By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The federal government has announced significant gains in Nigeria’s health sector reforms with a 17% drop in maternal deaths,12% decline in newborn deaths across 172 high-risk local government areas.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate during a ministerial press briefing on Tuesday in Abuja, ahead of the 2025 Joint Annual Review, made the announcement, and stated that the objective the upcoming Joint Annual Review is to assess the nation’s health performance, renew accountability commitments, and deepen collaboration between the federal, state, and local governments under the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative launched in 2023 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Prof. Pate revealed that 37 out of 41 key performance indicators (KPIs) under the presidential health reform commitments have already been achieved, stating that it is a remarkable progress achieved by stronger alignment between national and sub-national actors.
“For the first time, we are seeing alignment between the federal government’s direction and the states in terms of priorities in annual operational plans,” he is stated. “One hundred percent of states now have operational plans aligned with the national health sector blueprint.”
Furthermore, the minister disclosed that 774 National Health Fellows have been deployed across all local governments, while 35 out of 36 states and the FCT have conducted their performance reviews, with citizens’ participation in health decision-making.
Giving a rundown of the progress achieved within the period of review, Prof. Pate said, “ On service delivery, the federal government reported major improvements in maternal and reproductive health indicators, including higher antenatal care attendance, skilled birth deliveries, and family planning uptake.”
Citizens visits to primary healthcare facilities under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) rose sharply, from 10 million visits in early 2024 to 45 million in the second quarter of 2025, reflecting growing public trust in government health services.”
“New family planning acceptors have increased by 10% since the beginning of the year, and 50% of women of reproductive age are now using modern contraceptives,” the minister noted. “We have also revitalized over 435 health facilities in high-priority local governments and recruited more than 15,000 community-based health workers.”
Speaking on citizens perceptions of primary healthcare facilities, Pate said citizens’ confidence surveys show that 77% of Nigerians now view the health system positively, up from 54% in 2024, while the proportion confident in the government’s capacity to manage health emergencies has risen from half to two-thirds of the population.
However, the coordinating minister warned that there are still challenges in areas of financing and
affordability of care.
“We’re not out of the woods yet,” he said. “The issue of affordability remains a concern. Expansion of health insurance coverage and prudent resource use at all levels are critical for sustaining this progress.”
The fact that we’re able to now, with two-year data, tell a story that is showing beginnings of an improvement. If we can sustain it between the federal government and our states, local government, and every actor over time, then the health outcomes of our population will certainly improve,” he further emphasized.
Prof. Pate urged media practitioners to actively participate in covering the 2025 Joint Annual Review, themed “All Hands, One Mission: Bringing the Nigerian Health Sector to Light,” which will centre around maternal mortality reduction (MAMI), health governance, local manufacturing of life sciences products, and expenditure reviews.
“If we sustain this momentum, Nigeria’s health outcomes will not only improve but will become a model for the continent, the minister emphasized.
