Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
Recent public commentary on Nigeria’s health sector has raised important concerns about health workforce shortages, infrastructure, healthcare financing, the migration of skilled professionals, and access to quality care. These are real challenges. They are also the very reasons the Federal Government is implementing far-reaching reforms to strengthen Nigeria’s health system.” Since 2023, the Federal Government has recruited more than 37,000 health
workers across federal health institutions and trained over 70,000 frontline health workers to strengthen service delivery. Recognising the growing challenge of health workforce migration, Government has also approved Nigeria’s National Policy on Health Workforce Migration to improve workforce planning, strengthen retention, and promote ethical recruitment. These actions are
supported by the National Health Workforce Registry and continued investments in specialist training and workforce development. This was contained in a statement signed by Ado Bako, Assistant Director, Information, and Public Relations.
The statement reads: “At the primary healthcare level, the revised Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF 2.0) is strengthening service delivery, accountability, and financial protection for millions of Nigerians. Government has approved ₦32.9 billion under the revised framework, supporting more than 8,300 Primary Health Care Centres, with expansion underway to approximately 13,000 facilities
nationwide. These reforms have already contributed to over 80 million patient visits, while more than 21 million vulnerable Nigerians have accessed
healthcare through the Vulnerable Groups Health Insurance Fund. Through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) Gateway of the BHCPF, disease surveillance and outbreak
preparedness are also being
strengthened as part of an integrated health security framework.
“Government is equally responding to concerns around the affordability and
availability of medicines by expanding local pharmaceutical manufacturing
through the Presidential Initiative to Unlock the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC). The objective is simple: strengthen local production, improve medicine security and make essential medicines more available and affordable for Nigerians.
“These reforms extend beyond policy. They include investments in health
infrastructure, maternal and newborn health, emergency preparedness, digital health systems and improved accountability across the sector. As at the 2025 Joint Annual Review, 84 per cent of the key performance indicators under the Presidential Health Sector Renewal Compact had been achieved, reflecting measurable progress in implementing Nigeria’s health sector reform agenda.
“Nigeria’s health sector still faces significant challenges, and Government has never suggested otherwise. Lasting reform, however, is measured not by rhetoric but by sustained action, transparent implementation, and measurable results.
“The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare remains committed to
working with healthcare professionals, civil society, development partners, the
private sector and all Nigerians to build stronger, more equitable, and more
resilient health system.
“Our mandate remains clear: to save lives, reduce both physical and financial pain, and improve the health and wellbeing of all Nigerians, ” it also added.
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