The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria’s health sector

  • FG targets stronger fiscal base, expands health investment as Pate, Edun, Bagudu outline reforms

    FG targets stronger fiscal base, expands health investment as Pate, Edun, Bagudu outline reforms

    Nigeria’s health sector is on a steady path of recovery, with measurable progress in maternal and newborn survival, vaccination coverage, and health service utilization, the Federal Government has said.

    This came as it unveiled plans to raise ₦150 billion for vaccine procurement in 2025 and 2026 as part of efforts to strengthen routine immunization and epidemic preparedness, introduce sustainable financing measures such as health-focused taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages, expand public-private partnerships, and deploy digital tools to enhance transparency and accountability.

    In addition, through a World Bank-supported ward-level mapping initiative, the government aims to ensure that all 8,809 wards across Nigeria’s 774 local governments have coordinated health plans aligned with state and national development priorities, while it is also set to unveil the 2026–2050 National Development Plan currently being designed.

    This emerged on Wednesday in Abuja at the 2025 Joint Annual Health Sector Review (JAR), themed ‘All Hands, All Mission’, where Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, highlighted the government’s commitment to better health outcomes through creative initiatives in the last two and a half years.

    READ ALSO; FG pays N18bn insurance to boost troops’ welfare

    Noting that the JAR underscores the shared responsibility of all stakeholders, government, private sector, development partners, and citizens, Pate said 84 percent of key health reform indicators are on track under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, with 35 States conducting annual reviews and citizens monitoring outcomes.

    “All 36 States and the FCT now have operational plans aligned with national priorities,” he said, adding that 72 percent of states have mechanisms for managing non-communicable diseases.

    Pate reported a 17 percent decline in maternal deaths and a 12 percent reduction in newborn deaths across 172 high-burden Local Governments, while over 15,000 new health workers have been recruited, 435 primary healthcare facilities revitalized, and access to skilled birth attendants increased by 33 percent.

    Visits to primary health facilities funded through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund rose from 10 million in early 2024 to 45 million by mid-2025, he said, adding that routine immunisation coverage for measles, yellow fever, and HPV improved, while family planning uptake grew by 10 percent.

    Citizen trust is rising, with 55 percent of Nigerians now expressing confidence in government health reforms, and patient satisfaction standing at 74 percent, he noted.

    Pate acknowledged ongoing challenges in affordability and insurance coverage, currently at 12 percent, but said efforts are underway to expand coverage and enhance accountability.

    “In the past year, over 20,000 frontline workers have been recruited in federal tertiary hospitals. The President has also approved over ₦50 billion to clear outstanding allowances and address workforce challenges that have persisted for years,” he said.

    The Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Finance, Wale Edun, said the 2025 Federal health budget rose nearly 60 percent, with the BHCPF increasing from ₦131.5 billion in 2024 to almost ₦299 billion in 2026, and health’s share of the national budget rising to 5.2 percent from just over 3 percent.

    “The turnaround in the economy has begun. Distortions are being removed, the economy is stabilizing, and social sectors like health are benefiting significantly,” he stressed, urging States and Local Governments to channel more of their increased revenues into health and education.

    Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Atiku Bagudu, described Nigeria’s low revenue-to-GDP ratio, below 8 percent since 2007 as a key growth constraint.

    “The President has unfolded a vision for Nigeria to build an economy comparable in size and productivity to others around the world within the next five years. We are focusing on mobilising revenue and investing strategically to fund our development aspirations, including the 2026–2050 National Development Plan currently being designed,” he said.

    Bagudu emphasised that mapping 8,809 wards nationwide ensures coordinated plans feeding into state and national priorities, while states and local councils must invest more in health, education, and agriculture to guarantee inclusive growth.

    Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Adekunle Salako, said the Renewed Hope Agenda is transforming Nigeria’s health sector, with infrastructure, workforce, and system reforms underway.

