The Nigerian Government says ₦32.9 billion has been disbursed to states and primary healthcare centres across the country in the third round of payments for 2025, under the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF).
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, made this known during the 3rd Quarter Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC) Meeting in Abuja on Wednesday.
He said the disbursement, approved by the MOC and guided by the newly launched BHCPF 2.0 Guidelines, is aimed at improving healthcare delivery by supporting facility operations, providing stipends for health workers, and expanding access to essential services.
Prof. Pate described the new guidelines as a key milestone in Nigeria’s ongoing health sector reform under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that a Joint Task Force, in collaboration with the ICPC, has been activated to ensure transparency and accountability in fund utilization at the community level.
He commended state governors, commissioners for health, and development partners for their collaboration in strengthening the country’s primary healthcare system.
The minister also highlighted progress in healthcare delivery, noting that over 21 million Nigerians are now covered by health insurance. Through the BHCPF, 11,000 pregnant women have received emergency medical care, 15,000 have accessed obstetric services, and 500,000 are covered for maternal health.
According to him, over 80 million visits were recorded at primary healthcare centres in the first two quarters of 2025, a fourfold increase from 2023, reflecting growing public confidence in the system.
Pate added that a Mini Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) will be conducted in 2026 to assess progress in maternal and child health, with preliminary data already indicating a 12% reduction in maternal mortality compared to 2023, a sign that recent reforms and investments are beginning to yield results.
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