PRESS STATEMENT STAY INFORMED. STAY SAFE. Public health is a shared responsibility, and the right information helps us all stay safe. The Federal Government, working with the NCDC and relevant health authorities, is taking the necessary steps to protect public health and strengthen surveillance following the confirmation of an Ebola disease case in the FCT. There is no need for panic. What matters is staying informed, practising good hand hygiene, knowing the symptoms and seeking guidance from public health authorities if you suspect exposure. 📌 Remember: Ebola spreads through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person who is sick or has died, or contaminated materials. It does not spread before symptoms begin. For reliable information or to report a suspected case, call the NCDC toll-free line 6232, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Let’s stay calm, rely on verified information and do our part to keep our communities safe. #MinistryOfHealthNG

PRESS RELEASE FG UNVEILS FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN TO ELIMINATE LEAD POISONING IN NIGERIA Abuja, Nigeria | 21 October 2026   The Federal Government has unveiled the Five-Year Strategic Plan on Lead Poisoning Elimination in Nigeria to strengthen prevention, surveillance, regulation and coordinated action against lead exposure across the country. The Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, announced this at the commemoration of the 2026 International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week in Abuja, held under the theme, “From Detection to Prevention.” Dr. Salako described lead poisoning as a significant public health and environmental challenge, noting that children, pregnant women and women of childbearing age are particularly vulnerable to its harmful effects. He stressed the need to move beyond identifying cases towards preventing and controlling exposure at its sources. According to him, the Plan provides a national framework for coordinated, multisectoral action, including strengthened environmental and occupational surveillance, improved laboratory and institutional capacity, effective regulation and enforcement, and clearer referral pathways for individuals with elevated blood lead levels. A costed three-year national roadmap is also being developed to translate the Plan’s priorities into time-bound and measurable interventions. The Minister highlighted the establishment and operationalisation of the Inter-Agency Working Group on Lead Poisoning Prevention and Elimination as a key step towards strengthening coordination among relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, development partners and other stakeholders. He also emphasised the importance of state-specific interventions, citing Lagos, Ogun, Sokoto and Zamfara States as priorities for tailored lead prevention and control action plans. The plans are expected to reflect local sources and pathways of exposure while remaining aligned with the national framework. He further underscored the importance of finalising the Lagos State action plan, informed by the state’s completed blood lead level and children’s environmental health assessment. Dr. Salako called on state governments, development partners, industries, civil society organisations, professional bodies, traditional and religious leaders, communities and the media to support the domestication and implementation of the Plan. “Communities are central to prevention, and our efforts must extend beyond government institutions to all of society,” he stressed. The Minister also urged Nigerians to take practical steps to reduce exposure, including avoiding contaminated soil and dust, using lead-safe products, observing appropriate protective measures during battery recycling, painting and other high-risk activities, keeping work clothes and footwear away from living areas, wet-cleaning floors and play areas, and maintaining diets rich in calcium, iron and vitamin C. Reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to the national lead poisoning elimination agenda, Dr. Salako emphasised the importance of sustained collaboration in translating evidence into policy and policy into action, in alignment with the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII) and the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. “The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare remains committed to providing the leadership required and working closely with relevant stakeholders to advance a comprehensive, preventive and sustainable approach to lead poisoning in Nigeria,” he said. Ado Bako
Assistant Director, Information and Public Relations

Public health starts with the right information. Stay informed, practise good hygiene, report suspected exposure promptly, and rely on official sources. No panic, no rumours, just vigilance and collective responsibility. Together, we can stop Ebola. #EbolaAwareness #PublicHealth #StayInformed #NCDC #MinistryOfHealthNG

