Nigeria’s NCD Response Hampered by Funding Gaps and Weak Coordination

Stakeholders in Nigeria’s health sector have raised serious concerns over inadequate funding, weak institutional capacity, and poor coordination undermining the country’s response to non-communicable diseases, warning that the situation could worsen without urgent intervention.

The concerns were raised on Thursday in Nasarawa State during a two-day capacity-strengthening workshop for government ministries, departments, and agencies on public financing for non-communicable disease prevention and control, as well as the implementation of a multisectoral action plan.

The workshop was organised by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in partnership with the Legislative Initiative for Sustainable Development and the Global Health Advocacy Incubator.

Speaking at the event, Muhammed Usman, Vice President of LISDEL, said the engagement was designed to galvanise support from key stakeholders critical to addressing Nigeria’s growing non-communicable disease burden.

“This meeting is aimed at galvanising support from all relevant stakeholders within the health sector. We have representatives from the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance and Budget, the National Assembly, and civil society organisations,” he said.

Usman stressed that non-communicable diseases have become a major public health concern but continue to receive insufficient attention and funding.

“The goal is to mobilise these stakeholders to better understand that non-communicable diseases are a major public health concern in Nigeria today. Globally, significant priority is given to tackling non-communicable diseases, and we want to see the same level of attention in Nigeria,” he said.

He noted that the widespread impact of the diseases underscores the urgency for action.

“As I mentioned earlier, there is hardly any family that is not affected by non-communicable diseases, particularly hypertension. This underscores the urgency of addressing the issue,” he said.

Usman also urged policymakers and legislators to take concrete steps.

“Those involved in budgeting should ensure adequate allocation to agencies like the NCDC. Members of the National Assembly should recognise the importance of this issue and advocate for increased funding. There must also be strong oversight,” he added.

Also speaking, Professor Emmanuel Alhassan, Country Director of GHAI, said the workshop was convened to identify critical gaps in Nigeria’s response and build the capacity of ministries, departments, and agencies to address them.

“This gathering is aimed at identifying the gaps in Nigeria’s response to non-communicable diseases. At present, non-communicable diseases pose a significant and growing challenge in the country,” he said.

Highlighting the scale of the problem, Alhassan noted that many Nigerians are living with non-communicable diseases, often unknowingly.

“If you speak to ten people, you can imagine how many may be living with hypertension. Many men and women are also affected by conditions such as prostate cancer, cervical cancer, breast cancer, and others,” he said.

He revealed that a recent assessment exposed serious deficiencies, particularly in financing.

“Prior to this workshop, an assessment was conducted, and the results clearly showed significant gaps. For instance, last year, there was no funding release at all for non-communicable diseases, which is deeply concerning,” he said.

Alhassan also pointed to weak capacity among non-health ministries, departments, and agencies.

“There are gaps in the capacity of non-health ministries, departments, and agencies to effectively design and present programmes in ways that can attract funding for non-communicable disease-related interventions. Strengthening this capacity is essential,” he added.

He further noted that the expiration of the previous non-communicable disease multisectoral action plan makes the development of a new framework urgent.

“Another key objective of this gathering is to catalyse the development of a new action plan in collaboration with all relevant stakeholders,” he said.

Alhassan added that participants recommended adopting political economy analysis to strengthen advocacy.

“This is not just for budget appropriations, but also for the actual release and efficient utilisation of funds for non-communicable disease programmes,” he said.

Providing further insight, Dr. Alayo Sopekan, National Coordinator for Non-Communicable Diseases at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, described non-communicable diseases as chronic conditions largely driven by lifestyle factors.

“As you are aware, non-communicable diseases are illnesses that are not transmitted from one person to another. They are often referred to as lifestyle diseases. Once a person develops them, they typically have no cure, but they can be managed,” he said.

He attributed the rising prevalence to changing lifestyles and unhealthy habits.

“Many people no longer maintain healthy habits—we do not eat as naturally as we used to. These factors are contributing significantly to the growing burden of non-communicable diseases,” he said.

Sopekan listed common non-communicable diseases to include hypertension, diabetes, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cancers, noting that their incidence continues to rise.

“The first national survey in 1990 showed relatively low prevalence rates. Today, about 15 per cent of our population is living with hypertension—at least among those diagnosed,” he said.

He added that many Nigerians remain unaware of their health status.

“About 25 per cent of people have never had their blood sugar checked. In many cases, diagnosis is incidental,” he said.

The non-communicable disease coordinator also highlighted the burden of sickle cell disease.

“About two per cent of our population are living with sickle cell disease, while approximately 25 per cent carry the gene as healthy carriers,” he said.

He emphasised the financial strain on patients managing chronic conditions.

“Their management is often expensive, forcing many patients to choose between basic needs like food and purchasing medication. The burden of out-of-pocket expenses is significant,” he added.

Sopekan stressed that tackling non-communicable diseases requires a whole-of-government approach.

“Non-communicable diseases are not just a health sector issue—they are linked to lifestyle and require a multisectoral approach. Other ministries and agencies have important roles to play,” he said.

He added that the workshop was already yielding useful outcomes.

“So far, the discussions have yielded valuable insights. Participants will return to their respective institutions better equipped to improve current approaches and deliver more effective interventions,” he said.

According to the World Health Organization, non-communicable diseases account for over 70 per cent of deaths globally. In Nigeria, they are responsible for about 29 per cent of deaths, driven by factors such as urbanisation, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, tobacco use, and harmful alcohol consumption.

Unlike infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases are long-term conditions that often require lifelong treatment and management, placing a heavy financial burden on households, particularly in Nigeria where out-of-pocket health expenditure remains high.

Experts warn that without sustained investment, stronger policies, and coordinated action across sectors, Nigeria may face a worsening public health crisis driven by non-communicable diseases.