Tinubu appoints former Lagos Commissioner for Health, Jide Idris, as NCDC D-G

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Dr Jide Idris, the Convener of the Healthcare Transformation Coalition, the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).

Idris, a former Commissioner for Health in Lagos State, succeeds Dr Ifedayo Adetifa, who headed the NCDC since Sept. 6, 2021.

Idris also served as a Permanent Secretary in the Lagos State Ministry of Health.

The appointment of Idris was contained in a statement issued by the presidential spokesman, Mr Ajuri Ngelale, on Thursday in Abuja.

Idris has over 30 years of experience in healthcare. He played a pivotal role in reshaping Lagos State’s healthcare delivery system.

He spearheaded comprehensive reforms in Lagos State, which focused on organisational restructuring, human resource development, infrastructure enhancement, primary healthcare revitalisation, healthcare financing and disease prevention.

Idris also led the successful containment of the Ebola outbreak in Lagos State.

He holds degrees from institutions such as University of Lagos, Yale University and Columbia University.

Meanwhile, the NCDC marked its fifth anniversary in November 2023, showcasing some accomplishments.

Established in 2016 and backed by the NCDC Act of 2018, the agency focuses on disease surveillance, laboratory capacity building, emergency response, and public health education.

NCDC’s key achievements in the last five years include enhancing disease surveillance, leading emergency responses such as during the COVID-19 pandemic, fostering international collaborations, and increasing laboratory capacity.

In NCDC, the director-general serves as the chief executive officer, overseeing the centre’s administration and receiving supervision from the governing board and the minister of health.

The term of the office is four years which can be renewed.

Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu served as the first Director-General of the NCDC from Aug. 15, 2016. In July 2019, he was re-appointed by the then President Muhammadu Buhari.

On October 18, 2021, Adetifa succeeded Ihekweazu following the latter’s recruitment by the World Health Organization.