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Nigeria has recorded major progress in the health sector in 2025, with over 23,000 additional frontline health workers trained, bringing the total number trained in the last two years to 78,146, according to the 2025 State of Health of the Nation Report released on Saturday in Abuja.
The report, issued by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, assesses progress under the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative and the Sector-Wide Approach, which coordinate health investments and reforms nationwide.
It stated that the trained health workers represent 65 per cent of the Federal Government’s target of 120,000, aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery, particularly at primary healthcare facilities.
The report also showed progress in health insurance coverage, which rose from 19.2 million Nigerians in 2024 to 21.7 million in 2025, representing about 13 per cent national coverage. Government commitment was further reinforced by a presidential directive to fully implement mandatory health insurance.
To ensure sustainability of care, capitation payments increased by 93 per cent while fee-for-service payments rose by 378 per cent, reflecting prevailing economic realities.
The Basic Health Care Provision Fund 2.0, launched in October 2025 with new operational and fiduciary reforms, enrolled about 2.7 million Nigerians by the fourth quarter.
In maternal and newborn healthcare, the government signed agreements with over 200 health facilities to expand access to Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (CEmONC) for poor and vulnerable women. The programme reached 19,270 women, with 20,486 claims reimbursed to 186 facilities, while 242 facilities were empanelled under the maternal health component.
A neonatal care component was also launched in seven facilities in Kano and Lagos in September 2025. Emergency response systems improved as the State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System responded to 26,431 maternal emergencies nationwide, while the Rural Emergency Services for Maternal and Newborn Transport supported 34,331 pregnant women and newborns across 124 local government areas.
On disease prevention, Nigeria began implementation of the malaria vaccine in Bayelsa State and Kebbi State, marking a key milestone in malaria control efforts.
The country’s HIV programme also sustained treatment coverage above 87 per cent and viral suppression above 95 per cent, contributing to a continued decline in new infections.
To strengthen health security, the Federal Government launched the National Action Plan on Health Security, integrating disease surveillance, immunisation, and veterinary services into a coordinated emergency response framework. A digital platform, MSDAT, was also introduced to monitor health system performance.
The report further noted progress in local manufacturing of medical products, with over ₦6bn in tax waivers granted to 47 pharmaceutical manufacturers under the Presidential Executive Order on Health Products.
New investments include a Rapid Diagnostic Test factory by Codix Bio and a syringe manufacturing plant producing 750,000 units daily. Currently, 37 pharmaceutical facilities are being upgraded to meet international Good Manufacturing Practice standards, while 38 per cent of medicines procured by the public sector are sourced locally.
To combat counterfeit drugs, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control seized and destroyed over ₦1 trillion worth of banned, expired, and substandard medical products in 2025.
The reforms are part of the government’s broader strategy under the Health Sector Strategic Blueprint (2023–2027), which focuses on improving governance, healthcare financing, workforce capacity, immunisation, maternal and child health services, supply chains, and pandemic preparedness.
