By Ahmed Ahmed
Considering the need to revive Nigeria’s primary healthcare system and push the country closer to Universal Health Coverage (UHC), the federal government has approved the disbursement of over N65 billion to support the delivery of basic healthcare services nationwide.
The latest announcement was made at the 11th Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC) meeting held in Abuja, where top officials, health commissioners, and development partners gathered to assess progress and map a course for future implementation.
The funds, drawn under the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF), are structured to be disbursed quarterly – N16.44 billion per quarter – in line with the 2020 BHCPF Guidelines. According to Coordinating Honourable Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, the third-quarter tranche of N32.88 billion has already been approved and is expected to be released by the end of August.
“This disbursement ensures continuity of critical health financing activities,” Prof. Pate said, emphasising that over 37 million visits to primary health facilities have been supported through the BHCPF, marking a significant milestone in Nigeria’s healthcare reform journey.
Building a Self-Sustaining System
Beyond financing, the federal government is pushing broader reforms to ensure sustainability. Professor Pate pointed to the recent Presidential Executive Orders aimed at unlocking the local healthcare manufacturing sector, as well as the newly enacted Tax Reform Bill, as foundational steps toward reducing Nigeria’s long-standing reliance on foreign aid. “We are laying the groundwork for a more resilient health system. Our fiscal reforms are designed not just to fund healthcare, but to institutionalise it as a right and a service that reaches every Nigerian, no matter their location,” he stated.
But challenges persist; particularly in infectious disease control. The Honourable Minister raised concerns about the country’s struggle with tuberculosis (TB), disclosing that nearly 50,000 Nigerians diagnosed with TB had yet to commence treatment. He assured stakeholders that targeted provisions had been made in the 2025 national budget to address this gap.
Accountability, Inclusivity
For the health sector’s transformation to succeed, transparency and citizen participation remain paramount, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, stressed the need for accountability in BHCPF implementation. “Transparency and inclusivity must guide our process. This is not just about spending; it is about outcomes – ensuring health actually reaches the people,” he said.
Dr. Salako also commended the Executive Order on Healthcare Value Chain signed by President Bola Tinubu, which is already accelerating access to locally manufactured medicines, diagnostic tools, and medical devices. According to him, the policy is breathing new life into Nigeria’s health economy and directly aligning with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
States Step Up
At the sub-national level, health commissioners echoed the federal government’s tone. Chairman of the Nigerian Health Commissioners’ Forum and Ekiti State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oyebanji Filani, noted that primary healthcare centres across the country are seeing real-time improvements. “Many facilities are undergoing renovation, yes, but that is only one part of the equation. We are also equipping them, training staff, and ensuring medicines and commodities are consistently available,” Dr. Filani explained. “The goal is to make quality care the standard, not the exception.”
Stakeholders at the meeting reaffirmed a shared commitment to deepening reforms, scaling implementation, and mobilising private sector investment – all aimed at building a responsive and inclusive health system for all Nigerians.
With the latest disbursement, the federal government is sending a strong signal: healthcare is no longer an afterthought. It is central to national development, human capital growth, and economic resilience.
