Over N98bn Injected into primary healthcare, says Tinubu
… 8,300 PHCs funded as insurance covers 10m vulnerable Nigerians … 78,000 frontline health workers retrained in two years President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday disclosed that over N98 billion
... 8,300 PHCs funded as insurance covers 10m vulnerable Nigerians
... 78,000 frontline health workers retrained in two years
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday disclosed that over N98 billion was disbursed last year to strengthen primary healthcare delivery across the country, describing the intervention as one of the largest single-year investments in grassroots health services in recent times.
The President made the disclosure at the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Health Convention and Roundtable 1.0 in Abuja, where he said the funds were released through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) to support operational expenses in more than 8,300 primary healthcare centres (PHCs) nationwide.
Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, Tinubu said the disbursement forms part of his administration’s broader push to reposition the health sector as a cornerstone of national development under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
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In a statement issued by Special Adviser to the SGF on Media and Publicity, Yomi Odunuga, the President said “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”.
He added that the funding framework is being expanded to cover an additional 5,212 PHCs, bringing the total number of benefitting facilities to over 13,500 across the federation. According to him, the move will deepen access to quality healthcare, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
Tinubu explained that the financial injection has supported the ongoing revitalisation of PHCs, with 2,565 centres already upgraded and another 1,456 currently undergoing rehabilitation.
He said 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.
On health insurance coverage, the President revealed that more than 10 million vulnerable Nigerians have been enrolled, as part of efforts to reduce out-of-pocket expenses and improve access to care.
“In 2023, I tasked the Minister of Health with retraining 120,000 primary health care workers within four years. In just two years, over 78,000 frontline health workers have been trained. These include doctors, nurses, midwives, CHEWs, and JCHEWs”, he said.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to comprehensive health sector reform, declaring that quality healthcare delivery remains a central pillar of his Renewed Hope Agenda.
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Describing the health sector as fundamental to national productivity, security, economic growth and human dignity, Tinubu stressed that “a country cannot be prosperous if its citizens are unhealthy.”
The President also highlighted progress under the Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII), which he said is tracking pregnant women in 172 high-burden local government areas.
More than 100,000 pregnant women, he disclosed, have been linked to health facilities for antenatal, delivery and postnatal services, with free emergency maternal and newborn care provided in supported centres.
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He further spoke on the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Health Care Value Chain (PVAC), aimed at reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imported medicines by incentivising local pharmaceutical manufacturing, strengthening regulatory capacity and promoting backward integration of active pharmaceutical ingredients.
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Calling on APC governors and legislators to align with federal reforms, Tinubu urged states to increase health budget allocations toward the 15 per cent Abuja Declaration benchmark, ensure functionality of primary and secondary health facilities, strengthen state health insurance schemes and publish measurable annual health scorecards.
“As a ruling party, we must hold ourselves accountable,” he said, challenging the party’s National Executive Committee to consider requesting annual reports on key health and development indices from governors and local government chairmen.
“This convention must not turn into a mere talk shop. Let APC be the first party to institutionalise health reform in Nigeria", he said.
The President also called on the private sector, development partners, traditional rulers and faith leaders to deepen collaboration with government in delivering accessible and affordable healthcare services nationwide.