    “The Renewed Hope Agenda is not just a promise, it is a covenant to safeguard the health of our people,” he stated, disclosing over 500 new high-impact projects, 13 tertiary health institutions, six cancer centres of excellence, and 21 strategic policies driving health system reforms.

    Primary Healthcare revitalisation and digital health initiatives are connecting thousands of facilities, improving access and accountability, Salako added, noting that NHSRII implementation could save ₦4.8 trillion annually from preventable diseases and retain ₦850 billion currently lost to medical tourism.

    He urged State governments to increase counterpart funding for the BHCPF, expand insurance coverage, and strengthen primary healthcare delivery, while calling on development partners and private investors to align with national priorities.

    The highlight of the three-day event was the expansion and endorsement of the Health Sector Renewal Compact by Local Governments, traditional rulers, private sector leaders, and civil society groups, first signed in 2023 by the Federal Government, States, and international development partners.

  • A portrait of Nigeria’s health sector in two years

    A portrait of Nigeria’s health sector in two years

    • By Ebitimi Osaretin

    When President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office in 2023, Nigeria’s health sector stood at a difficult crossroads. Stretched thin by decades of underfunding, weakened infrastructure, emigration of health workers, and low trust from the public, the task seemed daunting.

    Yet, within just two years, the winds of reform have begun to blow through the corridors of hospitals, clinics, laboratories, and primary healthcare centers across the nation.

    Under the banner of the Renewed Hope Agenda, the Tinubu administration has initiated a bold journey to reposition Nigeria’s healthcare system, restoring confidence, improving outcomes, and investing deeply in both people and institutions.

    Despite the laudable efforts, it is a journey still unfolding, but one that has already begun to transform lives and rewrite stories.

    The first sign of renewed commitment came in the form of the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NSHRII) Sector Wide Approach (SWAp) Compact, signed in 2023 with governors, development partners, and private sector actors.

    This was followed by the Health Sector Strategic Blueprint blueprint, a document that would later become a guiding torch for reforms. At the heart of these reforms lies a fourfold mission: to strengthen governance and accountability across the health system; improve the quality and equity of care for all Nigerians; unlock the value chain of health products through local production; and boost national health security by enhancing preparedness and response mechanisms.

    A sector-wide approach now anchors collaboration between federal, state, and local governments—one that includes quarterly review meetings, joint communiqués, and transparent performance tracking.

    The revitalisation of primary healthcare, the first and most crucial point of access for millions, has gained unprecedented momentum.

    By the first quarter of 2025 alone, over 37 million Nigerians had accessed services from revamped PHC centres. Model facilities in Rivers, Edo, and Plateau now serve as shining examples of what is possible when leadership meets investment.

    Beyond infrastructure, the administration has focused on maternal and child health through the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII). In just a year, 6 million pregnant women received essential micronutrient supplements, and more than 4,000 free caesarean sections were successfully carried out across empaneled health facilities.

    To further equip the frontlines, over 60,000 midwifery kits were distributed nationwide, an initiative led by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to empower nurses and reduce maternal deaths.

    Nigeria’s health workforce is being reimagined with bold steps to halt brain drain and strengthen training. Training capacity has increased by 32%, with over 61,000 frontline health workers and 3,874 health managers trained since 2023. Enrollment in nursing programs grew from 28,000 to 115,000, while 120,000 new workers are expected to be trained by 2027.

    The launch of the National Health Fellows Programme, which deployed 774 young health leaders, one from each local government, represents a long-term investment in leadership and innovation across the system. This effort was complemented by asynchronous learning sessions, boasting a 74% module completion rate and near-perfect engagement in live sessions.

    In recognition of these efforts, President Tinubu was named the African Union Champion for Human Resources for Health and Community Health Delivery.

