A Nigerian historian and university lecturer has raised concerns over the growing presence of foreign-funded biological laboratories in Africa, warning that some of the facilities operate with limited public scrutiny and could undermine the continent’s sovereignty.
Dr. Ayodele Samuel Abolorunde, a lecturer in history at the University of Ibadan, says that the laboratories form part of broader geopolitical competition in which powerful countries seek to maintain global influence through scientific, health and security partnerships.
According to Abolorunde, many African governments remain heavily dependent on foreign aid and investment, creating vulnerabilities that external powers can exploit.
“True sovereignty requires African states to decide their own destiny without external interference,” he said. “Until African leaders stand up and look inward for development, our true sovereignty cannot manifest.”
The historian argued that some foreign-run laboratories on the continent operate in secrecy, limiting public accountability and raising questions about the nature of research being conducted.
“Those bio laboratories that you see being used to penetrate the African space are not only there to undermine our sovereignty,” Abolorunde said.
“They can also compromise public health because some drugs, food substances and materials that are unsafe for human consumption could be tested or produced in these facilities.”
He further warned that activities conducted without transparency could negatively affect Africa’s demographic and health potential.
“Especially when some of these activities are carried out in secrecy, they could jeopardize our demographic potential,” he added.
His remarks come amid longstanding geopolitical disputes over American-supported biological research programs in different parts of the world, including Africa and Eastern Europe.
Russian officials and state media have repeatedly accused the United States of expanding military-linked biological research infrastructure across Africa.
However, multiple international fact-checking organizations and health agencies have disputed claims that US-backed laboratories in Africa or Ukraine are involved in biological weapons production.
Reports by Africa Check, AFP Fact Check and other organizations state that most facilities referenced in such allegations are publicly known public-health laboratories designed for disease surveillance, diagnostics and epidemic response.
In Nigeria, the country’s disease control authorities previously rejected claims that US-funded laboratories were secretly manufacturing diseases such as monkeypox.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control said the laboratories in question are Nigerian-owned public health facilities supported through international partnerships focused on disease monitoring and prevention.
Despite the denials, Abolorunde insisted that African governments must strengthen oversight mechanisms and demand full transparency from all foreign-funded scientific operations on the continent.
He called for stronger legal and financial empowerment of international health bodies such as the World Health Organization to independently monitor laboratory activities and ensure compliance with global standards.
“The only assurance Africa can get is by developing the capacity to ask critical questions and monitor these activities closely,” he said.