Nigeria made substantial strides in its health sector reforms during 2025, according to the 2025 State of Health of the Nation Report released by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. The report, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, evaluates advancements under the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative and the Sector-Wide Approach for coordinating investments and reforms, in compliance with the National Health Act of 2014.
Key highlights include:
Health Workforce Development: Over 23,000 additional frontline health workers were trained in 2025, raising the total trained in the past two years to 78,146. This represents 65% of the federal government's target of 120,000 workers, focused on bolstering service delivery, especially at primary healthcare facilities.
Health Insurance Expansion: Coverage grew from 19.2 million Nigerians in 2024 to 21.7 million in 2025, achieving approximately 13% national coverage. The government secured presidential backing for mandatory health insurance implementation. Capitation payments increased by 93%, and fee-for-service payments rose by 378% to adapt to economic conditions and ensure program sustainability.
Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) 2.0: Launched in October 2025 with enhanced fiduciary and operational reforms, the initiative enrolled about 2.7 million Nigerians by year-end's fourth quarter.
Maternal and Newborn Health Improvements: The National Health Insurance Authority signed MOUs with over 200 facilities to expand Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (CEmONC) for vulnerable women. CEmONC services reached 19,270 women, with 20,486 claims reimbursed to 186 facilities, and 242 facilities empanelled under the maternal program. The neonatal component launched in seven facilities in Kano and Lagos in September 2025. Emergency services responded to 26,431 maternal emergencies nationwide, while the Rural Emergency Services initiative supported 34,331 pregnant women and newborns across 124 local government areas.
Disease Prevention and Control: Nigeria initiated the malaria vaccine rollout in Bayelsa and Kebbi states, a critical step in malaria control. The HIV program sustained treatment coverage above 87% and viral suppression over 95%, aiding a decline in new infections.
Health Security and Digital Tools: The second National Action Plan on Health Security was launched to integrate surveillance, immunization, and veterinary services. The MSDAT digital platform was introduced for real-time monitoring of health system performance and care quality.
Local Manufacturing and Supply Chain Enhancements: Tax waivers exceeding ₦6 billion supported 47 pharmaceutical manufacturers under the Presidential Executive Order on Health Products. New facilities included a Rapid Diagnostic Test factory by Codix Bio and a syringe plant producing 750,000 units daily. 37 facilities are upgrading to international Good Manufacturing Practice standards, with 38% of publicly procured medicines now sourced locally. NAFDAC seized and destroyed over ₦1 trillion worth of substandard, expired, or banned products.
These reforms align with the Health Sector Strategic Blueprint (2023–2027), prioritizing maternal and child health, immunization acceleration, insurance expansion, workforce strengthening, supply chain improvements, and pandemic preparedness. The report underscores a coordinated push toward better governance, financing, and service delivery for sustainable health gains across Nigeria.
