The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called on Nigeria to increase its public health spending to at least 20 per cent of the national budget, stressing that sustainable financing is critical for building resilient health systems.
WHO Regional Director, Prof. Mohamed Janabi, made the appeal on Thursday in Abuja during the National Health Financing Dialogue themed “Reimagining the Future of Health Financing in Nigeria.”
Janabi noted that higher investment in healthcare would reduce out-of-pocket expenses, protect households from financial hardship, and strengthen prepayment and pooling mechanisms.
“With more than 223 million citizens, how Nigeria finances health is vital for the well-being of its people and the future of the continent. Healthier populations are more productive, resilient, and better positioned to drive inclusive growth,” he said.
He praised Nigeria’s recent reforms, including the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, the National Health Insurance Authority Act, and the expansion of state-level insurance schemes, describing them as “timely and commendable.”
The WHO chief also pointed to the importance of evidence-based resource allocation, equity-focused health reforms, and strong parliamentary engagement as models for other African countries.
Also speaking, Amb. Amma Twum-Amoah, Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs, and Social Development at the African Union Commission, urged African governments to prioritise health security using their abundant resources. She highlighted the African Medicines Agency and stronger regulatory frameworks as essential tools to withstand future pandemics, floods, and droughts.
Citing Nigeria’s recent approval of $1.7 billion for the HOPE Projects to strengthen governance and expand primary healthcare, Twum-Amoah said: “This reflects vision and courage. Nigeria’s leadership is critical, and we look to you not to disappoint Africa.”
She further reminded participants of the 2001 Abuja Declaration and the 2013 Abuja+12 Declaration, where African leaders pledged to allocate at least 15 per cent of national budgets to health.
In her remarks, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Ms. Daju Kachollom, said President Bola Tinubu had directed the issuance of a circular mandating all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to implement health insurance in line with the National Health Insurance Authority Act, 2022.
“Mandatory health insurance is here to stay. The ministry will lead the charge from the front,” she affirmed.
The four-day dialogue, which concluded on Thursday, brought together policymakers, health experts, development partners, private sector stakeholders, and civil society groups. The discussions aimed to build a strong evidence base for sustainable health financing and to translate high-level commitments into actionable strategies that can improve healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
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