The Federal Government, FG, has announced significant gains in its health sector reforms, reporting a 17% reduction in maternal deaths and a 12% decline in newborn deaths across 172 high-burden local government areas.
The progress was revealed by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, at a Ministerial Press Briefing yesterday ahead of the 2025 Joint Annual Review (JAR).
The upcoming review is set to assess national health performance and renew commitments under the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, launched by President Bola Tinubu in 2023.
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Pate described the progress as remarkable noting that 37 out of 41 key performance indicators (KPIs) under the presidential reform commitments have already been achieved.
He attributed this success to unprecedented alignment across government tiers.
“For the first time, we are seeing alignment between the federal government’s direction and the states in terms of priorities in annual operational plans,” the Minister stated.
He confirmed that 100% of states now have operational plans aligned with the national health sector blueprint, demonstrating a strong national commitment.
Further bolstering local-level coordination, 774 National Health Fellows have been deployed across all local governments.
In addition, 35 out of 36 states and the FCT have completed their own performance reviews, involving citizens in health decision-making processes.
The government reported substantial improvements in service delivery, particularly in maternal and reproductive health.
Utilisation of primary healthcare facilities funded by the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) saw a massive increase, from 10 million visits in early 2024 to 45 million in the second quarter of 2025.
This sharp rise is seen as a sign of growing public trust in government health services.
Key maternal and reproductive health indicators revealed a 10% increase in new family planning acceptors since the beginning of the year.
Data also showed that 50% of women of reproductive age are now using modern contraceptives.
In addition, 435 health facilities have been revitalised across high-priority local government areas, while over 15,000 community-based health workers have been recruited to strengthen service delivery.
Public perception of the system has also improved significantly, with a citizens’ confidence survey indicating that 77% of Nigerians now view the health system positively, up from 54% in 2024.
Confidence in the government’s ability to manage health emergencies has also risen from 50% to two-thirds of the population.
Despite the positive data, the Minister cautioned that challenges remain, especially concerning financing and affordability of care.
“We’re not out of the woods yet,” Pate warned. “The issue of affordability remains a concern. Expansion of health insurance coverage and prudent resource use at all levels are critical for sustaining this progress.”
He stressed that the current two-year data show the “beginnings of an improvement” that must be sustained by all actors to improve the population’s health outcomes.
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The Minister urged media practitioners to actively participate in the 2025 Joint Annual Review, themed “All Hands, One Mission: Bringing the Nigerian Health Sector to Light,” which will feature discussions on maternal mortality reduction, health governance, and local manufacturing of life sciences products.
“The signs of progress are real and data-backed,” Pate said. “If we sustain this momentum, Nigeria’s health outcomes will become a model for the continent.”
