s preparedness for future outbreaks.
The lawmaker added, “We must strengthen our surveillance systems across all states and ensure early detection and rapid response to prevent escalation”.
Speaking on the issue, President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio said Nigeria must take proactive steps to avoid a repeat of past public health crises, “This is not the time to relax. We must ensure that relevant agencies are properly funded and equipped to respond swiftly to any emerging health threat,” Akpabio said.
The Senate, therefore, urged the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control to intensify monitoring and surveillance nationwide, while also calling on the Federal Government to increase funding for the health sector.
They emphasised the need for sustained public awareness, improved testing capacity and better coordination among federal and state health authorities to curb any potential spread.
Senate raises concern over COVID-19 in Cross River, warns of gaps in Nigeria’s outbreak response
