The Federal Government has announced plans to double the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) allocation from one to two per cent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF).
The move, government officials said, is aimed at closing critical financing gaps and strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare delivery system nationwide.
Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja during the 2nd Joint Annual Review (JAR) of the health sector themed “All Hands, One Mission: Bringing the Nigerian Health System to Light.”
According to Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) reports, Salako explained that the funding increase aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Nigerian Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), both designed to make healthcare more accessible, efficient, and sustainable across the federation.
“The Federal Government is working to raise the BHCPF allocation from one to two per cent of the CRF to close financing gaps and support states in strengthening their primary healthcare systems,” Salako stated.
He added that under the NHSRII, the government is tackling workforce shortages, infrastructure deficits, and health financing challenges while promoting accountability and inclusivity through a coordinated national reform plan.
Salako further revealed that over a dozen new federal tertiary health institutions and six cancer centres of excellence are being developed across the country.
He said 21 new health policies have been introduced, alongside expanded health insurance coverage, to improve access to care for vulnerable populations.
According to the minister, these reforms could save Nigeria as much as ₦4.8 trillion annually from preventable diseases, reverse the ₦850 billion lost to medical tourism, and reduce maternal and child deaths by up to 50 per cent by 2030.
“We are producing more health workers through our expansion strategy, improving retention, and engaging Nigerians abroad as contributors to the national health system,” he explained.
Salako also highlighted the Power 4 Health Initiative, which aims to address energy poverty in hospitals and ensure uninterrupted power supply for efficient healthcare service delivery.
He pointed to significant progress under the Nigeria Digital in Health Initiative, where thousands of health facilities have been digitally connected and millions of patient encounters recorded through the National Digital Health Architecture.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, described the recent ₦32.9 billion disbursement for primary healthcare delivery as a “game changer” that has improved transparency, accountability, and state-level planning.
He commended the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, for championing a data-driven, result-oriented health reform agenda that prioritizes measurable impact.
Traditional and faith leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the government’s health initiatives.
Representing the Sultan of Sokoto, the Emir of Shonga, Alhaji Yahaya Haliru, pledged continued collaboration with federal and state authorities toward achieving universal health coverage.
Similarly, Prof. Samson Fatokun, representing the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), assured that the Church would remain a key partner in strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system through transparency, accountability, and collaboration.