Nigerian Govt Urges Stakeholders To Renew Commitment To Building A Resilient, Inclusive Health
Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s determination to strengthen Nigeria’s health system resilience for sustainable and inclusive care, pledging increased funding, expanded insurance coverage, and deeper digital transformation in the sector.
Speaking at the second day of the 2025 Joint Annual Review Meeting (JAR) in Abuja, Dr. Salako said the government remains committed to building “a health system that truly serves all Nigerians,” in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“The last half-decade has tested health systems globally in unprecedented ways — from COVID-19 to the sharp reduction in donor assistance.
Both incidents exposed vulnerabilities but also proved the power of coordinated action, innovation, and political commitment,” Salako stated.
He noted that Nigeria’s health indicators have improved modestly in recent years.
According to preliminary results from the 2023 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), maternal mortality dropped to 512 deaths per 100,000 live births (from 576 in 2018), while under-five mortality declined to 110 deaths per 1,000 live births, down from 132 in 2018.
“Skilled birth attendance has risen from 43% to 53%, full immunisation coverage now stands at 39% compared to 31% in 2018, and modern contraceptive prevalence among married women has increased to 20%,” he added.
Despite these improvements, Salako described Nigeria’s healthcare investment as “grossly inadequate,” noting that government health expenditure accounts for only 5.2% of GDP, well below the 15% Abuja Declaration benchmark.
“Per capita health expenditure is just about $43, and out-of-pocket spending still stands at a staggering 71%. This is unacceptable, as it continues to push millions of Nigerians into poverty every year,” he lamented.
The Minister said the Nigerian Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), implemented through a Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp), is central to achieving a resilient health system that can respond to shocks.
He highlighted the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) as a major domestic investment driving progress in primary healthcare delivery, with absorption capacity rising from 45% in 2019 to 78% in 2023.
“Through the BHCPF and the National Health Insurance Authority Act 2024, over 20 million Nigerians have now been enrolled into insurance-based care. The recent executive order mandating health insurance across MDAs will accelerate us past our 2027 coverage target,” he said.
On disease control, Salako disclosed that the country has made “significant progress” in combating HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria.
“We currently have 1.78 million people living with HIV on treatment with 80% ART coverage, 72% viral suppression, and 96% PMTCT coverage. TB notification rates are up to 80%, with over 85% treatment success,” he noted.
For malaria, he said over 63 million insecticide-treated nets were distributed between 2021 and 2023, with 70% of households now owning at least one net, averting an estimated 18 million malaria cases annually.
The Minister also cited progress in immunization, with 57% Penta-3 coverage, zero wild poliovirus cases since 2020, and the successful introduction of HPV and measles-rubella vaccines.
On health workforce development, he announced the employment of over 37,000 health workers between 2023 and 2025, with plans to curb migration through the new Health Workforce Migration Policy.
“We are converting brain drain into brain gain. Our new diaspora engagement strategy aims to turn ‘Japa’ into ‘Japada,’” he said to applause.
Salako said more than 500 high-impact health infrastructure projects have been completed nationwide, alongside the rollout of the Power for Health Initiative to ensure reliable electricity for hospitals and clinics.
He also revealed that the government has advanced digital health reforms through the Nigeria Digital Health Initiative (NDHI), which established a National Digital Health Architecture (NDHA) and health registries for facilities, workers, and patients.
“We are ending the era of data fragmentation and ensuring that digital highways connect every part of our health system,” he said.
On research and pandemic preparedness, the Minister noted that Nigeria has expanded its PCR laboratories from five to 129 and established genomic sequencing labs and Emergency Operations Centres in 32 states.
However, he acknowledged persisting challenges, including funding gaps, human resource shortages, and inequities in healthcare access between urban and rural areas.
“We refuse to be defined by our challenges. We are determined to change the narrative once and for all,” he said.
Salako outlined next steps including health financing reform, enforcement of mandatory insurance, expansion of primary health centres, and investments in climate-resilient and green energy health systems.
“Without commodity security, there can be no health security,” he stressed, pledging transparent and digitalized supply chain systems.
He urged stakeholders to continue to demonstrate accountability and collaboration, emphasizing that resilience would require “sustained investment, political will, and technical excellence.”
“The resilient health system we seek is one where every Nigerian, regardless of income or location, can access care without financial hardship,” Salako declared. “Health workers will be motivated, facilities will have power and equipment, and data will drive decisions.”
As the meeting drew to a close, he called on participants to recommit to the vision of universal health coverage.
“Only healthy people can build a prosperous nation,” he said. “Let us join hands to deliver health to our people and make Nigeria great again.”
