By Gabriel Ameh
Abuja, Nigeria — Connected Development (CODE) has raised concerns over Nigeria’s preparedness to respond to a possible Hantavirus outbreak, warning that the country’s current “window of safety” may be more due to luck than strong public health systems.
In a statement issued on May 11, 2026, CODE said while the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed that no Hantavirus case has been recorded in Nigeria, major weaknesses still exist in the nation’s disease surveillance, testing, quarantine, and emergency response systems.
The organisation’s concerns follow the World Health Organisation’s confirmation of a Hantavirus outbreak aboard the Dutch-flagged cruise ship, MV Hondius, where eight infections and three deaths have been recorded.
The Andes virus strain involved has shown limited human-to-human transmission, prompting countries across Europe, North America, and Asia to intensify contact tracing and isolation measures.
CODE stated that Nigeria’s Port Health Services currently operate across five international airports and five seaports but continue to face challenges, including shortages of screening officers and inadequate quarantine facilities.
The organisation noted that lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic revealed major gaps in Nigeria’s health emergency response system, particularly in testing and contact tracing capacity. It recalled that by mid-2021, Nigeria had tested about 1.78 million COVID-19 samples, compared to South Africa’s 3.2 million despite having a smaller population.
Through its COVID-19 Transparency and Accountability Project (CTAP), CODE said it tracked billions of naira and millions of dollars donated for Nigeria’s pandemic response but found concerns over transparency and accountability in the management of the funds.
According to the organisation, a National Bureau of Statistics survey showed that by July 2020, only 12.5 percent of Nigerians in the poorest category received any form of support during the pandemic.
CODE also pointed to the ongoing disbursement of ₦32.9 billion under the revised Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF 2.0), aimed at supporting more than 8,000 primary healthcare centres nationwide.
The group stressed that the NCDC gateway under the BHCPF framework is critical because it directly funds disease surveillance, outbreak response, laboratory systems, and emergency coordination. However, it argued that public access to information on how those funds are being utilised remains limited.
The organisation disclosed that findings from its Project Track BHCPF (#HealthShield) revealed persistent bureaucracy, poor coordination, and knowledge gaps among stakeholders, all of which are slowing access to emergency preparedness funds at the state level.
CODE called on the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the NCDC, the Nigerian Ports Authority, the Ministry of Aviation, and other relevant agencies to immediately conduct and publish a transparent audit of Nigeria’s disease surveillance and quarantine facilities at all entry points.
It also urged authorities to strengthen coordination among health agencies, immigration services, and port health authorities while ensuring frontline health workers at airports and seaports are properly equipped.
The organisation further recommended an immediate public awareness campaign on Hantavirus to prevent misinformation and improve preparedness.
According to CODE, proactive investment in disease surveillance and frontline healthcare systems remains far cheaper and more effective than managing a full-scale outbreak after it spirals out of control.
