The Nigerian Government has reiterated its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s health financing system to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) for all citizens.
Minister of State for Health & Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, made the assurance on Monday in Abuja during the National Health Financing Policy Dialogue, which convened policymakers, development partners, civil society organisations, commissioners of health, and other key stakeholders to chart a course for sustainable health financing in Nigeria.
Salako described the forum as critical for shaping the country’s future health financing landscape, noting that it reflects Nigeria’s determination to prioritise citizens’ health through innovative and sustainable financing mechanisms.
“Today, we shall not just lead the discussion but the movement to turn commitments into actionable strategies and inspiring outcomes that will guide future policies and implementation,” he said.
The minister highlighted the government’s increasing investments in health, noting that the federal health budget rose from ₦434 billion in 2018 to ₦1.6 trillion in 2021, with the 2024 allocation further increasing to ₦2.4 trillion, representing 5.18 per cent of the federal budget. He added that the National Assembly approved an additional ₦300 billion in response to external aid shortfalls, while sub-national governments have also boosted their health allocations.
According to Salako, Nigeria’s total health expenditure as a percentage of GDP has grown from 3.4 per cent in 2013 to 5.3 per cent in 2024, a sign of progress but still below expectations.
He stressed that government reforms, including the National Health Insurance Authority Act of 2022 and the Vulnerable Group Fund, are designed to expand health insurance coverage and protect the poor and vulnerable from catastrophic out-of-pocket health spending.
“We aim to enroll at least 4 million Nigerians into the National Health Insurance scheme by 2030, providing financial protection against healthcare costs, which currently account for as much as 70 per cent of household expenditure,” he said.
Salako also urged stakeholders to draw lessons from other African countries like Ghana and Kenya, where political commitment, innovative financing, strong legal frameworks, and decentralised implementation have significantly improved healthcare outcomes.
“Our shared responsibility is to ensure that every Nigerian has access to quality healthcare, employment, and health insurance,” he concluded.
He encouraged participants to use the dialogue to exchange ideas, share best practices, and strengthen partnerships that will sustain Nigeria’s march toward universal health coverage.