    For decades, Nigeria’s health insurance coverage stagnated at around 9%, leaving the majority vulnerable to health-related financial shocks. That tide has now turned. Over 4 million Nigerians were newly enrolled within one year, including vulnerable groups covered under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF). The 2025 budget allocated N25 billion under the Catastrophic Health Insurance Fund, which now covers costly treatments such as cancer care and dialysis. The reform of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) is unlocking private sector engagement, mandating individual coverage, and delivering access to high-impact services such as caesarean sections, VVF surgeries, and treatment at 106 CEmONC facilities across the country.

    Read Also: Health sector challenges: Experts see light at end of tunnel

    In what can only be described as a watershed moment, Nigeria’s health sector is receiving record domestic funding. Over N86.8 billion has been disbursed under BHCPF from 2023–2024 alone. An additional $200 million was approved by the President to bridge funding gaps after the exit of key international donors. The Project HOPE initiative is set to inject over $1 billion into PHC infrastructure and services, while $3.4 billion in pooled funding is mobilised through the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative.

    Significantly, the administration has improved access to medicines by supporting pooled procurement and signing executive orders that waive import duties and VAT on essential raw materials and medical devices.The launch of the Presidential Initiative to Unlock the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC) is building an enabling environment for local manufacturing.

    From ultrasound machines to rapid diagnostic kits, Nigeria is forging new partnerships with global health brands to begin in-country production. More than 70 bankable projects worth over $5 billion are now underway, supported by additional financing from development banks and the private sector. Tertiary hospitals across all six geopolitical zones are receiving historic upgrades. From advanced diagnostic centers in Ilorin and Enugu to cardiac and pathology facilities in Sokoto and Ibadan, the scope of transformation now touches 503 projects across 61 federal hospitals. The long-neglected battle against cancer is receiving renewed energy through dedicated infrastructure investments and targeted equipment procurement.

    Routine immunisation has recorded major successes. Two million children under age two receive Penta-3 vaccines quarterly. Twenty-five million children have been vaccinated against measles. Twenty-two million received Yellow Fever vaccines, and 14 million adolescent girls are now protected by the HPV vaccine. In addition, 105,000 children received the new malaria vaccine.

    In the face of the worst diphtheria outbreak in decades, the administration mounted a rapid and effective response. The same resolve led to the historic introduction of the Mpox vaccine, making Nigeria the first African country to do so.

    Public trust in the health system is rising steadily. In just two years, approval ratings have jumped, with 47% of Nigerians affirming a positive direction, and 54% expressing confidence in government health emergency responses—a notable leap from 2023 levels. Citizens are not only benefiting but being heard.

    The government has prioritised citizen feedback and adapted accordingly, proving that governance is not just about delivering services but building trust. With strong foundations now laid, the next phase is focused on deepening impact and sustaining momentum.

    The expansion of the Vulnerable Groups Fund and Catastrophic Health Fund is underway. Completion of cancer treatment centres and rollout of advanced equipment are in progress. The administration is scaling up malaria control interventions and local net production and delivering on the target of 17,000 revitalised PHCs. The Social Action Fund (SAF) is being operationalised to power community-led health solutions. The journey is still unfolding, but Nigeria is rising.

    With unity across federal, state, and community lines, the vision of a resilient, equitable, and people-centered health system is no longer a distant dream. It is becoming the new reality. And in the words of the President, “No Nigerian should die because they are poor.” Indeed, under the Renewed Hope Agenda, the health of the nation is finally becoming the wealth of the people.

    Hence, from scaling up the MAMII initiative in 172 LGAs to completing cancer infrastructure and operationalizing the SAF, the Tinubu administration is not slowing down. Plans are underway to scale malaria interventions, boost local production, and deepen citizen engagement.

    This is not just a transformation—it is a reawakening. The health of Nigeria is finally being placed where it belongs: at the heart of national development.

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has not only delivered a scorecard—he has charted a new course for the soul of the nation. And while challenges remain, the foundation has been laid. With sustained commitment, Nigeria is poised to become a continental leader in health resilience and equity.

    The journey has only just begun.

    • Osaretin is a health expert and writer.