Nigeria’s healthcare system is at a critical juncture, with the Special Adviser to the President on Health, Dr. Salma Anas, warning that the country can no longer rely on external aid to build its healthcare infrastructure. Speaking at the 9th Annual Health Conference of the Association of Nigerian Health Journalists, Anas emphasized the need for domestic resource mobilization in the face of dwindling foreign grants and aid.
According to Anas, donor fatigue is a reality, and Nigeria will soon graduate from multiple aid programs. She stressed that the health and prosperity of the nation must be based on strong domestic ownership and accountability, rather than foreign grants. The decline in foreign aid, estimated at 15-20%, has prompted urgent calls for domestic financing to sustain essential health services.
Currently, donor funds support critical programs in HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, immunization, and primary healthcare centers. A decline in funding can lead to stock-outs, service disruptions, and catastrophic outcomes for Nigeria’s poorest citizens. Anas highlighted the importance of expanding the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) from 1% to 2% of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, which would instantly double the fiscal space for health for Nigeria’s poorest citizens.
The Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), a key component of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aims to strengthen primary healthcare, improve governance, and boost local production of medical commodities. Additional financing reforms include expanding mandatory health insurance to cover 50 million more Nigerians and advocating for increased sugar-sweetened beverage taxes to finance prevention and treatment of non-communicable diseases.
Anas urged state governors to increase their commitment to health financing, reminding them that primary healthcare is primarily delivered at the state and local government levels. The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, FCT Council, Ms. Grace Ike, also called for urgent domestic financing, emphasizing that Nigeria’s health future cannot depend on forces outside its control.
The Federal Ministry of Health has reported unprecedented momentum in the health sector, driven by international partnerships, technological innovations, and critical private-sector support. As Nigeria seeks to build a resilient and self-sustaining health system, the role of domestic financing and accountability will be crucial in ensuring the health and prosperity of its citizens.