The Federal Government says it has administered more than 25 million doses of measles vaccines and over 22 million yellow fever vaccines across Nigeria, marking major progress in immunisation and disease prevention.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, said the achievements reflect growing gains in vaccination coverage and preventive healthcare delivery under the current administration.According to him, Nigeria has also recorded Africa’s first rollout of the Mpox vaccine, while five million children have received the pentavalent vaccine.
In addition, about 10 million people were vaccinated with the tetanus-diphtheria vaccine as part of the nationwide response to diphtheria outbreaks.Pate disclosed that more than one million doses of vaccines from the Gavi-supported global stockpile were deployed to contain meningitis outbreaks in parts of northern Nigeria.On malaria, the minister described the introduction of the R21 Matrix-M vaccine as a landmark intervention, noting that Nigeria accounts for about 39.3 percent of global malaria deaths among children under five.
He said the vaccine rollout began in Bayelsa and Kebbi states, with Kebbi targeting nearly 180,000 children aged five to 15 months.He added that Nigeria has so far received one million doses of the malaria vaccine, comprising supplies from Gavi and additional doses funded by the Federal Government, with plans to expand coverage nationwide.
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Pate also revealed that in 2025, Nigeria committed 54 million dollars in domestic funding to the global tuberculosis response, emerging as the largest African contributor to the Global Fund, as announced at the last G20 meeting in Johannesburg.On cervical cancer, the minister said the disease remains preventable through early vaccination against the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Since the launch of the HPV vaccination programme in October 2023 across 15 states and the Federal Capital Territory, more than 14 million girls aged nine to 14 years have been vaccinated, achieving over 90 percent coverage.
He further disclosed that approval has been granted for an additional ₦68 billion for vaccine financing and related needs, with the funds already domiciled at the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and awaiting disbursement.Highlighting increased public confidence in the health system, Pate said hospital visits rose sharply from about 10 million nationwide in the second quarter of 2024 to over 45 million by the same period in 2025.
According to him, the surge reflects improved access to essential health services, especially immunisation, as well as reduced misinformation and better outreach to Nigeria’s youthful population.The minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reducing preventable diseases and avoidable deaths, ensuring Nigerians can live healthier, more productive
