The Federal Government, in collaboration with state governments and stakeholders across the health sector, has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s primary healthcare system through the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF), as the 11th Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC) meeting held in Abuja.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, said over 37 million Nigerians have accessed healthcare services through the BHCPF, a milestone made possible by strong partnerships among federal, state, and local governments, civil society groups, private sector actors, and development partners.
According to him, “The BHCPF is working because of the broad collaboration and alignment across all levels of government. No single tier of government can tackle basic healthcare challenges alone, but together, we are making steady progress.”
Professor Pate emphasized that this achievement is anchored on reforms introduced under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, which has gained endorsement from all 36 state governors and major players in the sector. He also highlighted the importance of recent economic reforms, including the signing of a new tax bill and the removal of fuel subsidies, as key steps toward long-term sustainability in healthcare financing. These reforms, he said, are intended to increase government revenue for investment in critical sectors like health and education.
Addressing concerns over tuberculosis (TB) treatment gaps, Pate noted that despite rising detection rates, a significant number of patients have yet to begin treatment. He assured stakeholders that the 2025 federal budget makes provision for increased drug procurement to close the gap and sustain treatment momentum.
In his remarks,the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, said the implementation of the BHCPF continue to be driven by transparency and inclusivity. He described the Oversight Committee as a model of participatory governance involving sub-national actors, civil society, and relevant agencies an approach that is producing tangible results in health service delivery.
From the state level, Dr. Oyebanji Filani, Chairman of the Health Commissioners Forum, disclosed that over ₦32 billion was disbursed across the first and second quarters of 2025 to improve services in more than 8,000 primary healthcare centres nationwide. These funds have supported the renovation and equipping of health facilities, training of health workers, and consistent provision of essential medicines. Dr. Filani commended the federal government’s continued support and stressed the need for alignment and accountability across states to consolidate the gains made so far.
The MOC meeting also ratified the application of ₦32.88 billion from the first quarter release to implement BHCPF activities for both the first and second quarters of 2025. Another ₦32.88 billion was approved for the third quarter implementation, with disbursement expected by the end of August 2025, subject to availability of funds. These financial commitments are aimed at ensuring continuity and effective delivery of primary healthcare services nationwide.
Furthermore, the committee formally approved the revised BHCPF Guidelines 2.0, which had earlier received provisional approval at the 10th MOC meeting. Dissemination of the updated framework is expected before the end of the third quarter of 2025, with a view to strengthening implementation, coordination, and accountability.
The committee also announced that the phased rollout of the Mini District Health Information System (Mini-DHIS) will begin in July 2025. This system is expected to improve real-time data collection and support evidence-based decision-making at the primary healthcare level.
In a major leadership update, Dr. Ogbe Oritseweyimi, formerly the National Lead for the BHCPF at the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), was named as the new Secretary of the BHCPF MOC Secretariat. His wealth of experience in health governance and financing is expected to further enhance the implementation of the fund.
To ensure better visibility of health sector reforms and progress, the MOC also resolved to scale up strategic communication and media engagement efforts. Stakeholders agreed on the importance of documenting success stories and showcasing positive outcomes to sustain public and political support.
The meeting concluded with a collective pledge to sustain the momentum, deepen sub-national commitment, and promote innovation as Nigeria works toward achieving 70% population coverage for basic healthcare services.
