The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Ali Pate, says Nigeria has the capacity to respond effectively to medical emergencies but needs sustained investment to further strengthen its healthcare system.
Speaking on Sunday, Pate noted that the Federal Government has made significant investments in emergency care and medical infrastructure nationwide, stressing that continued funding is crucial to improving service delivery.
He said Nigeria has specialised medical institutions, including national eye and ear hospitals, alongside other advanced facilities that many citizens are unaware of. According to him, the return of Nigerian doctors trained abroad has also helped improve the country’s healthcare capacity.
Addressing medical tourism, the minister explained that Nigerians often seek treatment overseas due to personal preferences or past medical experiences, rather than a lack of confidence in local healthcare services.
Pate revealed that healthcare funding has increased under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, rising from about four per cent in 2023 to over five per cent in the past two years.
He said ongoing reforms are focused on expanding health insurance coverage, improving working conditions for health professionals, increasing access to quality care for low-income citizens, and strengthening international partnerships.
The minister added that Nigeria has recorded progress in reducing maternal mortality and malaria cases, with 20 states improving their health performance in 2025 compared to the previous year.
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He disclosed that the number of basic healthcare facilities receiving direct financing from the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund has increased from 8,000 to 13,000. This expansion, he said, contributed to over 80 million visits to basic healthcare centres nationwide in the first quarter of 2025, compared to about 20 million visits in 2023.
Pate also stated that 59 million children were immunised during the most recent nationwide campaign. Between 2023 and 2025, maternal mortality declined by 10 per cent in 172 high-burden local government areas, while health insurance coverage expanded from about 16 million to over 21 million people.
He noted that seven million Nigerians in the informal sector and 2.4 million in the formal sector are currently covered under the National Health Insurance Scheme, with additional coverage provided through other arrangements.
The minister said the government aims to extend health insurance coverage to 50 million Nigerians, emphasising that sustained funding remains key to achieving the target.
