Tinubu Government Targets $150 Billion to Fund Vaccine Procurement and Strengthen Nigeria’s Health Sector
By Enemona Samuel Endurance | The Bureau News
ABUJA — Nigeria News Today: The Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has unveiled plans to raise nearly $150 billion to finance vaccine procurement for 2025 and 2026, as part of a renewed drive to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system and boost immunisation coverage nationwide.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Wale Edun, announced this on Wednesday during the 2025 Joint Annual Review of the Health Sector, themed “All Hands, One Mission: Bringing the Nigerian Health Sector to Light.”
Health Budget Up by 60% — Edun
According to Edun, the Federal Government has substantially increased funding for the health sector in the 2025 fiscal year, marking a 60% rise in the budget compared to 2024.
“The health sector budget in 2025 rose by nearly 60 per cent, and the Basic Health Care Provision Fund has more than doubled from ₦31.5 billion in 2024 to ₦298 billion in 2026,” Edun stated.
He added that efforts were underway to mobilize an additional $150 billion specifically for vaccine procurement for 2025 and 2026, reflecting the administration’s commitment to universal health access.
“Health now accounts for 5.2% of the national budget, up from just over three per cent a few years ago. Our commitment is to close the gap between appropriation and release of funds,” he said, according to PUNCH.
Government to Reduce Dependence on Foreign Aid
Edun underscored the need for increased domestic resource mobilisation and stronger participation from state and local governments, noting that “reforms and funding will be ineffective without their involvement.”
In his remarks, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, emphasized that the Federal Government is focused on reducing dependency on foreign donors while promoting local pharmaceutical production and innovation.
“We are promoting local solutions and encouraging states to invest more in health, education, sanitation, and nutrition. This aligns with the President’s ward-based development strategy for community upliftment,” Pate said.
Primary Health Utilization Surges to 45 Million Visits
Pate revealed that primary healthcare utilization rose from 10 million visits in Q1 2024 to 45 million visits in Q2 2025, highlighting renewed public confidence in the system.
He noted that nearly half of Nigerian women of reproductive age now use modern contraception, while vaccination coverage for measles, rubella, and the HPV vaccine has met or exceeded national targets.
New Fiscal Measures and Partnerships Underway
The government is also exploring new financing strategies, including fiscal measures on sugar-sweetened beverages, public-private partnerships (PPPs), and digital solutions to improve transparency and accountability in healthcare funding.
Pate concluded that all 36 states and the FCT now operate under aligned health plans, with 774 local governments hosting National Health Fellows and Public Financial Management Officers — a milestone achievement in the country’s health governance framework.
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