The World Health Organisation has called on Nigeria to allocate at least 20 per cent of its total health expenditure to public health to strengthen the country’s healthcare system.

Speaking during the National Health Financing Dialogue in Abuja on September 4, 2025, themed “Reimagining the Future of Health Financing in Nigeria, WHO Regional Director Prof. Mohamed Janabi emphasized the need for sustainable financing, arguing that increased investment would reduce out-of-pocket payments, safeguard households, and enhance pooling and prepayment mechanisms.

“With more than 223 million citizens, how the country finances health is vital for the well-being of its people and the future of the continent,” - Janabi 

Janabi highlighted Nigeria’s recent reforms, including the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, the National Health Insurance Authority Act, and state-level insurance schemes, while noting the role of evidence-based decision-making, such as cost-effectiveness and equity analyses, in ensuring fair resource allocation.

He further noted equity and investment units, and the Legislative Network for Universal Health Coverage, as potential models for other African nations.

African Union Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs, and Social Development Amb. Amma Twum-Amoah reinforced the call, urging Africa to leverage its resources for health security.

She cited Nigeria’s $1.7 billion HOPE Projects—aimed at governance, primary healthcare, and service delivery—as a bold step, aligning with the 2001 Abuja Declaration’s 15 per cent budget commitment and the 2013 Abuja+12 pledge.

Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom, announced that President Bola Tinubu has directed a service-wide circular mandating all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to implement health insurance under the 2022 Act. “Mandatory health insurance is here to stay,” she affirmed, positioning the dialogue as a launchpad for coordinated action.

The event, concluding Thursday, gathered policymakers, experts, and stakeholders to build a data-driven foundation for sustained financing, though challenges like funding constraints and implementation consistency remain critical to success.