In a major push to revitalise Nigeria’s ailing primary healthcare system, the Federal Government has disbursed ₦32 billion under the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) to more than 8,000 primary healthcare facilities across the country in the first half of 2025.
The announcement came during the 11th Expanded Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC) meeting on the BHCPF held in Abuja, where government officials, development partners, and health stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to expanding access to affordable, quality healthcare at the grassroots.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, described the fund’s impact as a “critical milestone” in Nigeria’s pursuit of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), noting that over 37 million health facility visits have been supported so far through the BHCPF.
“This reflects a truly national effort—across federal, state, and local governments, civil society, development partners, and the private sector,” Pate said. “It is aligned with President Tinubu’s Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative and the broader Renewed Hope Agenda.”
Pate also emphasised that recent presidential executive orders aimed at boosting local healthcare manufacturing—alongside the newly signed tax reform bill—are creating a more sustainable financial base for the sector, reducing Nigeria’s reliance on foreign aid.
But the challenges are not lost on the government. Pate flagged an urgent treatment gap involving 50,000 Nigerians diagnosed with tuberculosis who have yet to begin care. He assured participants that the 2025 national budget includes targeted allocations to bridge this gap, buoyed by improved diagnostic capabilities that have earned Nigeria international recognition.
The minister further disclosed that local governments are now fully integrated into the national health compact, working in tandem with state ministries and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) to expand frontline healthcare access.
Minister of State for Health, Dr Iziaq Salako, underscored the importance of collaborative governance in ensuring the BHCPF’s success. “The involvement of civil society and tighter agency coordination is beginning to yield real, visible impacts,” he said. “The president’s directive to unlock the health sector value chain is coming to life.”
Echoing this optimism, Dr Oyebanji Filani, Ekiti State’s Health Commissioner and Chair of the Health Commissioners’ Forum, praised the federal effort while stressing the shared responsibility at the subnational level. He revealed that recent meetings among state commissioners have focused on ensuring that the 8,000 targeted facilities deliver not just services but essential commodities.
“The vision is simple but ambitious: ensure Nigerians can access quality healthcare when and where they need it,” Filani said. “That’s the foundation of a healthier, more productive population.”
The Abuja meeting served as a strategic review of the BHCPF’s implementation so far and an opportunity to align on the next phase of reforms under the government’s Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp). Stakeholders presented progress updates, shared innovations, and mapped out steps to ensure the Fund’s long-term impact.
The tone of the day was pragmatic but hopeful: Nigeria’s healthcare system remains fragile, but the levers for reform—and the funding—are finally starting to move in the right direction.
