FG, States, Partners Seek Stronger Financing, Accountability To Achieve Universal Health Coverage
The federal government has reiterated its commitment to reducing the cost of healthcare and expanding access to quality services, as federal and state health authorities, alongside international partners, called for stronger financing and accountability to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Nigeria.
The call was made on Monday at the 2025 World Universal Health Coverage Day celebration held in Abuja, where stakeholders highlighted the impact of rising healthcare costs on households and the need for coordinated reforms across the health sector.
Speaking at the event, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, said the administration of President Bola Tinubu is determined to ensure that no Nigerian is forced to choose between accessing healthcare and meeting basic household needs.
He described health as a fundamental human right and a key driver of national productivity, security, and economic growth.
Pate acknowledged that progress toward UHC remains challenging globally but said Nigeria has begun implementing wide-ranging reforms through the Nigerian Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), launched in December 2023.
He explained that the initiative aligns federal, state, and development partner efforts under a unified “one plan, one budget, one conversation” framework to reduce fragmentation and improve accountability.
Representing state governments, the Chairman of the Commissioners of Health Forum, Dr Oyebanjo Filani, said Nigeria’s UHC challenges reflect broader global pressures, including changes in donor financing.
He noted that although donor funding accounts for between eight and 12 per cent of health financing in Nigeria, it often supports critical services that have been historically underfunded.
