The Nigeria Government, in collaboration with state governments, has announced the disbursement of ₦32 billion over a six-month period to boost access to quality healthcare services across Nigeria.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this at the conclusion of the 11th Meeting of the Ministerial Oversight Committee on health, (MOC) in Abuja, Nigeria.
Professor Pate said the fund, sourced from the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), will be disbursed in two tranches, ₦16 billion for the first quarter and another ₦16 billion for the second quarter.
Strong collaboration
He stated that the initiative, which is being implemented under the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, is working because of the strong collaboration between the federal government, state governments, local governments, and other partners in the health sector.
“At least 37 million Nigerians have accessed services, 37 million visits to health facilities supported through the BHCPF. That is a landmark achievement and a testament to the collaboration between all levels of government, civil society, the private sector, and our development partners,” Pate said.
He emphasised that Nigeria is making progress in transforming its primary healthcare system, stressing that no single level of government can handle the sector alone.
According to him, joint efforts and transparent collaboration are beginning to yield results that can be seen in improved access, infrastructure, and service delivery.
Addressing concerns over 50,000 Nigerians diagnosed with tuberculosis but not on treatment, Prof. Pate noted that the federal government has made provisions in the 2025 budget to procure the required medications.
He stated that the country is responding to rising demands following the success of intensified TB testing across various platforms.
Finance critical sectors
The minister further highlighted the administration’s broader fiscal reforms, such as the removal of fuel subsidies and the signing of the simplified tax bill, as measures that will boost government revenue to finance critical sectors like health.
“Good healthcare is not cheap healthcare,” he said. “Countries have to invest in it, and Nigeria is investing in it, we will do more at the federal level and encourage states to also do more so that collectively we reduce dependency on external financing over time.”
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako emphasised that transparency and inclusiveness remain central to the implementation of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF).
Dr. Salako said the committee reflects the federal government’s commitment to an open and accountable process in delivering basic healthcare to Nigerians.
According to him, the transparent nature of the BHCPF implementation is encouraging greater participation from state governments, civil society organizations, and relevant agencies involved in healthcare delivery.
He noted that the synergy created among stakeholders, particularly the four funding gateways, is helping align strategies and increase the overall effectiveness of the programme.
Dr. Salako also highlighted a significant rise in health insurance subscriptions, which he attributed to improved coordination and communication across all levels of government.
He said the MOC has served as a platform to foster shared understanding and collective action towards expanding access to quality primary healthcare services.
He further stated that the impact of the Presidential Order on unlocking the healthcare value chain is beginning to manifest through various reports and developments shared during the meeting.
According to the minister of State for Health, these efforts align with President Bola Tinubu’s agenda to revitalise the primary healthcare system and build a resilient, people-centered health sector.
The Chairman of the Nigerian Health Commissioners’ Forum and Ekiti State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oyebanji Filani, also commended President Bola Tinubu for supporting reforms in the health sector.
He said the synergy between federal and state governments has brought about massive improvements in primary healthcare delivery nationwide.
“Across the country, primary healthcare centers have become renovation sites, beyond infrastructure, facilities are being equipped and health workers trained to meet today’s healthcare demands, more importantly, we’re ensuring that commodities are available in these facilities, making services accessible and of better quality,” Filani stated.
He said that with improved service delivery, more Nigerians are getting healthier and contributing productively to the economy.
On Leadership Update, Dr. Ogbe Oritseweyimi was announce as the new Secretary of the Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC) Secretariat of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).
Dr. Ogbe, who previously served as the National Lead for the BHCPF at the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), brings a wealth of experience in health systems governance, coordination, and health financing.
Oversight functions
As Secretary, Dr. Ogbe will be central to coordinating the MOC’s oversight functions, ensuring alignment among key stakeholders, and advancing reforms within the primary healthcare financing landscape.
In a related development, the MOC also resolved to enhance the visibility of ongoing health sector reforms and success stories. This includes strengthening strategic communication, documenting achievements, and deepening media engagement to keep the public informed and mobilised.
The BHCPF remains a critical instrument in the federal government’s efforts to achieve universal health coverage by funding essential health services at the primary level, especially for the most vulnerable populations.
Lateefah Ibrahim