Did you know lead poisoning can harm a child with no obvious warning signs? That peeling paint? Those contaminated toys? Dust or soil from unsafe industrial activities? Lead exposure can come from places we least expect, and children are especially vulnerable. Here's a fact worth knowing: Young children can absorb 4–5 times as much lead as adults from the same swallowed dose. Even low levels of exposure can harm brain development, learning and behaviour. And no level of lead exposure is known to be safe. (Source: WHO) For Nigeria, this is far more than a statistic. It is a public health issue that calls for awareness, early detection and action to prevent exposure before it causes harm. This International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week 2026, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare is bringing stakeholders together to launch the National Lead Poisoning Prevention Strategic Plan and galvanise collective action to protect Nigerians. 📌 Theme: From Detection to Prevention: Acting Together to End Lead Exposure in Nigeria. 📅 Wednesday, 21 October 2026
⏰ 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
📍 NAF Conference Centre and Suites, Kado, Abuja. Because when it comes to lead poisoning, what we don't know can hurt us. Let's get informed, spread the word and make prevention a priority. Detect. Trace. Prevent. Protect our future. #LeadPoisoningPreventionWeek #PublicHealth #MinistryOfHealthNG

Media Brief FG TAKES SPECIALIST CARE TO SOUTHERN KADUNA AS KAFANCHAN HOSPITAL BECOMES FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE Abuja, Nigeria | 15 October 2026   The Federal Government is expanding access to tertiary healthcare in Southern Kaduna with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Kaduna State Government @GovKaduna ,for the handover of Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa Memorial Hospital, Kafanchan, for conversion into Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Kafanchan. Speaking at the signing ceremony today in Abuja, the Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, @SalakoIziaq , said tertiary healthcare must not remain a privilege of capital cities and metropolitan centres. Guided by the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), he said, the Federal Government is working towards a health system that brings functional, quality healthcare facilities within the reach of Nigerians, regardless of where they live. He noted that in the last 42 months, the Federal Government had established 16 additional federal tertiary health institutions across the six geopolitical zones. Dr Salako said the Ministry would work with the Kaduna State Government to upgrade the hospital’s physical infrastructure and diagnostic capacity, deploy specialist personnel and advanced equipment, and establish a pathway for the absorption of interested existing health workers into the Federal Government’s workforce. He added that the facility would be developed into a regional hub for medical training, research and specialised clinical services. He also paid tribute to the late Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, former Governor of Kaduna State, describing the development of the hospital into a centre of healing as a fitting tribute to his legacy. Kaduna State Governor, Senator @ubasanius ,commended the Federal Government, through the Ministry, for approving a second federal tertiary health institution in the state, noting that it would expand access to specialised care for Kaduna’s growing population of 12 million. He described the agreement as a demonstration of shared responsibility between the two tiers of government in addressing barriers to quality healthcare. The Governor reaffirmed the state’s commitment to a seamless handover and disclosed that the state government would continue paying the hospital’s staff salaries until they are successfully absorbed into the Federal Government’s payroll. Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom S. mni, said the facility would extend access to specialist services, medical training and research to residents of Jema’a Local Government Area, neighbouring local government areas and communities in adjoining states. She noted that the initiative advances Priority Six of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Eight Presidential Priorities under the Renewed Hope Agenda and aligns with the NHSRII. She emphasised that bringing specialist care closer to communities would reduce the cost and physical strain of travelling long distances for treatment. The Permanent Secretary said the measure of the agreement would ultimately be the quality of care delivered, reflecting the Ministry’s mandate to save lives, reduce both physical and financial pain, and produce health for all Nigerians. The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare reaffirmed its commitment to working with the Kaduna State Government to implement the agreed milestones, strengthen the facility’s capacity and expand access to quality specialist healthcare for the people of Southern Kaduna and beyond.

