Nigeria’s healthcare system is at a critical juncture. Dr. Salma Anas, the Special Adviser to the President on Health, warned 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, she emphasized the need for domestic resource mobilization as foreign grants and aid dwindle.
Anas noted that donor fatigue is a reality and that Nigeria will soon graduate from multiple aid programs. She stressed that the nation’s health and prosperity must be grounded in 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 reduction in this funding could lead to stock‑outs, service disruptions, and catastrophic outcomes for the country’s poorest citizens.
To address the funding gap, 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 most vulnerable populations. She also referenced the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), a key component of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which 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 higher taxes on sugar‑sweetened beverages to fund the 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.
Ms. Grace Ike, Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, FCT Council, echoed the call for urgent domestic financing, emphasizing that Nigeria’s health future cannot depend on forces outside its control. The Federal Ministry of Health reported unprecedented momentum in the sector, driven by international partnerships, technological innovations, and critical private‑sector support. As Nigeria seeks to build a resilient and self‑sustaining health system, domestic financing and accountability will be crucial to ensuring the health and prosperity of its citizens.
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