The Federal Government has approved the release of over ₦32 billion to strengthen primary healthcare centres (PHCs) across Nigeria and enhance service delivery.
The decision was reached at the first quarter 2026 meeting of the Ministerial Oversight Committee on the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) held in Abuja.
Speaking at the meeting, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, said the funds would be disbursed to healthcare facilities in line with guidelines approved in 2025. He added that plans are underway to expand the number of beneficiary facilities.
“We are working towards increasing the number of facilities to about 5,000 more that will receive direct funding,” he said.
Pate also revealed that the committee reviewed a proposed increase in tariff rates for emergency ambulance services, aimed at better compensating both public and private providers.
On immunisation efforts, he noted that over 102 million children were vaccinated during a nationwide measles and rubella campaign launched last year.
Despite improvements, the minister acknowledged that maternal and child mortality rates remain high, stressing the need for sustained efforts to reduce them further.
“We have made progress in reducing maternal and child deaths and controlling disease outbreaks. More than 200 disease incidents were recorded in the past year and were contained early,” he said.
He explained that the current administration is aligning healthcare financing with measurable outcomes through the BHCPF 2.0 framework, ensuring that funds directly translate into improved services, especially at the primary care level.
Pate also highlighted the impact of policies introduced under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, particularly the free emergency obstetric care initiative, which has benefited over 40,000 women. In addition, more than 4,000 women have received treatment under the free fistula programme, while neonatal care reimbursements are gradually being implemented.
He added that the Comprehensive Emergency Management of Obstetric Services (CEMO) reimbursement scheme is already yielding positive results.
Also speaking, Minister of State for Health, Iziaq Adekunle Salako, emphasised that the initiative is focused on tangible outcomes.
“This is about results Nigerians can see and feel — safer childbirth, improved emergency response, and better-functioning primary healthcare centres,” he said.
The BHCPF remains a key federal funding mechanism aimed at ensuring steady financing, reducing out-of-pocket expenses, and improving access to quality healthcare, particularly for vulnerable populations.
At the meeting, key agencies including the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) presented updates on implementation progress.
Representatives of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) and civil society organisations also shared field insights and recommendations, highlighting improvements in service delivery, public health response, and financial protection.
A major focus of the meeting was the accelerated rollout of BHCPF 2.0 under the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp), aligning funding, service delivery, and accountability mechanisms to improve health outcomes nationwide in line with the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII).
The committee also reviewed priority programmes such as the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Initiative (MAMII), HOPE PHC, and the National Health Fellows Programme, all aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery, workforce capacity, and system accountability.
Progress on the National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (NEMSAS), along with broader maternal and child health indicators, was also assessed as part of ongoing efforts to improve emergency response and lifesaving care across the country.
