The Federal Government has approved the disbursement of N32.8 billion to states under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) quarter 2 of 2026 to strengthen primary healthcare, health insurance, disease outbreak preparedness and emergency medical services across the country.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate, announced this after the 15th Expanded Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC) meeting on the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, saying the latest release would sustain ongoing reforms in the health sector.
The minister disclosed that of the N339 billion disbursed through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund in the last 12 years, N235 billion was released within the last three years under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
According to him, the increased funding reflects the administration’s commitment to expanding access to quality primary healthcare nationwide.
He said more than 1,000 primary healthcare centres across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory receive quarterly funding through the programme to support healthcare delivery, health insurance, emergency medical services and disease outbreak control.
The minister said the investments had resulted in improved utilisation of healthcare services and expansion of emergency medical treatment, with over 130,000 Nigerians benefiting from emergency medical services funded through the programme.
He added that 35 states had established emergency medical service structures, while Benue and Imo states currently rely on federal health institutions.
On disease surveillance, the minister said resources from the fund had enabled the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) to strengthen outbreak detection, surveillance and response across states.
He disclosed that the ministry recently approved emergency disbursements to all 36 states to boost preparedness against the Ebola Virus Disease following recent outbreaks in parts of Africa, although no case has been recorded in Nigeria.
The minister also said more than 3,000 primary healthcare centres had been revitalised to Level 2 standard, while nearly 1,000 additional facilities were at various stages of rehabilitation.
He, however, urged state and local governments to contribute their statutory counterpart funding, noting that state contributions of 25 per cent and local government contributions of 15 per cent would increase available resources by an additional 40 per cent.
He also disclosed that health insurance coverage had expanded significantly under the current administration, with more than six million Nigerians enrolled over the past three years.
The minister further revealed that more than 48,000 women had received free comprehensive emergency obstetric services, including cesarean sections, through federal funding.
He added that 207 health facilities now provide free fistula treatment, with 4,771 women successfully treated and reintegrated into society, while another 2,900 women benefited through bilateral support programmes.