Abuja: The Federal Government says it is strengthening Nigeria’s health security system with a national genomic surveillance strategy, expanded laboratory networks, and trained health workers to better respond to public health threats. Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, stated this on his official X account, formerly known as Twitter, while briefing Nigerians and the international community on reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Pate said the government was building a resilient and agile health system that would enable Nigeria to detect and respond to emerging and re-emerging diseases, while also contributing to global health security. He highlighted that the launch of the National Genomic Surveillance Strategy and the Nigeria Genomics Consortium will revolutionise disease detection, monitoring, and response across the country.
Pate noted that Nigeria had integrated genomics into its antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance system and mentioned that the country would host the 5th Global Ministerial High-Level Conference on AMR in Abuja in 2026. He explained that, while international support was important, Nigeria was mobilising domestic resources to protect its population of over 200 million people.
The Minister listed several achievements by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) under Tinubu’s leadership. These include the inauguration of the Integrated Disease Reference Laboratory in Lagos for neglected tropical diseases, malaria, and fungal infections. New diagnostic laboratories for Mpox and Lassa fever have also been established, while existing laboratories in 13 states have been optimised to reduce the turnaround time for outbreak confirmation.
He further mentioned that the NCDC has attained the ISO 15189 accreditation for the National Reference Laboratory and secured a five-star rating for the Central Public Health Laboratory. Additionally, a laboratory data management system with real-time dashboards for epidemic-prone diseases has been developed to aid immediate notification and response.
Pate also noted the operationalisation of the Nigeria Preparedness and Readiness Alert System (NPRAS), a predictive risk-based platform already being used to conduct structured assessments in eight vulnerable states to inform hazard profiles and ensure donor alignment. He stressed that disease surveillance would not be possible without cohesion between federal and state governments, adding that the NCDC works within the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) framework of the Ministry to ensure coordination.
On workforce strengthening, the Minister disclosed that over 325 Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) focal persons from tertiary, secondary, and private health facilities were undergoing training to become certified professionals. He said Nigeria’s Joint External Evaluation (JEE) score had improved from 39 per cent in 2017 to 54 per cent in 2023, reflecting enhanced epidemic preparedness.
Pate concluded, stating, ‘These reforms represent President Tinubu’s compact with Nigerians to reform national institutions, focus on merit, and strengthen processes so that our country can safeguard its people and contribute to global health security.’