Nigeria’s Ministry of Health and Social Welfare says country made significant progress in its health sector in 2025, training more than 23,000 additional frontline health workers. This brings the total trained over the past two years to 78,146.
According to the 2025 State of Health of the Nation Report, released on Saturday in Abuja, the progress was recorded under the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative and the Sector-Wide Approach, which coordinate health reforms and investments.
The report said the trained workers represent 65 per cent of the federal government’s target of 120,000, aimed at strengthening service delivery, especially at primary healthcare centres.
Health insurance coverage also improved, rising from 19.2 million people in 2024 to 21.7 million in 2025, representing about 13 per cent national coverage. The government secured a presidential commitment for full implementation of mandatory health insurance, while payment rates were increased to reflect economic realities.
Under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund 2.0, launched in October 2025, about 2.7 million Nigerians were enrolled by the fourth quarter.
In maternal and newborn health, more than 200 facilities were engaged to expand emergency obstetric and newborn care. The programme reached 19,270 women nationwide, while ambulance and rural transport services supported over 60,000 maternal and newborn emergencies combined.
On disease control, Nigeria began implementation of the malaria vaccine in Bayelsa and Kebbi States. The HIV programme maintained treatment coverage above 87 per cent and viral suppression above 95 per cent.
The report also highlighted the launch of the second National Action Plan on Health Security, improved digital monitoring systems, tax waivers for pharmaceutical manufacturers and expanded local production of medicines and medical supplies.
These reforms form part of the Health Sector Strategic Blueprint (2023–2027), focused on strengthening governance, financing, service delivery, and pandemic preparedness.
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