Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
Federal Government has approved the disbursement of ₦32.9 billion to 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to strengthen primary healthcare delivery and expand health insurance coverage across the country.
The announcement of this approval was made at the fourth quarterly meeting of the Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC) for 2025, held in Abuja and convened by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
According to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Ms Kachallom Daju, the fourth release of funds under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) was a reflection of the federal government’s commitment to financing, transparency, and accountability in the health sector.
Ms. Daju further stated that the funds would also support improved service delivery at primary healthcare centres, increased health insurance enrolment, and stronger performance across key BHCPF gateways.
She also stressed the inclusion of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) as a member of the MOC, to strengthen local government participation and the establishment of a Citizens’ Response Centre (CRC) to enhance transparency, citizen feedback, and accountability in the health sector, including BHCPF-supported intervention.
Her words: “The CRC will provide Nigerians with a dedicated platform to make enquiries, lodge complaints, and share feedback on health services, including BHCPF-supported interventions, and can be accessed through the toll-free line 0800 000 0774.
In addition, Ms. Daju said that the disbursement is scheduled to commence in January 2026, adding that the administration of President Bola Tinubu has prioritised health, with accountability and transparency remaining central to ongoing reforms aimed at improving health outcomes and saving lives.
Similarly, Dr. Muyi Aina, the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), said that regular BHCPF disbursements had contributed to measurable gains in primary healthcare services nationwide.
According to Dr. Aina, this is contingent on the rising utilisation of primary healthcare centres, improved immunisation coverage, and increased uptake of other essential health services.
Dr. Aina also announced that, for the first time, BHCPF disbursements would be implemented under the BHCPF 2.0 Guidelines, introducing differentiated funding based on service volume.
He said: “Beginning January 2026, low-volume facilities will receive ₦600,000 per quarter, while high-volume facilities will receive ₦800,000, replacing the previous flat-rate system.”
He further stated that the approach was designed to better align resources with patient load, improve service readiness, and reduce out-of-pocket health spending.
“Looking ahead to 2026, the focus will be on accelerating impact across priority areas, including primary healthcare revitalisation, immunisation, maternal, newborn and child health, nutrition, and reproductive health services,” he also added.
Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, Director-General of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), in his remarks, said health insurance coverage has continued to improve, driven by stronger coordination and accountability across the sector.
Dr. Ohiri also stated that the MOC has enhanced transparency by publishing details of transfers from the one per cent Consolidated Revenue Fund to states and local governments, enabling citizens to track how health funds are allocated and utilised.
According to Dr. Ohiri, the quarterly MOC meetings also serve as an accountability platform that would require agencies to report on the deployment of resources under the BHCPF and other funding streams.
In addition, he stated that while progress was recorded in 2025, the sector remained focused on accelerating results in 2026 to deliver better health outcomes for Nigerians.
It is noteworthy to recall that the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, established under the National Health Act of 2014, is a flagship financing mechanism of the Federal Government aimed at ensuring sustainable funding for primary healthcare and expanding access to quality essential health services, particularly for the poor and vulnerable.
END
