The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, stated cumulative releases under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) reached ₦422.3 billion between 2019 and October 2026.
Mr Pate stated ₦323.6 billion of the quantity had been disbursed to the fund’s implementing gateways, together with ₦249.5 billion under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
He disclosed this on Tuesday whereas delivering his keynote handle on the 2026 Nigeria Health Sector-Wide Joint Annual Review (JAR) in Abuja.
“By October 2026, cumulative Basic Health Care Provision Fund releases since 2019 had reached approximately ₦422.3 billion. Of the ₦323.6 billion disbursed to the gateways, ₦249.5 billion was disbursed under this administration,” he stated.
The minister additionally stated the federal government had signed a memorandum of understanding with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to strengthen monitoring of BHCPF assets and enhance accountability.
The BHCPF is a authorities financing mechanism established to enhance entry to basic healthcare companies, significantly on the major healthcare stage.
Mr Pate stated all states and greater than 8,000 BHCPF-supported amenities had ready plans linked to funds priorities for the third consecutive yr.
“We are strengthening the connection between planning, expenditure and the services people receive,” he stated.
Over 3,500 well being centres revitalised
The minister additionally disclosed that 3,526 major healthcare centres had been revitalised throughout the nation, whereas work was ongoing at one other 900 amenities.
He described the event as “substantial progress”, though he acknowledged that many amenities nonetheless wanted consideration.
Mr Pate stated the federal government had recruited 19,758 expert beginning attendants throughout 22 states and 4,747 group well being staff throughout 10 states.
He added that 78,054 frontline well being staff had acquired coaching as a part of efforts to enhance healthcare supply.
The minister additionally reported elevated use of companies at BHCPF-supported amenities, with expert deliveries rising from 4.8 million in 2023 to 7.9 million by the second quarter of 2026.
He stated fourth antenatal care visits elevated from six million to eight.7 million, whereas outpatient attendance rose from 32.4 million to 43 million.
Calls for accountability, well timed funding
Despite the elevated funding, Mr Pate acknowledged that financing remained a serious problem for Nigeria’s well being sector.
He stated the federal government was working to enhance the discharge and utilisation of healthcare funds, alongside legislative efforts to extend the BHCPF allocation to 2 per cent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
The minister additionally referred to proposed reforms of excise duties on sugar-sweetened drinks and the opportunity of earmarking the income for healthcare.
“We cannot sustain ownership of our priorities without financing them. We must mobilise domestic resources, release them on time and use them effectively,” he stated.
Speaking on behalf of civil society organisations, Muhammed Lecky urged the federal government to make sure that elevated healthcare funding translated into improved companies for communities.
“A renovated facility is only a beginning. It must have the staff, medicines, power and systems needed to deliver care,” he stated.
Mr Lecky additionally referred to as for clear, well timed financing, stronger group participation, and impartial monitoring of reported enhancements.
Similarly, the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, Ipalibo Banigo, harassed the necessity for accountability in healthcare spending.
“It is one thing to make provisions in the budget and another thing to get the funds released on time, effectively utilised and institutions held accountable,” she stated.
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She pledged continued legislative assist by appropriations and oversight to strengthen healthcare financing.
About JAR
The 2026 Joint Annual Review, held under the theme “Make Reform Data Count”, brings collectively federal and state authorities officers, growth companions and different stakeholders to evaluate progress under the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative.
The initiative is being carried out by the Sector-Wide Approach, which seeks to enhance coordination, financing and accountability in healthcare supply.
The three-day evaluation is predicted to establish remaining challenges and agree on priorities for 2027.
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