From Crisis To Resilience: FG Outlines Roadmap For Sustainable Healthcare In Nigeria

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The Federal Government says it is implementing strategic reforms to build a resilient, equitable and sustainable health system capable of delivering quality healthcare services to all Nigerians.

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako stated this on Thursday during the second day of the 2025 Joint Annual Review (JAR) of the health sector held in Abuja.

Science Nigeria reports that JAR2025 is a forum to assess progress, share lessons and drive accountability in Nigeria’s health sector.

This year’s theme, “All Hands One Mission: Bringing Nigeria’s Health Sector to Light,” highlights the strength of the people, the resilience of the systems and the dedication of frontline health workers.

Salako said the reforms, being implemented under the Nigerian Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), are designed to accelerate progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and strengthen national health security.

He explained that the initiative is anchored on four key pillars – governance and leadership, health financing, service delivery, and community participation – and seeks to transform how healthcare is planned, funded and delivered across the country.

According to him, the Tinubu administration is determined to close equity gaps in access to healthcare by expanding insurance coverage, revitalising primary healthcare centres and improving coordination among implementing agencies.

“Health system resilience is not built overnight. It requires sustained investment, political will, technical excellence, community ownership and accountability,” he said.

Despite resource constraints, he noted that Nigeria had recorded measurable progress in key health indicators between 2018 and 2023. Maternal mortality declined from 576 deaths per 100,000 live births to 512, while under-five mortality dropped from 132 to 110 deaths per 1,000 live births.

He added that skilled birth attendance rose from 43 per cent to 53 per cent, full immunisation coverage improved from 31 per cent to 39 per cent and modern contraceptive prevalence among married women increased to 20 per cent.

The minister said the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) now operates at 78 per cent fund absorption capacity and is being expanded to cover more primary health facilities and vulnerable households.

He noted that the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has scaled up enrolment to more than 20 million Nigerians through private and public health maintenance organisations, while the government continues to support state health insurance agencies to widen coverage.

Salako said the government was also prioritising human resources for health, having recruited more than 37,000 health workers since 2023, with new incentives introduced to address brain drain and improve retention in rural areas.

He listed other priorities, including health infrastructure development, digital transformation, research and data strengthening, as well as supply chain security for essential medicines and vaccines.

“We have launched over 500 infrastructure projects and commenced the Power for Health initiative to ensure uninterrupted electricity in public health facilities,” he said.

Salako also mentioned the ongoing implementation of the National Digital Health Architecture, designed to harmonise data systems across ministries, departments, and agencies to improve efficiency and accountability.

He added that efforts were underway to expand surveillance systems, laboratory capacity, and preparedness to detect and respond to disease outbreaks in line with the National Action Plan for Health Security.

The minister called for stronger state and local government participation to sustain reforms, noting that effective governance and ownership at subnational levels remain critical to achieving desired results.

He urged partners and donors to align their support with national priorities and commended them for their contributions to maternal health, immunisation and disease control programmes.

“We must build on our collective achievements. Every state, every community, every partner must see themselves as part of this renewed effort to secure Nigeria’s health future,” he said.

Also speaking, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate commended state governments and partners for their support and reiterated that the administration’s goal is to ensure no Nigerian suffers financial hardship in accessing quality healthcare.

“This government will continue to invest in health system resilience because it is key to human capital development and national prosperity,” Pate said. The JAR brought together policymakers, donors, civil society organisations, professional bodies, and representatives of state ministries of health to review the sector’s performance and chart a roadmap for 2026 and beyond.

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