The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to taking full responsibility for the health of Nigerians, expressing concern over recent changes in global health funding and emphasizing the need for stronger national ownership of the country’s healthcare system.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Adekunle Salako, made this known while receiving the Ambassador of Spain to Nigeria, Felix Costales Artieda, who led a delegation on a courtesy visit to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in Abuja.
The visit was aimed at briefing the Nigerian government on programmes being implemented by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation, particularly in the health sector.
Speaking during the meeting, Salako acknowledged that evolving global health funding realities pose legitimate concerns but stressed that Nigeria must reduce dependency on external support.
According to him, government must remain “in the driver’s seat” in safeguarding citizens’ health, noting that the current administration is prioritising reforms aimed at strengthening the nation’s healthcare system.
He explained that ongoing reforms under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu are being driven through the National Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, a transformation agenda anchored on four key pillars designed to reposition the health sector.
The minister added that discussions with Spain have opened opportunities to revisit the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2022, with a focus on practical implementation, especially in technology transfer and local manufacturing of medical products under the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain.
Salako also highlighted Nigeria’s efforts to address obstetric fistula and gynaecological conditions through the establishment of specialised institutions and provision of free treatment, alongside social reintegration programmes for affected patients.
He welcomed renewed collaboration with Spain, assuring that Nigeria would continue to promote efficient and mutually beneficial partnerships to strengthen healthcare delivery.
Earlier, the Director of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation, Anton Leis, said the agency is implementing several multilateral initiatives in Nigeria, including partnerships with UNFPA to combat harmful practices such as female genital mutilation and support polio eradication efforts.
Leis disclosed that the agency, in collaboration with UNICEF and the European Union, is supporting initiatives aimed at improving health efficiency and expanding Nigeria’s medical products industry, noting that about €1.1 million has been committed so far.
He commended Nigeria’s sector-wide approach to healthcare planning, describing it as a unified framework built on “one plan, one budget, and one priority area,” which he said is critical for sustainable development.
According to him, ongoing collaborations also involve key Nigerian institutions such as the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control to strengthen pharmaceutical research and regulatory capacity.
In her welcome remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom, noted the long-standing relationship between Nigeria and Spain, recalling that both countries signed cooperation agreements in 2022 and 2025 to deepen collaboration in critical sectors, including healthcare.
