The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Wale Edun, on Wednesday said Nigeria plans to raise about N150 billion to finance vaccine procurement for 2025 and 2026 as part of broader efforts to strengthen the health sector.
Edun disclosed this during the 2025 Joint Annual Review of the Health Sector in Abuja, themed “All Hands, One Mission: Bringing the Nigerian Health Sector to Light.” The review, a key national accountability forum, brings together government officials, partners, and stakeholders to assess sectoral performance and set new priorities.
According to the minister, the Federal Government has significantly increased budgetary allocation to health, with the 2025 health sector budget rising by nearly 60 percent. The Basic Health Care Provision Fund, he added, has also expanded from N31.5 billion in 2024 to nearly N299 billion projected for 2026.
“We are seeking to raise almost N150 billion to cover vaccine procurement for 2025 and 2026,” Edun said. “Health now accounts for over five per cent, precisely 5.2 per cent, of the national budget, compared to just over three per cent a few years ago. Health is being prioritised.”
He assured that the government was committed to bridging the gap between budgetary appropriations and actual fund releases, while also stressing the need for stronger domestic resource mobilisation to complement global partnerships.
Edun further called on state and local governments to boost spending on health and education to support federal reforms, warning that national goals cannot be achieved without active subnational participation.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, who also spoke at the event, said the government was working to reduce dependence on donor funding by promoting local production of medicines, vaccines, and other health technologies.
“This aligns with the President’s ward-based development model, which focuses on improving health, education, water, sanitation, and nutrition at the community level,” Pate said.
He explained that the ministry was exploring new funding mechanisms, including taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages, public-private partnerships, and digital platforms to improve transparency and accountability in health financing.
Pate highlighted notable gains in the sector, including a sharp rise in primary healthcare visits, from 10 million in early 2024 to 45 million by mid-2025, and expanded access to modern contraception. Vaccination coverage for measles, rubella, and HPV, he said, has already met or exceeded national targets.
He added that all 36 states and the FCT have developed operational health plans aligned with the National Health Sector Strategic Blueprint, while 72 per cent of states now have functional systems to manage non-communicable diseases.
“Every local government area in the country now has National Health Fellows and Public Financial Management Officers in place. These reforms show that Nigeria is steadily building a resilient, inclusive, and accountable health system,” Pate said.
