An allocation of ₦2.48 trillion has been designated by the Nigerian government for the health sector within the National Budget for the year 2025. This allocation represents 5.18% of the total expenditure plan of ₦47.90 trillion. Although the distribution shows a financial rise from the budget for 2024, health activists are nonetheless worried since the proportion falls short of global and regional commitments to sufficiently support healthcare systems. Aiming to expand primary healthcare delivery across the country, the planned 2025 health sector allocation consists of ₦282.65 billion for the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) and ₦402 billion for Infrastructure development.
Presented under the “Budget of Restoration: Securing Peace and Rebuilding Prosperity,” this budget emphasises President Bola Tinubu’s goal of changing Nigeria’s social and economic path. To develop prosperity and guarantee peace, he underlined the joint effort needed by people, government, and businesses. The budget provides healthcare initiatives, including hospital revitalisation, improved access to primary care, and systematic problem-solving as a top priority. Nonetheless, the distribution is much below the 15% target set in the 2001 Abuja Declaration, in which member states of the African Union promised to give healthcare financing a top priority.
Experts advocate for more funding for the sector.
Nigeria gathered African leaders in Abuja in 2001 in order to set aside at least 15% of national budgets for health. Nigeria has attempted to regularly reach this level since then. Representing a 4.47% share, the 2024 health budget showed a similar gap. Particularly when compared to international healthcare budget standards the share dedicated to health has stayed insufficient despite improvements in monetary terms. Over decades, underfunding the system has left buildings ill-equipped, labour shortages unfilled, and important programs underfunded.
For instance, major issues are mother mortality, communicative diseases, and non-communicable disease management. Experts in Public Health have voiced worry that the 5.18% budget is inadequate to address the several health issues facing Nigeria. Increased funding is proposed by stakeholders to be necessary to solve structural inefficiencies and raise national health outcomes. Key areas needing focus are strengthening primary healthcare, lowering rates of mother and infant mortality, and fighting diseases including tuberculosis, malaria, and HIV/AIDS.
The country faces a risk of not reaching Sustainable Development Goal 3.
Insufficient health financing, according to experts, hinders advancement toward universal health coverage (UHC.). UHC seeks to guarantee that everyone including communities, gets necessary medical treatments free from financial burden. Nigeria faces a risk of not reaching Sustainable Development Goal 3, which emphasises health and well-being for all by 2030, or meeting UHC targets given the ongoing disparity between allotted resources and real health requirements. National development depends critically on healthcare financing. A strong health system guarantees a good workforce, lowers poverty, and advances social fairness.
Furthermore, professionals have urged the government to raise its health spending to the internationally advised 15% level. They contend that giving healthcare top priority is not only moral but also financial, as better health results strongly relate to country stability and production. Stakeholders push for more openness and responsibility in health expenditure as the government gets ready to apply the 2025 budget. Targeted expenditures in technology, workforce development, and infrastructure might enhance the power of current resources.
Related Article: Gov’t targets affordable healthcare for Nigerians
Lastly, cooperation with the Private Sector and foreign agencies could augment government initiatives to guarantee that the services reach underprivileged groups. The 2025 health budget for Nigeria emphasises the continuous struggle between limited resources and the pressing need to raise access to and results of healthcare. Although the rise in financial allocation is a positive development, reaching world financing targets remains a top objective. Only by means of consistent Investment and strategic planning will Nigeria be able to guarantee the Welfare and health of its people, therefore enabling the conditions for long-term development.