Press Release FG APPROVES ₦40.76BN BHCPF Q3 ALLOCATION, EXTENDS HEALTH INSURANCE TO INMATES Abuja, Nigeria | 15 October 2026 The Federal Government has approved a ₦40.76 billion disbursement under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund @TheBHCPF for the third quarter of 2026, an increase of approximately ₦7.88 billion over the previous quarter’s allocation of ₦32.88 billion. The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, @muhammadpate , disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja following the 16th meeting of the Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC) on the BHCPF. He said the decisions reinforce the Federal Government’s commitment to quality, affordable and accessible healthcare, particularly for poor, vulnerable and underserved populations, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda and the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII). The approved allocation of ₦40,758,116,943.50 will be distributed across the four gateways according to their statutory shares: •@nhia_nigeria : ₦19.87 billion (48.75%) •@NphcdaNG : ₦18.34 billion (45%) •@Nemsas_fmoh : ₦2.04 billion (5%) •@NCDCgov : ₦509.48 million (1.25%) Prof. Pate noted that monthly statutory releases into the Fund had increased from approximately ₦8.95 billion to ₦13.08 billion and subsequently ₦20.43 billion. He stressed that increased financing must translate into timely disbursement, transparent financial management and improved health outcomes. The Committee also approved the extension of health insurance coverage to approximately 90,000 inmates of correctional facilities nationwide through the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), following a request from the Nigerian Correctional Service. Implementation will be subject to regular reporting and safeguards, with inmates already covered by state schemes excluded. To improve access to essential medicines, the MOC approved the operationalisation of changes to the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) gateway, including pooled procurement through MEDIPOOL, Nigeria’s national Group Purchasing Organisation. The arrangement will incorporate value-for-money safeguards, pricing benchmarks and supply-chain monitoring to strengthen transparency, quality assurance and reliable commodity supply. The Minister also announced plans to expand BHCPF support from 8,309 to 13,521 primary healthcare facilities nationwide, adding 5,212 facilities across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The Committee further considered a phased financing model to support states in recruiting and progressively absorbing Skilled Birth Attendants and Community-Based Health Workers. To address funding delays, the MOC resolved to establish a subcommittee to investigate bottlenecks in the flow of funds through the gateways, states and local government areas to health facilities. The subcommittee is expected to report within six weeks. The Committee also directed that letters be sent to state governors on the financial requirements for @NCDCgov to respond adequately to disease outbreaks. On accountability, Prof. Pate said the Federal Government was collaborating with the @icpcnigeria to track health sector funds and prevent their misapplication. “Government will not condone any act that is capable of depriving ordinary Nigerians of the health goods these funds are meant for,” he said. He commended the Governor of Katsina State for releasing ₦243 million to the State Health Insurance Agency to expand BHCPF coverage and urged other states and the FCT to fulfil their counterpart funding obligations under the National Health Act, 2014. The Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening primary healthcare financing, expanding access to essential services and ensuring that public health investments deliver measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians, particularly the most vulnerable. Ado Bako
Assistant Director, Information & Public Relations

Media Brief COORDINATING MINISTER BRIEFS PRESIDENT TINUBU ON PROGRESS OF HEALTH SECTOR REFORMS Abuja, Nigeria | 13 October 2026 The Federal Government is advancing the transformation of Nigeria’s health sector in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda. Yesterday, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, briefed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on progress in implementing ongoing reforms. The briefing underscores the President’s commitment to strengthening healthcare delivery, improving population health outcomes, expanding access to quality and affordable care, and building a more resilient health system. These efforts are being advanced through the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), which provides the framework for coordinated health sector reform. The reforms are ultimately directed at the Federal Government’s core health sector mandate: to save lives, reduce both physical and financial pain, and produce health for all Nigerians. #NHSRII #RenewedHope #MinistryOfHealthNG

Press Statement FG CONDEMNS ATTACK ON FMC ABEOKUTA HEALTH WORKER, DEMANDS IMMEDIATE ARREST OF SUSPECT Abuja, Nigeria | 12 October 2026 The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare strongly condemns the reported stabbing of Mr. Lawal Toheeb Olasunkanmi, a Medical Laboratory Scientist at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, Ogun State, and calls for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the alleged assailant in accordance with the law. The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, described the attack as barbaric and unacceptable. He stressed that no grief, frustration or dissatisfaction with care can justify violence against a health worker performing his lawful duties. He called on the Nigeria Police Force to ensure the swift arrest of the suspect and affirmed that the Ministry would follow the case to ensure that the alleged assailant is brought to justice. Dr. Salako said the incident reinforces the urgency of implementing the measures directed by the Ministry on 5 August 2026 to strengthen the protection of health workers in federal tertiary health institutions. These measures include strengthened security arrangements, violence-prevention teams, incident reporting, collaboration with law-enforcement agencies and improved complaint-handling procedures. He stressed that these safeguards must translate into effective protection for health personnel across health facilities. The Minister also appealed to health workers who have embarked on industrial action at FMC Abeokuta to return to work immediately in the interest of patients and the wider public, urging them to allow the security authorities to carry out their duties and pursue the investigation. He further urged the hospital's management to ensure that the injured staff member receives appropriate medical care and support, and to strengthen security arrangements in line with the Federal Government's directives. The Minister extended the Federal Government's condolences to the family of the deceased patient, stressing that the loss of a loved one deserves compassion and appropriate attention. He urged anyone with concerns about the care received to use the hospital's formal complaints mechanism, where such concerns can be examined fairly and addressed on their merits without recourse to violence. The Ministry reiterates that protecting health workers is essential to safe and uninterrupted healthcare delivery. Health facilities must remain safe environments where personnel can discharge their duties without fear of violence, and where patients and their families can seek care with confidence. Ado Bako
Assistant Director, Information & Public Relations

