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..as Nigeria ranks 12th globally for pandemic risk
Local and international researchers have tasked the Nigerian government to prioritise investment in health research to effectively combat persistent viral disease outbreaks, warning that the country risks being unprepared for larger epidemics at a time when global aid is receding.
The call was made on Monday at the 3rd IRCE Scientific Symposium 2025, themed “Combating Viral Threats through Public Health Response and Research”, organised by the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) in Abuja. The meeting brought together experts from Nigeria and abroad to discuss how the country can better respond to viral threats as it continues to grapple with multiple outbreaks amid dwindling funding.
A report presented at the symposium, drawing on the INFORM Index for Risk Management, ranked Nigeria 12th globally for epidemic risk, noting it as high. This country is currently battling several viral outbreaks, including Lassa fever, yellow fever, monkeypox (mpox), and dengue fever,r that are straining an already fragile health system.
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Alash’le Abimiku, executive director of the International Centre of Excellence at IHVN, said research was essential to strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness.
“Unless we do research, we are working in the dark. We want to make sure that we are committing time, effort and resources to research that informs us about the public health challenges we face.
“Most of the major outbreaks we’ve had—including SARS-CoV-2, Lassa, Marburg and Dengue—are viral. These threats can begin as outbreaks but escalate quickly into pandemics if unchecked,” she said.
According to her, research provides insights into transmission patterns and prevention, adding that Nigeria’s policymakers must translate research findings into practical policies and community-level awareness in languages that ordinary Nigerians can understand.
Abimuku noted that Nigeria had failed to translate years of knowledge on Lassa fever into effective prevention. “We have known for years that the virus is linked to food contamination from rodents. We know that covering grains and food storage reduces the risk. Yet we are still struggling to ensure preventive messages reach communities in a language they understand.
“That is where policymakers must act, by turning research findings into practical policies.”
Patrick Dakum, CEO, IHVN, also speaking, explained that research is essential to show which regions are most affected by specific diseases, other undiagnosed conditions that may be driving illness, and how diagnostic tools can be better adapted for Nigeria.
With international funding in decline, he warned that countries must rethink how they prepare for and respond to outbreaks and epidemics.
Dakum, said the symposium aimed to sharpen Nigeria’s preparedness by identifying the most pressing viral threats and determining how resources should be directed. He added that beyond the science, the conference was also a chance to strengthen partnerships between researchers, government agencies and international bodies in order to mount a more coordinated response to future outbreaks.
Tosin Afowowe, representative from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), highlighted inadequate funding, poor coordination, weak vaccination coverage, and security challenges as major obstacles in managing viral outbreaks.
“We need more resources to confirm cases, strengthen response systems, and coordinate efforts across human, animal, and environmental health. Delays in response and gaps in vaccination leave communities vulnerable,” he said.
Cyril Oshiomole, commissioner for Health in Edo State, one of the states most affected by viral diseases such as Lassa fever, explained that subnational governments cannot tackle the problem in isolation and require collaboration with national and international partners
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While highlighting the importance of research, he informed that the Edo state government has invested significantly, with a health budget of about ₦64 billion, including ₦800 million for ministry activities.
“This has helped us achieve better control of infections and expand awareness campaigns across social media platforms,” he said.
Participants at the symposium agreed that Nigeria must invest significantly more in research to reduce its dependence on external funding, close policy gaps, and ensure that the country is better prepared for viral threats that have the potential to escalate into pandemics.
