The House of Representatives has summoned the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, over the outbreak of monkeypox in the country.
The House took the decision on Tuesday in Abuja just as the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) confirmed that 31 cases of the disease had been recorded in the country.
At its plenary in Abuja, presided over by the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, the House was alarmed that the disease was spreading while it appeared that the Federal Ministry of Health was helpless without relying on the World Health Organisation.
A lawmaker from Bayelsa state, Hon. Diri Douye (PDP-Bayelsa state), raised the issue under matters of urgent national importance, praying that the minister should be summoned.
The prayer was immediately passed in a unanimous voice vote.
Lawmakers expressed concern that a country, as big as Nigeria, did not have a laboratory to respond to the health emergency without first sending specimen to Dakar, Senegal, for investigations.
They were also in shock that Adewole admitted that Nigeria was helpless.
The House commended the Bayelsa Government for its “quick intervention and collaborative efforts” so far.
