The Federal Government has approved the disbursement of over N32 billion to strengthen Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across Nigeria, in a renewed push to improve service delivery and expand access to quality healthcare.
The approval was granted during the 14th meeting and first quarter 2026 session of the Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC) on the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF), held in Abuja.
Speaking at the meeting, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed that the funds would be distributed to eligible facilities in line with the 2025-approved guidelines. He added that plans are underway to expand the number of benefiting health facilities.
“We are on course to expand coverage to an additional 5,000 facilities that will receive direct funding,” he said.
Pate also revealed that the committee considered an upward review of tariff rates for emergency ambulance services, aimed at adequately compensating both public and private sector providers.
Highlighting recent public health achievements, he noted that over 102 million children were immunised during the country’s largest integrated measles and rubella vaccination campaign launched last year.
Despite progress in reducing maternal and child mortality, the minister stressed that rates remain high, underscoring the need for sustained intervention.
“We are making steady progress in improving maternal and child health outcomes and controlling disease outbreaks. Over 200 disease incidents recorded in the past year were swiftly contained,” he stated.
He further explained that the current administration is aligning healthcare financing with measurable outcomes through the BHCPF 2.0 framework, ensuring that resources translate into tangible improvements at the primary healthcare level.
Pate also commended the impact of the policy introduced under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which provides free emergency obstetric services. According to him, over 40,000 women have benefitted from the initiative.
In addition, more than 4,000 women have received treatment under the free fistula programme, while reimbursements for neonatal care are gradually being implemented.
“The Comprehensive Emergency Management of Obstetric Services programme is delivering encouraging results in addressing complications from childbirth,” he added.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Health, Iziaq Adekunle Salako, emphasised that the intervention is focused on delivering visible results for Nigerians.
“This initiative is about outcomes people can see and feel—safer deliveries, improved emergency response, and functional primary healthcare centres,” he said.
The BHCPF remains a key federal funding mechanism designed to provide predictable financing, reduce out-of-pocket healthcare costs, and improve access to quality services, particularly for vulnerable populations.
At the meeting, key implementing agencies including the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) presented progress reports.
Representatives of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) and Civil Society Organisations also contributed field insights, highlighting improvements in service delivery, public health response, and financial protection.
A major highlight of the session was the accelerated rollout of BHCPF 2.0 under the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp), aligned with the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative.
The committee also reviewed priority interventions such as the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Initiative (MAMII), HOPE-PHC programme, 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 was also assessed, with a focus on enhancing emergency response and lifesaving services nationwide.