Nigeria to Host High-Level Forum on a Fit-for-Purpose Health Workforce Nigeria will host the High-Level Forum on a Fit-for-Purpose Health Workforce from 28–30 October 2026 in Abuja, bringing together African leaders, governments and global health partners to advance a stronger, more capable and sustainable health workforce across the continent. Hosted by H.E. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, AU Champion for Human Resources for Health and the Community Health Delivery Partnership, the Forum will focus on accelerating progress towards Africa’s ambition of 2 million Community Health Workers by 2030. Participants will include the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, CON; Director General of @AfricaCDC , Dr Jean Kaseya; and @UNICEF_Nigeria Deputy Executive Director for Programmes and Chair of the Community Health Delivery Partnership (CHDP), Dr Omar Abdi. The conversations will centre on translating political commitments into action through sustainable financing, stronger workforce systems, effective integration of Community Health Workers into primary healthcare, and the capacity to reach underserved communities. For Nigeria, the Forum comes as the Federal Government advances implementation of the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), supported through a Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) that aligns government and partners around shared priorities for health-system transformation. The Forum will provide an opportunity to deepen continental collaboration around a workforce that is essential to primary healthcare, health security and equitable access to care, while advancing practical pathways towards a stronger and more sustainable community health workforce. 📍 Abuja, Nigeria 📅 28–30 October 2026 #HealthWorkforce #CHW2030 #PrimaryHealthcare #HealthSecurity #Nigeria #MinistryOfHealthNG

Press Release FG TARGETS 25,000 FREE CATARACT SURGERIES BY END OF 2027 Abuja, Nigeria | 8 October 2026 The Federal Government has set a target of 25,000 free cataract surgeries by the end of 2027 under the Renewed Hope Health Connect initiative, in line with the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), as part of efforts to reduce avoidable blindness and bring quality eye care closer to Nigerians. The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, stated this at the commemoration of the 2026 World Sight Day in Abuja, themed “Love Your Eyes,” with the national sub-theme “Protect Your Vision, See Clearly, Live Fully.” The Minister was represented by Dr. Doris Afam Aneke, mni, Director, E-Health Division. He said the Federal Government recognises eye health as both a public health and development priority, given its impact on education, productivity, independence and quality of life, and that the Ministry was advancing it under the NHSRII by integrating eye care into primary healthcare. According to him, cataract remains a major cause of avoidable blindness, and the planned surgeries would restore sight and independence to thousands of Nigerians. The Minister highlighted the progress made with partners: •More than 3,000 health workers trained across 16 states; •More than 1,400 primary healthcare centres activated to provide primary eye care; •Over 1.5 million pairs of reading spectacles distributed in 16 states under the Effective Spectacle Coverage Initiative Nigeria (ESCIN), also known as Jajibola 2.0, with preparations advanced to extend it to 10 more states; •Over 1.5 million school-age children screened for visual problems under the School Eye Health Programme; and •Four new vision centres being established in secondary facilities in Enugu, Edo, Sokoto and Nasarawa States. He said the interventions were designed to strengthen referral pathways and bring services closer to where Nigerians live. “Eye health is not an isolated intervention; it is an integral part of a resilient health system and a critical component of our journey towards Universal Health Coverage. No child should be prevented from learning because of an undiagnosed vision problem, and no Nigerian should live with avoidable blindness simply because treatment is beyond reach,” the Minister said. The Minister also noted Nigeria’s growing leadership in global eye health, including its co-hosting of the first-ever Global Summit for Eye Health on 2 November in Antigua and Barbuda. He called on Nigerians to make eye health a personal and collective responsibility through regular eye examinations, early presentation for treatment and healthy practices that protect vision. In her welcome remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom S. mni, represented by Dr. Oteri Okolo, National Coordinator of the National Eye, Ear and Sensory Functions Health Programme, said the sector had made significant progress in recent years. She cited Nigeria’s first Comprehensive National Eye Health Policy, ratified by all 36 states and the FCT, and the National Strategic Eye Health Plan 2024–2028. The event was attended by the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Sightsavers Nigeria, Clinton Health Access Initiative, CBM International, OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation, Peek Vision and Helen Keller International. In a joint position, the partners called for sustained investment in prevention, early detection, treatment and rehabilitation, with services that are inclusive of persons with disabilities and accessible to children, women and underserved communities. The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare remains committed to working with state governments, partners, professional associations and the private sector to ensure that every Nigerian can access quality eye care, regardless of where they live or their ability to pay. Ado Bako
Assistant Director, Information and Public Relations

