The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has revealed that Nigeria has made significant progress in its health sector in 2025, training over 23,000 additional frontline health workers, bringing the total 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, which provides a comprehensive assessment of progress under the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative and the Sector-Wide Approach, which coordinates health investments and reforms.
The trained health workers represent 65 per cent of the federal government’s target of 120,000, aimed at strengthening service delivery, particularly at primary healthcare facilities. On the achievement, the report noted:
The report said, “The trained frontline health workers represent 65 per cent of the federal government’s target of 120,000, with the aim of strengthening service delivery, particularly at primary healthcare facilities.”
The report also highlighted gains in expanding financial protection for Nigerians through health insurance. Coverage increased from “19.2 million in 2024 to 21.7 million in 2025”, representing about 13 per cent national coverage. On government commitment, it stated:
“The government secured a presidential commitment for the full implementation of mandatory health insurance,” the report said.
Capitation and fee-for-service payments were raised by 93 per cent and 378 per cent, respectively, “to reflect prevailing economic realities and ensure sustainability of care,” the report added.
The Basic Health Care Provision Fund 2.0, launched in October 2025 with new fiduciary and operational reforms, enrolled about 2.7 million Nigerians by the fourth quarter.
On maternal and newborn health care, the report highlighted the signing of memoranda of understanding with more than 200 health facilities to scale up access to Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (CEmONC) for poor and vulnerable women.
“CEmONC services reached 19,270 women nationwide, with 20,486 claims reimbursed to 186 facilities, while 242 facilities across the country were empanelled under the maternal component,” the report stated.
The neonatal component of the programme was also launched in seven facilities in Kano and Lagos in September 2025. Emergency response services were strengthened, with the State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System responding to 26,431 maternal emergencies nationwide. The Rural Emergency Services for Maternal and Newborn Transport initiative supported 34,331 pregnant women and newborns in 124 local government areas.
On disease prevention, the report noted:
“Nigeria began implementation of the malaria vaccine in Bayelsa and Kebbi states, marking a major milestone in malaria control efforts.”
The HIV programme maintained treatment coverage above 87 per cent and viral suppression above 95 per cent, contributing to a continued decline in new infections.
On health security, the Federal Government launched the second National Action Plan on Health Security, integrating disease surveillance, immunisation, and veterinary services into a coordinated emergency response framework. The MSDAT digital platform was introduced to host interactive dashboards for monitoring health system performance and quality of care.
On strengthening local manufacturing of health products, the report stated:
“Tax waivers to the tune of over six billion Naira were implemented under the Presidential Executive Order on Health Products, benefitting 47 pharmaceutical manufacturers.”
New facilities include a Rapid Diagnostic Test factory by Codix Bio and a syringe manufacturing plant with a daily production capacity of 750,000 units. Thirty-seven pharmaceutical facilities are currently being upgraded to meet international Good Manufacturing Practice standards, while 38 per cent of publicly procured medicines and health commodities are sourced locally.
To strengthen medicine supply chains and combat counterfeit drugs, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control seized and destroyed over one trillion Naira worth of banned, expired, and substandard medical products in 2025.
The report noted that these reforms are part of broader efforts under the Health Sector Strategic Blueprint (2023–2027) to improve governance, financing, and service delivery.
Focus areas include maternal and child health, immunisation, health insurance expansion, workforce strengthening, supply chains, and pandemic preparedness.
