Federal Government to Partner with Research Centers to Boost Disease Control

The Federal Government has announced plans to intensify its collaboration with private and independent health research institutions to enhance the nation’s capacity for disease detection and outbreak prevention.

The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Dr. Jide Idris, confirmed this initiative during a technical visit to the Kano Independent Research Centre Trust (KIRCT) on Wednesday. Dr. Idris emphasized that the NCDC aims to bridge the gap in national health security by leveraging domestic scientific expertise, noting that the country possesses a wealth of talent that can reduce reliance on foreign research.

“We need to pull these scientists together and encourage them to do work that was hitherto done by people outside Nigeria,” Dr. Idris stated. He added that the NCDC plans to expedite these partnerships by facilitating the exchange of research materials, implementing joint training programs, and aligning public health decision-making processes.

The NCDC is also looking to expand its support to state governments, assisting them in identifying and mitigating environmental or biological factors that could trigger disease outbreaks.

During the visit, the Director-General of KIRCT, Professor Hamisu Salisu, expressed optimism about the proposed partnership. While the center already works closely with the Kano State public health system, Professor Salisu highlighted the necessity of federal oversight in managing sensitive, high-risk biological specimens. He noted that official NCDC coordination is vital for handling infectious diseases, as the agency serves as the country’s primary authority on health security.

Both organizations have expressed a commitment to a collaborative framework aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s local capacity to monitor and respond to public health threats.