The Federal Government of Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to transforming the nation’s health sector through a context-driven, evidence-based approach to health financing. This strategic pivot was announced by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, during the National Health Financing Policy Dialogue held in Abuja.
Themed “Reimagining the Future of Health Financing in Nigeria,” the high-level dialogue convened stakeholders from government, academia, civil society, and development partners to address the urgent need for smarter, more equitable investment in healthcare.
Prof. Pate emphasized that Nigeria’s current public health spending—averaging just $30 per capita annually—is insufficient to meet the growing demands of its population. He called for a deliberate prioritization of scarce resources, guided by local realities and robust data.
“If we had just one or two dollars more per capita, where should we put it? Should it be commodities, expanding primary health care, or leveraging agriculture, education, and water systems to improve outcomes? These are the tough questions we face, and evidence must guide those choices,” said Prof. Pate.
To operationalize this vision, the Federal Government will establish a National Commission on Investing in Health, in collaboration with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA). The commission will translate global research into practical, locally relevant solutions tailored to Nigeria’s unique health challenges.
Prof. Pate also urged state and local governments to complement federal efforts, particularly in financing basic healthcare delivery. He highlighted the original design of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, which envisioned contributions from all tiers of government—a goal yet to be fully realized.
“The federal government is left holding the bucket. Can we have states and local governments complement the federal government, not by sending money to Abuja, but by spending directly in their states?” he asked.