The Federal Government of Nigeria, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, has made significant financial commitments towards strengthening the country’s primary healthcare system. Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, disclosed on Monday that almost N50 billion has been disbursed directly to Primary Health Centres (PHCs) across Nigeria through the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF).
In a detailed announcement shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) platform, Professor Pate emphasized the government’s sustained efforts to modernize and improve health infrastructure in every local government area. According to him, “Designed to be financed from at least one per cent of the Federal Government’s Consolidated Revenue Fund (#CRF) and other sources, including donors’ contributions, the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (#BHCPF) provides a Basic Minimum Package of Health Services (#BMPHS) aimed at increasing the fiscal space for health, strengthening our national health systems.”
He further highlighted additional investments by the Tinubu administration, revealing that over N20 billion has been allocated for the rehabilitation and upgrade of 4,362 PHCs across the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). This funding aims to ensure equitable improvement and promote healthcare delivery standards nationwide.
“This comes at a time when President Tinubu’s administration has disbursed over N20 billion to support the rehabilitation and upgrade of 4,362 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) across the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under the BHCPF over the past two years with similarly indelible impact across the southern states,” Pate stated.
The health minister also shed light on the government’s progress in expanding health insurance coverage, noting a substantial surge in enrolment numbers anticipated to surpass the 2024 record of 2.4 million citizens before the end of this year. This milestone marks a critical step toward universal health coverage in Nigeria.
A remarkable volume of patient engagement underscores the ongoing reforms: “With over 37 million visits to primary health centres across all local government areas of Nigeria recorded over the first quarter of 2025 alone, we are overseeing a data-driven re-engineering of basic healthcare provision for Africa’s largest population,” said Pate. This reflects the administration’s focus on implementing evidence-based strategies to enhance healthcare delivery efficiency and accountability.
The Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, established by law to allocate a minimum of one percent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund plus additional donations, targets the expansion of access to a Basic Minimum Package of Health Services (BMPHS). By directly financing PHCs, the fund fosters improvements in healthcare infrastructure, staffing, and essential medical supplies, contributing to a more resilient healthcare delivery framework.
This intensive government intervention addresses long-standing challenges in Nigeria’s primary healthcare sector, aiming to reduce health disparities, improve maternal and child health outcomes, and enhance overall wellbeing across the country.
Key Highlights:
Nearly N50 billion disbursed via BHCPF to primary health centres nationwide since 2023.
Over N20 billion invested for rehabilitation and upgrade of 4,362 PHCs in northern states and the FCT.
More than 37 million PHC visits recorded in the first quarter of 2025 alone, demonstrating increased healthcare access.
Health insurance enrollment projected to surpass 2.4 million citizens in 2025, promoting universal health coverage.
BHCPF funded by at least 1% of the Federal Government’s Consolidated Revenue Fund and donor contributions.
Under the stewardship of Prof. Muhammad Pate and the Tinubu-led federal government, Nigeria is demonstrating renewed commitment toward overhauling its primary health system, ensuring accessible, quality healthcare services for all citizens. The government’s sustained financial investment and data-driven approach indicate a forward-looking strategy to reengineer health delivery processes nationwide.