Press Release FG Reaffirms Commitment to Resilient, Equitable Cancer Care as International Cancer Week Opens Abuja, Nigeria | 7 October 2026 The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening cancer prevention, early detection, treatment and survivorship through resilient, innovative and equitable health systems, under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, stated this while declaring open the 2026 International Cancer Week in Abuja, organised by the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), an agency of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, with the theme: "United Against Cancer: Building Resilient, Innovative and Equitable Systems Across the Cancer Care Continuum." He said the Ministry, through the National Cancer Control Programme and NICRAT, was implementing the costed National Cancer Control Plan (NCCP) 2026–2030 through the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII). The Plan targets at least a 30 per cent reduction in Nigeria's cancer burden by 2030 through improved prevention, early diagnosis, data management and standardised treatment. Salako listed the key interventions as the development and commissioning of cancer centres of excellence, the approved procurement of 35 Linear Accelerators over the next three years, expanded diagnostic services, and Immunohistochemistry services under the Nigeria Cancer Access Partnership Programme. On prevention, he said the eight NICRAT Preventive Oncology Clinics across the six geopolitical zones, together with nationwide awareness initiatives, were expanding early detection. HPV vaccination has reached more than 18 million girls aged 9–14 years, while the National Taskforce on Cervical Cancer Elimination was coordinating efforts towards the WHO 2030 elimination target. The Minister said innovation, research and data would remain central to the national strategy, with digital health, artificial intelligence, telemedicine, molecular diagnostics, precision medicine and cancer registries being harnessed to improve clinical decisions and patient outcomes. He added that financial protection, through the National Cancer Health Fund and catastrophic health expenditure financing mechanisms, was critical to ensuring that cost does not stop anyone from completing treatment. The opening follows Nigeria's strong showing at the World Cancer Congress 2026 in Hong Kong from 24 to 26 September, where a 46-member delegation led by the Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom S., mni, presented the NCCP 2026–2030 as a model for moving from policy to implementation. At the Congress, Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu was announced as the first African President of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), and Nigeria's Engraced Life Foundation won the 2026 World Cancer Day Campaign Award. "Cancer control is a shared responsibility. Our goal is clear: no Nigerian should be denied lifesaving cancer care because of poverty, geography or social circumstance. Prevention must remain at the centre of our national response because prevention is not only better; it is cheaper and it is everything," Salako said. He urged Nigerians to take advantage of available prevention, screening and early-detection services, and called on government institutions, development partners, academia, professional associations, the private sector, civil society and patient groups to turn the outcomes of the week into measurable action. The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare remains committed to a cancer-control system that saves lives, reduces financial hardship and ensures quality care for every Nigerian, regardless of where they live or their ability to pay.   Ado Bako
Assistant Director, Information and Public Relations

