Nigeria claims all 41 health targets met
The Federal Government has announced that it has achieved all 41 performance targets set for the health sector under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, citing the revitalisation of thousands of primary healthcare centres.
Speaking on Tuesday in Abuja at the third Nigeria Health Sector Joint Annual Review, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, stated that 3,526 primary healthcare facilities had been revamped nationwide.
“At the beginning of this administration, Mr President set performance commitments for the health sector. I am pleased to report that we have achieved all 41 commitments,” Professor Pate said.
He noted that work was ongoing on another 900 primary care centres, while 19,758 skilled birth attendants had been recruited across 22 states. The government has also trained 78,054 frontline health workers and expanded health insurance coverage from approximately 16 million to nearly 24 million Nigerians.
Professor Pate detailed several clinical and financial updates, reporting that cumulative releases under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund reached N422.3bn by October 2026. Skilled deliveries at supported facilities rose from 4.8 million in 2023 to 7.9 million by the second quarter of 2026, and antenatal visits increased from six million to 8.7 million.
Additionally, a free emergency obstetric care programme delivered nearly 100,000 services over two years, including 80,906 caesarean sections and 6,059 vesicovaginal fistula repairs. Maternal case fatality in areas covered by the Maternal and Newborn Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative fell by about 60 per cent between 2024 and 2026.
Despite these figures, Professor Pate conceded that stunting had worsened slightly, and patient satisfaction with healthcare services dropped from 76 per cent in 2024 to 71 per cent in 2026.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, outlined targets to achieve at least 90 per cent functional primary healthcare centres by 2031 and 40 per cent health insurance coverage.
However, the ministry’s permanent secretary, Daju Kachollum, highlighted ongoing challenges, warning of persistent workforce shortages, poor maternal and child health indicators, and slow emergency responses. She disclosed that only 22 per cent of public health events met the seven-day early response target.
The three-day review, held from November 10 to 12, forms part of the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative launched in December 2023.