The federal government has announced plans to raise about ₦150 billion to support vaccine procurement for 2025 and 2026, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen immunization coverage and enhance health outcomes across the country.
The minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, Wale Edun, disclosed this on Wednesday, November 12, during the 2025 joint annual review of the health sector, themed “All hands, one mission: Bringing the Nigerian health sector to light.”
The joint annual review serves as one of the country’s main accountability platforms for the health sector, bringing together government representatives, development partners, and stakeholders to evaluate progress, assess performance, and set priorities for the year ahead.
Edun revealed that the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) had been significantly scaled up, from ₦31.5 billion in 2024 to nearly ₦299 billion for 2025 and 2026.
He added that the overall health sector budget had also increased by almost 60 percent, underscoring the government’s commitment to improving access to quality healthcare and achieving universal health coverage.
“Similarly, with immunization, we are actively seeking to raise additional funds, maybe around almost N150 billion to cover vaccine procurement that is needed for 2025 and 2026,” he said.
He added that health spending now accounts for 5.2 per cent of the national budget, up from just over three per cent a few years ago.
He said the government’s commitment is to close the gap between appropriation and the release of funds.
Edun also emphasized the need to mobilize domestic resources, stressing that sustainable financing would depend on collaboration among all tiers of government .
He noted that reforms and funding would not be fully effective without the participation of state and local governments, urging them to increase spending on health and education to complement federal initiatives.
In his speech, the coordinating minister of health and social welfare, Muhammad Pate, said the government is deepening reforms to reduce reliance on foreign aid and promote local solutions and production capacity for medicines, vaccines, and health technologies.
Pate added that the government aims to ensure state and local governments increase investments in health, education, water, sanitation, and nutrition.
“This is consistent with the president’s ward-based development approach, which is perhaps the most practical strategy for lifting communities across Nigeria,” he said.
He also outlined new financing mechanisms under consideration, including fiscal measures on sugar-sweetened beverages, public-private partnerships, and digital systems to improve transparency and accountability in health spending.
“By combining domestic resources, local engagement, and measurable outcomes, Nigeria is steadily building a health system that is resilient, inclusive, and responsive to the people it serves,” he said.
Pate also noted that primary healthcare utilization had increased from 10 million visits in the first quarter of 2024 to 45 million in the second quarter of 2025, reflecting renewed public confidence.
He added that nearly half of women of reproductive age now use modern contraception, while vaccination coverage for measles, rubella, and the newly introduced HPV vaccine has met or exceeded national targets.
He reiterated that these achievements stem from a deliberate shift away from donor-driven programming toward a nationally led health agenda.
He also added that all 36 states and the FCT now have operational plans aligned with the national health sector strategic blueprint.
“72 per cent of states have functional mechanisms for non-communicable diseases, and all 774 local government areas now host national health fellows and public financial management officers, surpassing our targets,” he added.
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