Building Health Security in Nigeria: A Partnership for Progress

This op-ed first appeared in The Punch newspaper in Nigeria on February 17, 2025.

With the imminent decline of global health financing, Nigeria is emerging as a leader in domestic resource mobilization to strengthen its health systems. The country has made significant strides in epidemic prevention, immunization, and primary healthcare—key pillars of health security. These achievements reflect Nigeria’s growing commitment to self-reliance in public health and serve as a model for other nations navigating similar challenges.

In epidemic prevention and response, Nigeria has demonstrated remarkable progress. The opportunity for the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), other international players and partners on the ground such as LISDEL and BudgIT  to collaborate with Nigerian authorities has been instrumental in securing critical funding for the Nigeria Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC). The NCDC’s budget allocation reached a record 2.9 billion Naira, enabling enhanced disease surveillance and response capabilities. Additionally, Nigeria’s Joint External Evaluation scores have improved from 39% to 54%, underscoring its strengthened preparedness for public health emergencies.

Immunization remains central to Nigeria’s health security strategy. The country has fully allocated $79.2 million for its domestic immunization budget in 2022-2023 and advanced 25% of its 2024 joint funding obligations to Gavi-supported vaccines. These investments highlight Nigeria’s recognition of the economic and social returns on immunization: every dollar spent on vaccines saves $21 in direct costs and $54 when factoring in healthier, longer lives. Such commitments are critical as the country works toward eliminating zero-dose children and achieving universal vaccine coverage.

Primary healthcare is another area where progress is evident, but challenges remain. Hypertension, for instance, affects between 28-38% of Nigerians, yet only 8% of women and 5% of men are diagnosed. This gap underscores the urgent need for expanded screening programs and improved access to treatment through strengthened primary healthcare services. Addressing non-communicable diseases like hypertension is essential not only for individual well-being but also for reducing the long-term burden on the healthcare system.

The Nigerian Senate recent approval of an additional 300 billion Naira (about $200 million) for public health marks another milestone in its journey toward sustainable health financing. This bold move reflects the government’s commitment to safeguarding health security at a time when international funding is shrinking. It also reinforces the importance of strategic partnerships between government agencies, civil society organizations and international technical experts in achieving shared goals.

If Nigeria wants to continue building on these successes, sustained investment in health systems will be crucial. The progress achieved through collaborative efforts demonstrates that with political will, adequate resources and strategic partnerships, it is possible to create a resilient health system that serves all Nigerians. By prioritizing epidemic preparedness, immunization coverage and primary healthcare improvements, Nigeria is not only protecting its citizens but also positioning itself as a beacon of health security innovation for other low- and middle-income countries.

*Vandana Shah is Vice President for Health Systems Strengthening, Global Health Advocacy Incubator.