Happy 66th, Nigeria! 🇳🇬💚 66 years and we’re still here, still hopeful, still showing up, and still calling this place home. So, while we’re celebrating, abeg, let’s also do better. 😂 Drink the water. Eat the vegetables. Move your body. Get some sleep. Check that blood pressure. Go for that screening you’ve been postponing since “next week.” And please, visit your PHC when you need care. Because independence is sweeter when we’re healthy enough to enjoy it. We dey here. We dey go. Make we stay healthy too. 💚 Happy Independence Day, Nigeria! #NigeriaAt66 #IndependenceDay #MinistryOfHealthNG

PRESS RELEASE FG Strengthens Local Pharmaceutical Manufacturing to Advance Medicine Security Under NHSRII Lagos | 28 September 2026 The Federal Government is strengthening local pharmaceutical manufacturing as part of the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII) to improve medicine security, build a more resilient health system and drive sustainable economic development in Nigeria and across Africa. The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, stated this on Monday while declaring open the 8th Nigeria Pharma Manufacturers Expo (NPME) at Harbour Point Event Centre, Victoria Island. The Expo was organised by the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMG-MAN) under the theme, “Regional Manufacturing: Advancing Africa’s Pharma and Life-Science Sovereignty through Localisation.” Dr. Salako said the COVID-19 pandemic and changes in global healthcare financing had reinforced the need for Nigeria and Africa to build stronger domestic capacity to produce medicines, vaccines, diagnostics and other critical health technologies. He noted that the conversation could no longer stop at whether medicines are accessible when global supply chains are working. “The more fundamental question is whether we can produce what our people need when those supply chains are disrupted. Medicine security is therefore not simply a health-sector objective; it is an issue of national resilience and sovereignty,” he said. He said the Federal Government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was advancing the agenda through the Presidential Initiative to Unlock the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC) and the Presidential Executive Order for Pharmaceutical and Allied Sectors. According to him, PVAC has secured commitments of about US$2 billion at single-digit interest rates, with about 50 Nigerian health firms in advanced funding discussions, while targeting at least 70 per cent local production of essential healthcare products by 2030. He added that 87 local manufacturers were benefiting from the Executive Order, which provides zero tariffs on pharmaceutical machinery, active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and excipients across almost 1,000 Harmonised System codes, alongside other fiscal and non-fiscal measures. Dr. Salako also highlighted efforts to expand local production of APIs, vaccines, biologics and diagnostics, including the operationalisation of the NIPRD API Capacity Building and Concept Production Centre, development of commercial API manufacturing capacity and initiatives to localise HIV, hepatitis and syphilis diagnostics. He called for greater investment in research and development, particularly in Nigeria’s phytomedicinal resources, and stressed that localisation must go beyond final-product assembly. “We must progressively build capacity across the entire value chain—from research and raw materials to formulation, quality assurance, manufacturing, packaging and distribution. That is how localisation becomes genuine capability,” he said. The Minister said Medipool, Nigeria’s national Group Purchasing Organisation for essential medicines and medical commodities, would help create predictable, large-scale demand for domestic manufacturers through aggregated procurement and bulk purchasing. He urged manufacturers, researchers, investors and development partners to leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area to expand markets and strengthen competitiveness. “We must move from dependency to capability, from fragmented markets to regional scale, and from localisation to genuine African pharmaceutical sovereignty,” he said. In line with the Renewed Hope Agenda and the NHSRII, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare remains committed to strengthening a health system that saves lives, reduces both physical and financial pain, and produces health for all Nigerians.

