By Dr. Nafisat Makinde
Nigeria will raise ₦150 billion over the next two years to fund vaccine procurement and strengthen epidemic preparedness, marking a major step in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s health sector reforms.
Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Finance Wale Edun announced the plan at the 2025 Joint Annual Health Sector Review (JAR) in Abuja, explaining that it is part of efforts to stabilize the economy and expand funding for social sectors such as health and education.
“The turnaround in the economy has begun. Distortions are being removed, the economy is stabilizing, and social sectors like health are benefiting significantly,” Edun said. He added that the federal health budget has grown by nearly 60 percent, and the Basic Health Care Provision Fund will rise from ₦131.5 billion in 2024 to almost ₦299 billion in 2026.
Health Minister Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate said the reforms have produced measurable results, including a 17 percent drop in maternal deaths, a 12 percent decline in newborn deaths, and the recruitment of more than 15,000 new health workers nationwide. He noted that all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory now have operational health plans aligned with national priorities.
“Citizen trust is rising, with 55 percent of Nigerians expressing confidence in the reforms,” Pate added, emphasizing initiatives to expand local vaccine production, health insurance coverage, and digital transparency tools.
Minister of Budget and National Planning Atiku Bagudu said Nigeria’s revenue-to-GDP ratio, which has been below 8 percent since 2007, is a major constraint on growth. The government aims to raise it to 18 percent by 2026 through tax and fiscal reforms. He also revealed that all 8,809 wards across 774 local government areas are being integrated into a coordinated national planning framework.
Minister of State for Health Dr. Adekunle Salako said the Nigerian Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative could save the economy ₦4.8 trillion annually from preventable diseases and reduce ₦850 billion in losses to medical tourism. Over 500 high-impact projects, 13 tertiary hospitals, and six cancer centres are currently underway across the country.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, speaking for the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, called for stronger federal-state collaboration. He noted that ₦32.9 billion under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund has become a game-changer in driving primary healthcare delivery at the subnational level.
The Health Sector Renewal Compact, first signed in 2023, has been expanded to include local governments, traditional rulers, the private sector, and civil society organizations, reinforcing the theme “All Hands, One Mission.”
