The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, has called for a significant increase in investment in Nigeria's health sector, stating that the current budgetary allocation remains at approximately six percent. This figure, while noted as the highest in over a decade, still falls considerably short of the 15 percent benchmark recommended by the Abuja Declaration.

Speaking at the 25th West African Health Sector Unions Network (WAHSUN) Plenary Session in Abuja, Professor Pate emphasized the critical need for greater investment to bolster health systems and improve population health outcomes across West Africa. He highlighted the interconnectedness of health across nations, noting that events in one country can impact others in the sub-region.

Nigeria's proposed health budget for 2026 stands at N2.48 trillion out of a total national budget of N58.47 trillion, translating to about 4.2 percent of federal spending. This allocation has drawn criticism from various stakeholders, including the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), who deem it insufficient. Experts point out that this figure, while nominally higher than in previous years, is eroded by inflation and rising healthcare costs, leading to a shrinking purchasing power for the health budget.

Professor Pate stressed the importance of regional cooperation and local ownership of health agendas through initiatives like the Accra Reset, which aims to ensure African health systems are designed and funded based on local priorities. He also noted Nigeria's renewed commitment to health financing under the current administration, with budgetary allocations to the sector rising to six percent this year, the highest in approximately 15 to 20 years. However, he cautioned that increased allocation must be accompanied by improved implementation, timely fund release, and better service delivery across all government levels.

Concerns remain about the effective utilization of allocated funds, with past challenges including delayed budget releases, low capital implementation rates, procurement inefficiencies, and fragmentation across agencies. Despite policy frameworks aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery and expanding access, a significant funding shortfall in capital projects for 2025 was revealed, with only N36 million released from an N218 billion appropriation. This lack of capital funding has stalled critical health projects nationwide.

In addition to domestic efforts, Nigeria is also navigating global funding challenges, with a focus on smarter coordination and stronger domestic investment to gradually reduce external dependence in healthcare. Public-private partnerships are also being leveraged, as seen in a recent agreement between the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and MedServe, aimed at expanding access to diagnostics, oncology, and cardiology services.