Media Brief FG Continues NEMSAS Rollout, Strengthens Emergency Care and Hospital Infrastructure in Bauchi Bauchi, Nigeria|September 2026 The Federal Government has continued the nationwide rollout of the National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) with the deployment of new ambulances to selected health facilities in Bauchi State, alongside the unveiling of a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) facility at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH). The interventions, unveiled by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, are part of the implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, through the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), particularly Pillar 4, which focuses on improving the health security of the nation. The NEMSAS ambulances will strengthen emergency referrals across selected facilities, including Toro General Hospital, Gamawa Hospital, Federal Medical Centre, Misau, ATBUTH and the Fistula Centre in Ningi. The Bauchi deployment builds on the Federal Government’s continuing rollout of NEMSAS across the country, following recent deployments in Plateau and Ogun States. Speaking at the event, Prof. Pate said timely access to emergency care is essential to saving lives, particularly in communities where distance and inadequate referral capacity can delay life-saving care. He urged beneficiary institutions to ensure the ambulances are properly utilised, maintained and integrated into referral pathways. The Minister also highlighted the Federal Government’s broader investments in Bauchi’s health system, including the ongoing expansion of ATBUTH, the Federal Medical Centre in Misau, the North-East Vesicovaginal Fistula Centre in Ningi and the revitalisation of more than 100 primary healthcare centres through federal-state collaboration. Earlier in 2026, the Federal Government deployed approximately ₦10 billion worth of medical equipment, medicines, ambulances and maternity kits to health facilities across the state. At ATBUTH, the newly unveiled CNG facility, aimed at improving the efficiency and sustainability of energy use within the hospital, forms part of efforts to strengthen the infrastructure that supports hospital operations. The ongoing expansion of the teaching hospital is expected to increase capacity for tertiary and specialised services. The Federal Government is also investing in advanced diagnostics and cancer care to bring specialised services closer to citizens and reduce the need for patients to travel outside the state for essential care. Prof. Pate said the investments demonstrate the administration’s focus on translating policy commitments into practical improvements in the health system. He added that the Federal Government would continue to work with the Bauchi State Government, health institutions and other stakeholders to ensure that investments in emergency care, infrastructure and specialised services translate into improved access and better health outcomes for the people of Bauchi State. The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare remains committed to its mandate to save lives, reduce both physical and financial pain, and produce health for all Nigerians.

Press Release FG INAUGURATES NHTDAO STEERING COMMITTEE TO DRIVE PATIENT-CENTRED DIGITAL HEALTH Abuja | 16 September 2026 The Federal Government has inaugurated the Steering Committee of the National Health Technology and Data Analytics Office (NHTDAO), with a mandate to strengthen coordination, interoperability and the effective use of health technology and data across Nigeria’s health system. The inaugural meeting, held at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare Headquarters in Abuja, follows President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval in June 2026 for the establishment of the Office as a national platform to coordinate Nigeria’s digital health agenda and support implementation of the National Digital Health Architecture approved by the National Council on Health. Co-Chairing the meeting, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, said Nigeria must move beyond simply digitising health information to ensuring that securely stored and connected health data can generate new knowledge, support the development of new technologies in medicine and ultimately improve patient care. He said the value of digitalisation would be realised when data generated across the health system can be responsibly used to support clinical decision-making, research, innovation and more efficient healthcare delivery. The Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare and Alternate Co-Chair of the Steering Committee, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, said NHTDAO would provide a coordination mechanism for Nigeria’s growing digital health ecosystem. He stressed that the Office would complement rather than replace the responsibilities of existing departments, agencies, programmes and institutions, while helping to address fragmentation among electronic medical record systems and establish common standards to improve interoperability across the health system. He described digital health as an important enabler of the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII). In her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Daju Kachollom S. mni, said the growing scale and complexity of Nigeria’s health system made reliable and connected data increasingly important to effective decision-making. She urged the Steering Committee to ensure that technology ultimately delivers tangible value to Nigerians, asking: “How does this improve the experience, access, safety or health outcome of the Nigerian patient?” The Permanent Secretary also stressed the need for attention to interoperability, cybersecurity, data protection, ethical use of artificial intelligence, data governance and patient confidentiality, while ensuring that digital transformation reduces rather than deepens inequalities, particularly for rural and underserved communities. The other Co-Chair, Mr. Olaniyi Yusuf, Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, underscored the importance of clear guidelines to promote interoperability, scale digital health solutions and unlock greater private-sector investment and participation in Nigeria’s health technology ecosystem. The National Coordinator of NHTDAO, Dr. Obi Adigwe, said the Office would work with relevant government institutions and stakeholders to translate the National Digital Health Architecture into coordinated implementation, with emphasis on common standards, interoperability and effective use of health data. The Steering Committee brings together key stakeholders from the Federal Government, state governments, national health institutions, the private sector and the Sector-Wide Approach to provide strategic direction and oversight for the Office. The Federal Government said NHTDAO would contribute to building a more connected, resilient and people-centred health system, while advancing the broader objectives of the NHSRII. Ado Bako
Assistant Director, Information and Public Relations