Abuja: As Nigeria steadily advances toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030, significant health sector reforms are underway, targeting a range of issues from childhood malnutrition to robust investments in Primary Health Care (PHC). Under the Renewed Hope Agenda, the President Bola Tinubu administration has intensified reforms through strategic frameworks including the National Health Renewal and Investment Initiative (NHRII) and the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp).
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Compact has been signed by the Federal Government, all 36 state governments, and development partners. These efforts aim to harmonise previously fragmented interventions to build a more integrated, efficient, and self-reliant health system. By December 2024, enrolment in the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) had increased by 14 per cent, reaching 19.2 million Nigerians from 16.7 million. Capitation payments to health providers grew by 93 per cent, while fee-for-service reimbursements surged by 378 per cent, reflecting improved access to essential health services and reduced out-of-pocket spending.
The Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) remains a cornerstone in Nigeria’s UHC journey, designed to promote equity by establishing operational PHC facilities in every political ward. Over N130 billion has been allocated, with N31 billion disbursed in 2023 and an additional N32.8 billion approved to support more than 8,000 PHC centres. A landmark achievement is the national rollout of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine on October 24, 2023, targeting girls aged nine to 14, with 14 million girls vaccinated to date.
Dr Muyi Aina, Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, credited this success to the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, the First Lady’s support, and the commitment of ministers and stakeholders. As of May 30, 2025, the agency was revitalising about 1,100 healthcare facilities, aiming to ensure at least one functional PHC centre per ward by year-end. To combat high maternal mortality rates, the government identified 174 Local Government Areas responsible for high maternal deaths and inaugurated the Maternal and Newborn Mortality Reduction Investment Initiative.
At the maiden Joint Annual Review of the health sector in November 2024, Coordinating Minister of Health, Prof. Muhammad Pate, highlighted tangible results from government commitments. He noted a 16.7 per cent reduction in under-five mortality between 2018 and 2023, along with significant declines in diarrheal diseases, tuberculosis cases, and HIV prevalence. By the third quarter of 2024, Nigeria had met 31 out of 41 key performance indicators across Presidential Commitments and was on track to surpass all targets for the year.
Pate emphasised equity under PHC 2.0 reforms by allocating resources across more than 8,000 PHC centres, with N45 billion disbursed directly to states. Addressing brain drain challenges, 40,000 frontline health workers have been trained toward a target of 120,000. An Executive Order by President Tinubu prompted at least 40 businesses to submit proposals for boosting local healthcare manufacturing.
A Memorandum of Understanding with Afreximbank secured 1 billion dollars to finance healthcare, leading to the creation of MediPool, a Group Purchasing Organisation under a Public-Private Partnership model. Despite a global decline in financial aid to Nigeria and other developing nations, the government responded by leveraging domestic resources. The National Assembly approved an additional N300 billion for the 2025 health budget.
International recognition of Nigeria’s healthcare reforms came in 2025 when Time Magazine named Prof. Muhammad Pate among the 100 most influential people in health worldwide. Also honoured were Mrs Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi, Director of Nutrition, and Dr Abasi Ene-Obong, a genomics innovator, highlighting the country’s growing impact on global health. Pate was honoured for revitalising PHC, expanding community health workforces, and promoting local production of health commodities.
In cancer care, the Kebbi State Governor’s wife, Dr Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, noted accelerated progress, including the addition of six cancer centres. Prof. Adewale Musa-Olomu commended President Tinubu for protecting health budgets and promoting tertiary health infrastructure. However, significant challenges remain, with experts calling for increased budget allocations, improved rural health worker incentives, and ongoing health worker training to sustain progress.