\n\n
President Bola Tinubu has announced that the number of health facilities benefiting from the over N98 billion injected into primary healthcare in 2025 is expected to rise to 13,500 across the country.
Tinubu, who described the health sector as fundamental to national productivity, security, economic growth, and human dignity, made this assertion on Wednesday at the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Health Convention and Roundtable 1.0 in Abuja. He was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume.
A Landmark Investment in Grassroots Health
Noting that a country cannot be prosperous if its citizens are unhealthy, Tinubu disclosed that the federal government disbursed the funds last year through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) to fast-track primary healthcare delivery across Nigeria. He described it as one of the largest single-year investments in grassroots health services in recent times.
According to the President, the funding facilitated operational expenses for over 8,300 primary healthcare centres (PHCs) across the country. He also revealed that the funding framework was being expanded to accommodate an additional 5,212 facilities, stressing that the move would deepen access to quality healthcare, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
“We have strengthened the Basic Health Care Provision Fund and consistently disbursed the quarterly allocation to primary health care centres, with over N98 billion disbursed to support operational expenses for over 8,300 Primary Health Care facilities last year,” Tinubu said.
“Also, we are expanding this very critical sustainable domestic financing mechanism to an additional 5,212 primary health care centres to reach a total of over 13,500 facilities.”
Upgraded Facilities, Expanded Coverage
Tinubu emphasised that the financial injection had already enabled the upgrading of 2,565 centres, while another 1,456 PHCs were currently undergoing renovation. The upgraded facilities now provide 24-hour services, staffed with trained health workers, and equipped with essential medicines, basic medical equipment, as well as stable power and water supply.
The President also highlighted progress in health insurance coverage, stating that the administration had expanded coverage to over 10 million vulnerable individuals.
Training of Frontline Health Workers
Recalling his 2023 directive to the Minister of Health to retrain 120,000 primary healthcare workers within four years, Tinubu reported significant progress.
“In just two years, over 78,000 frontline health workers have been trained. These include doctors, nurses, midwives, CHEWs, and JCHEWs,” he said, adding that the initiative was designed to empower them to deliver quality healthcare services and enable them to compete with their counterparts across the world.
Progress on Maternal Mortality Reduction
The President further highlighted progress under the Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII), which tracks pregnant women in 172 high-burden local government areas.
He disclosed that more than 100,000 pregnant women have been linked to health facilities for antenatal, delivery, and postnatal services, with free emergency maternal and newborn care provided in supported facilities.
Call for Collective Action
Tinubu urged APC governors and legislators to align with federal reforms and take specific actions, including:
– Increasing health budget allocations toward the 15 per cent Abuja Declaration benchmark
– Ensuring functionality of primary and secondary health facilities
– Strengthening state health insurance schemes
– Publishing measurable annual health scorecards
He also called on the private sector, development partners, traditional rulers, and faith leaders to deepen collaboration with the government in delivering accessible and affordable healthcare services.
Reiterating his administration’s commitment to comprehensive health sector reform, Tinubu declared that quality healthcare delivery remained a fulcrum of his Renewed Hope Agenda.
