BY DAVID ADUGE-ANI
The Federal Government has renewed its commitment to ending unaffordable healthcare and expanding access to quality services for all Nigerians, as federal and state health leaders, alongside United Nations agencies, called for stronger financing, accountability and collaboration to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Speaking at the 2025 UHC Day celebration in Abuja, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, said the Tinubu administration is determined to ensure that no Nigerian is forced to choose between accessing healthcare and meeting basic household needs.
He stressed that health is both a fundamental human right and a critical driver of national productivity, security and economic growth.
Pate noted that although global progress toward UHC remains challenging, Nigeria has embarked on bold systemic reforms under the Nigerian Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), launched in December 2023.
According to him, the initiative has aligned federal, state and development partner efforts under a “one plan, one budget, one conversation” framework, helping to reduce fragmentation and strengthen accountability.
Speaking on behalf of states, the Chairman of the Commissioners of Health Forum, Dr Oyebanjo Filani, said Nigeria’s struggle with UHC reflects a broader global reality, worsened by shifts in donor financing.
He explained that while donor support accounts for about 8 to 12 percent of health financing in Nigeria, it often funds critical interventions historically underfunded by governments, making the transition particularly sensitive.
“As a country, we have taken ownership of these challenges,” Filani said, commending the coordinating minister’s leadership in ensuring that funding gaps are minimised and external support aligns with national priorities.
He added that state governments are fully aware of their responsibilities, not only to expand access to quality healthcare but also to listen to citizens’ feedback and make necessary course corrections.